Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Calling This Blog to ORDER!

A while ago, I posted about the need to have more ORDER in my home, it has been a goal of mine for quite some time. However, due to the lack of sleep and newborn status of late, it was put on hold. Until recently, that is!


I made a plan for achieving order through the following:



Our first task was to organize ... a place for everything and everything in it's place was the goal. So I started tackling the rooms of our home, one by one by one.

I went in with a box and everything and anything that didn't belong in that very room went in the box. No sorting, no decisions,no thinking, just yes or no. Then I made sure the room was organized and the box went to our great room.

I did this through the entire house, devoting two days to each room. When I had a few minutes here or there, I would go and work on the room. It took about a month to get through the entire house, but I did it and the rooms were all in order, except for the great room now!

It was a huge pile of stuff that needed to be decided on. So I went to Lowe's, bought some big moving boxes and labeled them (an idea given to me by my SIL who saw it on Oprah): Ebay, Yard Sale, Thrift Store, Decide Later, and Garbage!!!

It took about a week, but I made it through the room and, in the end, we filled the back of the van with stuff for the thrift store, and better yet, we filled a trailer with GARBAGE that went to the dump! And I have a few boxes of things ready for a family yard sale we will be having as soon as the weather permits!

Can I tell you how good it feels???

I hate clutter, but it has been dominating me for a few years now. It's so nice to be getting back in charge. And everytime I felt there was something I maybe should hold onto, I thought back to Flylady's little phrase,

"Clutter Can't Be Organized!"

So, we have said goodbye (good riddance) to many, many things. And after all of that we still aren't perfect (or even close), but we are lighter and happier than we were a few months ago. And now we have the energy and attention to devote to a little home improvement project! It's such a relief!

So ... the next item on the agenda now is to make official "Responsibilities" for us all!

Wahoo ... bring on the job charts!

Which leads me to ask, what do you all do to share the responsibilities in your homes?

I got such great advice on the first task, I have to ask on the second also!

6 comments:

jenjermad said...

We just started job charts. I let the kids earn 5 cents for every job they do. Then we have payday on Sat. The kids just got paid and thought is was pretty cool. So now my house is a little bit cleaner, I don't have to do it all, and it gives them a chance to find out money doesn't grow on trees. You have to work for it. And then they can save up for something big. Or just spend it on little things. So far so good. I also just went on dtls website for really east charts to print out. Good Luck!

jenjermad said...

Sorry the website (if you're interested) is dltk-kids.com

Julie W said...

wow you are dedicated! congrats

brionyskerjance said...

wowzer...go you!

Kim said...

Great job! Having an organized home is such a great feeling. I have no ideas to offer since I mostly do it all on my own

Scott and Sara said...

What a great idea. I am so happy for you! I HATE clutter too. I am always trying to reorganize and get things in the right place. GOOD FOR YOU! You deserve a pat on the back! pat pat!