Monday, July 22, 2013

Rush, Rush, Shush

In the book "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech, Sal is eager to get to Idaho where her mother is, and on their way there, she constantly hears the world telling her rush, rush, rush. This is a little how I feel at the moment.

It has become very clear to me that school is just around the corner and there is still a lot to do. Some of the things that need to get done both at home and at school can't be started until a later date. A few things probably won't even get done, both for school and home. But that is ok.

So in the mean time, I am focusing on what I can to shush the rush and trying to enjoy what time I do have left even if it is "working."

A lot of my projects aren't really cleaning, but more organizing and going through things and in the process cleaning. I have gone through boxes and tossed stuff or stored it in a better area. I have to fight my inner hoarder 96.4% of the time, but am doing a good job of overcoming that demon.


Me after about twenty minutes unless I get a
surge of super woman power
As much as I would like to be the person who gets up and accomplishes all the cleaning at once and then enjoys the rest of the day, I am not. I have found that I can only do that when it is last minute. I peter out pretty quickly and I am ready to go do something fun. Thankfully I have found a pretty good system for me this summer.

I use the timer like the mom with the kid who doesn't get her chores done in a timely manner. Or like the teacher that sets the timer, yes I am one of those. It works! I get so much done in 20 or 30 minutes! Maybe it is because I know that when I am finished I can go and do something fun, usually back to my book. Then I will "rest" for 20 or 30 minutes and then do it all over again. Who knows if it is effective but I feel good about it and I am seeing the effects around the place. Plus it can become kind of a game with a race against the clock. How much can I get done before the timer goes off?

Also I have tried REALLY hard to adopt the "One Minute Rule." If it can be done in under a minute, "do it now". Such as putting my breakfast bowl in the dishwasher right when I am done with it. This can sometimes be a hard rule to follow with the idea of just doing it later. Well later piles up and then it takes 20 minutes to do the dishes.

So now that my 20 minute break is over with the clanging of the timer, I will get back to my project at hand, for 20 minutes that is!

3 comments:

  1. Maybe I should give the timer a try! I am just scattered when I work inside...one thing always leads to another and another and nothing ever quite gets "done". But, no school stress for me! Yipee!!♥♫

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    1. Oh, I am not saying I am not scattered! Most of the time I am, but the way I see it, I am still getting stuff done either way. When it is time to go back to work after the break, I try to start in the original place.

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  2. I'm with you, Marilyn. I have little projects going all over, and I get distracted by another thing that must be done. I like the timer idea. Good job, Partner!

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