Here it is. My promised Daily Checklist.
Made bed.
Emptied dishwasher.
Cleaned kitchen.
Wiped kitchen cabinets and table.
Swept kitchen.
Did a conscious 5 minute pick-up.
Checked bathrooms for clutter.
Did my Bible study.
MOPPED kitchen. (It’s Thursday, y’know.)
Exercised.
And it’s about 9:30 a.m.
OK, here’s the thing that I’m glad to remind myself of: When I know that I’m checking off a list, I’m motivated to DO IT NOW in order to get it checked off.
No, I didn’t do everything on my official list. But oh my word, the house looks so much better when I do these things. And now, I can write a quick post on here, put up today’s main post that I wrote yesterday, and head out to do errands before spending the afternoon helping to set up the book fair at the boys’ school.
I know I’m far from an expert on time-passage-awareness, but how exactly is it that when you get things done in a conscious way, you seem to have more time in your day to do more things?
Bizarre.
Feel free to leave a comment with your daily checklist, either the things you did or the things you didn’t do!
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I think we spend more agonizing about the things we don't do than it takes to do the actual task.
I used to really dislike making the bed – then one day, I set the timer and learned it takes less than three minutes to do it. Yet, if I didn't have it made, it felt as though I didn't have "it" together and focused on too much negative self talk.
Peace of mind is worth three minutes!
(As I write this my bed is currently unmade – my hubby is still in it LOL!!)
Maybe it's the day for it. I woke up this morning (grouchy at first) 10 minutes later than usual, got ready, cleaned the bathroom sink, got my daughter off to school while I made breakfast for everyone, cooked and packaged my lunch for work, cleaned up the kitchen, set a jello to be done for dinner-dessert tonight, and still remembered to grab the netflix and mail them on my way to work. and I left my house at 8am…I didn't really recognize myself at all! Now, if only I had as much motivation when I came home from work every night, my living room could be picked up LOL
I TOTALLY know what you mean about time passage awareness. I'm a total slob, commented many times, etc. I work part time but have Wednesdays off. Mostly the day FLIES by because we watch cartoons all morning and I lay around and we play games and so puzzles, etc. A few weeks ago, my kitchen was grossing me out while I made the morning's instant oatmeal, so I did dishes and cleaned up the kitchen…it was only 10 am and I was SHOCKED at how much of the day was left!!
I'm babysitting a friend's very young children tonight, and I'm going to be in freak-out, what can this 16 month old find to put in his mouth from my messy floor mode all afternoon. Plus, my Christmas tree is still up and decorated. My 4 and 2 year old have been trained not to touch, but my friends don't give theirs many boundaries…they just babyproof. I don't have time (what with the emergency cleaning and all) and physically cannot take down our tree, so that should be interesting as well.
Started dinner
Unpacked 1 box (we recently moved)
Moved laundry over
Took the kids to a playdate
MUST do still:
Dishes
Take out trash
Move laundry again
15 min cleanup
great job on your house!
you know its all the baby steps…. every thing you do is blessing your family… and that is how I think, when my house is picked up.. I feel accomplished to try to one thing more if i can…
Doing the reading backwards thing…I’m totally hooked! My hubby is def a slob and I’m really messy 🙂 not good the first few years of marriage. He has come so far and this blog has helped me understand him/appreciate the change in him. Thank you for putting yourself out there!
I too have been missing the daily checklists!
Yesterday I tried (mentally) to use the excuse that it was already too late to do the daily checklist. It was already 1:30 and my youngest gets out of school at 3:00. It was a totally rational excuse! But I kept hearing your words (when I read posts about your “totally rational excuses”) nagging at me so I just did it anyway. I cleaned the kitchen, swept floors, did a 5 minute pickup, and folded laundry that I’d been neglecting for 3 days….and I was finished by the time my daughter got off the bus! I don’t know why I feel like if chores aren’t done by a certain time, then what’s the point? I should just start over tomorrow. Because honestly…it didn’t take that long! And even though I dreaded doing it, I was SO glad I did! It truly is a mental thing…aka…slob brain. You’re not the only one with issues! 🙂
On the concept of time, I raised 3 kids, had a part time job when they started school & then full time job when they got bigger. My house was usually presentable. I kept on top of laundry & kitchen, it was hard but I did it. Well now I’m retired & have all the time in the world & I am struggling to keep my house up. I think knowing “you can do it later” really plays with my brain. My house is worse now than when I worked full time with 3 kids. Ugh! You’re helping me stay accountable, love when you admit you didn’t do something, or anything, on some days. Makes me feel more “normal”. I’ve made my checklists & I’m getting better. Thanks for sharing your journey with us, I don’t know if you really realize how much it helps others.
I am reading your posts from the beginning. I have laughed and I have cried. Thank you for being so honest and so real. Our minds seem to process things in the same way and it really helps to know that I am not crazy, nor am I lazy.
List for today: dishes-done, laundry-done, worked on bedroom (I have been sleeping on the couch for the past 8 or 9 months because my bed and bedroom were so cluttered).
Today I did not get all the remaining laundry put away.
Which was basically my only goal, so I didn’t get to the decluttering phase.
I forgot to write on yesterday’s post things I DID to today.
So I’ll add them now.
I also got my mop & rags (frozen) out of the car, since I worked yesterday, and wanted to get those into the house.
I took out the compost.
I got my windshield cover on the window as the snow was already going.
It was pretty heavy, and 30 min prior there was NOTHING coming down or on the ground. Madness!!
Yesterday’s Did List (because it’s sunrise time today)
Restocked food
Menu
Started shopping list
Cooked rice
Cooked beans
Mail
Got gas
UPS Store
Catalogs
Nails
Crop hair more
Prep spinach
Make dinner
Researched sheer curtains
Labeled foods