One of my goals in doing this is to be a better mother and to enjoy life more. So today, instead of doing an organization project, I made plans to go to Disneyland with the family! So excited! It took a while to get it all worked out, but it's done. Then I hit the gym for a bit. That was great too, after a solid week of being at home with sick people. The weather was beautiful today (a rare treat during the winter) and I took the kids to the park where I taught my son to shoot a basketball. Tonight we played a game as a family. Joyous times!
Even thought I didn't get some great project done, I still feel completely happy with what I accomplished today.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Back on Track
So I had a few sick days. I had to just get by on keeping up with dishes and laundry on those days. But Friday I got back on track. I went through all of my sweaters and shoes and put 2 huge bags in the minivan for donation. Felt good. Also went through my nightstand and my "skinny" clothes and got rid of things there. It was a good day.
Saturday turned out to be another sick day. I even managed to take a long nap, and felt so much better after. I think I have finally kicked the sickness. Yes! I hate it when things that are out of your control derail your good efforts and determination.
Today I wrote in journals and corresponded with some old friends.
Back to work tomorrow!
Saturday turned out to be another sick day. I even managed to take a long nap, and felt so much better after. I think I have finally kicked the sickness. Yes! I hate it when things that are out of your control derail your good efforts and determination.
Today I wrote in journals and corresponded with some old friends.
Back to work tomorrow!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Another One
So, another sick day today. Did a bit of laundry, took my son to get some new shoes (his were falling apart) and made dinner for a friend that just had a baby, but other than that, I didn't do much streamlining. I'll do better tomorrow.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Sick Day
So, I got my husband's sickness. And I rested a lot today. I figure the more I rest, the quicker I will get better so I can get to work on my goals! Here's hoping that works out for me.
Today I took on part of the paper mountain while I laid on the couch. (you know, all those papers that come into your life and live and breed around the house?) I got rid of 80% of the stack. The rest were filed in their proper places. I feel good about that. Not what I had planned for the day, but I am ok with what I accomplished.
Today I took on part of the paper mountain while I laid on the couch. (you know, all those papers that come into your life and live and breed around the house?) I got rid of 80% of the stack. The rest were filed in their proper places. I feel good about that. Not what I had planned for the day, but I am ok with what I accomplished.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Survival Sunday
I love Sunday because it is different than all of the other days. Today was a bit more difficult because my husband was sick, but then again, when does everything go smoothly anyway? Given the fact that hubby was sick, I took it easy today on my goals. In fact, I haven't done anything YET today. So, I will be writing in a journal tonight before bed and then calling it a night. I guess they all can't be super productive days....
Saturday, January 22, 2011
To the dump!
Today's project was to take a minivan load of stuff to the dump. It almost didn't happen since my husband is sick today (and I needed help lifting things) but I managed to get him up and out the door anyway.
Am I the only one that feels a little weird about throwing stuff into that big pit? I was thinking the whole time, "I wonder if someone would still find this useful?" Then I had to bring myself back to reality. If the donation place won't take it, it's not very useful. I feel better now that it's gone, a little liberated too, but I have to admit that my heart was racing the whole time during the actual dumping. Seriously, how can I be attached to things that aren't useful anymore? I'm just keeping my eyes on the prize... a streamlined life!
I did a bonus project today. I cleaned out the refrigerator too! Yay me!
Am I the only one that feels a little weird about throwing stuff into that big pit? I was thinking the whole time, "I wonder if someone would still find this useful?" Then I had to bring myself back to reality. If the donation place won't take it, it's not very useful. I feel better now that it's gone, a little liberated too, but I have to admit that my heart was racing the whole time during the actual dumping. Seriously, how can I be attached to things that aren't useful anymore? I'm just keeping my eyes on the prize... a streamlined life!
I did a bonus project today. I cleaned out the refrigerator too! Yay me!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Goals, Rules, and Action
Last week was my 35th birthday. As with all birthdays I end up doing some soul searching and reflecting on my life. And then I think about the things that I want to accomplish in the next year of my life. Usually the items revolve around some sort of unique experience or are some general goal like "lose weight". Well, I decided that this year I want to simplify my life. What does that mean? Let me explain.
I am a collector. I collect "stuff". Most of it is very useful, some of it not so useful. Why do I collect it? For various reasons. Like I said before, most of it is useful, and I want to have it handy when I need it once in a blue moon. Who wants to go buy or borrow something that you already had? What a waste of time and money. So I keep it, whatever it might be. And it takes up space in my home and in my life.
I am also very sentimental and I have a great memory. I look at things, random things, and it brings back memories or reminders of people that I love, and that have played a special role in my life. I can't bear to let that thing go because it brings me warm feelings, even though it doesn't really serve a useful purpose in my life.
I love garage sales and getting a good deal on something. I love clearance sales. I can think of very few things in my life that I have paid full price for. I don't buy things that I don't have a use for, but I do buy things that fall into that category of being useful only once in a blue moon.
