Posted by Julie Signore on September 17, 1998 at 09:06:41:
In Reply to: Oh no! A car just pulled in. posted by Toby on September 04, 1998 at 18:14:09:
That is NOT an exageration. I dont even know where to start. Pick up or clean? I dont know how to balance these two things. And there are always other things to do such as fun things with my family or projects that need to be done. I have done a lot of studying of this website and there are so many good things in it. But how do I begin this monumental job of picking up, cleaning, sorting and how do I balance the time so that it can stay picked up, cleaned and sorted? HELP PLEASE
Aloha Toby....
Sorry it took a while for me to respond -- I have not been here due to a prior business commitment.
As far as what to do first. You need to pick up in order to clean up. Start with only one place/room at a time. Stick with it until THAT area is completed. As you work on the "task at hand" ...treat it like a "sacred space." Dumping habits will continue until all items have a "home of their own."
Toby, get youself some boxes & plenty of trash bags for starters. Mark the boxes:
• donations
• return to owner
• trash
• remove to area of the home it belongs in
If you find items that belong to other family members -- place them in THEIR rooms to deal with. Let them know from here on in whatever you find becomes *yours* -- if they want it back they need to do a house chore for you -- or you donate it to your favorite charity.
The other part of your question refers to the balance of what you NEED to do versus what you WANT to do.
How about if you reward yourself with a project you WANT to do after you complete a project of what you NEED to do??
Oftentimes, we can find NUMEROUS things to do ...that will support our procrastination habits. Dig your heels in & decide that you will work 1 hr. per day on an area that needs help. It's ALL the baby steps in completing a task -- that get it completed :) Avoid saying: I need a whole day to do this...WHOLE days for anything are hard to come by...yet 5 hrs. a week for one month can reap tremendous results!
Keep me posted & good luck!!
Much Aloha,
Julie Signore - CEO
1,2,3 SORT IT Organizing Solutions -- Innovative Tools
NSA Member, NAPO Member