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| Totally Together Journal |
This year, with working more than I have in a long, long time, I knew it was going to be important to me to have my life as together as I can get it. A couple of months ago, (yes, in the midst of our idyllic summer), I knew I was going to need help to get my life organized and I started researching different methods. Flylady may be wonderful but honestly, she overwhelms me. Plus, I don't want to wear my shoes in the house, so there's that. (No, that isn't why I can't follow Flylady, reality is why I can't follow Flylady, but if you can, more power to you.) There are a bunch of resources out there for people looking for schedules and organizing tips, a fact that was very comforting to me. With the amount of advice books and planners out there, obviously I'm not the only one searching.
I settled on Stephanie O'Dea's Totally Together Journal. I don't love everything about it, for one I wish it was more inclusive so I could have one planner instead of two. Some of it seems aimed at families whose kids are much younger than mine. The core though? The nitty gritty? I think it's going to help. Today, I'm working on Stephanie's Daily 7--Make beds right away (always do that, Yay! I'm a step ahead!), One complete load of laundry (I've done 2! plus all the laundry's done now!!), Empty all garbage cans (the kids will do this when they empty garbage after dinner), Keep kitchen sink empty (always something I strive for, but it's nice to feel like I get points for it), Clean up after self/help children do same (this one I chafe at, it makes me feel like a 5 year old. Still, it's easy to see the wisdom in it and I am trying), Bathroom wipe down (done!), Ten minute clean-up before bed (we've done this off and on in the past and it really does help, I'm definitely going to integrate it into our bedtime routine.)
I've also sketched out a meal plan for the next 12 days, started working on dinner for us and the piano teacher (Chicken Meatballs with Sweet Peanut Sauce, seriously awesome, you should try it), made flourless peanut butter cookies (not my absolute favorite, but pretty good nonetheless), and watched little people. My "me time" is scheduled, I'm getting my gray banished and my hair cut tonight.
Over the next week I'll work on maintaining the "Daily 7" as part of my day, find some time to mop the hardwood, dust the living room and dining room, vacuum the house, clean the microwave, and spoon oil all my wooden cutting boards, spoons, etc. I'll work on implementing at least some "me time" into every day as well as trying to figure out 30 minutes 3 or 4 times this week to do something--take a walk, ride my bike, go to the rec center, whatever.
It's not perfect, it's probably not nearly enough, when I look around my house I could literally hyperventilate when I see all that needs done. I'm trying not to do that though. I think it dooms me. I'm trying to take things one step at a time, to trust the method, to do my best and to let that be good enough. Will I get where I want to be? Time will tell. For today though, I do know it feels pretty darn good to feel in control and to have a plan. It's a beginning. I'll take it.
3 comments:
I feel exhausted after reading all that! Well done for taking it on, and I hope it really helps you, especially with the "me time". Sounds like you're going to need that a lot.
I did the FlyLady thing for a while, but also didn't want to put shoes on first thing in the morning (I hate wearing shoes!!) I think the most positive thing I got from FlyLady was the 15min timer. I was amazed at how much I could get done in a 15 min period, and when I was pregnant that was about all the energy I had at one time anyway. I Now I use the timer trick for my computer time now, otherwise I just get sucked right into the Internet.
That sounds like a great idea. Small little things that like make it all seem much more manageable. :)
Piano teacher here. ;) First of all, dinner was fabulous! and we loved those cookies!
As for the totally together book, I use it around what we're already doing. Bathrooms get cleaned on Saturday at our house. It's already one of the kids' chores. So is daily swishing and wiping down the toilet and wiping down a sink and faucet. Since those things are happening daily/weekly, I don't worry so much about that one.
Dusting has been the trickiest for me. Basically what I've done, is I keep a rag nearby, so when I notice something particularly dusty I actually do something about it. In my bedroom, I've been doing a quick wipe down of my furniture right after I get out of the shower using my damp towel.
I feel like the book helps keep me on track and reminds me to do things that I should be doing anyway. I'm never going to have a spotless house, but following what I can, I do feel a difference. At the end of the day, I can recognize that my imperfect attempts at something are still better than nothing. ;)
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