It's that time of year again....the time that everyone begins thoroughly cleaning their homes, getting rid of clutter, making room for some new clutter! :) Since I've been sharing a few tips from Sink Reflections lately, I figured why not continue the pattern? So here is another simple tip from this helpful book:
Instead of manically spring cleaning all at once, why not divide your house up into zones, and work on it a little at a time? The author suggests dividing it into 5 zones:
1) entrance/dining room/front porch
2) kitchen
3) bathroom/children's room(s)/spare bedroom or office
4) master bedroom/master bathroom
5) living room/family room/den
She decided on 5 zones because there are usually about 5 weeks each month, so each week of the month you can focus on a different zone. She recommends working on the current zone for only 15 minutes to an hour each day, knowing that if you don't get everything finished, you can pick up where you left off the next month! She also gives suggestions of exactly what needs to be done in each zone.
Due to my schedule, I prefer to divide my house into 6 zones, and only focus on one each month....which means overall, I "spring clean" my house twice a year. If that's still too overwhelming for you, you could also take 2 months to clean each zone, and by the end of the year, you'd be done with the whole house.
No matter how you divide it up, the important part is that it's broken into smaller, more managable tasks, so that it feels much less overwhelming! And when you know you only have to clean for a few minutes, you're more likely not to put it off!
Before you know it, you'll be zipping through all your zones!
Showing posts with label Sink Reflections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sink Reflections. Show all posts
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wildcard Wednesday: Sink Reflections
In my last two "Simplify Saturday" posts, I've referred to a book called Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley, so I thought I'd take a minute to share a little more about this book.
It's unlike any other "organizing" book I've read, in that it doesn't tell you the best method(s) for organizing a closet or drawer, and it doesn't talk about organizational gadgets, and it doesn't expect you to get organized in a week or even a month. Instead, it teaches that doing a little a day, whether it's done perfectly or not, will go a long way in getting you to your goal. It also talks about the importance of loving and taking care of yourself, something that many of us aren't too good at. So whether you're living a life of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), or whether you're just looking for a little advice in getting your house or your life together, I recommend picking up a copy of this book.
(And one more thing, this last week I've been thinking about doing a "Friday Favorites" post on tassles sometime in the near future because I'm in love with them! I'm even considering doing a tutorial on making tassles. Ironically, this week, Susan from Between Naps on the Porch did a post featuring some adorable tassles and is hosting a drawing for a $30.00 gift certificate for The Tassle House! Stop by both places to enjoy some super cute tassles. And be looking for a tassle post from me sometime in the future!)
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| (I think it's ironic that the flash from my camera left a reflection on the sink!) |
It's unlike any other "organizing" book I've read, in that it doesn't tell you the best method(s) for organizing a closet or drawer, and it doesn't talk about organizational gadgets, and it doesn't expect you to get organized in a week or even a month. Instead, it teaches that doing a little a day, whether it's done perfectly or not, will go a long way in getting you to your goal. It also talks about the importance of loving and taking care of yourself, something that many of us aren't too good at. So whether you're living a life of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome), or whether you're just looking for a little advice in getting your house or your life together, I recommend picking up a copy of this book.
(And one more thing, this last week I've been thinking about doing a "Friday Favorites" post on tassles sometime in the near future because I'm in love with them! I'm even considering doing a tutorial on making tassles. Ironically, this week, Susan from Between Naps on the Porch did a post featuring some adorable tassles and is hosting a drawing for a $30.00 gift certificate for The Tassle House! Stop by both places to enjoy some super cute tassles. And be looking for a tassle post from me sometime in the future!)
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Simplify Saturday: Daily Routines
Last week I focused on tasks that need to be done on a weekly basis, & talked about assigning each of those tasks to a different day of the week. But what about those things that need to be done daily? Well, you can use the same strategy, only this time assign them to a different time of the day.
