Slow and Steady

 

 

First of all Merry Christmas!  It's December both a joyous and exhausting month. So I thought with that in mind I'd give you a bit of an update on how my "working the plan" is going. Today on my plan it's clean the living room and clean the bedroom.  They are already done and it's not even nine o'clock.  What I am noticing is that by working the plan consistently, things just do not get as crazy and therefore a quick clean is so easy. Now if only I could conquer the kitchen!  That's a room that I feel like I can clean constantly and still have something messed up! 

 

 

I've settled into a routine and it's pretty basic but some days it's still overwhelming. I'll give you the current version because sometimes I adjust it based on needs.

 

 

1. Blog:  (this is whichever blog I plan to write on this day)  I have several blogs so I assigned them each a day of the week. Then I can keep a steady flow of new posts without being overwhelmed.  I can almost "guarantee" that there will be a new post on every blog at least once a week. For December I am blogging twice a week at Magical Holiday Home and North Pole Notes.

 

2. Clean:  Each day has a room or rooms. I actually combined rooms because I wanted one day for BIG project cleaning like the basement and garage, plus I wanted to take Sunday off. I tried putting two rooms together that are pretty much under control so that it is manageable to do two!

 

3. Zone:  This is an adaption of the FlyLady program. I like her daily reminders and tasks and they remind me to do things that I might otherwise not do. Sometimes I don't do the task that she suggests if something else fits better. This week is the Kitchen zone. I normally clean the kitchen on Wednesdays but this week I will do one task daily as well as the regular cleaning on Wednesday. I try to slot in a "monthly task" if the one she suggests doesn't need it or seem to fit my needs.

 

4. Declutter 15:  I pick something to declutter just for 15 minutes. Currently I am alternating between the garage and the basement for my 15 minutes...one day basement, one day garage and so on.

 

5. Laundry: At least one load every day plus I have assigned a day for each family member so they know when they can use the laundry room without messing up someone else's schedule.

 

That's pretty much the basic approach I have been following for about 5-6 months and it is really starting to make a difference! I am hosting several events this month and getting ready for them has been so much easier. Now adding in the Christmas shopping, wrapping etc is a bit of a challenge but I do feel like I am making progress.

 



Hello December

"Hello December." What those words remind me of is panic. December is here, that adds a whole other list of things that need to get accomplished and quickly...Christmas is coming.

Now is not the time to be fretting about big de-clutter projects and home improvements. If you haven't managed to complete them in the last 11 months, you need to put them on hold for December. You are never going to survive this month without keeping up with daily chores and holiday prep. You can't have it ALL....not now...not this December. However if you keep working your plan, developing habits and routines, by next December, everything will be better (and easier).

I had to remind myself of just this yesterday. Take one day at a time and work toward your goal....a peaceful, joyful celebration of Christmas.  I'll keep working the daily plans, add in some fun elf-ventures (adventures), some parties, some outings, and lots of special memories. I might hope no one opens the door to the linen closet (didn't get to it yet)  That's ok....January is coming with snow and ice and time to regroup.

I've actually accomplished a lot in the last few months. It's not perfect and there's still plenty of things on my to do list for December...but I'll get there...one day at a time!

Cleaning Routines

 

Last week I wrote about using Cozi on your computer or phone to help you stay on track but if there are some of you that prefer a paper and pencil worksheet, this is a good one from Happy Money Saver.  I really like it because it is editable so you can personalize it for your own use. The "days" are already set though so if you have other rooms or don't like the daily room then this might not work for you. I mean I've just memorized the daily rooms I set up so changing them would really throw me off.  

Here's another version from Zoo Cutie Printables.

 

I've struggled a lot over the years with which printable or even which schedule to use. I've set up notebooks, cleaning schedules and card files. NOTHING seemed to work or at least I didn't stick with it for very long. Now that I'm retired I realize that time really is a big factor.  Working full time and expecting to complete these daily lists of chores is just too much. But really the biggest deterrent is lack of routine. Develop a routine (make it realistic, even just two things each day) then stick with it. Over a period of time it will make a big difference and your house will be easier to keep clean.

