I am beginning to make big changes around here. Some things have been mulling about in my head for awhile now, but the words and information to be found in the book, have been assisting me in implementing much of them.
Now, if you could see my copy of the book... Well, it's littered with post it notes, which act as marks for quick/future reference. There are also quite a few spots in it that I've highlighted. There's really quite a few ideas and bits of information that I want to keep track of. One thing about this book, though, is that it's not all about one's home and taking care of it. No, it does guide the reader to look within and address those things that pushes one toward going over the top where one's domesticity is concerned.
As I've mentioned before - quite possibly back over at Hiccups In Time - I am something of a recovering perfectionist. Well... who am I kidding? I AM a recovering perfectionist. In the past, everything has had to match what I have pictured in my head, and if it's not... I have tended to cycle between overwhelm, shut-down, and then depression. It is something that I have worked on and CONTINUE to work on because with three kids - one being a preschooler - things just don't seem to stay clean around here for long.
So, while I've been meaning to put some of Lisa's tips to use in my own home... I've been having to get things in order around here FIRST. That way, I can have a sound starting point. That, in and of itself, has been something of a chore. Especially given that, admittedly, I've been coming out of the shut-down portion that followed the overwhelm after DH left for Afghanistan the second time (after R&R).
Let me tell you... that has been a chore, but I've not allowed my inner perfectionist to get the better of me. I've been doing a little at a time. Things didn't get in disarray overnight, and I keep reminding myself that things aren't going to be "perfect" overnight either.
"Less Is More"
This is the spot that I've been focusing on most of late. ESPECIALLY before the weather turns to a "winter wonderland". After all, it makes it exceedingly difficult to haul the clutter out and disperse of it when everything is covered in a perpetual blanket of snow.
I think what spurred me to action most was Lisa's list...
You're Out of Control If:
- You have more than three "junk drawers". When I was honest with myself, I realized I had a lot more than that, even if I didn't call it "junk".
- You have to navigate piles to get through your home.
- Your closet contains clothes from three years ago - that don't fit. I'd already gone through that quite some time ago. So, I WAS ahead of the game, if only by a little bit.
- All the horizontal surfaces in your home (desktops, countertops, ledges, tables, and mantels) are completely covered. They're not all covered, but there are a few spots that I have difficulties remembering what they looked like when we moved in.
- Things fall out of your car when you open the door. Yes, I'm guilty of this. My little Prius does tend to get filled to overflowing with stuff, especially given that we are a family of 5, usually.
- You can't park in your garage. Is that what a garage is for??? I had no idea... *said tongue in cheek*
- You find yourself shuffling piles around all day because they have no real home. I'm not that bad. I just shove them in the desk drawer, which I don't think is really a solution, is it?
- You have papers from high school.
- You spend an unreasonable amount of time trying to find things in your home. In my defense, things don't generally tend to remain where I put them, anyway. The kids tend to use them and move them on me, as kids tend to do. I recall my own mom saying "why can't I ever find anything?" a time or two and I having been the reason behind it.
- You have trouble relaxing or being productive in your home because of the clutter. Oh, Heavens, yes!
- You have unopened mail from months ago. Guilty as charged.
- You have lids but no containers (or vice versa). Ditto.
- Your filing system is basically one file, full as a tick, with everything crammed into it. Um... no. Refer back to the desk drawers...
- You don't invite people over because you are embarrassed.
- You always hate the way your home looks. It's beginning to turn around, at least.
So... I'm taking one room/area at a time. The garage was worked on a week or so ago. We did have a yard sale, but everything that didn't sell didn't stay after that. There's still more to do, but I'm well on my way, at least.
And while it's taking me a bit of time to go through the book, I'm certainly glad that it has come my way. It really goes along with much of what I'm doing around here with regard to simplifying. It's not as much of a destination, though, as it is a journey, and I'll definitely share more in the future as I continue to make changes with it as one of my inspirations.
Disclosure: I was gifted with a copy of Ms Quinn's book to review. However, my enthusiasm for it is spurred by nothing more than the results I'm seeing in my perspectives, as well as my home.
