Wednesday, January 12, 2011

On to Goal #4

Have housework done before I play on computer.


This is a stumbling block.  I mean, housework never ends, right?  Especially in a house where both the parents lean towards "cluttered", and there are four boys.  And did I mention we homeschool, so they never leave.  There is not that block of time while they are in school that I can be cleaning.  I try to clean as we do school, or clean as I go.  I will admit that our house is usually "okay" - as in, if I know someone is coming over I can pick up the kitchen and living room, wipe down the hall bath and get us presentable in about a half hour. 

But woe is me if they open any bedroom doors!

I know how to clean.  I even know how to maintain.  A few years ago I signed up for Flylady


- Flylady has a complete system to get you on track by using "baby steps" - 15 minutes a day at first de-cluttering, setting up goals like shining your sink, taking care of "hot spots", keeping clutter under control.  I usually sign up, get on the ball, then get incredibly overwhelmed with the emails (sometimes 20 a day!) and drop out.  And then, my good habits start to drop away.

But today, I think I will sign up again.  I need the reinforcement to do the small jobs throughout the day.  I have a tendency to look at something that is a big job - like cleaning out the toy closet and tubs in the family room - and see such a huge project that it cannot be done and I give up.  Or I'll be straightening my desk, and see how the baseboards are so dusty, and then I can't finish the desk because I stop to clean the baseboards.  I am easily distracted.

Last night we watched the movie "Up", and I loved how the dogs would be in the middle of a sentence and then suddenly, "Squirrel!" and then they would come back to their focus.  It is so like me, all day.

See, that is what I mean.

Anyway, today I am going to sign back up to be a Flybaby again.  I really do like that system, I like the baby steps, the "15 minute" projects and zones each day.  I can focus on those small chunks.  And, as long as I focus on that, and not look at the huge overwhelming "clean the whole house-while doing school-and making food for fellowship tonight-and typing on blog-and whatever else I come up with" I can keep things under control.

I also want to clean out my closet today, but that may have to wait until we come to that "zone" again.

If you've never tried (or even heard of) Flylady I highly recommend checking it out.  Even if the whole system doesn't work for you (it doesn't for me, either) there are probably parts that will.

I know I have not addressed the whole "before getting on the computer" thing.  I mean before I get on it AGAIN, okay?  I do check my email, etc. first thing in the morning, after Bible reading/devotion time, before kids overrun the house.  But my goal is to not get back on and play until the school and housework is done for the day.

You may never hear from me again.......

1 comment:

  1. Hi Paula,

    This is an unrelated comment sorry :-) I was reading something you wrote on another site about not enjoying the Sonlight Science Curriculum and deciding to use something else. I'm interested to know what you used instead. I have one nearly 8 year old boy and I am looking around at my options. Thanks Teena PAUL paulsfamilymail@gmail.com

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