Comments on: Here We Go Again

By: Elly L.

Elly L. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 05:02:30 +0000

Yeah, you’re absolutely right – working on the kitchen is an example of letting the urgent overwhelm the important or whatever the expression is. At least it gets SOMETHING accomplished… but not necessarily the important things. At least you always follow through on making schedules – I scratch them out on a piece of paper, think “I’ll type that up later” and never do. :-) And never follow them. Alas.

By: Mystie

Mystie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:16:38 +0000

Yes. The kitchen ALWAYS needs work….so I can always go there and feel productive while I ignore the laundry, ignore the children, ignore the school…. :)

Elly, remember our talks of little tasks v. big projects? I am coming to the point of being ready to give up on the big-push gigantic-endeavor model. I get too many half-done projects and that just means everything — my mind, most importantly — is in chaos. I’m starting to think the real wisdom really is in “picking up not passing up,” “leave the room a little better than you found it,” “clean up the bathroom a bit when you’re in it,” “don’t put it down, put it away,” etc.

Mostly I just have this nagging suspicion that a mostly orderly (not perfectly clean, not uber-organized, just a plainly smooth-running) house is not impossible, but it’s just my attitude and current habits that keep it out of reach. The more I align those, the more smoothly life will run. Really, I want to overcome my tendency to make lovely (and realistic!) plans and never follow through. In the back of my mind I know I’m not going to follow through, because it’s what I do. I make a plan, work it for a few weeks, think it’s great, then stop because I get bored with it, or I think I should be above it, or some other lame excuse. Usually it is the lame excuses that derail me, while the real excuses make me want to rise to the occasion. I’m just frustrated with me and my lack of self-discipline more than with the housework.

And now I’m going to go to bed and try not to whine anymore — until tomorrow, anyway. :)

By: Elly L.

Elly L. — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 05:06:32 +0000

This probably won't work for you (and it's not like I should be giving advice, of all people), but perhaps, rather than getting stressed trying to think of what's next, you could just always start with the kitchen. Then, while you're doing that you have time to think of your other priorities. By the time you've figured it out, you're kitchen's clean! Well, it sounds like a nice idea, anyway. And if you're like me, somehow, the kitchen ALWAYS needs work. sigh

By: dawn

dawn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:52:17 +0000

I’ll have to dig out my copy and see if NFPers are in the list of “Shapers,” cause I pulled my old schedules and tweaked this week … and the kids & I promptly got sick and haven’t done anything on my schedule for 2 days (tomorrow isn’t looking good either).

By: Mystie

Mystie — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:31:58 +0000

Oh, Brandy, boy do I know! Have you seen my beautiful schedule? :)

I was foolish and thought I could work it all out in my head and on my paper before moving and have a totally smooth transition into a new place. I then realized that wasn't working, then I simply ditched it, and now I'm going crazy because I have very little structure.

So, I'll set something up, and just as it starts kicking in, we'll have the holidays, and then as I get back into it again I'll have a baby and it'll be all out the window again.... Sigh.

By: Brandy Afterthoughts

Brandy Afterthoughts — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:21:25 +0000

I need this, too. That is why I haven't written you back. I am unburying my kitchen.

And my living room.

And also my office.

I am an INTJ also, which is why I totally get you. My schedule looks so perfect on paper, you know?

I think I need that book. I will have to put it on my wishlist.

Sigh.

We have only been in this house a year, but then again I thought it would only take me a year to "get it" as far as how to take care of it thoroughly...