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Post by hollyhock on Mar 2, 2018 9:23:40 GMT -5
I haven't posted here in about 2 weeks. I think what has happened is a lot of introspection. Recognizing my Type 4 traits, and then trying to work with them. In addition they support me in knowing my type, and how it affects so many aspects of my life.
The main one I see related to my house (and again many other aspects of my life) is my need for structure. Very Type 4. It has also been very in-tune with the occupations I chose - even when I didn't realize it. And as anyone here has probably seen, it is a constant 'theme' in my posts. Striving for a structured plan, but then my constant urge to perfect things makes the plan not happen. Having recognized that, I am at a point of MAKING a list that I CAN adhere to.
I realized this week that my chief aim is also simplicity. A lot of my process has been to simplify all of my tasks to get the job done, in a timely way. In addition, doing this then supports my secondary Type 1, who wants to have some fun or something enjoyable to do. And as most are aware, my general health, with eating and exercising have been paramount to my journey. This week I went to waterfit 1 day (Wed.) and hope to continue at least twice a week, so any schedule I make will revolve around fitting that in - so I am trying to work on a 'schedule' routine, where a lot of my tasks, especially quieter ones, have me finished by 10:30 AM, so I can get to waterfit by 11. I will still have 'noisier' tasks (mostly vacuuming) that I can do in the afternoon.
Lately I have decided to make the weekend as my project days, delaying starting anything if I get to see ds and dgs Sat. AM. The past 2 weekends I have slowly been making my way through 2 'boxes' of semi-recent loose papers, the byproduct of a stash and dash clean. I still have 1 category to sort. I kept aside all printed papers related to capsule wardrobes, and wardrobe planning, and I need to sort out my Type 4 things now. Hopefully this weekend. Inspection here should be in about 2 weeks, so I am try to keep my project messes limited until after that happens.
Later I realized that except for possibly 1 tote in my storage closet, 99% of my papers are now in my spare room. In addition, all books are in there, and most knickknacks, and stationary stuff. Pet stuff. My non-Type 4 clothes, and all of my makeup. In other words, MANY of my project areas revolve around this room. And also prevent me from cleaning it very well.
In addition I was searching on-line for OTHER cleaning plans - and saw 1 where the DR was treated as a separate room - because my LR and DR are L-shaped, I have always considered them 1, and I think often it makes me balk at doing it. AND they had their Saturday down calling it 'around the house' with many activities concerning tidying and paperwork. And that is when it hit me - and maybe is the key to what I have been searching for. Do 6 cleaning areas instead of 5, and make the Sat. one the spare room INCLUDING working on all of the projects in there. Sat. CAN flow over into Sunday as needed. But keep the messy stuff on the weekend, when I know if I am having people in or will be out or whatever - and everything should be away again by Sun PM.
So that is where I am right now. In addition, if I can manage to pick up a few groceries as needed on my way home from waterfit, that saves me a separate grocery day. AND with waterfit in mind, I also know I have to work on eating an earlier breakfast.
Now in my paper sorting last weekend, I came across a list I had made while living here, and had forgotten. It's a list of 31 tasks - monthly tasks, to co-ordinate with the days of the month. This was a real eye-opener because it covers many of the tasks I have been trying to fit in. Some not so frequent tasks like sorting clothes, and tidying closets etc are already built into this list, but they alternate so are hit 2-3 times a year. It really looks all-encompassing, and I don't even remember making up this list, let alone why I didn't follow through on it, but right now it seems perfect for me.
Also this week I tied all of this into my other tendency, to alternate working on the front and the back of the apt. I am working all of this cleaning plan on that too, and may switch some of my dailies to every other day (EOD) if that is possible. That also includes adding groceries to the front of the apt day, and laundry to the back.
So in short, my daily goals are to rise fairly early, so some quiet tasks, have an early breakfast, wash hair (if leaving apt), more tasks, exercise at 11, shower. By then it's around noon, and I eat, and work on noisier tasks, plus things like groceries or laundry. I can putter away and do my monthly task between watching TV and maybe some crafts or going out. Hopefully after supper I can get the kitchen cleaned up for the day. Some days I will also need to cook ahead. Front of apt days also mostly co-incide with waterfit days.
