Our first strategy is the Daily Reset. This is a simple but incredibly effective technique where you dedicate a short, focused burst of time—we're talking 15 minutes or less—to putting items back in their "homes" at the end of the day. The goal is to return your space to a state of order, so you wake up to a fresh start.

Think of it this way: clutter can't accumulate if it's never given the chance to settle. By resetting your space each evening, you prevent small messes from becoming big, overwhelming ones. This gives you a sense of calm and control and allows you to truly relax at the end of the day.

Here are a few strong examples of a perfect "Daily Reset" target:

• Wiping down the kitchen counters after dinner.

• Putting a few dishes in the dishwasher.

• Straightening up the living room by putting stray blankets and pillows away.

• Clearing your digital desktop of open tabs and documents.

The second key habit for this week is revisiting a strategy we learned in Week 1: the One-Touch Rule. The rule is simple: when an item comes into your life, whether it's a physical object or a digital one, you make a decision the very first time you touch it. Now that you've completed weeks two and three—you have zones and designated homes for everything—this rule is easier than ever to implement.

The One-Touch Rule is your final defense against new clutter. When that new piece of mail, a new pair of shoes, or a downloaded file comes into your life, you can immediately put it in its designated home because you've already created it. No more letting things sit on the counter or pile up on your desk. This strategy prevents clutter from accumulating and reinforces a proactive mindset.

Here are a few strong examples of a perfect "One-Touch Rule" target:

Physical Mail

• Without the Rule: The mail comes in, you place it on the kitchen counter, and it sits there for a week, creating a pile of clutter and stress.

• With the Rule: You grab the mail from the mailbox, walk to a designated spot, and immediately sort it. Junk mail goes directly into the recycling bin. Bills are placed in a specific "To Pay" folder. Invitations or important papers are filed in their proper home.

Dirty Dishes

• Without the Rule: After a meal, you leave a few plates and glasses on the counter or in the sink, planning to deal with them later. This quickly becomes a towering mess.

• With the Rule: As soon as you're done with a plate, you immediately rinse it and put it in the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is full, you start it. This takes only a few seconds and prevents the kitchen from becoming overwhelmed.

Groceries

• Without the Rule: You get home from the store, drop the bags on the counter, and start putting a few things away while others sit there until you remember them later.

• With the Rule: You immediately put every item in its designated home—the fresh produce goes in the crisper, the milk in the fridge, and the canned goods in their spot in the pantry. This prevents food from spoiling and keeps your kitchen tidy from the moment you get home.

Unpacked Purchases

• Without the Rule: You buy a new shirt, bring it home, and leave it on a chair or the bed "to deal with later."

• With the Rule: You bring a new shirt home and immediately take it out of the bag. You remove the tags, and either put it directly on its hanger in the closet or in the laundry if it needs to be washed first.

The key to all of these examples is building a simple habit of immediate action. It’s a little effort in the moment for a lot of freedom from clutter and stress later.