• 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

My Off-Balance World

November 25, 2009 By Dana White | 4 Comments

  • 1share
  • 0
  • 1
  • 0

I’m off balance in more ways than one. First of all, I still feel the boat moving, and I got off more than two days ago. I’m ready for this equilibrium problem, or whatever it is, to stop.

Secondly, and mainly, things are off-balance because they are out of routine. It’s a holiday week, and my kids and husband are home for the entire week. Nothing makes me happier than having my entire brood at home with me. Togetherness is what I thrive on.

Buuuutttt . . .

It also means that whatever routine I have developed flies right out the window. Breakfasts are leisurely and I can completely rationalize putting off the emptying of the dishwasher. I don’t get up earlier than my family, and since no one wears dress socks or uniforms, they’re fine with whatever laundry is already washed.

Monday I had just arrived home from the cruise, and I felt completely justified to not start back into the daily tasks. Tuesday was full of decorating the house for Christmas, so it’s not like I didn’t do anything, right?

The good thing? We did so much better yesterday about putting away the decoration boxes. Most years, they blend in with the clutter to the point that we sometimes don’t get them put away until we have a party. But yesterday, they stuck out like a sore thumb and we were so much more motivated to get them back into the attic.

The bad thing? If I don’t keep up with the daily tasks, I’ll break whatever habits I’ve started to develop. The house will slip back into chaos and December will be much more stressful than it needs to be.

When I started writing this post, I had every intention of rationalizing and explaining why I wasn’t doing my daily tasks. But I’m going to get up and go do at least some of them. I’m getting up . . . right . . . now. Okay . . . NOW.

Whew.

I’m glad I did that. I checked bathrooms for clutter, and found plenty. I started a load of laundry. I emptied the dishwasher, and cleaned the kitchen. I swept the kitchen. I got totally distracted with the cutest little project and made a wreath of plastic ball ornaments with the kids. I threw away the water bottle my husband had just washed out and was counting on using. Oops. I did a quick pick-up throughout the house as I moved around doing the other things.

Is the house perfect? No.

Is it better? Way.

And all of this took about 30 minutes, probably less since I’m not sure how long we spent on the wreath-making.

I don’t know if I should call this the daily checklist or not, but I tried to do a lot of my daily tasks just now. Things are not going to be routined this week. I want to enjoy my family, but I also want us to enjoy our home. So getting at least some things done will help.

Related Posts:

Read Newer Post 5 Minute Memory Makers
Read Older Post Christmas Decorating – OH THE BOXES!!!

Filed Under: daily checklist, My great excuses, Out of the routine | 4 Comments

Comments

  1. Angela @ Nine More Months says

    November 26, 2009 at 12:44 am

    It sounds like you are doing great! I know I need to spend more time on the house than I currently do. It's just hard to find the time with my two very spirited and busy children. Keep up the good work!

    Reply
  2. Susan says

    November 26, 2009 at 3:06 pm

    When we took our cruise earlier this year, I had that equilibrium issue – I took Bonnie (like dramamine) for a few days once back on shore, and it cured it. I know it sounds backwards, but take a motion pill for a few days if you can and it will probably fix it. 🙂

    Reply
  3. Nony says

    November 26, 2009 at 3:15 pm

    If it isn't completely gone today, I'm going to do that. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. Amber @ SiMoney Savers says

    December 18, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    I find it so much easier to let things go when everyone is home. Then of course I pay for it later!

    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