Now my husband, in contrast, hates stuff. If it were up to him, he would throw everything away except his computer and pocket knife and live day to day off the land... and the electrical grid of course. He can't stand anything that is annoying to deal with. In fact, if he pays cash for something and gets back change in coins, he will actually throw the coins in the garbage can so he won't have to deal with them. Luckily our kids have piggy banks that he can feed his change to now, instead of throwing out the money.
I am admitting here and now that I have gathered too much stuff in our house. Not all of our stuff has a home, and it gets moved from one place to the next in an effort to clear out a particular area. This is not a good way to live. And it brings great anxiety into my life. And with that anxiety comes my stressed out eating habits which sabotage my weight loss efforts. And then my self esteem takes a hit. I don't need that.
I have a hypothesis that if I can streamline my life, it will be a much happier place for me and my family. So, this year I am committed to putting this hypothesis to the test.
Here are my goals for my simpler life:
1. I want my home to look the way I have envisioned it in my head.
2. I want to be able to clean my home without it being a major undertaking.
3. I want to feel comfortable inviting people over so we can make some friends.
4. I want to get rid of all the baggage that is holding me back from real weight loss.
5. I want my children to learn to manage stuff better than I did.
So, with those goals in mind, here are some rules that I will live by in this process:
1. All "stuff" must have a permanent home.
2. Stuff can only come into our home if we really and truly love it or need it.
3. All mail will be sorted and dealt with as soon as it comes in the door.
4. I am only allowed to buy one "goal" clothing item for when I lose the next 10 lbs. All other clothing must currently fit me. (with the exception of the maternity clothes I have boxed up in storage)
5. I will let my children be accountable for their own stuff.
And these are my action items for streamlining my life:
1. Monday through Saturday I will do some small project to organize our home.
2. Twice a week I will take on a large project to organize or beautify our home.
3. I will follow my cleaning schedule.
4. Sundays I will write in my kids journals or do some sort of family history project or scrapbooking.
5. I will do some sort of deliberate exercise every day.
6. I will blog about what I have done each day and my current feelings about my progress.
I am a collector. I collect "stuff". Most of it is very useful, some of it not so useful. Why do I collect it? For various reasons. Like I said before, most of it is useful, and I want to have it handy when I need it once in a blue moon. Who wants to go buy or borrow something that you already had? What a waste of time and money. So I keep it, whatever it might be. And it takes up space in my home and in my life.
I am also very sentimental and I have a great memory. I look at things, random things, and it brings back memories or reminders of people that I love, and that have played a special role in my life. I can't bear to let that thing go because it brings me warm feelings, even though it doesn't really serve a useful purpose in my life.
I love garage sales and getting a good deal on something. I love clearance sales. I can think of very few things in my life that I have paid full price for. I don't buy things that I don't have a use for, but I do buy things that fall into that category of being useful only once in a blue moon.
Now my husband, in contrast, hates stuff. If it were up to him, he would throw everything away except his computer and pocket knife and live day to day off the land... and the electrical grid of course. He can't stand anything that is annoying to deal with. In fact, if he pays cash for something and gets back change in coins, he will actually throw the coins in the garbage can so he won't have to deal with them. Luckily our kids have piggy banks that he can feed his change to now, instead of throwing out the money.
I am admitting here and now that I have gathered too much stuff in our house. Not all of our stuff has a home, and it gets moved from one place to the next in an effort to clear out a particular area. This is not a good way to live. And it brings great anxiety into my life. And with that anxiety comes my stressed out eating habits which sabotage my weight loss efforts. And then my self esteem takes a hit. I don't need that.
I have a hypothesis that if I can streamline my life, it will be a much happier place for me and my family. So, this year I am committed to putting this hypothesis to the test.
Here are my goals for my simpler life:
1. I want my home to look the way I have envisioned it in my head.
2. I want to be able to clean my home without it being a major undertaking.
3. I want to feel comfortable inviting people over so we can make some friends.
4. I want to get rid of all the baggage that is holding me back from real weight loss.
5. I want my children to learn to manage stuff better than I did.
So, with those goals in mind, here are some rules that I will live by in this process:
1. All "stuff" must have a permanent home.
2. Stuff can only come into our home if we really and truly love it or need it.
3. All mail will be sorted and dealt with as soon as it comes in the door.
4. I am only allowed to buy one "goal" clothing item for when I lose the next 10 lbs. All other clothing must currently fit me. (with the exception of the maternity clothes I have boxed up in storage)
5. I will let my children be accountable for their own stuff.
And these are my action items for streamlining my life:
1. Monday through Saturday I will do some small project to organize our home.
2. Twice a week I will take on a large project to organize or beautify our home.
3. I will follow my cleaning schedule.
4. Sundays I will write in my kids journals or do some sort of family history project or scrapbooking.
5. I will do some sort of deliberate exercise every day.
6. I will blog about what I have done each day and my current feelings about my progress.
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