• Home
  • Get Started!
  • Speaking
  • Blog
    • Cleaning
    • decluttering
    • organization
    • All posts
  • Podcast
  • Books
    • Jesus Doesn't Care About Your Messy House
      • Get a Discussion Guide
    • Organizing for the Rest of Us
    • Decluttering at the Speed of Life
    • How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind
  • Video
  • Shortcut Solutions
    • 14 Days to Opening Your Front Door to Guests e-book
    • Make Dinner Happen
    • The 5 Day Clutter Shakedown Video Course
    • Printable Checklists E-Book from A Slob Comes Clean
    • Teaching Kids to Clean e-book
    • Giving God the Worst of Me - free e-book
    • My Book Publishing Journey
    • Take Your House Back
  • Decluttering Coaches

Dana K. White

A SLOB COMES CLEAN

Reality-Based Cleaning, Decluttering, & Organizing

 

  • About
  • Contact
  • TV & Media

  • Home
  • Get Started!
  • Speaking
  • Blog
    • Cleaning
    • decluttering
    • organization
    • All posts
  • Podcast
  • Books
    • Jesus Doesn't Care About Your Messy House
      • Get a Discussion Guide
    • Organizing for the Rest of Us
    • Decluttering at the Speed of Life
    • How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind
  • Video
  • Shortcut Solutions
    • 14 Days to Opening Your Front Door to Guests e-book
    • Make Dinner Happen
    • The 5 Day Clutter Shakedown Video Course
    • Printable Checklists E-Book from A Slob Comes Clean
    • Teaching Kids to Clean e-book
    • Giving God the Worst of Me - free e-book
    • My Book Publishing Journey
    • Take Your House Back
  • Decluttering Coaches
Videos
Blog
Podcast
Products & Courses
Books
About
Decluttering Coaches

What should I be doing?

August 26, 2009 By Dana White | 28 Comments

  • 12shares
  • 6
  • 0
  • 6

So I’ve blogged for two days now. Not exactly a marathon accomplishment, but you have to start somewhere.

I’m guessing that if anyone was reading this, they’d probably want to tell me about some great resources to help in getting my house in order. I’m very open to reading things, but I should probably share that I’ve read quite a few things on home organization already. QUITE a few. Three biggies are Sidetracked Home Executives, flylady , and the book How Not to be a Messie which is available through Amazon.com. All of these are great. Fun reads and they help me feel like I’m not alone. Like I’m not a total freak and that others have had these same struggles. This is wonderful, but I’ve never had much of a problem with self esteem. I just need my house to be clean.

Several years ago, I was reading How Not to be a Messie (given me by my mother) and shared with her on the phone how much I was enjoying it. So she asked if it had helped at all. I said “Well I haven’t finished reading it yet!” The problem is that I know I’m messy, and all of these books, sites, resources have helped me in some ways. They have given me good ideas and perspective. But really, I just have to do it. I have to focus. My home has to be my priority in order for me to get it under control. The problem with all of this is that I get so easily overwhelmed. I love the parts where they talk about the psychology of this “problem” and how it affects you. But when they start talking about all of the things I actually have to do to conquer this, the words start swimming on the page and my head spins.

I do highly recommend Flylady. She recommends babysteps and gives you practical advice. If you want advice on keeping your home in order, go to her. This isn’t the place for that. This is about me trying to figure things out. I finally deleted myself from her list when I realized I hadn’t read one of her MANY emails in months. So, they were just becoming more clutter/guilt in my life.

So, I’m going to be very basic as I get started.

Make my bed. Every morning. EVERY morning.

Get up early enough to put on workout clothes, get breakfast ready and empty the dishwasher before the kids get up. 6:15.

Do a load of laundry every day.

Clean off the table after every meal.

Put things in the dishwasher instead of the sink.

Make lunches the night before.

I could go on and on and on and on with the things I should be doing. But I’m not. Because this time I don’t want to fail.

