Order (not a pizza)

Most of us get great satisfaction about cleaning up, or organizing a space. We may not all enjoy the process, but once it’s completed, we feel a sense of accomplishment. We feel accomplished when things are in order.

One thing I was noticing the last time I was cleaning was the fact that I always clean the sink first, and then end up throwing things in there after wards, making it messy again, and then having to clean it again.

Or sometimes I’ll clean the floor and then end up walking over it before it’s dry. I thought, if I could just figure out the right order in cleaning the house, it would save me time, effort and frustration.

All of a sudden house cleaning was turning into a blog idea: The importance of order in life and the efficiencies and value order brings. When we do things in order, we get things accomplished with efficiency and little frustration. But when we go about life out of order, it often slows us down from reaching our goals. When we do things out of order, we end up accomplishing less, often experiencing frustration, finding that shortcuts and cut corners often mean even more effort is required in the end.

Sometimes it seems like doing things out of order may be easier or more satisfying in the moment, but in the end, sticking to the right order wins.

Take making your bed first thing in the morning.

They say making your bed first in the morning sets the tone of productivity for the rest of the day. Not making your bed, because you think you can do it later, can actually affect the way you think for the rest of the day. You may find yourself procrastinating in other areas and trying to take other short cuts.

What time are you setting your alarm? They say that waking up the exact same time every single morning, adding order to your routine can actually improve your energy and productivity throughout the entire week!

There is value in order.

Often times allowing things to play out in the right order in life, takes patience. We are a generation that wants everything yesterday. We are the microwave generation. Give it to me INSTANTLY. Skip steps so I can have it faster. But consider this analogy.

There was an aspiring photographer that was wanting to rush the development of their photos in their dark room in order to showcase them at a party where the who’s who were going to be in attendance. Developing photos in a dark room requires complete darkness and a certain amount of time. If you take those photos out into the light prematurely, they are ruined. They aren’t fully developed, they have not yet reached their potential.  Rushed to make the party and showcase their work, they rushed the development of the photos, and they were ruined.  His first impressions on those at the showcase tainted his reputation for years.

I think of this in a career sense. Wherever you are right now in your professional pursuits, look to learn as much as you can in the season and position that you are in. Develop yourself as you prepare for that next opportunity— when it comes in the right time, you can be ready to step into that increased responsibility with strength and confidence. Don’t rush things out of order. Put in the work, put in the time. .

As a baby you crawl before you walk because you are building up the muscle and balance necessary to carry out the responsibility of walking. And if you fall from crawling there’s a lot less impact than if you stand prematurely and really hurt yourself when you fall. Again, value in respecting the proper order.

I wonder where we can all add a little more order to our lives or daily routine. Or where might we be trying to skip steps, take short cuts and cut corners, when we really should be patiently doing things in the right order. Then, when we reach our goals, in the right time, in the due time, our character will have grown, and we will feel the true satisfaction of achievement having followed the right order.

A few thoughts about Order. Now Imma go ORDER a pizza. And wash the sink.

Ash