You might remember that last week I mentioned a book called Sink Reflections (which I highly recommend). The book suggests developing a Morning Routine & a Before Bed Routine to help get those daily tasks accomplished. For instance, the author shares that before bed she puts dirty dishes in the dishwasher, opens mail, lays out clothes for tomorrow, etc. Her Morning Routine, on the other hand, not only consists of taking a shower & getting dressed, but also putting on a load of laundry and checking email. While those particular routines didn't meet my needs or work with my schedule, I did like the general idea, so I went to work assigning my daily tasks to the different routines. I found it helpful to add an Afternoon Routine, too.
Now I must admit that in writing this, I am talking to myself as well! There are many weeks, especially lately, when I don't follow my routines, but I've found that when I do, I feel much more in control, organized, & energized! While it may seem complicated, it really simplifies life! When your routines become a habit, you can fly right through them, and once finished, your mind can be at ease for the rest of the day! I also found that gradually adding tasks to the routines, rather than trying to do everything right away, helped keep me from becoming too overwhelmed in the beginning.
To give you an idea of what my routines look like, here is what I put together for my Afternoon Routine, which I do immediately after I get home from work (when I'm actually following my routines!):
- Clean Trash Out of Car (as I'm getting out of the car)
- Sort Through Mail (File, Shred, Trash, etc.)
- Pick Up Clutter (When I'm keeping up with my routines, things don't seem to get nearly as messy. So I simply spend about 5-10 minutes walking through the house & picking up any clutter that's accumulated in the last day....shoes, dishes, etc. Now when I'm not following my weekly schedule & routines, there is way too much clutter to pick up in that amount of time, but at least I can get a few things picked up.)
- Start a Load of Laundry if needed
- Start the Dishwasher or Unload Clean Dishes if needed
- Change into My Workout Clothes (I find that if I change into my workout clothes, I'm much more likely to actually workout!)
- Charge Cell Phone
All of this takes me about 45 minutes tops.....less if there is no laundry or dishes to do. The important thing is to adjust it to fit your own needs. Maybe an afternoon routine doesn't work for you, but a dinner time routine would be helpful. In the beginning you might try only one or two tasks, and after they become habit, add another one or two. Do what you have to do to make it work for you!
I'm ready to get back to simplifying my life! How about you?
You might remember that last week I mentioned a book called Sink Reflections (which I highly recommend). The book suggests developing a Morning Routine & a Before Bed Routine to help get those daily tasks accomplished. For instance, the author shares that before bed she puts dirty dishes in the dishwasher, opens mail, lays out clothes for tomorrow, etc. Her Morning Routine, on the other hand, not only consists of taking a shower & getting dressed, but also putting on a load of laundry and checking email. While those particular routines didn't meet my needs or work with my schedule, I did like the general idea, so I went to work assigning my daily tasks to the different routines. I found it helpful to add an Afternoon Routine, too.
Now I must admit that in writing this, I am talking to myself as well! There are many weeks, especially lately, when I don't follow my routines, but I've found that when I do, I feel much more in control, organized, & energized! While it may seem complicated, it really simplifies life! When your routines become a habit, you can fly right through them, and once finished, your mind can be at ease for the rest of the day! I also found that gradually adding tasks to the routines, rather than trying to do everything right away, helped keep me from becoming too overwhelmed in the beginning.
To give you an idea of what my routines look like, here is what I put together for my Afternoon Routine, which I do immediately after I get home from work (when I'm actually following my routines!):
- Clean Trash Out of Car (as I'm getting out of the car)
- Sort Through Mail (File, Shred, Trash, etc.)
- Pick Up Clutter (When I'm keeping up with my routines, things don't seem to get nearly as messy. So I simply spend about 5-10 minutes walking through the house & picking up any clutter that's accumulated in the last day....shoes, dishes, etc. Now when I'm not following my weekly schedule & routines, there is way too much clutter to pick up in that amount of time, but at least I can get a few things picked up.)
- Start a Load of Laundry if needed
- Start the Dishwasher or Unload Clean Dishes if needed
- Change into My Workout Clothes (I find that if I change into my workout clothes, I'm much more likely to actually workout!)