Related Posts:

Read Newer Post Today’s checklist
Read Older Post Day Two Checklist

Filed Under: Uncategorized | 28 Comments

Comments

  1. Jade says

    August 5, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    I just found your site and I am loving it! I too am a "slob", but whenever I know people are coming over, I do a quick clean. Everyone thinks I have such a clean house…..Oh if they were to just drop by, they would see how messy it really is!

    Thank you for your honesty! You are just the encouagement I need!

    Also, your guest post on breastfeeding was great!!!

    Reply
  2. Anonymous says

    September 11, 2010 at 3:44 pm

    This is like reading my diary.thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Nena says

    December 27, 2011 at 2:40 am

    I could have written this post word for word. I too am a slob. I too have reAd all the books, joined all the mailing lists, tried a thousand times to get things in order, but to no avail. With the upcoming new year I decided I really just needed to focus and really make a change and I stumbled upon your blog completely by accident. And so far I love it. I love your honesty. I love how you don’t profess to be an expert at this whole organizing thing.
    I hope that as I read throug your journey it will inspire me to continue on my own.
    Thank you for writing this!

    Reply
    • Nony says

      December 27, 2011 at 1:53 pm

      I’m so glad you found me! Welcome!

      Reply
  4. Joanne Ruff says

    January 16, 2012 at 10:25 pm

    another vblog i watch is by Malitose79.

    Reply
  5. Lani says

    July 25, 2012 at 6:51 pm

    I ‘found’ you the other day when I was supposed to be cleaning my house! 🙂 I too have joined, unjoined, joined, unjoined flylady!! My house is never clean and I love your humour and honesty and desire to write and mother…I will definitely continue reading…you’re welcome at my house anytime! (or to my blog) http://freshflowers01.blogspot.com – it’s a little messy, too!

    Reply
    • Nony says

      July 26, 2012 at 3:45 pm

      Welcome, Lani! Glad you found me!

      Reply
  6. Joanna says

    August 29, 2012 at 6:45 am

    I am in shock. Seriously. I am you, I am Lani, and I am Nena…. yet I have this disease called “terminal uniqueness”. How can that be? Thank you so much for this blog. I AM where you WERE three years ago. I have even started reading your blog before, and I think it scared me, so I RAN away from your site… LOL. Now, I found you on Facebook, I came back here with my tail between my legs, and I am going to focus!! (and unsubscribe from FlyLady again- I soo love her, but I do get a big case of “guilt” from not reading her emails) <3 from Indiana

    Reply
    • Nony says

      August 29, 2012 at 8:50 pm

      I completely understand that need to run away when you’re not ready! I’ve been there many times!

      Reply
  7. Betty-Jo says

    October 24, 2012 at 4:21 pm

    I just stumbled across your blog and I have started backwards as you suggested. I am where you were when you started this blog. I too have read the books, joined, unjoined, rejoined, unjoined Fly-Lady too. At least 4-5 times. I am learning so much from you. Thank you so much for being so honest and transparent. It is nice to know I am not alone out here.

    Reply
    • Nony says

      October 27, 2012 at 9:28 pm

      You’re definitely not alone, Betty-Jo! Definitely!

      Reply
  8. Rebecca says

    February 1, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    I accidentially found your blog. I haven’t been able to stop reading or crying about what I’m readimg. You have helped me realize that I might be able to do this. Just tonight my husband had some one here and he felt like he couldn’t invite him in even though it is about -10° outside. Thank you so much for your blog and ministry. I am going to start my own coming clean tomorrow morning, I’d start tonight but its already 9 pm!!

    Reply
  9. Dale says

    June 12, 2013 at 2:51 pm

    I read your last sentence in this post and started to cry—maybe I am menopausal–because I don’t want to fail either!! I am the mom of 3-2 of which still live at home. I have 3 dog dogs, 2 cats and at the moment 5 puppies that we are trying to find homes for. My hubby is disabled and I am a full time care giver for my 84 year old mom who has dementia. Oh and I work part time –about 30 hours a week. I am kind of busy!! I use my business to justify being a slob. The truth is I have always been a slob!! Maybe not all my 52 years-Mom made me clean my room-but when I run my life I lean toward slobiness!! The problem is I dream of being Martha Stewart(yes I still like her) I dream of having a linen closet with perfect folded sheet–a linen closet so perfect my kids would show their friends. Instead I yell to thekids not to let their friends in the house today “Its to messy” everyday.I am so glad I found this blog–I hope don’t fail-this time!

