Happy Home: Time Management for a Happy Home, Advice From Happiness Project's Gretchen Rubin

In my previous Happy Home article Gretchen Rubin discussed her principles for being Happier at Home, the title of her next book. 

Ever since my conversation with Gretchen, the concept that outer order creates inner calm has stayed with me, practically following me around the house. I am more conscious of using bits of time to clear chaos in my physical space, indeed creating inner calm.

Here in Part 2, Gretchen shares some of what The Happiness Project has taught her about time management and happiness at home.

How do you avoid time-eaters?

Control the cubicle in your pocket. You're always plugged in. If I'm writing, I write at the library. I create a quiet zone. I put my phone on mute.

Create the ability to concentrate. I avoid devices when I'm with my children.

How do you suggest managing TV in the home?

Watch TV in a way to make you happier, try watching with someone and talking about it afterwards. We don't watch that much television.

Say you have a few minutes. How do you use that time?

My new resolution is—go shelf by shelf. Say I have 10 minutes. Wherever I am I just focus and say to myself, Are these things where they are supposed to be? Do we even need them?

Do we need it, do we love it, is it working?

Paper is hard. I keep something for a while and then discover I don't need it, so I throw it away.

Two ways to avoid acquiring paper clutter are by limiting what you print out and by avoiding cutting articles out of magazines.

How do you achieve balance?

Balance conjures up the wrong ideal. I want to cram my life with the things I love. Those at the bottom of the scale drop away. It's a fundamental challenge. For example, I don't make my kids write thank you notes for presents they receive at their birthday parties. Some friends criticize me, but I let it go.

You used the word cramming. Doesn't that detract from happiness?

One of my themes is unhurriedness. Everyone gets up ten minutes earlier, so we have time to get to school without rushing.

When we travel, we allow plenty of time to get to the airport.

I accept that I have to deal with tons of stuff—the rush hour of life. Things will be a little messy.

Every period of life has its own character. Appreciate the character of your life now. I Wish I had paid more attention to appreciating how I felt when I was first married. Now: it's hard to do at time.

What is your best time-saving tip?

Related articles:

• Happy Home Series, Part 1
• 21 Ways to Remember Practically Everything
• 4 Four-Ingredient Entrees: Quick, Easy, Delicious and Healthful
• Find Zen in the Container Store and Take my Organizing Challenge
• 6 Household Ideas From China Make Life Easier and More Pleasureable

Follow me on Twitter @susanorlins to receive links to my newest articles, including my upcoming Convesation With Gretchen Rubin, Part 3: Organizing for a Happy Home.