There’s this really fun game I’ve been playing with many of my clients lately, it’s called what the eff are all these cords.

The thing about this game is that it’s almost entirely un-fun, (some might even go so far as to call it “excruciating”) but afterwards you get to feel like you just summited a high peak, having freed yourself from the dread and burden of lugging around worthless and befuddling items.

The cords’ power over you lies within its mysterious nature. After all, what if you need this [totally unidentifiable cord]?! I don’t know, I’ve got no clue, and rather than even attempt to play the game, I’ll just forfeit instead to crazy cord clutter. 

Not around here. No longer. Here’s how you play:

Gather together all your not-in-use cords–the adapters and the weird ones and the surge protectors and the extension cords.

Untangle the knots and coil them all up, spreading out on a large work surface. Place like with like as best as you can.

(Here comes the fun part!) The rules are thus: if you can identify its purpose, you get to keep the cord(!) If you can’t, you let it go.

Sounds like the highlight of your weekend, doesn’t it?

Great, well get to playin’.

Psssst: here’s a little guide for figuring out which cords are which and help with how to label them. 

And here’s an assemblage of ideas on how to store your keepers.

Plus, at the bottom of this guy you’ll find resources on recycling electronic materials. 

If you do decide to tackle your cords, be sure to share your assignment on social media, using the hashtag #MYLIVESIMPLY.

Thanks for reading, force be with ye.

Image credit: LS Instagram, project by natalie shriver for designlovefest; photos by kimberly genevieve