I hate searching for the tools I need when I am doing a task. I don’t want to make something more complicated or longer because I have to hunt down what I need todo the task. I’ve developed task stations in my home to make my life easier.
What Is A Task Station?
A task station is an area or collection of stuff that is kept together to make doing a task faster and easier.
I had thought this was a pretty obvious thing, because I was raised this way. But I was reminded it isn’t when I was helping a friend and she had to go to three different rooms to get the scissors, tape and wrapping paper for a gift.
I used task stations in my classroom. I had an area for extra credit puzzles, calculators, class binders, paper management (hole puncher, stapler) and hygiene (tissues, hand sanitizer, bathroom passes). The students knew where things were and were able to be self-sufficient and non-disruptive.
It Doesn’t Have To Be A Physical Area
The task station doesn’t have to be a physical area in order to function. It just has to keep needed supplies together. My gift wrapping “station” is a tote bag that holds wrapping paper, gift tags, bags, tissue, and has a pencil pouch containing scissors, tape and a pen. It lives in a closet until I need to wrap something, at which time it comes into the kitchen.
For letter writing I have repurposed an old document organizer. I keep blank cards, notepaper, a pen and stamps. It’s small enough that it takes up little room in my kitchen, and I refill it from my larger stocks of stationery items as needed. Having all these items together means I will write a note, address it and send it with no delays.
My Other Stations
I have other stations in my life:
- Coffee. I repurposed an unused butler’s pantry into a coffee station. Everything I need to make coffee in the morning is there, from mugs to creamers to the actual coffee.
- Craft. When I am working on a craft project, I keep it contained in small tote bags. (Except for the ginormous knitted afghan, but that’s a story in itself) I can find all of the tools that I need right away and have everything right there.
- Bill paying. Most of our bill paying is done via electronic these days, but there are a few that require paper checks (WHY, sewerage district?!?!) Keeping the bills with stamps and a checkbook and pen make it easy to pay without hunting things down
- Cleaning. I have cleaning supplies in a caddy in each bathroom. I never have to hunt for disinfectant wipes, cleanser or glass cleaner – it’s all right there.
- Reading. When I am reading non-fiction on paper, I like to have flags and highlighter handy, as well as something to take notes on. I keep this together in a bag with the book I am reading.
- Mani/pedi. A case contains all I need to do manicures and pedicures. It comes out when in use and tucks back into the closet when not in use. It also doubles as a control: if I don’t have room for a polish, I don’t buy a new one.
Creating Stations
When I first started doing task stations, I was coming out of my minimalism phase. I realized that having multiples of certain items, kept together, made my life easier.
I started simple with the stations, starting with the gift wrap. I hated having to search around for things – especially since I inevitably leave gift wrapping for the last minute.
After I established that station, I built the stations slowly. Any time I found myself having to gather things together and take them somewhere to complete a task, I created a station.
I started small. I used tote bags to corral things together. And it used up a wide variety of tote bags that had ended up in my house (I swear they breed under the full moon….)
If you want to create a station, look for situations where you are having to gather things together. Then buy what you need to make a station. The Dollar Store is your friend for this.
In Conclusion
Task stations are a simple way to make your life easier. By keeping related items together, you reduce the friction that comes with starting and completing tasks. Start with one station for a task that regularly requires you to gather things from different areas, and build from there. Soon you’ll find yourself naturally creating stations wherever they make sense in your life.