In my de-clutter efforts today I ran across an old friend...my Monthly To-Do-Jobs box. It's just a plastic index card box I put a label on. These are jobs you don't have to do every day or even every week but they need to be done on some sort of regular basis.
I made a list of jobs that fit into that catagory, typed them on the computer and printed them out on card stock. There were many on each page, so once cut apart each card is only 1" X 2"...they are cute little suckers!
Here's some examples: Wash down kitchen cabinet doors, Clean inside of windows across front deck, Organize Food Pantry, Clean outside of windows on backside of house, Wipe down living room walls, Dust the top of door frames.....etc.
Each job only takes a short amount of time, so I pulled 3 at a time to do. Once they were done, I put them in a sealed snack baggie which I tossed back into the box. Once all the jobs were completed & in the baggie for that whole month, I would dump them back out into the little box and start all over again the next month. It was an efficient little system. When I worked the system, the system worked. When I neglected the system, well...you know, it didn't take long for the neglect to show.
I was excited to see my little box today. I think it will help keep me on track in my simple life efforts. I am sitting here smiling remembering how handy I thought the box was when the kids still lived with us. If anyone started that "I'm bored, there's nothing to do...whine, whine" I pulled out my little box and had them pull 3 jobs. If they were still bored after doing those, they could pull 3 more. Ya know, rarely was anyone still bored!! Now, THAT's a good system!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Can We Do it? Yes, We Can!
Most routine things we need to take care of do not take as long as we like to think they do. We like to think it will take too long to validate our procrastination. I heard Joyce Meyer speak about how she got so angry once because she went into the bathroom and the toilet paper roll needed to be changed. That can be irksome. However, she was livid, justifying her anger by the fact she had a full-time housekeeper so she thought there was no reason she should ever have to change the toilet paper. In the middle of her rage, God popped in to inquire about her anger explosion. This got her attention. She decided to time how long it actually took to change out the empty roll for a new one. 15 seconds! That's how long it took, 15 seconds. She was throwing a temper fit over a task that took 15 seconds to perform. She was stepping outside God's will for her behavior over a 15 second task. Her spiritual fruit was being squeezed into juice over 15 seconds. We know there is more to that mentality than the task but that's not our topic for today.
Her story made an impact on me and I've made a point to be more aware of how long it actually takes to do things. Even when my kitchen looks like it exploded, it doesn't really take that long to get it back into shape. Earlier, I put my cold cup of coffee in the microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds to reheat. While all that was going on, I fed the tribe of cats on the front deck and still had 10 seconds to spare. I surveyed my meds divider while I waited. Tick tock, tick tock...finally the coffee was hot.
Hanging the clothes on the line takes 5-8 minutes depending on what I'm hanging. Taking them down and folding takes about the same time. Yet, it seems like doing the outdoor laundry thing would take longer. It does not. Making my bed, 8-12 seconds, depending on how restless the night.
My point is that we make life less "Simple" by our mentalities more than the tasks we must do. If we decide up front we do not have time, then we won't. We will make sure we don't. Sometimes by not even trying or starting. If we decide we will do all we can do in an allotted time slot, then we will make progress. Progress is defined by the effort, not the results. If it takes three days of assigning 15 minutes a day to accomplish a task, say cleaning out a dresser, then you're still one dresser drawer closer each day than you are if you don't do anything because you don't have time to do it all at once.
Getting order and de-cluttering our lives is a process, it takes time. We need to give ourselves permission to enjoy the process rather than beating ourselves up because we haven't done everything. Doing a piece of a task is far better than doing none of the task. Enough pieces make a whole, like a jigsaw puzzle. I find that on the days I dust the living room, I'm less likely to leave things in there at the end of the day. I do not want my efforts thwarted, so I take 2 minutes to gather up and distribute things back where they belong. One short task begets another..and so on and so one.
As I said earlier, it is our mentalities that need shaking more than our rugs. We get locked into thinking about and looking at habits, rituals, ways of doing things that may have worked for us at one time but could be outdated and worn out for our life today. Just because we've always done something one way doesn't mean we can't look for a new, refreshing way to do it. Procrastination can bind us up when we focus on what we can't do rather than what we can accomplish. For every reason/excuse our mind says, "No way!" we need to list three reasons that say, "Oh, yes we can!" They're out there...the reasons we can...we just have to think about how to get to them rather than sitting on our "no way" bottoms - which, my Friends, is our biggest stumbling block on our way to living a more satisfying and simple life!
