“Yes, yes! I am coming.” I am ready. I mean, I need to change clothes. But other than that, I am ready. Ever had one of those mornings where you’re ready to leave, but your clothes decide to play hide-and-seek?

Now, where could they be? Naturally, not in the wardrobe – because why would anything ever be where it’s supposed to be? Ah! There they are – on the clothes line, swinging around like they’re auditioning for a hurricane documentary.

I need a plan quickly. And the plan must be quick. My algorithm? Simple. I need a shirt, jeans, and a jacket – three items, three rounds. Round one: dash down the line to nab the shirt. Round two: sprint back for the jeans. Round three: grab the jacket and call it a day. Speed? Check. Efficiency? Wait a minute.

Wheels turning. What if I snag more than one article in a single pass? Worst-case scenario: three rounds. Best-case scenario: one round. But … but, can I make it more predictable? My brain starts optimizing like it’s in a startup pitch meeting. That’s when it clicks. Why not pick up the first thing I see, and then just keep going? One round and mission accomplished.

But then that nagging feeling hits me, right when I think I’ve nailed it. The classic programmer’s dilemma! Did I really pick the optimal order? Are my iterations perfectly efficient? Algorithms aren’t just for coding. Apparently, they apply to my laundry too.

“Yes, yes! I am coming. I need to get it right, or you will have to wait even longer.” Don’t they realize, algorithms take time to perfect. Time and patience. I should know. I craft them for a living. And boy, am I gonna get those clothes down fast!