 

By the way....today is Move It Out Monday.....so move out some clutter today and make it even easier to clean your home!

 

The Bedroom Project

So as you can see....I managed to blog Week One of the Holiday Grand Plan. I am soooo bad at long term projects but I finally pulled off the bedroom project. Well, almost, I still need to paint and put up the new closet door. I also need one other peice of furniture...still searching for it...a small tall dresser for beside the bed. A thrid item I am still looking for is a floral or twig swag to hang above the headboard of the bed...not playing full price...so I need to find it at a resale shop or flea market! That wall can be bare until I happen upon the perfect item! So to celebrate...here's a list of what I managed over hmmm about an 8 week time period. I will get some pictures up soon!

1. Painted walls lavendar and ceiling white.
2. Painted trim white
3. Painted electrical coverings white
4. Painted the floor vent sage green
5. Put down (wood-looking) flooring
6. Painted the old bed I found at the flea market (white)
7. Painted the resale shop lamp sage green (I love it!)
8. Painted the frames of some pcitures I found at the flea market (white)
9. Put up a white little shelf (from flea market)
10. Painted trinket box....sage green
11. Painted some adorable little metal squares white..they are linked with chains and I am going to add the words. Love Laugh Life (as soon as I find the rub on stencils of them)
12. Painted the old brown lamp from my husbands side of the bed white. (it looks new!)
13. Cleaned out about half of the closet
14. Got rid of three bags of clothing and shoes
15. Got rid of miscellaneous other junk

TOTAL Project cost= 400 dollars (thats with an estimated cost for closet doors & dresser & swag for above bed)

I love the room....it is so pretty...and clean! The bed will look nice at Christmas with some greenery wrapped around the headboard!

Holiday Grand Plan and September Plan

So I have been pondering how to do my monthly plan since August 29th the Holiday Plans start. This year I will attempt the Holiday Grand Plan. I like the way I started a room a month. focus a month, and living my life....but the Holiday Grand Plan won't exactly fit that...hmmm....or will it. (Well not the room for sure) Let's see how I can combined the two.

Room of the Month: Holiday Grand Plan uses weekly rooms:

• List Week and Cleaning Area: Front Porch
• Question Week and Cleaning Area: Livingroom
• Entryway/Foyer (I don't really have one so I'll do an extra week on Master Bedroom
• Master Bedroom
• Master Bathroom

Focus of the Month: Since there's two weeks of Master Bedroom (I want to paint and put down new flooring...have been trying to do this for THREE years!) I'm going to say the focus for the month is painting and flooring!

Living My Life:

• Exercise! Goal is seven days a week....with the idea that one will most likely be dropped!
• Plan the MT (girl's nights out for September) These are my lifelines in a crazy week!

That's a HEAVY load under Room of the Month...one of the reasons I have never finished this plan BUT I MUST do the bedroom....I would be sooo happy if I get this done before Christmas! So September it's going to happen!!!

I'll be blogging the plan here at Month by Month along with other random things...join me!

Keeping on Track: August

August you are approaching quickly. I've struggled with keeping on track lately but this week has been productive. As summer's end is drawing near, I am working on getting back into some kind of routine. I'm still working on books....believe it or not but I've managed to declutter some other areas too.

August Planning:

Room of the Month: The kitchen.....I already got a bit of a head start on this because I cleaned the top shelf of the cupboard but there is still mega stuff to do. This is a great room to do for August because it gets me ready for holiday baking, menu planning and parties!

Focus of the Month: Clothes....I'm not sure exactly what or how I am going to mange this focus but something needs to change. I know it's not early enough for changing seasonal clothes. I am more concerned about going through clothes in the laundry room and getting rid of a bunch of stuff. Closets and drawers are over flowing! (I'm going to continue on my shelf a week of book decluttering also!)

