I officially missed my fifth blogiversary.
Some bloggers host parties and giveaways to celebrate the anniversary of the day they started blogging, but I’m pretty sure that will never happen around here. I started blogging the day my second child went to kindergarten. That means the first day of school (or somewhere around there) always marks the milestone for me.
I can’t see myself ever getting a big celebration organized in the last few weeks of summer.
I didn’t have a party, but I did do the laundry.
Because the first day of school was a Monday, and Monday is Laundry Day.
Even though last week, Laundry Day didn’t happen until Wednesday (or maybe Thursday).
And that right there is the biggest change that has happened to me in the past five years of blogging my deslobification process.
Pre-blog, one of two things would happen (again and again):
1. I’d “conquer” laundry and then sit back to enjoy being finished. Two weeks later, my feelings were hurt and my brain was fuzzy because I couldn’t figure out why laundry was more out of control than ever.
2. I’d “manage” the laundry by throwing in a load whenever I remembered or we needed something. Do I really have to explain why this wasn’t a good method??
What’s different now?
Routine exists. Laundry has a day. Monday is that day. When Monday happens (as it does every single week), my brain (usually) remembers that it’s time to do laundry.
So when Monday happened, even though I didn’t have a full week’s worth of laundry to do, I knew that getting back on the ROUTINE was more important than any logical argument I could have had with myself about how it would make more sense to wait until later.
I did the laundry. It was less laundry than usual, but it’s now caught up. Now=Thursday.
Right. Monday was crazy because one of my kids broke his arm. But when I got back from visiting various doctors, laundry was already sorted and even though I was mentally and physically “done” for the day, it made sense to my brain to change over a load since I was in the middle of Laundry Day.
It also made sense to my brain to keep (over the next two days) doing loads until I was finished with the piles on the floor outside my laundry room.
And my brain likes knowing that I’m done. And that the piles growing bigger in bedrooms and bathrooms aren’t taunting me, they’re NEXT week’s laundry. Next week’s only-a-week’s-worth-of-laundry. For this week, I’m done.
I like love being done.
And that’s what these past five years of my deslobification process have been all about: Finding ways to keep my house under control that make sense to my brain. That actually work. In my house. For my family.
Go me.
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I linked to it up there, but I’ll link one more time here. If you are completely confused about my Laundry Day Logic, be assured that it was a long process for me to figure out what works for us. You can see the process here: My Laundry Metamorphosis.
*FYI, Laundry Day probably won’t work for you if you’re on a septic system, as it may overload your system. Sorry!
--Nony
Vicki says
Good for you! Knowing what you can handle (and then doing it) is key! Sometimes I read blogs and the ideas/must do/wouldn’t this be great posts keep me wondering if they can really keep up with it all. And maybe some do, but I can’t. I am so darn distractible! Working on making short daily lists and then following through. You are an inspiration!
Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore says
Love it Nony. Keep doing what works for you and your family. Because of your ideas, I now only do laundry on the weekend. Not always Saturday or always Sunday, but always one of the two. Plus, I liked the idea so much that I made Sunday “grocery store day”. If I forget something too bad, it has to wait until the next grocery store day, the next Sunday. Now, I almost never forget anything and I never get to the point of no food because I’m “too busy”, I just always go on Sunday. I may not need as much one week as the next, but I still go every Sunday. (I usually at least need to buy milk and fruit/veggies once a week.)
Dana says
Good for you for having a “laundry day” and sticking to it. I am more of an “always doing laundry person”. Pretty much doing laundry every day. You have inspired me not to take several days off in a row just because I can. That’s when it feels way overwhelming to me. I can’t stand the piles every where and then know I have to do 10 loads in a day (or more like two). But I can understand how it would feel good to have it all done, even just for a day. Keep posting inspiration because this slob need it as I am easily distracted and tend to quit (if even for a day) when it’s too overwhelming. I’m working on this so that never needs to happen. And we can live in a cleaner, less cluttered home:)
Sarah says
I started having Laundry Day about 3 months ago and I L-O-V-E it. I tell everyone I know. It’s like the gospel of housekeeping. Tuesday has been laundry day but next week it moved to Wednesday to accommodate my newly-minted middle school football player’s game schedule.
Your post about the way you learn led to my deliverance from the never-ending cycle of guilt and no clean underwear. Thanks so much for giving me permission to be me. ❤️
melinda says
Congratulations on 5 years!! What an accomplishment!
You have helped me so much. May you keep blogging for 55 more years!
But, only if you want to!
Jennifer says
haha–monday is also my “laundry day”. and i am also just now finishing it. but then it’s done. until monday.
Andree says
Congrats on five years!
So – how much different is the house today than it was five years ago? And how awesome is it that you’ve got all sorts of people who L-O-V-E your blog?
Dana White says
It’s amazing to me how many people relate to my struggles! The house is waaaayyyy different. I still struggle (always will!), but with TONS less stuff and habits (along with understanding) in place, things are soooo much better!
Erika says
Go Nony!!
Your post the other day about the kitchen clean up inspired me to do the same last night. Love love love your blog b/c it makes sense – to me 🙂
Congrats on 5 years!
Sarah says
Happy Blogiversary!! I love your blog and have learned so much from you!
Thank you!
Norine says
I don’t sort. I use Color Catchers and put everything in together, except towels, because they leave lint on other things. I live alone and this avoids having many tiny loads which take a lot of time.
Emily Grace says
Happy Anni!
Your blog is just great! I love naming days of the week and sticking to it. Indeed, “done” is addictive.
Best,
Emily Grace
Carol Ann says
Congratulations on your 5th anniversary! That truly is impressive and you keep the ideas rolling. I’m new to your Board but I love your style! I hope your son’s arm mends completely and quickly.