Touch it once

We all are busy and so any little tip to save time and steps is a good thing. I've been working lately on touching things once if possible.

When the mail comes, go through it right then and put in the appropriate places...bills paid or where they go until bill paying day, junk in the garbage, recycling in the container...

Grocery shopping: Instead of taking the time to carry bags in and drop them, put the items away right then.

Cleaning: Pick up an item and put it away, not move it out of the way. After your shower, why drop your towel on the floor only to have to pick it up and hang it, hang it right away. After a bowl of ice cream, don't just set the bowl on the counter letting the remaining ice cream to dry and get hard on it. Rinse it and put in the dishwasher.

Laundry: Who hasn't taken the clothes out of the dryer only to leave them sit in a basket. Fold or hang up right from the dryer. This not only gets the job done and out of the way, it saves time on ironing later.

The point is to take care of things right then, not lay them aside for another time. This causes pile up and clutter, which then takes even more time to take care of later.