I am a little excited to be adding a new non-negotiable task for this week. The last three I’ve added have made more of a difference than I ever imagined they could. For some reason, the daily kitchen sweeping is the finishing touch on the kitchen. I never noticed that it looked that dirty, but now I really notice it looks clean. Picking up clutter off of the bathroom floor means that we don’t have to step on things to get to the potty. The 5 minute pickup got easier everyday, and actually did a lot to change my way of thinking about putting away one out-of-place item before it becomes clutter.
As I’ve said every week, there seems to be an infinite number of daily tasks that need to be added to my list of non-negotiables. But I’m still going vvveeeerrrrrryyyyyyy slowly. It’s working so far, and I don’t want to mess with that.
Starting this week, I’m going to clear clutter off of the bathroom counters every day. I am always amazed at how quickly a cleared counter can become covered with junk. I would like to get to the point where I wipe down the counters daily, but that can’t happen until they stay cleared.
Now, in my effort to be completely honest, I must admit something. When I came home this afternoon, I was excited to have a “clean” kitchen. But, when I made a quick pass through the house, I realized that the breakfast nook (an extension of the kitchen) hadn’t been cleaned and this had escaped my vision. I can’t trust myself to notice a mess beginning to form. This is why I have to develop these habits so the mess doesn’t form.
Yesterday we left the house at 9:45. I got up a little after 7. I have determined in this process that being up before my family is absolutely key. BUT, I WILL NOT GET UP BEFORE 7AM ON SATURDAY MORNING. I won’t do it.
So, in getting my family ready, packing clothes for the night, etc, I completely neglected to wipe off the table, throw away trash, throw out milk and put cups in the dishwasher, or sweep. This took me less than 5 minutes tonight, since it was only one breakfast’s worth, not 5 days worth, like it would have been before I started this blog.
So have I failed? To some degree, yes. But, I’m going to keep going. I’m sure even non-slobs have one day when they rush out of the house without getting everything done. One day isn’t going to ruin my new routine, I won’t let it.
Love this. You know what? Yesterday we were gone all day, but the day before we had a big dinner and I didn’t clean it up. So I woke up early and cleaned the kitchen, including sweeping and doing a quick clean with some spray and a rag pushed around with my foot. My living room looks like it was ransacked, but my kitchen is clean and if we eat out today (Saturday), it will only be because we want too, not because I have to clean the kitchen before I cook, and that would just take too long. 🙂 I’m very close to starting a blog of my own, inspired by you. 🙂
I actually think that one of the benefits to a regular daily routine is that I CAN relax one day and not do anything…and guess what? That’s okay! I tend to be lazy one day of the weekend. I don’t do dishes or laundry, I don’t cook, etc. Yes, the sink fills up, at least a little. And yes, it does take me a little bit longer the following day to get things back to ‘normal’. But the freedom to be lazy one day and know that the mess won’t be overwhelming the next day is delicious! THAT is what it’s about for me. Being committed to a daily routine means I can take a break from it every so often and not suffer dire consequences. And that rocks!
My sister (ocd) told me to take a picture of the room. I tend to not notice certain piles. I think I will get around to that ‘later’. I never notice until things start falling off of the tables or whatever. She told me to take a picture then look at the picture as a would one in a magazine. It tends to work…if I can find my camera.
That is funny about camera. I printed checklists for cleaning and lost them, while rushing to clean mess my 3 year old made. But Nonny gives me hope.
Thank you so much for writing this blog. You have become an inspiration to me. I’m a slob and I want to deslobify myself but it’s always been such a daunting task. You have made it less scary. I’m… EXCITED.. to start my deslobification.