Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter

Walk on By

Usually I’m an advocate for smelling roses, seeking out the beauty on your daily commute, being fully present. But there’s one exception to my eyes-wide-open philosophy: Shopping.

When you go to, say, Target to buy four specific things—you know, toilet paper, dish pods, toothpaste, Popsicles—do you end up with 15 things in your basket? You’re not alone.

Just because things are cheap, cunningly displayed, colorful and appealing, you don’t need a new shower curtain. You came for four items. Just four items.

When I walk through Target, I imagine I have blinders on. I look neither left nor right; I try to zip from one department to another without distraction. It is not easy: Sometimes I literally hum “Walk On By” to myself as I try to ignore the pretty lemonade pitchers. I know Target wasn’t what Dionne Warwick and Burt Bacharach had in mind, but hey, whatever works.

Usually “focus” is something you practice at work, when you’re writing, or trying to do something with numbers, but when it comes to everyday errands you don’t think you need to employ all of your executive function. You’re golden! You made it to Target, or the grocery store, and you’ve got one less to-do to get done. But going off list is just as bad as not going at all. You just end up bringing home more stuff that you don’t need. If you needed it, it would have been on the list.

So, when you are on your way to work, by all means, notice the faces of your fellow subway riders, appreciate the crisp blue sky of a winter’s morning and be in the moment. But in the grocery store or the big-box store, try to make your focus laserlike. Don’t get distracted, don’t get suckered in and you won’t end up spending $100 when you went in for four little items.