Her story made an impact on me and I've made a point to be more aware of how long it actually takes to do things. Even when my kitchen looks like it exploded, it doesn't really take that long to get it back into shape. Earlier, I put my cold cup of coffee in the microwave for 1 minute 10 seconds to reheat. While all that was going on, I fed the tribe of cats on the front deck and still had 10 seconds to spare. I surveyed my meds divider while I waited. Tick tock, tick tock...finally the coffee was hot.
Hanging the clothes on the line takes 5-8 minutes depending on what I'm hanging. Taking them down and folding takes about the same time. Yet, it seems like doing the outdoor laundry thing would take longer. It does not. Making my bed, 8-12 seconds, depending on how restless the night.
My point is that we make life less "Simple" by our mentalities more than the tasks we must do. If we decide up front we do not have time, then we won't. We will make sure we don't. Sometimes by not even trying or starting. If we decide we will do all we can do in an allotted time slot, then we will make progress. Progress is defined by the effort, not the results. If it takes three days of assigning 15 minutes a day to accomplish a task, say cleaning out a dresser, then you're still one dresser drawer closer each day than you are if you don't do anything because you don't have time to do it all at once.
Getting order and de-cluttering our lives is a process, it takes time. We need to give ourselves permission to enjoy the process rather than beating ourselves up because we haven't done everything. Doing a piece of a task is far better than doing none of the task. Enough pieces make a whole, like a jigsaw puzzle. I find that on the days I dust the living room, I'm less likely to leave things in there at the end of the day. I do not want my efforts thwarted, so I take 2 minutes to gather up and distribute things back where they belong. One short task begets another..and so on and so one.
As I said earlier, it is our mentalities that need shaking more than our rugs. We get locked into thinking about and looking at habits, rituals, ways of doing things that may have worked for us at one time but could be outdated and worn out for our life today. Just because we've always done something one way doesn't mean we can't look for a new, refreshing way to do it. Procrastination can bind us up when we focus on what we can't do rather than what we can accomplish. For every reason/excuse our mind says, "No way!" we need to list three reasons that say, "Oh, yes we can!" They're out there...the reasons we can...we just have to think about how to get to them rather than sitting on our "no way" bottoms - which, my Friends, is our biggest stumbling block on our way to living a more satisfying and simple life!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Day 111 - Wow!
Today is Day 111 of our journey to living a more simple life on Hacienda Hill. Times flies, doesn't it? I started writing about our adventure on August 6, 2010.
Just a quick note to say there is nothing quite as handy as a calendar with any and everything written on it for future reference! I still have calendars from a few years back. They have come in handy many times. Really.
It also contributes to living a more simple life because I know once I commit an upcoming event to the calendar, I don't have to worry or think about it again till it comes up. If it is something that needs prep work a week in advance, I log that on the calendar, too. Takes away the stress of hoping I don't forget. Every December, I sit down and transfer all important dates, birthday's etc on the calendar for the coming year.
I've tried all kind of calendar systems over the years to find what works best for me. I've set up the calendars online where you can choose the people that can see what is coming up thinking our grown kids would contribute and be more a part of each others worlds. HA! I think one daughter posted something, once, maybe. No one else contributed and, frankly, I think they found it annoying. They really didn't care to know.
When the grandkids lived here I had a giant Family Calendar. Everyone's stuff visible at a glance and separated out by person. It was handy. Don't need anything that elaborate anymore.
I tried to have separate calendars for personal family business like paying bills, etc and one for public viewing I could leave out. That was too much trouble! Sometimes I actually did forget things because I wasn't looking at the right calendar. Scratch that plan. I've tried the desk pad type calendar, but that was distracting and ugly. I don't like ugly.
I'm more a hands on kinda girl, a bit technology challenged and prefer a paper calendar I can write on as opposed to an electronic one that fits in the palm of my hand. I've learned never to say 'never' but I don't see that system attracting me any time soon. I like the simple life, don't you know.
I've simplified my system to the one calendar for bills, birthdays, Dr appointments and all. It's a tiny bit larger than a piece of notebook paper and has a spiral binder I've learned I do not want to live without. I've grown picky about my calendars because they are so vital in the day-today management of life here on Hacienda Hill. Chances are, if it's not on the calendar, it isn't going to happen! I rely on it for order and peace of mind.
You cannot live a simple life without order and peace of mind!