- Charge Cell Phone
All of this takes me about 45 minutes tops.....less if there is no laundry or dishes to do. The important thing is to adjust it to fit your own needs. Maybe an afternoon routine doesn't work for you, but a dinner time routine would be helpful. In the beginning you might try only one or two tasks, and after they become habit, add another one or two. Do what you have to do to make it work for you!
I'm ready to get back to simplifying my life! How about you?
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Simplify Saturday: A Purpose A Day Keeps the Stress At Bay
A purpose a day keeps the stress (& clutter) at bay.......Let me first start by sharing a little about my work as a counselor at a hospice. Several years ago, after struggling to stay on top of my many weekly tasks, I developed a system......a system that I still use to this day because I found that it works so well! That system was simply this: I assigned each task to a particular day of the week. For instance, Tuesday is my day to complete all of my letters that need to be sent out for that week. It's also my day to prepare for our weekly team meeting. Thursday, on the other hand, is my day for processing donations. You get the picture. I still have many other daily tasks, such as actually meeting with my clients (kind of important when you're a counselor) and making phone calls, but it was my weekly tasks that were always being pushed aside. What I found is that by assigning my regular weekly tasks to a particular day of the week, it is much less overwhelming. First, it's already planned out for me. Secondly, I don't have to worry as much about forgetting to do something because the day serves as a reminder for what needs to be done. Thirdly, because I divided the tasks up, I've found that it's much easier to fit them into my work day or squeeze them in between clients and meetings.
Not only did I assign tasks according to when they needed to be done (for instance, obviously I need to prepare for our meeting before the meeting takes place), but I also split them up according to the amount of time each task typically takes. That way on Monday and Wednesdays, my days that have morning meetings, I have fewer (or at least less time-consuming) tasks. I've even planned for some "catch up" time one day a week in case it's a crazy-busy week. In the beginning I had to play around with it some to figure out what worked best, and over time, as new tasks have been added or changed, I've had to tweek it a little. And of course, as in most jobs, there are always things that come up at the last minute....a client calls or needs to be seen unexpectedly, a phone call lasts much longer than planned, and so on......so things don't always work out exactly as planned. But overall, the system has worked great for me!
So....now let me get to my point....a couple years ago, in the midst of feeling overwhelmed by my weekly household duties (you know, laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning, bills, etc.), it hit me! Why not do the same thing at home that I've been doing at work for years? I started by making a list of everything that needs to be done at my house daily, everything that needs to be done weekly, everything that needs to be done monthly, and so on. Then I assigned the weekly tasks to a particular day, and the monthly tasks I assigned to a particulary time of the month (such as the first Saturday). After testing it out & playing around with it a little, my weekly schedule looks something this:
Monday: Purse & Paperwork
This entails cleaning out my purse, paying bills, filing, and making my grocery list for the week. (On a good day, I also try to clean out the refrigerator as I'm making the grocery list so that it will be ready for the new groceries.)
Tuesday: Groceries & Gas
This includes stopping by the grocery store on my way home - remember I made my grocery list the day before & put it in my purse so I'd have it with me. It also includes filling up with gas, which I do whether my tank is on "E" or not. This way I don't have to worry about filling up when I'm running late, which I admit, is often! Of course, there are always weeks that I drive more & have to fill up in between, but this helps!
Wednesday: Cleaning Part 1
I divided my weekly cleaning into 2 parts so that it would be a little more manageable. On Wednesday, I dust, vacuum, & sweep. (I must admit, I love my feather duster, and in order to make the process a little quicker, I usually use it instead of Pledge. I will typically use Pledge only about once a month, and sometimes I just rotate rooms. For instance, the first week I'll use Pledge in my bedroom, but the feather duster everywhere else. The next week I'll use Pledge in the living room, but use the feather duster in my bedroom, and so on.)