Living My Life: This month brings back work but the one thing I want to really cultivate in "living my life" is to get over the idea that everything comes to a stop when school starts. I still want to find time for a few fun excursions this fall.

So that's the basic plan....I am going to go one step further for August and I am going to break down the items into "weekly room tasks", "weekly focus goals" and "weekly living my life thoughts". BUT ....I know and you know the real progress comes in actually MAKING myself do the things on the list! lol

May Plan

Well April skipped by without much progress...but I NEVER give up....lol

May Room of the Month: Master Bedroom & Bath
This room is in dire need of help...and I am hoping to do it during May...in prep of doing even more with the room during June!!! So for the next two months.....it's the bedroom and bath!!

Central Theme: Continues to be books...still barely a dent made in them but I am determined that this is going to happen in a big way....I want to be able to use some of those shelves to display things I LOVE and even though I love books...not dusty, faded, old yellowing ones...

Living My Life: Graduation Parties and Outdoor Fun: The main focus will be on getting outside and doing some yard work as well as starting some summer/outdoor entertaining!!! Flower bed prep and laying some patio stones are on the agenda!

Three and Threes

In an ongoing effort to keep myself motivated and on top of things I'm working my three and threes. Each night I sit down and jot three things I'd like to get accomplished the next morning. I keep them pretty smallish tasks because I do not have a lot of time in the mornings to work around the house BUT even three little things can make a difference for sure!

Then either at the same time or a lunch during the day...I jot down three things I want to accomplish in the evening...again nothing HUGE because honestly I know I just will not get them done. Usually one of the evening three are the "day" project...like Move It Out Monday or Fifteen Minute Friday etc.

Since getting discouraged and overwhelmed is a common theme for me...I consider my day a success if I accomplish my three and threes...even if the rest is a wreck...LOL. Honestly working the three and threes can make a big difference since over the course of a week it is 15 things in the morning and 15 things in the evening. I don't count the weekends because Super Saturday is where I do most of the major cleaning around here!

To make my task FUN...I bought little monthly "to do" lists...there's one for each month and they are "cute". I love marking off the items and I use one page per day. As well as the three and threes I also list any errands, calls, or other to dos that HAVE to be done that day!

October To Do List

Trying to get jump started on falling cleaning and prep for the holidays. So I thought it might be fun to try some little daily to dos...nothing too elaborate but a little mini task for each day. I planned to start it October 1st but you know what they say about best laid plans go astray. So here it is...

October 3rd: Clean lamp shades
October 4th: Clean out your purse
October 5th: Put out fall scented candles
October 6th: Wipe down all light switches with disinfectant
October 7th: Clean out the veggie drawer in the fridge
October 8th: Clean the TV screen
October 9th: Clean out the silverware drawer
October 10th: Clean out the "junk drawer" if you have one
October 11th: Put away all outside flower pots
October 12th: Find three new fall recipes to try
October 13th: Think Halloween...buy or make any cards you want to send
October 14th: Clean all mirrors in the house
October 15th: Buy new makeup for fall
October 16th: Sort and file paperwork on desk top
October 17th: Buy new throw away plastic containers in fall colors
October 18th: Clean microwave
October 19th: Wash and put out some fall throws
October 20th: Clean out your sock drawer
October 21st: Fall Magazine clean and pitch
October 22nd: Declutter and get rid of two bags worth of stuff today!
October 23rd: Clean out and update your budget notebook
October 24th: Get rid of all outdated spices
October 25th: Sort toys...donate some to goodwill
October 26th: Start stocking up on paperware...purchase plates and cups
October 27th: Clean out your wallet
October 28th: Buy some new towels for the bathroom...throw away old raggedy ones
October 29th: Clean ceiling fans
October 30th: Burn CDs of pictures you have on the computer.
October 31st: Sweep front porch, replace porch light bulb if needed.