    Reply
    • Nony says

      June 13, 2013 at 8:30 am

      I fail all the time still! They key is to see it as a little bump instead of a reason to give up completely. Welcome!

      Reply
  10. Meredith says

    August 22, 2013 at 7:03 pm

    I just found your blog and I feel like you on Day 1. My house is always a mess, and my fiance rolls his eyes at me every time I say I’ll be better at cleaning. Granted we don’t have kids yet, but I know I’m going to enjoy reading your blog… Just as soon as I clean off the kitchen table 🙂

    Reply
  11. Tonya says

    November 11, 2013 at 10:03 am

    I found the podcast and blog via Facebook. I won’t “like” your page on FB because I won’t give my mother the satisfaction. She has long disapproved of my housekeeping habits (with good reason).

    But here’s a confession – I’m a SAHM with one kid in school AND a weekly cleaning lady and I still can’t manage to keep my house organized and tidy from Wednesday to Wednesday. In listening to the first five podcasts, I realize you’re right. The one thing I MUST do everyday is run the dish washer. I think (hope) if I managed to start with a clean kitchen in the morning, I will be more motivated to get other things done.

    And one question: when decluttering, what do you when your spouse INSISTS on keeping ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING? I have my own sentimental hoarding habits, but his are much worse.

    Reply
    • Dana White says

      November 11, 2013 at 11:16 am

      Welcome! And I totally understand about not wanting your mom to know!

      Honestly, my advice on helping a spouse declutter is to declutter neutral things and your stuff first. My husband is also more sentimental than I am, but he has come SO far simply from seeing me declutter my own stuff (and kitchen stuff, kids stuff, etc) and seeing how much our home improved. He is now much more willing to get rid of his stuff.

      Reply
  12. Sarah says

    February 13, 2014 at 7:55 pm

    I asked God to give me the motivation to get my house in order and two things happened. My daughter’s babysitter dropped by in the middle of laundry month, and I found this site. This is exactly what I need right now. I am a on again, off again Flybaby and her system works, but I gave up when I got too many emails trying to sell me many purple things to make my life easier. I don’t want purple towels, I just want my house clean. 🙂 Like you, I suffer from the dreaded “I Don’t Wanna” disease. Thank you for making me laugh (at myself) and being willing to say what we all think, just refuse to say out loud. I have started each day with a very loud I DON’T WANT TO BE A SLOB in the middle of my living room. My husband thinks I have lost my marbles. Glad I am not alone!

    Reply
    • Dana White says

      February 14, 2014 at 3:43 pm

      You’re definitely not alone, Sarah!

      Reply
  13. Jennifer says

    June 20, 2014 at 12:33 pm

    it’s so much easier to read about how to clean/organize/declutter than it is to actually do it, of course. plus, i can nurse the baby while reading a book or a website… not as easy to nurse the baby while vaccuming or washing dishes.

    Reply
  14. Tamsyn says

    February 10, 2015 at 10:11 am

    Thank you.

    Reply
  15. Angela @ Setting My Intention says

    April 15, 2015 at 9:11 am

    I totally resonate with deleting the Flylady emails! I tried “shining my sink” but it never lasted long. Her emails just made me feel guilty as well. I have found success in keeping a clutter free part of my counter in the kitchen. It’s been sustained for more than a month now! It’s helping me keep other clutter free spaces throughout my home too. Blogging definitely helps with accountability. Thanks for your honesty. Baby steps….

