Getting Real about Housework

So far my posts have been generic.  I have included some basic principles from my work as a professional organizer because I think they might be helpful to you.  I will continue to do that because order in our lives is important, so I make no apologies for these articles.  Hopefully they will inspire you in some measure.

But today I will get to the nitty-gritty about housework.  As I have said, it is not my favorite thing,  In fact I do not like anything about doing it.  I do like the finished product.  Today my personal trainer asked me if anyone liked housework and I had to think about it.  (Side note:  I have been working with a personal trainer for 10 months.  My goals were to lose weight and to be able to walk with my husband and dog 2 miles everyday without arthritic knee pain.  I am accomplishing both.)  So back to thinking about if anyone liked housework. 

There are probably some people who like certain aspects of housework.  Maybe you hate washing dishes but love washing windows.  Or maybe you love ironing (I always burn myself so I don't do it.) but hate mopping floors.  I know I cannot speak for everyone, but honestly, I don't personally know of anyone who likes any of it.  It has to be done so why don't we like it?

Let me speculate and give you some of the reasons I don't like it. 
1.  It takes time away from other things I would rather do:  reading, quilting, picking flowers, just about anything else. 
2.  It is a never ending process.  Just as you finish the job, it has to be done again.  With other projects, there is and end.  My quilts are completed and enjoyed, the book is read and donated, and the flowers are arranged. 
3.  It is never quite perfect.  Even after the copper skillet is clean, you could always go back and polish the bottom of it to a brilliant shine.  You could iron the pillowcases, but what about the sheets--please NO. 
4.  There is always another task waiting even if you think you are finished.  The ceiling fan blades need dusting, the chandelier globes need washing, hey even the light bulbs need dusting.  See what I mean? 
5.  Who likes broken fingernails, dishpan hands and work clothes which are intertwined with housework?  Enough said.

So now that I have been very real and honest, let me end on a more positive note.  While there are many things we don't like to do, we can do them with a thankful attitude.  We can be thankful we have things to use, enjoy and clean.  We can enjoy the compliments we get from family and friends as they appreciate what we have done.  We can use the time spent in mindless housework to
plan projects, find solutions to problems, pray for others, converse with family, memorize scriptures or sing worship songs.  Hey, this may be the only alone time you get.  The time need not be wasted.  I encourage you and myself to make the most of it.  We may hate it, but we can still use it for good.

Organizing Checklist for February

I have not been inspired to write more about my relationship with housework, but here are some organizing tips I have shared on my business blogs. 

This month we are concentrating on books and hobbies.  Since there are so many types of hobbies and since we often take on too many, this blog will be a long one.  I have gone into more detail in my book, but you can begin with these tips.

     Books

• Keeping fiction books that you have read serve no purpose except to prove you own them.  Sell or donate them knowing you can borrow it from the library if you have time to read it again.
• Non-fiction books should be grouped by category.  Since information is always changing, using older books as reference many not provide recent findings.  Let them go and use the Internet to find the latest information.  The books are not your brain and letting them go will not cause you to forget what you have learned.  (Old age, however, may cause you to forget.  I speak from experience.)
• Make friends with the library. 
• Use vertical areas to provide extra shelves or cabinets for storage. 