Week One: Paperwork & Planning

Whew...I made progress in the office and created another mess...LOL. There was so much stuff accumulated in my office that I decided the only way I could manage it was to remove all of it.....sort it and put it away elsewhere, throw it away, or give it away.

The office looks WAY better even though I still have some shelves and cabinets that need cleaning. Those will wait until another week when I end up with a bonus week because of not having a certain room that is one the plan! The rest of this week will be devoted to the stacks I have moved into the livingroom...some are papers that can be sort and either filed or discarded, some are books to find new homes for and some are craft items to sort and store differently...there's probably a few other odds and ends thrown in also. There are some good will items also. Those will go to goodwill tomorrow.

So the PLAN is started and I will update weekly to let you know how I am progressing. Hope you are off to a fall cleaning start also whether it is the Holiday Grand Plan, the Houseworks Holiday Plan, or some fall plan of your own!

Month by Month Checkup

Time for a check up on your Month by Month notebook....okay where is that thing...is it buried under that mound of laundry? Under that stack of bills...?

Things to consider:

• Where are you housing your notebook? The place you keep it will have a direct correlation to how much you use it. Mine is on the shelf to the left of my office computer...but during "active" work times it is open on the kitchen table. Sometimes it stays there for days.
• Are your monthly sections "up to date"? If not... MOVE on to the CURRENT month and get it in place...otherwise you will never get the notebook in order. Always work on the current section or future sections (if the current one is complete) because your notebook will evolve as you use it. If you keep waiting to use it until it's DONE...you will never use it.
• Recently I posted the one page weekly "to dos" list. I am liking it a lot...less paper. Have you made a weekly "to dos" list that shows what you want to accomplish each day? This is a master list that stays the same each week. If not GET BUSY...this list is the back bone of the Month by Month notebook. Here's a little hint for this one...do not worry about typing this and making it "final".....just get a piece of paper and make a list for each day...then try that for two-three weeks.....make changes as needed...try for another two-three weeks...at the end of six weeks...make any other changes THEN type or print a nice copy and put it in your notebook. And if you prefer POST this on your fridge each week and just leave the master copy in yourt notebook...maybe SEEING it will jumpstart you!

Okay those are the main things for now...do you have them in place? Are they working? If not time for tweaking. Leave a message or a comment if you have a particular problem and we can brainstorm a solution. Habits are hard to form and it takes time!!!

Dividing Your Magic Maintenance List

Okay as promised I am going to give you some options about how to manage that LONG Magic Maintenance list that you have created...ummm.....you have it created....right? If not wave your magic wand and get it finished...just start with a rough hand written draft because as you go along you are sure to change it a bit.

• Add 1-2 items from the list each week to your weekly to dos
• Add 1-2 items from the list to your Room of the Month plan.
• Pick one week to be your Magic Maintenance Week each month...do only basic cleaning and Magic Maintenance items
• Add you Magic Maintenance items to your Seasonal chores list...so divide the list into four parts and put one part in each season.
• Make Saturday or Monday or whatever...your Magic Maintenance Day...double up another day to accommadate those chores and then focus on Magic Maintenance on its special day each week!

Well that's it...I am sure there are other possibilites too and I would love to hear about how you divide your list. The whole idea behind all of the list I am telling you about here at Month by Month...is to divide and conquer...nobody can do it ALL every day...so by listing every thing and then dividing it into manageable chunks...it's less overwhelming!

Notebook Monthly Sections Setup

As promised:

1. Divider page and calendar for the month in a page protector back to back.




2. Monthly Magic printout (two pages) filed back to back in a page protector.




3. Room of the Month Master List: This is the list I create for which ever room I am working on. This is EVERYTHING I hope, scheme, and dream can be accomplished during the month. It has two parts...Things To Do and Things To Buy for that particular room.




4. Weekly To Do Lists by Days (I print mine out and write on them, a month's worth at a time and I write the date at the top of each column) There is a column each week for the Room of the Month: I jot down those things from the master list that I hope to accomplish that week.




