Put it all the way away
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You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Hey, listeners. I am all about simple beauty routines. That's why I love Merit. Their products make looking put together effortless. For example, there's Flush Balm, which is a sheer, buildable cream blush that blends in seamlessly for a healthy, natural glow. And let's not forget The Minimalist, which is a two-in-one foundation and concealer that's perfect for those days when you need quick, natural coverage.

So if you're looking to streamline your beauty routine too, head to MeritBeauty.com. You'll get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. Simplify your routine and feel beautiful with Merit. Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio. Good morning. This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's tip is to put things all the way away.

Your stuff doesn't need a layover when it is getting from here to there. So I am fascinated by the ways that people manage and think about tidying up. One thing I have noticed is that a lot of people have waypoints where they deposit items that are out of place before they put them where they actually belong. Maybe you have a pile at the foot of the stairs for things that belong upstairs and another pile at the top of the stairs for things that need to go downstairs.

Maybe the kitchen counter by the door to the hallway collects items destined for the bedrooms and bathrooms down the hall. When you unload groceries, you may park toiletries, Kleenex boxes, and cleaning supplies near the back door until they find their way to the bathroom. Items intended for the attic might spend weeks on the table beside the attic door before they finally get put in the right box in the right corner.

things may end up languishing in this transition spot for hours, days, or even longer. It's all kind of silly because the effort it would take to get the tissue box out of the grocery bag and straight to the bathroom, or to put the extra pantry bin in the attic is not that much more than putting it in a waste station. And since you will have to stop at the waste station at some other point in order to finish the job, the sum total of energy is less.

if you just do the job completely at the beginning. Now, I do understand that sometimes it's wise to batch things. If you truly do have a lot of items going upstairs or into the attic, like, say, all your holiday decorations, it might make sense to collect them and do it all at once. I also suspect that many times the weigh station is actually an invitation for someone else to complete the job.

Perhaps because you feel like you have done enough. And I believe it. That may be entirely true. But if that is the case, then you are better off just telling the person to deal with the item. Because most likely it will sit there for a long, long time until you do get around to finishing the job yourself. So instead of sharing the load, you have just increased your own.

Now, I am personally not that much bothered by things being in the wrong place, but I know that some people do get bent out of shape by clutter and they find it hard to concentrate. If that is the case, then putting something all the way away is definitely going to cause fewer negative feelings than seeing the item for days. So finish the job and you won't have to think about it again. In the meantime, this is Laura. Thanks for listening.

And here's to making the most of our time. Thanks for listening to Before Breakfast. If you've got questions, ideas, or feedback, you can reach me at laura at lauravandercam.com. Before Breakfast is a production of iHeartMedia. For more podcasts from iHeartMedia, please visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Hey, listeners.

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Hey listeners, I am all about simple beauty routines. That's why I love Merit. Their products make looking put together effortless. For example, there's Flush Balm, which is a sheer, buildable cream blush that blends in seamlessly for a healthy natural glow. And let's not forget The Minimalist, which is a two-in-one foundation and concealer that's perfect for those days when you need quick, natural coverage.

So if you're looking to streamline your beauty routine too, head to MeritBeauty.com. You'll get their signature makeup bag free with your first order. Simplify your routine and feel beautiful with Merit.