CLUTTER CLEAN UP
Do your surfaces end up cluttered like these by the end of the week? OK maybe the month?
Do you get so overwhelmed by the thought of sifting through this crap that you would just rather pass by it,dust around it, or name it some purposeful name like organized chaos. Well if so your not alone…..
Listen people, I have read nearly every organizational book known to man. I start off the process well intended, making a list of crap that I need to purchase in order to organize a particular area. Then I hide my procrastination behind the fact that until I purchase this one item I can’t start the project.
Truth is I hate clutter, it brings about a spirit of chaos and even depression when I look at it day after day. It becomes an albatross. However, deciding to dig in and put random things away is even more anxiety producing. All I can think is , it’s going to get worse before it gets better.” I cannot tell you the times I began a project only for George to come home … And ask “honey what exactly are you doing?” As I sit in a pile of crap, that I was “organizing” distracted by some random object I found that has new purpose again.
Many of the organizational methods want you to make lists, card files, cleaning schedules, etc. Well for this self declared OCD and ADD person… That turns into hours of planning and creating schedules that I NEVER FOLLOW. So I have come up with some methods to simplify cleaning to keep you focused and able to accomplish a lot with a little time.
This picture is a perfect representation of me cleaning. Most of the time my cleaning process is very unorganized. I zip and zag… Putting one pencil away at a time. Roaming from room to room, getting distracted by something when I get there. I go from one distraction to another making a simple project take forever.
So to stay focused and increase productivity, I have come up with the following method of cleaning hot spots:
- PLAY MUSIC-or listen to a pod cast this is crucial to your sanity
- FIND A CRASH LANDING SPOT- this is where you will sift, and separate all like items you collect from your hot spots
- GET A BOX – Armbar, side sweep, or throw EVERYTHING FROM EVERY CLUTTERED SURFACE INTO THIS BOX
- WIPE IT- carry with you a dust rag sprayed with pledge. Wipe down all hotspot surfaces, seeing them clean and dusted will give you the encouragement to continue
- DUMP IT -Dump that CRAP you have collected onto your crash landing site.
Crash Landing
- GET A TRASH BAG- have a trash bag near your crash landing site, you will need it, your going to find several “WHY didnt I through this away” items.
- SIFT IT- organize all like items in piles-resist the urge to put them away until all like items are together. If you walk away your likely NOT TO COME BACK!
- CHUCK IT- all items “intended for some great use”, or not used in 6 months TRASH IT. That disposable poncho you got free from your husbands work convention your saving for next years 4th of July parade… CHUCK IT. It will only end up on the floor somewhere 6months from now.
- Put away all grouped items where they belong or create a space for them where you can EASILY locate them later.
- Get some wine
This project took me 1 hour total. Not Bad considering I stopped to sweep the floor and gather random items from there also! All sanity has been restored!
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