5. I place a colored sheet of copier paper here. I use red but you could use any color. This is just a visual that helps me find the next little section easier.




6. Rudolph Day, Great Pumkin Day, Turkey Day, Year Round Holiday Planning Lists,




7. I place another color of copier paper next.




8. Then I place any Mini Event Planners that I need for the month here along with a Cards & Gifts list. I keep my Crafts to Do List and To Buy List in this section. Just this year I have added my Reading 2008 Book list also.




9. The final section is a page protector that holds my Magic Maintenance list since I use it to add items to my to dos each month/week.

Well that's it...the actual set up of the monthly section. The lists that are my Weekly To Do's get thrown away at the end of each week. If there are any important notes jotted on them I transfer them to the next week. This forces me to look at each week as a new beginning. It is also a visual reminder of the month's days passing by!

Magic Maintenance List

I have "published" the Magic Maintenace list for you to view. I really need to go over it again because I am not sure that I have everything on the list that I need. I am transferring my master list from a room based list to just a master list and I hope I got everything. If not I'll revise it as needed.

To create your own Magic Maintenance list. Take some paper and a pen...walk around your house and think about chores that need to be done to keep your house the way you want it to be. Think about the goal you are working toward not what you are doing now. Put small and large jobs (actually any job that you would ideally do monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or even just once a year. Some items I find easier to list for the whole house. For example to me...it is easier to say: Wash all light fixtures....rather than... wash light fixtures in kitchen, wash light fixtures in living room etc. You will need to decide which you like better.

After you do this...file it in your Home Notebook...I move it each month so it stays at the back of the current month's section. When you work your Weekly To Dos list by days...add one or two of the items from Magic Maintenance to your list. You may not get them all done...but little by little you will make progress and you will be doing more than you are now!! Also when I rotate through the year doing my Room of the Month...that is when I try to include the Magic Maintenance chores for that room!

Here's my list...of course yours will be different based on your home and your preferences. Also I have not noted whether they are monthly, bi-monthly etc...that is also something you will need to consider. When I share my seasonal sections of the notebook I will give you more details as to how I spread them out over the course of the year! And there are also some additional seasonal chores that are not on this list!

Ginger's Magic Maintenance List

The Basic 1-2-3 Approach

Well, the Basic 1-2-3 Approach isn't as MAGICAL as the Wizard of Oz but it can help you stay on the track of keeping on top of things. I have started using this only about 8 or 9 months ago. I'm a list maker and usually my lists are long, too long....leaving me at the end of what ever "plan" I am working feeling a bit like a failure and rushed to finish the list. So I needed a way to get something done without giving up when the lists just seem to go on forever! Here's what I'm trying:

1 Every week get one thing done in every room of the house (big, small, in between..anything counts for your one thing)...Can be routine or an extra little something! This assures that certain rooms in the house do not get overlooked and clutter overwhelms them. This one thing may be part of the Weekly "to do" lists for that room but usually I try to make it a little something extra!

2 Every week get two things accomplished in your Room of the month. By doing this by the end of the month you will have accomplished 8-10 things. That is one of the things I use those blank spots for on the "daily to do" lists. Jotting in something at least two days each week.

3 Every week do three things in the room that is the focus of any weekly cleaning plan you are participating in. For me right now that is the JUMPSTART JANUARY plan. Can't do it all each week but that's okay...just accomplish three items on the room of the week list and you have been successful!! If you are not working a weekly plan just pick a room of the week and do three extra things to that room!

So that's it 1-2-3...and you have made a dent! If I get more accomplished great but I shoot for the 1 2 3 and make a game out of it to see if I can do it! When you really think about it. With our daily routines and basic house work we should be DELIGHTED if we get anything extra done!!

What are Your Roadblocks?

