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 |  The world from a short person's POV - not Australia or New Zealand. |
Random thoughts, pointed comments, and whatever else crosses my mind 
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| "When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn." Harriet Beecher Stowe So you have adopted the idea of organizing your space and accomplished many goals along the way. You look around and walk through each room admiring how neat and tidy each area has become. You pat yourself on the back as you quickly find items you need for any particular task. You are ready for any event whether it is weekly shopping, attending children's games, making appointments on time, or completing long overdue projects. But now the question/fear is how do I maintain this new lifestyle or will I just fall into the same old habits of collecting things I don't need, putting items just anywhere to get them out of site, forgetting to pay bills on time, fill out necessary forms, make/keep appointments? To help you keep on track, here are some ideas of activities you can do on a regular basis with very little time that can help you keep up with all that is going on in your house and your life: Take FIVE MINUTES and pull down anything that is outdated or no longer needed on your message center. (You do have one, don't you?) Put away anything you left out on the bathroom countertop but toss anything that is over six months old or next to empty. Take note to replace it if necessary. Hang up clothes where they belong. Set aside any item that needs mending or stain treatment. (Put them in the laundry or where you keep mending supplies.) Return coats, shoes, and sports equipment to the mudroom or another designated closet. And most of all, MAKE UP YOUR BED every morning or when you get up depending on your schedule. This gives you a clear signal that you are ready for whatever the day may bring. Whenever you close the kitchen down for the day, take time to wipe off the counters, set up the coffee pot, and turn on the dishwasher. Take TEN MINUTES and review your calendar making sure you are ready for tomorrow's activities. If the laundry is on your list of "to do's" sort and start a load. Take a quick look in the pantry and realign cans/bags, tossing anything that is stale or past the expiration date (meaning shelf life, not sell-by date). Make a note of items for your shopping list. I like using the chalkboard on my pantry door (chalk paint). This makes transferring items to a list to take with you shopping quick and easy. If you plan meals for the week, review recipes and take note of anything you need to pick up while you are out. Update your shopping list on your phone or tablet. Wipe down appliances and put away dishes. Sweep hard surface floors. Take FIFTEEN MINUTES and sort items in your message center. Put the info you need to keep in files or binders, updated phone numbers, pay bills, toss any papers you no longer need. Review jewelry storage and set aside items that can be donated or discarded. (If the piece is important or of sentimental value but needs repair check to see if you can find someone to do the work for you.) Remove clothes from the dryer, fold and put them away. The family should be trained  to help with this task. Since all of you write, you could review and edit a piece you are working on or review someone's writing (always appreciated), answer the question on the day or respond to emails. You can also review and respond to emails from friends on other sites or send a comment on someone's blog (hint, hint). Consider vacuuming carpeted floors and picking up the living room/family room and dining room. Return items to their homes.I hope this is a helpful reminder of little things you can do to keep you and your house organized and running smoothly. Next, I'll suggest things you can do with more time. |
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Fire dancers!!! Wow! What fun! You really are in Paradise! So happy you for you! 
But I wish I loved it. That would be SO HANDY! So, I've been working on positive self-talk regarding cleaning. I smile when I say these things and I say them out loud if I'm alone or in my head if I'm not. I say things like, "I love to clean. Cleaning is fun. Cleaning makes me happy. I enjoy a tidy space." Blah, blah, blah...
Sure, it's dumb, but if it works, it doesn't matter. 
). 
I'm the prime example of someone who needed her own advice over 40 years ago.