Need To Do

Aren't lists great?  There is something about writing something out, getting it done, then crossing it out that is very satisfying.  It is like erasing the mess, problem, thing to do, whatever, it's closure.  I love it!

Now after feeling like we have completed something from the list of things that annoys us, we can move on.  You can wait a day or dive right in to the next thing, it's up to you, just don't get burnt out, remember there is life outside of cleaning and organizing.  And yes, we are making another list. This one is the "need to do" list. So dig around and find another piece of paper and grab that pen.  It is time to sit down and remember all those thinks you keep saying "I need to...".  You know those things I'm talking about, the ones that need to get done, some may be rather important, but procrastination has taken over.  Go ahead, start listing them all out, and don't worry if you are forgetting some, you can always add more later.

At this point you should have 2 lists, one full of the simple little things that irritate you and are easy to get done, and one full of things that need to get done.  Remember not to put repetitive tasks like dishes on these lists, you are looking for thing that when they are done, for the most part, they stay done.  We will get to goals and repetitive tasks later.

Now we are going to look the list over, but let me warn you, do not sit back and look at both lists at the same time.  If you do you are likely to get a feeling if "Oh my, I have WAY too much stuff to do" that will quickly overwhelm your thoughts.  So just look at one list at a time (but don't loose the other).  I like to put mine on the inside of cupboard doors, so I open one door at a time to look at one list at a time, the other doors stay closed. This also reminds me to stay on task through out the day so I don't forget about the lists, but they aren't sitting out nagging me at the same time.  I can close the cupboard door to shut them up and take a deep breath and open them up when I am ready.  You also shouldn't have too much on your lists so you feel overwhelmed, if you do, take a few of the less important things off, remember you can always add more things later as you get things done.

You may be wondering why we have 2 lists and have yet to address those dishes piling in the sink?  Well, the dishes will eventually get done, wither they are on a list or not.  And if you don't get the dishes done, well, I guess you and your family won't be eating at home much?  You may also be wondering why we aren't working off both lists at the same time.  Well, I have tried many different methods of cleaning, and they always seem to start out the same, with a routine, you start with doing one thing at the same time each day, then add something to the routine every day, until you walk around your house like a scheduled cleaning robot.  I have a life, I have days where I don't know if I am coming or going.  So I have different lists, and depending on what my day looks like and how much time I have, I will have a list that I has something on it I can get done.  Busy days I will pick something from the annoying little things list and days I have more time and patients I will pick from the need to do list.  You can make as many different lists as you want.  Like I said, lists are great.

Now, we are going to pick something on the "need to do" list and get it done.  You can choose what you want to do based on how much time you have, how much energy you have, how important something is, etc. However you want to choose, just pick something..... I'm waiting..... Got it? Great, now get busy with it.

And don't forget to cross it off when you are done.