Finally a normal Monday, except that I’m having a hard time keeping my eyes open.
I thoroughly enjoyed working on and doing the show I was in this weekend, but it has reminded me why I can’t do it on a regular basis at this time in my life. I knew this, but now I know this. Life, especially as a mom, is all about priorities. I’m constantly having to edit my activities to keep the priorities in the right order.
As I said last night, I’m going to try again on last week’s non-negotiable of getting a load of laundry in the washer, ready to start first thing in the morning, as part of my evening routine. Last week, this non-negotiable got negotiated away except for maybe one day.
Now that the show is over, and the room is FINALLY PAINTED!!!!, I want to focus on my home for the next week. I have several “have-tos” such as reorganizing the boys’ chaotic room, and cleaning out my own closet. I’m putting my closet on the top of the list because I know that there could be several Christmas presents in there that I have forgotten, and I need to make a list before I start buying gifts. I also really need to do the boys’ room because I’m feeling like my 6 year old is short on clothes, but I know this can’t be true. Who knows what I’ll find if I get that room cleaned up?
For today, I’ve done pretty well on my checklist.
I’ve:
Made bed.
Cleaned kitchen, including emptying dishwasher.
Swept kitchen.
Did 5 minute pickup. (focused)
Tried to pretend that I had checked bathrooms for clutter.
Admitted that I hadn’t.
Checked bathrooms for clutter.
Found clutter.
Picked it up.
Marveled at the difference it made.
Started a load of laundry.
Last night I took special care to complete my evening tasks. I made lunches, laid out the boys’ clothes, got a load of laundry ready to go this morning, and wiped down the bathroom counters and toilets.
Also, today I removed the newspaper from the office floor, and scraped off the bits of wallpaper that had stuck to the floor in there. I also scrubbed the paint off of, cut up, and cooked the pumpkins that my kids painted before Halloween. I’m planning to make some muffins.
If there’s a positive to having such an off-track week last week, it’s that I can again see how much of a difference these small tasks make. I can also see how much harder it is to get “projects” like the office done when you have to spend more time on the tasks because they haven’t been done daily.
I just want to say I think you are so courageous to share your quest with us and thank you for helping me to be braver too, I was terrified of oversharing on my blog, of not coming off as ‘perfect’ because I too am a perfectionist, germaphobe (and arachnaphobe) slob. I’ve been reading your blog ‘backwards’ over the last couple of days after watching your vlogs (I found you via a pinterest declutter board), and every epiphany you have I’m like ‘YES!’ ‘Yes yes yes!’ ‘I get that! That’s my avoidance technique and reasoning and excuses and obstacles too.’ You’re a great inspiration for me and not so much for the cleaning, because I’m well on the way there already (and boy has that been an effort), but for being courageous and honest and real.
I love hearing this, Stella! There is such freedom in authenticity. But it’s soooo scary.
I just re-read what I wrote, I didn’t mean to sound like the cleaning stuff wasn’t inspiring, I mean that’s WHY I’m reading your blog.
But anyway I wanted to tell this authenticity stuff is contagious, I wrote a post about how you inspired me and this morning I woke up to a comment about how my post inspired my best friend with her blog. So thank you again :o)
I know this is like 12 years late, but I have started reading your blog from the beginning again. And I have to say 1) you have been my inspiration to keep my house looking decent since I first found you in 2011. And 2) you are so entertaining, I had to read it again. “Tried to pretend I checked BRs for clutter. Admitted I didn’t. Checked for clutter. Found clutter. Picked it up”. Hahaha! I know it wasn’t funny, but the way you say it so refreshingly amusing! Your website says you’re funny. And you are. You are also a brilliant, caring person. And THAT is also refreshing. Thank you for your excellent advice. God Bless you and your family.