The Magical Purse

This tip won't work for everyone. Actually I can guarantee that the half of you who are Classics (SJs) plus you Organic Structures (NFJs) and Smart Structures (NTJs) will think we are mad-hatters, but the best organizational tip I ever had was from my fabulous  sister-in-law, Rebecca Perkins, of RougeNY: A Makeup Salon fame.

You might think that her bag would contain all sorts of wondrous things to make you or herself look gorgeous at a moment’s notice, but there’s a reason my brother can easily claim to not like make-up — his wife looks camera ready when she rolls out of bed. Seriously. It's. Not. Fair. But besides beauty, our Becca is smart and original. Her advice was about what she did with her mail when she got home from work. At first she was sheepish about it, but it was an idea I knew just might work for me: When she wasn't sure what to do with something in her mail — ie. an invite to something she wasn't sure about — she stashed it in her purse. I was floored.

In fact when I was rewriting our chapter on what to do with your mail when you come in the door, even my sister was a little taken aback when I brought up this advice again. It was something I did before I had my ingenious Organic Freedom (NFP) solution to front door clutter — oh you’ll have to buy the book or delve deep into PixieTip archives to get that tidbit — I mean, advise people to dump their mail in their purse? Insanity.

But it works. For Funs (SPs) like Becca, Organic Freedoms (NFPs) like me, and Smart Freedoms (NTPs), stashing away things to put into your calendar or smart phone is something you can or will remember to do later. All you other types can and should rest easy with your traditional In Boxes, and don't deal with your mail until you get to it on your To Do list. For us more libertine types, taking care of something when we decide on a solution — actually that hayride is the perfect thing to do this weekend — and oh look the invite is right beside us in our magical purse and we can RSVP without delay.