Every month I write personal life goals in 8 different life areas: Marriage, Family, Friends, Self, Home, Work, Hobbies, Spiritual. I was reminding myself last night that it is almost time to reflect on the February ones and write some for March. Well those thoughts and a thread at Magical Holiday Home about what to do if you haven't finished your ROOM for February, got me to thinking about ROADBLOCKS. What keeps us from doing what we want to get done? Oh I know, time, money, energy etc. But sometimes it seems I use the same excuse over and over again. Which leads me to question whether I truly understand the roadblocks in my life.
So When I write my Personal Life Goals for March I am also going to start a little section on ROADBLOCKS...I am going to look closely at February and see if there were things that stood in the way of me getting things done, maybe look at the items I had on my to do list, as perhaps they themselves were the roadblocks. Then I will pick one of the Roadblocks to work on during March, and I will focus on ways to eliminate the roadblock or at least get around it.
Next week I will be posting my personal life goals and I will include more about Roadblocks and what I have chosen for March. If you would like to join me...just let your mind play over the month of February and try to get a feel for what stood it your way (if anything). Then jot down some of your thoughts. Next week we will look at our list a bit closer!

Magic Maintenance

Some of you have expressed an interest in Magic Maintenance. I want to explain that there are really four parts to cleaning and maintaining that I use regularly.

• Morning & Evening Routines: These are very basic things that I try to do every morning and evening. Except for Friday evenings. They are very simple and the few things that I have picked for my home that needs to get done everyday. You may pick something different depending on your home, lifestyle and personal goals. I suggest that you keep it fairly simple though, if you work full time as I do.
• Weekly Lists by Day: These are divided so I have a different room each day to focus on. So I have seven lists. These are the basics for a clean room. Plain and simple.
• Room of the Month: Explains it self...the room that gets the extra attention that month.
• Magic Maintenance: These are bigger chores or jobs that need to get done besides the ones listed above. They keep my house from falling into a state of disarray and I divide them by month. So I have 12 lists.....one for each month.

Keep this in mind. Magic Maintenace is like building a tower with blocks. You start with a firm foundation and keep adding to it. These ideas are nothing new. They have provided the foundation for home management for years, with lots of different names and outlines. The one I share here works for me and it can work for anyone. The key is DOING it regularly. If you are like me at all.....I tend to let things build up and then dig out. So I never really felt on top of things. The biggest part of the process is making each list. After you make them, you use the same ones, over and over. Here are the lists for morning and evening. They stay the same everyday. I will put a picture up soon so you can see how the am and pm routines are included on each day's list along with which ever room it is for that particular day.

Morning List:

• Walk through house, pick up/put away
• Make bed
• 15 minute declutter (choose area)

Evening List:

• Kitchen Quick Clean
• Financial Check Up.....I am doing this daily because paying down debt is a BIG goal.
• Laundry (one load, whole cycle...wash, dry, put away)
• Dishes

I try to do the quick kitchen clean while fixing supper along with dishes. Since I menu plan and pre prep lots of supper, it is managable most nights.

Honestly when you look at the list...none of it seems overwhelming but the only way for it to make a difference is to jump in and start doing them...over time, each one gets easier and easier because things are staying clean longer.

JumpStart January Progress

January included three weeks of cleaning with the Jumpstart January Plan. This plan is available over at Magical Holiday Home forums, so for here, I will just give a brief overview and reflections on my progress (or lack of).

Week One: List Week and Front Porch
Progress for this week was very good. Made my lists for each room and managed to get the front porch looking nice...just in time for Mother Nature to dump 9 or 10 inches of snow on us!

Week Two: Question Week and Living Room
Progress for this week was okay but I did not get to delutter the drawers and the entertainment center like I had hoped. Those will stay on the master cleaning list for the next go around or for another week when I have time. You can see the questions for this week: HERE

Week Three: Entry/Foyer (I substituted Office)
Okay progress for this week is a big FLOP but I do have a good excuse. Hubby's knee surgery turned me in to a home health nurse. Something I'm not really that good at. It takes a lot of time! But my Individual JumpStart January Plan has an additional Home Office Week so all is not lost and it will get done in good time.