The ?broken windows? theory of policing holds that when a community tolerates minor examples of disorder and petty crime, such as broken windows, graffiti, turnstile-jumping, or drinking in public, people are more likely to commit more serious crimes.
As a law-enforcement theory, it?s controversial. But whether or not it?s true on a city-wide level, I think it?s true on a personal level.
My ?broken windows? are the particular signs of disorder that make me feel out of control and overwhelmed.
I?ll give you a list of mine if you continue reading?
My ?broken windows? are:
- Unsorted mail
- Messy stacks of newspapers
- Shoes in odd places
- Cluttered counters
- Dirty dishes scattered around the apartment (for my husband, as he often emphatically reminds me, dirty dishes left overnight are broken windows; for me, as long as the dishes make it into the sink, life feels under control)
From what I?ve observed, people?s other ?broken windows? often include:
- Staying in pajamas or sweats all day
- Eating food straight from the container
- Wearing stained or ripped clothes
- Goofing off at work, even if no one notices
- Piles of laundry or trash
- An unmade bed
About the last item: surprisingly, whenever I ask people what resolutions they?ve tried, and that make them happier, ?Make my bed? is the most common resolution that?s mentioned. It?s a very trivial thing, but it makes a big difference. (By the way, a survey by the National Sleep Foundation showed that people who make their bed are more likely to report a better night?s rest.)
Does fixing a broken window really matter? After all, in the context of a happy life, a pile of unsorted mail isn?t a big deal. In themselves, perhaps, these broken windows don?t matter much. But enforcing small signs of order make us feel more in control?and happier.
What are your ?broken windows?? They?re different for different people. Do you agree that small signs of disorder can make you feel out of control, generally?
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Would you like signed, personalized, free bookplates for copies of Happier at Home or The Happiness Project, for yourself or for friends? Or a signature card with ?Paradoxes of Happiness? or ?Tips for Happiness in Your New Home?? Request them here. Don?t know what I?m talking about? Look here.
Gretchen Rubin is the award-winning author of The Happiness Project, a #1 New York Times bestseller. Order your copy or read some sample chapters from the book. You can also watch the one-minute book video or listen to a sample of the audiobook. She is a regular contributor to Psych Central.Like this author?
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????Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 2 Mar 2013
????Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
APA Reference
Rubin, G. (2013). What Are the Broken Windows in Your Life?. Psych Central. Retrieved on March 4, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/03/02/what-are-the-broken-windows-in-your-life/
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Source: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/03/02/what-are-the-broken-windows-in-your-life/
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