Thursday: Cleaning Part 2
On day two of cleaning, I focus on the bathrooms & kitchen, two areas that can get dirty really fast! I don't have to tell you what all this includes (you know, the mirrors, toilets, bathtubs/showers, countertops, sinks, stovetop, etc.)
Friday: Family & Fun
I decided I needed a "free" day....a day to either spend time with family or my hubby, or just do nothing. Most Fridays, my hubby & I either go out to eat with family or we just rent a movie and relax. If I've gotten all of my weekly tasks done, I'm not worried about everything that needs to be done & it's much easier to just relax.
Saturday: Projects, Pamper, & Play
I use Saturdays for my bigger projects (such as deep cleaning or re-organizing or any other project the hubby & I have been wanting to do around the house) or for any craft projects I've been wanting to do. I also try to get a mani/pedi at least once every month (that's where the pamper part comes in). I think it's important to take some time to pamper yourself occasionally. And then, of course, it's important to take some time to play.....whether it be going to a party or shower or just taking some time to play at home with family. (I, of course, like to take some time to play with my dishes, too!) If need be, I also use Saturdays to catch up on any tasks that I didn't get quite finished throughout the week.
Sunday: Rest, Relax, & Renew
I try to make Sundays a time for renewal (both spirit and body). Although it doesn't always happen this way, my ideal Sunday includes going to church, spending a little time with family over lunch, taking an afternoon nap (there's just nothing quite like a Sunday afternoon nap), and preparing for the beginning of another week.
You may be wondering what happened to laundry & dishes......well, for me it's easier to just do those on a daily basis as needed. I try to check them daily & when there's enough to start a load, I do it. (In fact, I have a daily routine, too, but I'll save that for another time.) Now, I must admit, this is still a work in progress, and there are many weeks that I get off my routine, but the weeks that I actually stick to my plan seem to go much smoother for me! Not only do I feel like I've gotten more accomplished, but I actually usually feel like I have more free time! Keep in mind, too, that I try to spend no more than 1-1 1/2 hours a day on the task(s). And it's amazing how much less stressed I feel! When I complete the task(s) for the day, I don't have to worry about everything else that needs to be done because I know that it's assigned to another day! The important thing to remember is to make it work for you, according to what your tasks & needs are. It should be a tool to help ease your stress, not add to it!
It's interesting that not too long after coming up with this plan, I came across a book (Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley) that encourages that same type of plan. I plan to talk much more about the book & it's suggestions in future posts, but I encourage you to pick up a copy & read it. It has some great practical advise on keeping up with your household duties.
Also, I just had to mention that the "purpose a day" is Biblical. Remember last week when I blogged about the creation? Well, if you think about it, it's a great example of having a purpose for each day! Plus, God made the last day a day for rest as well.
So there you have it.....try it out & see if it doesn't help ease your stress & reduce your clutter!
Not only did I assign tasks according to when they needed to be done (for instance, obviously I need to prepare for our meeting before the meeting takes place), but I also split them up according to the amount of time each task typically takes. That way on Monday and Wednesdays, my days that have morning meetings, I have fewer (or at least less time-consuming) tasks. I've even planned for some "catch up" time one day a week in case it's a crazy-busy week. In the beginning I had to play around with it some to figure out what worked best, and over time, as new tasks have been added or changed, I've had to tweek it a little. And of course, as in most jobs, there are always things that come up at the last minute....a client calls or needs to be seen unexpectedly, a phone call lasts much longer than planned, and so on......so things don't always work out exactly as planned. But overall, the system has worked great for me!
So....now let me get to my point....a couple years ago, in the midst of feeling overwhelmed by my weekly household duties (you know, laundry, dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning, bills, etc.), it hit me! Why not do the same thing at home that I've been doing at work for years? I started by making a list of everything that needs to be done at my house daily, everything that needs to be done weekly, everything that needs to be done monthly, and so on. Then I assigned the weekly tasks to a particular day, and the monthly tasks I assigned to a particulary time of the month (such as the first Saturday). After testing it out & playing around with it a little, my weekly schedule looks something this:
Monday: Purse & Paperwork
This entails cleaning out my purse, paying bills, filing, and making my grocery list for the week. (On a good day, I also try to clean out the refrigerator as I'm making the grocery list so that it will be ready for the new groceries.)
