Continuing the theme for this week of organizing your personal environment, the next topic to tackle is your keys and keyrings - one of those combined items that everyone, regardless of gender, has to carry in modern life.

After optimizing my wallet, my key bundle was the next thing that I decided to sort out many years ago. At the time, I realised that I was carrying 7 or 8 different keys, with several keyrings and other paraphernalia all in one “convenient” bundle. I’d never considered this a bad thing before, and at one point had even considered myself “cool” and “grown-up” because I had a multitude of places that I had access to. It wasn’t until I sat down, took out the prodigious collection of metal that I had accumulated and looked at it that I realized I had an opportunity to optimize!

How to Unclutter your Keys

1. Check out your bundle - This step is simple… Get out your keys, whether they are in one or several bundles, and have a good long look. You might be instantly surprised at how much you are carrying.
2. Identify what keys you are carrying - Take a good long look at your keyring, and make sure you identify each key on there. If you are carrying keys you can’t identify, it’s probably a safe bet that you don’t need them, at least daily. Put the keys you can’t identify in a one pile, the ones you can in another.
3. Identify what else you are carrying - This is keyrings, karabiners, tools, torches etc. If these items outnumber your keys then you are on the right page. Take time to think about why you are carrying them - Are they useful? Are they keepsakes? Sort them into essential and non-essential piles.
4. Reassemble intelligently - Beginning with the keys you know you use daily, start putting things back together. Keep related keys together on the same ring. Keep car keys seperate from house keys. Attach only those keyrings that serve a useful purpose (see below for info on sentimental keyrings).
5. Consider mutiple keyrings - If you have several logical sets of keys (e.g. daily, car, garden and garage, windows etc.) then I’d recommend keeping them on seperate organized keyrings. I don’t have enough keys to warrant one at present, but I am a big fan of those boards you can get with the little hooks on - a great way to intelligently store all your sets of keys in one sensible place. Tip: Put the key board somewhere central, but out of the sight of windows (So intruders won’t spot them).
6. Dealing with sentimental items - Most people will probably have some sentimental items, or keepsakes, on their keyring. Great. Nothing wrong with that. But think… Is hiding that item in the bottom of your handbag or pocket the best place to keep something you treasure? Can you enjoy it there? Is it being cared for? When I first did this, I took my sentimental keyrings (there were two), and hung them both from my rear view mirror in my car. Result: Lighter pockets, and I could see my treasured items more frequently.

Further Points

• If the array of keys you carry daily could be used to club someone unconscious, then it might be time to pare it down a bit.
• Too many bills from your chiropractor? Wondering why you get backache a lot? Why not stick your entire bundle of keys on a set of scales and weigh them…
• If you run or bike outside, and need keys to get back in, get a copy made of the main door(s) that you need access to and keep them seperate - only take the keys you will absolutely need.