I cannot yet say my home, life and world are in the place I want them to be where order and peace of mind are concerned. It's a journey, takes one step at a time. I first had to change my thinking and straighten out my priorities. That part has been done. Now it is a matter of aligning my surroundings, my possessions and my habits to fit the simple life mentality. It is impossible to live the way you've always lived and have things be different than they always were. Change comes from the inside out. The outside can change the way the inside functions. It's a circle of cooperative change making life sweeter, more simple and less stressful. Here's to the next 111 days!
Just a quick note to say there is nothing quite as handy as a calendar with any and everything written on it for future reference! I still have calendars from a few years back. They have come in handy many times. Really.
It also contributes to living a more simple life because I know once I commit an upcoming event to the calendar, I don't have to worry or think about it again till it comes up. If it is something that needs prep work a week in advance, I log that on the calendar, too. Takes away the stress of hoping I don't forget. Every December, I sit down and transfer all important dates, birthday's etc on the calendar for the coming year.
I've tried all kind of calendar systems over the years to find what works best for me. I've set up the calendars online where you can choose the people that can see what is coming up thinking our grown kids would contribute and be more a part of each others worlds. HA! I think one daughter posted something, once, maybe. No one else contributed and, frankly, I think they found it annoying. They really didn't care to know.
When the grandkids lived here I had a giant Family Calendar. Everyone's stuff visible at a glance and separated out by person. It was handy. Don't need anything that elaborate anymore.
I tried to have separate calendars for personal family business like paying bills, etc and one for public viewing I could leave out. That was too much trouble! Sometimes I actually did forget things because I wasn't looking at the right calendar. Scratch that plan. I've tried the desk pad type calendar, but that was distracting and ugly. I don't like ugly.
I'm more a hands on kinda girl, a bit technology challenged and prefer a paper calendar I can write on as opposed to an electronic one that fits in the palm of my hand. I've learned never to say 'never' but I don't see that system attracting me any time soon. I like the simple life, don't you know.
I've simplified my system to the one calendar for bills, birthdays, Dr appointments and all. It's a tiny bit larger than a piece of notebook paper and has a spiral binder I've learned I do not want to live without. I've grown picky about my calendars because they are so vital in the day-today management of life here on Hacienda Hill. Chances are, if it's not on the calendar, it isn't going to happen! I rely on it for order and peace of mind.
You cannot live a simple life without order and peace of mind!
I cannot yet say my home, life and world are in the place I want them to be where order and peace of mind are concerned. It's a journey, takes one step at a time. I first had to change my thinking and straighten out my priorities. That part has been done. Now it is a matter of aligning my surroundings, my possessions and my habits to fit the simple life mentality. It is impossible to live the way you've always lived and have things be different than they always were. Change comes from the inside out. The outside can change the way the inside functions. It's a circle of cooperative change making life sweeter, more simple and less stressful. Here's to the next 111 days!
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Here's a Kiss for You!
This is a busy time of year for everyone. You can see in their faces as they scurry about from point to point with a list in their hand of things they hope not to forget. I stopped by a friend's house to drop off a mixer she wanted to borrow and she was in a complete frenzy over making candy for the holidays. Seriously, she was moving and talking at the speed of light, dashing about like the house was on fire. I asked why...she didn't know. We sat down to visit for a bit and her breathing slowed to normal, her voice lost the manic pitch and we had the best visit we've had in years! We talked about why she felt such stress over making candy...I might point out that she already had several kinds made and was a week away from leaving on the trip to see the family she was making candy for. She's retired...no time hindrance there, no kids at home needing her time and attention...nothing apparent to cause such panic about making candy at all.
The sad part to me was that she was so stressed, she was getting no joy from making all the goodies to share with family on the trip. She used to love holiday baking. What happened? She'd already hired me to bake her pies and cake to help her out. She wanted to make cookies to take, too. Yesterday, she mixed all the various cookie doughs, today she bakes those. She has 5 more days before they leave on the trip. Why the panic?
Listening to her talk, I discovered she was trying to make sure she did all her usual stuff AND the things her mother used to make for the gatherings. A nephew asked last year where a certain candy was that he wanted...her mother used to make that candy but she's with Jesus now. My friend felt the self-imposed pressure of filling her mother's shoes. She didn't say all that, I just put the pieces together from her conversation. She was driving herself to distraction to carry on a family tradition no one asked her carry.
I'm all for traditions, I tried to give my kids family traditions to look back on. I made a special gingerbread, timed to be in the oven filling the house with its aroma while the kids were finding what Santa brought. What could smell better? Then, after all the gifts were opened, we would sit down to a Christmas breakfast of quiche, gingerbread and sparkling white grape juice in wine glasses. A kid friendly bubbly for the special occasion. Now, one daughter makes the Christmas Morning Gingerbread I made, tho not early Christmas morning but they have it Christmas day and the other daughter makes quiche for her family. They've tweaked my traditions to become their own.