Hobbies

• Limit the number of hobbies you take on:  two is best or three if it is related to the one of the others. 
• Do not try to purchase every new tool or supply for that craft when it comes along.  Most specialty gadgets are rarely used and take up valuable space.
• Finish one project before you start another one.  I know that is difficult when classes come along to teach a new technique.  Go to the class and take notes if you must, but do not start another project. 
• Purchase kits when they are suitable.  It will save you time in making choices and money in purchasing supplies you don’t use.
• Use storage containers designed for your items if they are convenient for you to use.  It is usually the most efficient use of space.  If those are too expensive, try to find a less expensive but similar substitute container in the fishing tackle, laundry or kitchen storage area of the store.
• Consider over the door style shoe bags with clear pockets for sorting and storing small items.
• Portable totes, rolling carts or drawers, wheeled suitcases and crates are all options when space is limited.
• Fill the closet in a spare room with shelving for containers or stackable drawers for your craft items.
• Folding or card tables can be used for projects if no other surfaces are suitable for your projects.  These can be stored under beds, behind tall furniture or in other storage areas.
• Purge items you have not used and realize now you probably will never use.  Our tastes and preferences change over time and there is no point in keeping something just because you thought you might use it.  Sell or donate it to your craft group or guild.
• Store craft magazines and how to booklets in a magazine holder.  When it is filled, use the one in one out principle.
• Use peg boards to store tools and supplies that are used often.
• Convert chests, china cabinets and other furniture into attractive storage for your supplies..
• Discard unflattering, foggy or distorted photos.
• Invest in a digital camera and begin using online services to create scrapbooks, calendars, cards and more.
• Consider scanning older quality photos rather than saving them for scrapbooks.  Companies that offer those services are listed in the resource section.
• Plan a photo give away day for those photos you no longer need or want. 
• Shoe boxes or similar photo boxes can be used to store saved photos.
• If upgrading to equipment or supplies with more features, sell or donate the equipment and supplies it replaces.  Do not keep it just in case you might need it.
• Use crafting/sewing tables with adjustable legs so it can be lowered to a comfortable level.
• Divided plastic drawer sets and towers can be used to store supplies.
• Purge patterns and fabrics and sell or donate those you no longer use or like.
• Create a cutting/project/pressing table by placing a table on bed risers to make the height more back and neck friendly.  Cover it with a padded board for pressing.  A cutting mat can be placed on top of this as the need arises.
• Keep projects portable in the extra large zip top bags.
• Consider fishing tackle boxes for sorting and storage of small notions, beads, wires and tools.
• Store stacks of containers on shelves in bookcases or cabinets with identifying labels on the front edge.
• Save only very special greeting cards you have received.  Cut off the verse and name of the giver to save and discard the front and envelope.
• Make memories of sentimental items by creating shadow boxes, framed photo collages, pillow tops, album covers or quilts.  These can be passed on to other generations.
• Make a child’s craft kit by storing the supplies in a zip top big bag.  Everything will be ready for them to use and clean up will be simple.
• Eliminate excessive gift wrapping supplies by investing in one or two rolls of paper.  White or paper bag brown can be used for any occasion.  They can be decorated with markers or rubber stamps or left plain with a pretty bow.  Store in a flat container under the bed or in containers designed for them.  Keeping one bright and one pastel roll of ribbon is sufficient. 
• Use special ribbon holders if you maintain several rolls.  These make it convenient for you to pull off one ribbon at a time.

Collections

• Valuable collections such as rare coins or jewelry should be appraised, inventoried and stored in a safe place.
• Purge items you have collected but have no sentimental value and you do not want to display.  See if a family member wants them before selling or donating.
• Have pictures taken of you with the item before removing it if you no longer have room for it.
• Limit the items you collect to the space that you have to display them.  If you insist on storing some of them elsewhere, rotate them through your display so you can enjoy what you have.
• Group your collections together for the most attractive arrangements.
• The best collectible is money.  Save it in interest bearing accounts rather than spending in on other items to collect.  It takes no storage space and grows in value.

 

 

 

An Organizing Schedule for This Year and January

Happy New Year! Once again I must get used to writing the date for the new year correctly. You would think by now I would not start the year with 19 but old habits die hard. For those of you who like to plan ahead, I have an organizing agenda for the year that will include the checklists for those topics each month. In addition, I will include other items that need to be addressed that time of the year. Here is the schedule:
January--Paper, Files, Home Office
February--Books and Hobbies
March--Attics, Clothing
April--Linens and Bathrooms
May--Garage and Yard
June--Children's Rooms, Guest Room/Spare Room
July--Family Room or Den
August--Toys, Electronics (are they the same thing?!)
September--Bedrooms, Clothing
October--Dining Room
November--Pantry, Kitchen
December--Holiday

Now on to January. It is time to deal with the papers and other items in home offices. Regardless of the size or space you have to manage the running of the home, you need a clutter free space to pay bills, keep records and manage accounts. The computer was supposed to make us a paper free socieity but we all know that did not happen.  We bought printers and made matters worse. Here are a few tips to help with this areas.