Tuesday: Groceries & Gas
This includes stopping by the grocery store on my way home - remember I made my grocery list the day before & put it in my purse so I'd have it with me. It also includes filling up with gas, which I do whether my tank is on "E" or not. This way I don't have to worry about filling up when I'm running late, which I admit, is often! Of course, there are always weeks that I drive more & have to fill up in between, but this helps!
Wednesday: Cleaning Part 1
I divided my weekly cleaning into 2 parts so that it would be a little more manageable. On Wednesday, I dust, vacuum, & sweep. (I must admit, I love my feather duster, and in order to make the process a little quicker, I usually use it instead of Pledge. I will typically use Pledge only about once a month, and sometimes I just rotate rooms. For instance, the first week I'll use Pledge in my bedroom, but the feather duster everywhere else. The next week I'll use Pledge in the living room, but use the feather duster in my bedroom, and so on.)
Thursday: Cleaning Part 2
On day two of cleaning, I focus on the bathrooms & kitchen, two areas that can get dirty really fast! I don't have to tell you what all this includes (you know, the mirrors, toilets, bathtubs/showers, countertops, sinks, stovetop, etc.)
Friday: Family & Fun
I decided I needed a "free" day....a day to either spend time with family or my hubby, or just do nothing. Most Fridays, my hubby & I either go out to eat with family or we just rent a movie and relax. If I've gotten all of my weekly tasks done, I'm not worried about everything that needs to be done & it's much easier to just relax.
Saturday: Projects, Pamper, & Play
I use Saturdays for my bigger projects (such as deep cleaning or re-organizing or any other project the hubby & I have been wanting to do around the house) or for any craft projects I've been wanting to do. I also try to get a mani/pedi at least once every month (that's where the pamper part comes in). I think it's important to take some time to pamper yourself occasionally. And then, of course, it's important to take some time to play.....whether it be going to a party or shower or just taking some time to play at home with family. (I, of course, like to take some time to play with my dishes, too!) If need be, I also use Saturdays to catch up on any tasks that I didn't get quite finished throughout the week.
Sunday: Rest, Relax, & Renew
I try to make Sundays a time for renewal (both spirit and body). Although it doesn't always happen this way, my ideal Sunday includes going to church, spending a little time with family over lunch, taking an afternoon nap (there's just nothing quite like a Sunday afternoon nap), and preparing for the beginning of another week.
You may be wondering what happened to laundry & dishes......well, for me it's easier to just do those on a daily basis as needed. I try to check them daily & when there's enough to start a load, I do it. (In fact, I have a daily routine, too, but I'll save that for another time.) Now, I must admit, this is still a work in progress, and there are many weeks that I get off my routine, but the weeks that I actually stick to my plan seem to go much smoother for me! Not only do I feel like I've gotten more accomplished, but I actually usually feel like I have more free time! Keep in mind, too, that I try to spend no more than 1-1 1/2 hours a day on the task(s). And it's amazing how much less stressed I feel! When I complete the task(s) for the day, I don't have to worry about everything else that needs to be done because I know that it's assigned to another day! The important thing to remember is to make it work for you, according to what your tasks & needs are. It should be a tool to help ease your stress, not add to it!
It's interesting that not too long after coming up with this plan, I came across a book (Sink Reflections by Marla Cilley) that encourages that same type of plan. I plan to talk much more about the book & it's suggestions in future posts, but I encourage you to pick up a copy & read it. It has some great practical advise on keeping up with your household duties.
Also, I just had to mention that the "purpose a day" is Biblical. Remember last week when I blogged about the creation? Well, if you think about it, it's a great example of having a purpose for each day! Plus, God made the last day a day for rest as well.
So there you have it.....try it out & see if it doesn't help ease your stress & reduce your clutter!
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