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 2, 2018 9:33:59 GMT -5
Friday March 2, 2018 I intend to probably post weekly lists like I used to - or daily - but more than I have been lately. But I'll probably wait until Sunday or Monday to do so. Yesterday we were expecting a bad storm here later in the day/ evening. Lately they keep posting storm warnings, and often these storms turn into something minor but you never know. So to be on the safe side, I went out for my groceries yesterday, and then did laundry in the afternoon. It's good to have both out of the way, but I was then too tired to do much else - including putting all of the laundry and all of the groceries away. So my plan for today is to finish up on yesterday's tasks, and today's so that I can begin tomorrow with a fairly fresh slate. So, what I want to do today is to post here my own WIT tasks, and then move on. It's now 9:30 AM. So far: Coffee #1, reading some SooS posts Made bed Coffee #2, made and ate breakfast (oatmeal and 2 hardboiled eggs), posted here. Next round: Wash soaking dishes - scrub sinks Soak more dishes Put away groceries , tidy LR (somewhat) 10 AM: Put away laundry supplies - refill soap containers Toss dead flowers , prepare kitchen garbage to toss put new bag in Wash soaking dishes , soak more ADD: brush teeth 10:20: Quick break Prepare to exercise: change clothes, set up fans and open sliding door (it's hot in here (79F)), water bottle Pack up waterfit supplies for next time Fill empty water bottles Put coffee table on couch Exercise: FigureRobics Dumb (with weights) 32 min with 2 lb wts Log exercise on Fitbit and MFP (Re exercise - I was ready to give up on round 1 at exercise 7, but continued on, 22 exercises, 2 rounds each. Whew! Sweat up a storm) 11:45: Relax for a minute, drink water Shower, wash hair, dress Make protein smoothie (with bananas and pineapple) Warm up soup and toast for lunch with smoothie (have added leftover brown rice and end of ham into homemade veggie soup, will top with Parmesan cheese. 2:30 PM - just made smoothie now. Relaxed too long. Watched some DYT videos. Next up (as I drink smoothie): Put dirty vase to soak Vac around bird cage Give birds fresh seed Put on makeup, earrings Toss garbage down chute ADD: Decobweb LR DR and kitchen ADD: Nap of unknown duration ADD: Go down for mail ADD: Empty 3 stick vacs, and vac them with canister vac (yucky!) Dust LR Read some Facebook Type 4 group 5:45 PM - winding down. Other possibilities for tonight: Supper (chicken, baked potato, zucchini) Dishes 1 2 Vac LR couch Vac floors LR and kitchen (and around bird cage again) with canister vac Update Quicken for Feb Update budget book for Feb Put away laundry - linens, clothes Gather recycling in bag - take down? Read more Facebook or watch a movie Watch for message from ds re plans mentioned by him last Sat. Bedtime snack
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 3, 2018 7:32:22 GMT -5
Saturday March 3, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise PM dishes/ tidy Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa SATURDAY: SPARE ROOM: Tidy (as best I can) Dust Vac Clean bird cage WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - sort Type 4 items out of wardrobe print-offs - store info for Types 1 2 and 3 in storage totes of Type 2 clothing POSSIBLE OUTING: Go out with ds and dgs (may not due to dgs developing a rash yesterday, unknown cause) No MONTHLY TASK: 3 - change out knickknacks: Clear top shelf in storage closet, wipe it down Move tree-top angel collection to shelf Dust top of LR cabinets Find something 'springy' to put on cabinets 2 - change linens, décor Change DR tablecloth to one with more green Put away winter pillows Put out other pillows with green covers 1 - decobweb Decobweb bedroom, spare room, hall and bathroom From Feb: Update Quicken Update budget book Other leftovers: Take recycling to outside bins Put away laundry
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 4, 2018 8:30:47 GMT -5
Sunday March 4, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise PM dishes/ tidy Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa SUNDAY: Plant care - water, deadhead, turn Clean bird cage, wash their dishes Tidy through Finish project WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - sort Type 4 items out of wardrobe print-offs - store info for Types 1 2 and 3 in storage totes of Type 2 clothing MONTHLY TASKS: 4th - Lights: Dust lamp shades, glass globes Change light bulbs as needed 3rd - Knickknacks: Change out if desired Clear top shelf in storage closet, wipe it down Move tree-top angel collection to shelf Dust top of LR cabinets Find something 'springy' to put on cabinets 2nd - seasonal linens, décor Change DR tablecloth to one with more green Put away winter pillows, in storage closet From Feb: Update Quicken Update budget book Other leftovers: Put away laundry ADDED: Took birds into spare room, to allow flying time. All 4 came out and flew around. Some flew better than others. Barnie landed on the floor 4 times, but got himself up off of it okay. Buddy had trouble trying to fly lower, as in landing on the cage - but he eventually did. Bailie came out 1 1/2 hours after the others. I was in there for over 4 hours until they got themselves back in. While in there I got all of the wardrobe capsule papers sorted, and my fingernails trimmed.
