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EDITOR’S NOTE
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IT TAKES acertain kindofneat freak—and Iuse thatterm affectionately—to workat Real Simple. (Note to staff:Let’sagree tooverlookthe currentstateof myoffice. Iswear thereisan organizedperson hidingin there somewhere.)Duringtheregular course of business,wecan have long, lively conversations,aswedid yesterday,abouthusbandswhodon’t put thecap onthetoothpaste and collegeroommateswho don’tput thecaponlipstick andotherwise lovelyandwell-adjusted colleagues who don’t putthecap back onthe seltzerbottle tight enough.
Mundane? Definitely.Butweat
RealSimple knowthatwhether a husbandputsthecap backonthe toothpasteoftenhasadisproportionatelybigimpactonourday-today.Becauseatoothpaste capleft lyingnexttothetube leadstoa feeling, andthatfeeling mightbe I strive to beafair, lovingwife,Ithenallowed thatyourwholelifeisoutofcontrol. himtoreadthis:“For others,asurfeit of stuff
Ifyouarereading this magazine, offerssecurity, memories, andevenpride.” I’m chancesareyouknowthefeelingI stillwaiting to hearhis explanationfor how describe.And chancesare,youwill leaving thecapoff the toothpaste makes him loveJancee Dunn’s “HowtoLive feelsecure and proud. WithaMessyPersonandNotGo Youprobablyknowthat2016isaleapyear,so Insane”(page126). IreaditwhileI thisFebruarywe get abonusday! Ratherthan wassittingnexttomy husband,and spendingitfumingover thesmall (and,yes, super I forced him to readthispassage: irritating,distracting,andconfounding)stuff, I “Scientificresearch has shownthat thinkwe neatfreaksshouldallagreetoreconcile a cluttered home candisrupta per- ourdifferenceswith messylovedones and son’slevel of cortisol.”And because relax abit.Firstusetheexpertadvice in Jancee’s story to calmyournerves (withoutsurrendering your principles).Thenlookfor the lightbulbs (like theoneontheright)throughouttheissue for smart,time-savingtipstohelpyouseize theday… byclearingyourschedule.
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