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| Image by Chiot's Run via Flickr |
If you have read my previous posts, you know that I’m a fan of
keeping things clean and organized. With the arrival of spring came the need to
freshen up my home and shed light on the dark corners and narrow spaces that
rarely get attention. Since I have a very busy routine with work, homeschool,
and keeping house, I usually take time off work to get my spring cleaning done.
I also schedule the kid’s spring break the same week so that I’m freed up from
teaching lessons. This also means I have extra hands to help me out. Ha!
This, twice a year, cleaning sprint really helps me in more
ways than one. I have a daily goal to spend more quality time with my kids. As
a working mom, being organized helps my day go smoother and frees up more
stress-free time to accomplish this.
One of my more ambitious goals is to become a full-time
fiction writer. If it is God’s will and desire, I will achieve this one day,
and I try to live my day to day life doing things that draw me closer to achieving
this goal. Keeping my home clean and organized frees up more of my time so that
I can write. It also declutters my mind so that I can focus and do my best
writing.
You might feel that your busy schedule doesn’t allow you
enough time to keep a clean and organized home. Maybe you’re right, but let me
challenge you on this. First, take a detailed look at your day from the time you
get up in the morning until you go to bed at night. How do you spend your time?
Next, make a list of your life goals. They could be big or
small. They could be financial, professional, educational, emotional, parental,
material, etc. You can even break them down into long-term and short-term. I
know this sounds deep, but bear with me.
Once you have done this, make a list of everything you need to get done during the day, and the
things you want to get done. Are you
getting these things accomplished from day to day? If not, why? Are these
things going to help you reach your goals? If not, how can you change them to
be more goal driven?
Allow me to give you some examples. But, before I do, let me
point out that I have been guilty of these from time to time, so I’m not
pointing fingers.
How much time are you spending on electronic devices? Are
you surfing Facebook, or other social media, more than an hour each day? If so,
and your goal is not to become a
social media master, then you should probably cut back and use your time more
wisely.
Do you spend your day picking up messes behind your children? If
so, and your goal is not to teach
them to be irresponsible and completely dependent on you, then you should probably encourage
them to pick up after themselves.
The point is, if you want to achieve your goals, you have to
spend time doing things that are going to help you get there. Many people want
to be more organized, and wish they had more time and motivation to keep a
clean home. Many people can also agree that spring cleaning can be a nightmare
if you have decided to put everything off until then.
I think it’s important to point out that when I say “clean and
organized”, I don’t mean everything should be in its place at all times, and
you should be able to pass the white glove test. If you have kids, or just a
busy schedule, then there are probably a few toys scattered about or dirty dishes in the sink at any given point during the day. Big deal. I try not to sweat
the little stuff because life happens.
When I ask if your home is clean and organized, what I’m really
asking is: How long has it been since you dusted your ceiling fan? Cleaned your
bedroom closet, or under your bed? Organized your kitchen cabinets, or cleaned
behind your refrigerator? Being organized doesn’t have to be hard. It’s just a
matter of having a place to put everything, and having everything is a sensible
location. It doesn’t mean your DVDs should be in alphabetical order, but if
that’s what makes you happy, then go for it!
In my next post, I’ll share a few tips on how I am able to accomplish
my desired level of clean and organized in my home. Until then…
Does keeping a clean and organized home, help you to reduce
stress and accomplish goals? Are you able to get more things done by keeping a
cleaning schedule? Are you obsessed with organization? What are some of the
things you do to stay organized?
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