    Reply
  16. Diana says

    August 31, 2019 at 6:28 pm

    I know it’s many years later than you began this blog, but I only discovered you and your books today (Aug31/2019). I now realize that yes, I too am a Slob. Sigh. It kind of pains me to admit it, but from the way you spell it out, it’s me, described bang-on accurately. And your ‘Decluttering at the Speed of Life’ book sheds light on why I am like this. I won’t go into detailed confessioning, but my situation is a bit more extreme than what you describe. The underlying “why” remains, and the practical steps you describe seem as good a place as any to get going. You’ve gotta start somewhere, right? We’ll see how it goes (although I don’t have much choice, as I have to empty my house for sale, and also de-clutter my parent’s house in a different city, which I am buying after we lost my mom a few months ago). So there’s some emotional work on the horizon as well. So far, I’m feeling motivated for the first time in a long time by the chapters in your book. But feeling isn’t doing. I’ll go do something now. Thanks for writing something that for the first time actually makes sense to me!

    Reply
  17. Sian says

    December 29, 2020 at 4:59 am

    I’ve only just found your blog (after seeing the collab you did with the Clutterbug lady). I’m reading your journal from the beginning and I got to here (day 3?) and realised this all sounds so familiar. I then had to google to see if you have ADHD and it came up you did. I’m interested to keep reading and see if you discover this along the way or already knew at this point. I wanted to do a blog about sorting my life out for years and then actually started last year and in doing that I wrote similar things to you so far and then a few months later realised that I may have undiagnosed ADHD and went back to what I had written and so much made sense. Just awaiting my official diagnosis at the moment but it is fascinating to see another person going through something so similar. I’m excited to follow your journey (though I realise I am quite a long way behind in time!).

    Reply
  18. Carolyn Trammell says

    July 19, 2021 at 5:42 pm

    You are so easy to relate to. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am doing as you suggested and reading from the beginning. I am already incorporating your questions and process in my head and that is no easy task for me to remember anything much less to actually do it. That means you are making it easier than anything else and you are so kind and are teaching me to be kind to myself, too. You are such a blessing to us all. God Bless!

    Reply
  19. Ani SK says

    September 4, 2021 at 12:07 pm

    I’m so happy that I found this blog and your podcast! A friend recommended you when I was talking to her about being “time blind” and she brought up your, “time passage awareness disorder.” Your tips have been fantastic and listening to you describe how your brain works, make me think that we might have the same brain! I too, have tried fly lady, with varying levels of success but usually I fail when I just can’t keep up with the pace of everything she suggests. I pretty much needed weeks just to get consistent with making my bed every morning and keeping my sink shining didn’t work UNTIL I began to follow your advice of running the dishwasher every day. So thank you! Your experiences make me feel less alone in being “not normal!”

    Reply
  20. Penney Letbetter says

    April 19, 2022 at 7:28 pm

    13 years later and I’ve just discovered your podcast, which led me to the blog. As a librarian I like to read things in order. So I’m on your 6th podcast and beginning the blogs. No clue if you’ll see this but my heart felt free after listening to your first 2 podcasts. I’ve tried so many techniques and not succeeded. Now I’m more content knowing I might never conquer this. My goal has changed. My perspective has changed.

    Reply
  21. Linda M. Johnson says

    May 15, 2023 at 3:03 pm

    I’m right there with you on the overwhelm. I’ve read a lot of the same books, and I started reading yours. I stopped after the first chapter, because I was feeling guilty for not getting up and doing what needed to be done. I have finally begun. I just started reading your blog from the beginning, cause that’s where I am. Thanks for your encouragement! I am 66 years old, and have a lot of guilt to conquor, but you get it!!! Your honesty is the best part. God bless you!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Want solutions to your biggest decluttering problems?

Get my newsletter and we'll start by teaching you how to declutter without making a bigger mess.
* = required field

Popular Posts

Why-I-Have-To-Run-My-Dishwasher-Every-Single-Night-at-ASlobComesClean.com sidebar
Five Truths about a Clean Kitchen even without a dishwasher at ASlobComesClean.com sidebar
How to Clean a Messy House at ASlobComesClean.com sidebar

Topics:

blogcast Cleaning daily checklist decluttering failures figuring myself out kitchen laundry Menu Plan Monday organization parenting podcasts progress random stories reader stories recipes sponsored posts Uncategorized

  • PR/Advertising
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Website Terms and Conditions
Search

  • About
  • Contact
  • TV & Media

© Dana K. White | Site by Little Leaf Design