I guess the key is finding what works for you without making you nuts! I enjoy cooking, so listening to my kids laugh and play as I made our Christmas breakfast was a joy to me. I didn't spend all my time in the kitchen, I hung out with the kids while things were in the oven, so I didn't have the pressure or mentality of slaving away while everyone else had fun. Memories of those days still warm my heart and the kid's laughter still rings in my hears. My friend will not look back on this holiday baking and candy making with joy, she'll remember the stress, that is NOT a good memory. She will have one funny memory to recall. In her 'hurry, hurry' mode she knocked over a full open bottle of peppermint extract and did not realize it till later. She called me laughing to say her entire house smelled like a giant peppermint stick!
In our quest to live a more simple life, Friends, we need to declutter all the things that stress us and steal our joy. NO, that does not mean you declutter your spouse and kids...just the busy work that isn't going to be remembered later as joyful. A happy and relaxed parent/spouse/companion is a far better gift to your family than a plate of anything you might slave over! KISS, KISS...Keep It Simple, Silly!
The sad part to me was that she was so stressed, she was getting no joy from making all the goodies to share with family on the trip. She used to love holiday baking. What happened? She'd already hired me to bake her pies and cake to help her out. She wanted to make cookies to take, too. Yesterday, she mixed all the various cookie doughs, today she bakes those. She has 5 more days before they leave on the trip. Why the panic?
Listening to her talk, I discovered she was trying to make sure she did all her usual stuff AND the things her mother used to make for the gatherings. A nephew asked last year where a certain candy was that he wanted...her mother used to make that candy but she's with Jesus now. My friend felt the self-imposed pressure of filling her mother's shoes. She didn't say all that, I just put the pieces together from her conversation. She was driving herself to distraction to carry on a family tradition no one asked her carry.
I'm all for traditions, I tried to give my kids family traditions to look back on. I made a special gingerbread, timed to be in the oven filling the house with its aroma while the kids were finding what Santa brought. What could smell better? Then, after all the gifts were opened, we would sit down to a Christmas breakfast of quiche, gingerbread and sparkling white grape juice in wine glasses. A kid friendly bubbly for the special occasion. Now, one daughter makes the Christmas Morning Gingerbread I made, tho not early Christmas morning but they have it Christmas day and the other daughter makes quiche for her family. They've tweaked my traditions to become their own.
I guess the key is finding what works for you without making you nuts! I enjoy cooking, so listening to my kids laugh and play as I made our Christmas breakfast was a joy to me. I didn't spend all my time in the kitchen, I hung out with the kids while things were in the oven, so I didn't have the pressure or mentality of slaving away while everyone else had fun. Memories of those days still warm my heart and the kid's laughter still rings in my hears. My friend will not look back on this holiday baking and candy making with joy, she'll remember the stress, that is NOT a good memory. She will have one funny memory to recall. In her 'hurry, hurry' mode she knocked over a full open bottle of peppermint extract and did not realize it till later. She called me laughing to say her entire house smelled like a giant peppermint stick!
In our quest to live a more simple life, Friends, we need to declutter all the things that stress us and steal our joy. NO, that does not mean you declutter your spouse and kids...just the busy work that isn't going to be remembered later as joyful. A happy and relaxed parent/spouse/companion is a far better gift to your family than a plate of anything you might slave over! KISS, KISS...Keep It Simple, Silly!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Blustery Fall Day
What a glorious Fall day! Just a note to say I am still enamored with hanging clothes on the line instead of using the dryer. This day is quite "blustery" to quote Winnie the Pooh making it perfect for hanging sheets and big towels. There is enough wind to snap the sheets as they blow. I thought the thrill might waiver once the new had worn off of my simple life habit of getting back to basics by hanging the clothes out, but it has not! I can also say with great delight, my light bills have dropped considerably!! Yes, the air rarely comes on anymore but not running that dryer makes a difference that thrills me.
PRO's: Less noise pollution, less energy used, no more bending over to get the clothes. I get more fresh air. The clothes get folded or hung as they come off the line. The hounds love having me outside with them. Fresh feel of the things dried outside.
CON's: Occasionally something needs to be ironed. Rainy days (what few we have) hamper laundry days. Failure to plan ahead can bring inconvenient consequences.
All in all, this leg of the journey to living a simple life has been rewarding. It really is no more trouble and the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. I highly recommend it!!
