1 Minute Habit · #312
1 Minute Habit for November 8
Test all the pens in a drawer and throw out the ones that don't work
Why This Habit Helps
Eliminating non-functional items from your environment reduces daily micro-frustrations that cumulatively drain mental energy.
This small act of curation creates reliable systems that support rather than hinder your daily activities and creative expression.
What You’ll Do in 1 Minute
- Saves time searching for working pens
- Reduces minor daily annoyances
- Creates reliable systems at home
- Prevents ruined documents or forms
- Brings order to small but frequent tasks
Quick Overview
The humble pen drawer often becomes a graveyard for dried-out markers, skipping ballpoints, and mysterious writing implements that no longer serve their purpose.
This simple curation process transforms frustration into functionality, ensuring that when you reach for a writing tool, it actually works—every time.
What the Research Says
How to Get Started
- Empty the entire pen drawer onto a clean surface
- Test each pen on a scrap piece of paper
- Create three piles: working, questionable, and dead
- Immediately recycle the dead pens
- Return only the working pens to the drawer, organized by type or color
How to Adapt This Habit
If you’re a busy professional
Apply this to your office supply cabinet—ensure every stapler, tape dispenser, and marker is functional
If you’re a parent
Make it a family activity—have kids test markers and crayons, teaching them about maintaining their tools
If you’re a student or learner
Do this with your pencil case before each exam period—eliminate the stress of unreliable writing tools
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đź’¬ Your Success Stories
I used to waste precious minutes every morning searching for a pen that actually worked, often settling for one that skipped or smudged. After testing all 23 pens in my kitchen drawer, I discovered only 7 worked properly! Now I have a small cup with just the reliable ones, and my morning note-writing is smooth and frustration-free. It's amazing how such a simple fix improved my daily routine.
— Lisa