• Create an inbox for incoming papers: mail, bulletins, newsletters, schedules, etc. Put this in the space you normally drop mail. Select categories and put the paper that enters the house in the correct section. If you use a compact hanging file box, make a hanging folder for each category that fits your situation. Drop the papers in it and deal with them when necessary or the file is full. I continually get feedback from clients on how this one thing helped them to get control of incoming bills, etc.
• Save only legal documents or papers related to your home or health in a permanent file drawer or box. You do not need to keep the statements from every institution after they have been checked for accuracy and/or paid. Those accounts are kept in computer files by the institution that you can access if necessary. Even appliance and electronic manuals are kept online now.
• Purchase a fireproof/waterproof box for storing originals of legal documents and information that relates to your accounts, etc. This will be heavy but can be locked and withstands destructive elements in case of disaster. It can also be accessed by you when banks with safety deposit boxes are closed.
• Shred old documents with personal information and recycle the rest. Minimize your paper storage.
• Stop magazine subscriptions and get your information at the library or online. Move out all older magazines. If you have read them, you don't need them. If you have not read them by now, you won't read them in the future. The same goes for newspapers. Except for the Sunday edition with coupons (if you are a couponer), most news and obituaries (of course) can be found online. Remember magazines and newspapers are more than half advertisements.
• Throw away catalogues as soon as they come in. Save the discount label if you decide to order something online or by phone. Looking through catalogues is like watching a very long commercial. What a waste of time!
• Speaking of time: Use a calendar with a week at a glance that breaks the days into house. Smartphones and computers have free calendar programs like this or you can use a paper version. Block out your activities and you will see the available hour you have to do the things you have put off.
• Clear the desk, counter, table or whatever you use for office activities every night before going to bed.
• If you would like more information on guidelines for saving papers, I have a document I will send to you. Email me through my website: www.OrderlyPlaces.com and let me know you want it. My book also has more detail on organizing your papers, files and office. It is in your local library and can be purchased online from Amazon or my website.

 



Housework vs. Priorities

Cartoon by John Wagner

I cannot remember when and where I found it, but I love this cartoon.  We identify with Maxine so many times!  Let's face it, there is only so much time in a day, a week, a month, etc. and unfortunately housework is present in all of those.   But like Maxine, it is not necessarily a priority all the time.  So when is it a priority?

It would be great to say never, but that would not be practical.  Housework needs to be assigned spots in our life just like everything else that is important or necessary.  Having clean clothes, clean floors and clean dishes are essential no matter how much we dislike taking care of them.  The trick is to find the right spot--the balance.  In all honesty, I hate housework.  There is not one part of it I enjoy or even like.  I would put it at the very bottom of every to-do list if I could.  Our culture has been designed, however, to require some household tasks be done on a regular basis. 

We could find anything and everything else to do with no time left for it unless our life is governed by priorities.  That takes resolve, commitment, self control and persistence.  None of those is easy or fun I will admit.  But they are essential. 

One place to begin is to make a list, on paper preferably, of the things in your life that are important.  Rank them in importance and be sure to put maintaining your home in the list even if it is at the bottom.  As you review your list, assign time in your day or week for each of those things. 

To get the housework done, you will need to break it down into its unique tasks and assign time for each of them.  Some will need to be done everyday and sometimes more than once such as loading the dishwasher or preparing a meal.  Some less often as in laundry and some rarely as in cleaning carpets.  For those who hire help in housekeeping, assigning tasks to those personnel is just as important.  If you make time in your schedule for the necessary chores, there is a greater chance of  accomplishment.  And when they are completed, there is a certain amount of satisfaction in seeing them done.

As a word of warning, do not put so many things in your schedule that there is no room for housework.  This is a form of procrastination that I will talk about later but it is a very easy trap for those who cannot say "no" to everything but housework.  Until then, work on that schedule.

It's Not Just About the Housework: It's Stress

If you stress about the amount of housework left for you to do, the housework you hate to do or the housework required of you, then you are putting your health at risk. It is generally known stress takes its tole on the human body. It is often the cause of high blood pressure, headaches, and fatigue, just to name a few of its maladies.

Think about it. If you eliminated all housework from your life, would that be a stress reliever for you? I think it would for most of us, myself included. There are just so many hours in a day, so many things to do and housework seems to be the one thing that never gets completely done. In fact, some household duties are ever present no matter how many times you tackle them: dirty dishes, laundry, and mail to be opened, sorted or filed, just to name a few. For mothers of babies you can include dirty diapers.

Is there an answer to eliminating this killer? No, unfortunately it cannot be eliminated for most of us but there are answers to make it more manageable.  Getting order in our time, our homes and lives in general is the foundation for making the changes that will get control of the problems with housework.

In future posts, I will share my thoughts from the experiences I have had, the knowledge I have learned, and the skills I have developed.  These have come through careers as a teacher and professional organizer and life as a wife, mother and grandmother. 

So you are not alone in this journey.  Be encouraged there is hope, there are answers and strategies to move forward.