PRO's: Less noise pollution, less energy used, no more bending over to get the clothes. I get more fresh air. The clothes get folded or hung as they come off the line. The hounds love having me outside with them. Fresh feel of the things dried outside.
CON's: Occasionally something needs to be ironed. Rainy days (what few we have) hamper laundry days. Failure to plan ahead can bring inconvenient consequences.
All in all, this leg of the journey to living a simple life has been rewarding. It really is no more trouble and the benefits far outweigh any inconveniences. I highly recommend it!!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Vacation Hide Away at Home
Came home last night from a wonderful and relaxing trip to Red River, New Mexico, with my friend, Tonie. The weather could not have been better, cold nights, delightful days! Good friends, good food, gorgeous scenery...what more could you ask for?
Sleeping in my own bed last night was pleasant. I especially enjoyed cooking in my kitchen this morning. I grumble from time to time about being in 'Year 4' of the kitchen remodel but there is nothing like sipping good coffee from your favorite cup on a quiet morning after being away for a few days to make you appreciate home...your home.
Last August, our friends, Laura & David, came to town and spent the night with us. As Laura walked into the living/family/den/great room (call it what you like) she commented that it felt like being in a cabin with the wood floors and the wide open (35' X 18') space. It is most certainly a multi-tasking room - our entertaining area, the TV room, my office, the kitchen, and our dining area. She had no way of knowing this, of course, but my grand decor scheme has always been to have our home feel like a permanent vacation home. I guess I'm getting close, in spite of the unfinished kitchen and unfinished floors, if she felt like she was in a cabin. It's not rustic at all but the relaxed ambiance is there. The guest room has a fantasy, exotic feel that contributes to the feel of a vacation get away. I want my guest o walk in and immediately feel they could take their shoes off, prop their feet on the coffee table and kick back to relax. Dinner and/or breakfast on the deck overlooking the hill country sets the tone, too. Our own mini Bed & Breakfast...
It's a nice feeling to come back from a lovely & comfy house in the mountains and still feel like you're in a vacation home. We are blessed. Tomorrow I go back to work and I have a large project in front of me. But at the end of my work day I can turn off the computer, walk a few steps over to our beautiful & relaxing sectional, put my feet up on the coffee table while viewing the distant hills out the front door and windows, take some deep breaths and get my mind into vacation home mode for the evening. The hounds will clamor for attention and jockey for position to snuggle with me and my Honey, our evening ritual complete. A simple life on Hacienda Hill is a good life, it's our life and I'm thankful for it. It's tea time, so I'm off to put the kettle on. Relish the simple things in life, Friends, it is these that make life sweet.
Sleeping in my own bed last night was pleasant. I especially enjoyed cooking in my kitchen this morning. I grumble from time to time about being in 'Year 4' of the kitchen remodel but there is nothing like sipping good coffee from your favorite cup on a quiet morning after being away for a few days to make you appreciate home...your home.
Last August, our friends, Laura & David, came to town and spent the night with us. As Laura walked into the living/family/den/great room (call it what you like) she commented that it felt like being in a cabin with the wood floors and the wide open (35' X 18') space. It is most certainly a multi-tasking room - our entertaining area, the TV room, my office, the kitchen, and our dining area. She had no way of knowing this, of course, but my grand decor scheme has always been to have our home feel like a permanent vacation home. I guess I'm getting close, in spite of the unfinished kitchen and unfinished floors, if she felt like she was in a cabin. It's not rustic at all but the relaxed ambiance is there. The guest room has a fantasy, exotic feel that contributes to the feel of a vacation get away. I want my guest o walk in and immediately feel they could take their shoes off, prop their feet on the coffee table and kick back to relax. Dinner and/or breakfast on the deck overlooking the hill country sets the tone, too. Our own mini Bed & Breakfast...
It's a nice feeling to come back from a lovely & comfy house in the mountains and still feel like you're in a vacation home. We are blessed. Tomorrow I go back to work and I have a large project in front of me. But at the end of my work day I can turn off the computer, walk a few steps over to our beautiful & relaxing sectional, put my feet up on the coffee table while viewing the distant hills out the front door and windows, take some deep breaths and get my mind into vacation home mode for the evening. The hounds will clamor for attention and jockey for position to snuggle with me and my Honey, our evening ritual complete. A simple life on Hacienda Hill is a good life, it's our life and I'm thankful for it. It's tea time, so I'm off to put the kettle on. Relish the simple things in life, Friends, it is these that make life sweet.
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