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 5, 2018 5:12:24 GMT -5
I decided that a lot of the little messy areas around are related to the fact that I never finished cleaning and tidying the storage closet after I put (most of) Christmas away. Some things just got dumped in there 'for now', and others need to be sorted out, reorganized and tidied up, and others to find a home in there period. So although it's not a real project, that I'm trying to do on Saturdays, it's causing a stumbling block, so I'm going to work on it this week. Monday March 5, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise Waterfit PM dishes/ tidy Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa MONDAY: Scrub - kitchen, bathroom Change towels Windex through Mini-grocery run as needed SUNDAY: Plant care - water, deadhead, turn Clean bird cage wash their dishes Tidy through Restock rooms PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: Finish cleaning storage closet - remove all items on floor (laundry hampers, step stool, drying rack, appliances - remove items from shelf unit #1, clean it - remove items shelf unit #2, clean it - vac floor - return Christmas angels, winter pillows - sort and re-organize extra kitchen appliances and pans, return to shelves - sort and re-organize any 'stock' items such as light bulbs stored in there, return to shelves - sort and re-organize any tool items, and cleaning items, return to shelves - return to shelves any other items not listed above - return floor items WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - store info for Types 1 2 and 3 in storage totes of Type 2 clothing - file Type 4 papers MONTHLY TASKS: 5th - Phones and Remotes: Clean 4th - Lights: Dust lamp shades, glass globes Change light bulbs as needed 3rd - Knickknacks: Change out if desired Clear top shelf in storage closet, wipe it down Move tree-top angel collection to shelf Dust top of LR cabinets Find something 'springy' to put on cabinets 2nd - seasonal linens, décor Change DR tablecloth to one with more green Put away winter pillows, in storage closet From Feb: Update budget book Other leftovers: Put away laundry
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 6, 2018 4:42:16 GMT -5
I went to waterfit yesterday. It really wipes me out when I go, so basically nothing more got done. My thighs absolutely ache right now. I had considered going today too, but at this rate I'm probably not going to go again until Friday. If this keeps up I might need better weekly plans. Right now my list keeps growing. What I really want to do is to just get everything out of place tidied up - which mainly means doing the storage closet project - and climbing a step stool. Tuesday March 6, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise PM dishes/ tidy Mop kitchen floor M W F Tues Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa TUESDAY: LAUNDRY: Change sheets Launder linens, put away DUST MONDAY: Scrub - kitchen, bathroom Change towels Windex through Mini-grocery run as needed N/N SUNDAY: Plant care - water, deadhead, turn Wash bird dishes Tidy through Restock rooms PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: Finish cleaning storage closet - remove all items on floor (laundry hampers, step stool, drying rack, appliances - remove items from shelf unit #1, clean it - remove items shelf unit #2, clean it - vac floor - return Christmas angels , winter pillows - sort and re-organize extra kitchen appliances and pans, return to shelves - sort and re-organize any 'stock' items such as light bulbs stored in there, return to shelves - sort and re-organize any tool items, and cleaning items, return to shelves - return to shelves any other items not listed above - return floor items WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - store info for Types 1 2 and 3 in storage totes of Type 2 clothing - file Type 4 papers MONTHLY TASKS: 6th - Light switches and door knobs: Clean 5th - Phones and Remotes: Clean 4th - Lights: Dust lamp shades, glass globes Change light bulbs as needed 3rd - Knickknacks: Change out if desired Clear top shelf in storage closet, wipe it down Move tree-top angel collection to shelf Dust top of LR cabinets Find something 'springy' to put on cabinets 2nd - seasonal linens, décor Change DR tablecloth to one with more green Put away winter pillows, in storage closet From Feb: Update budget book Other leftovers: Put away laundry
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 7, 2018 4:46:03 GMT -5
I got a slow start on the storage closet yesterday, plus did some laundry. Then I made a huge mess in the kitchen, cooking up some chicken. That mess is still there. I got some exercising in, and I ache again this morning. The monthly tasks are still being delayed by the storage closet project. Some weeklies too. Wednesday March 7, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise PM dishes/ tidy Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa WEDNESDAY: ERRANDS (?) did 1 errand and a small grocery run PLANTS - water TUESDAY: LAUNDRY: Put clean linens away DUST MONDAY: Scrub - kitchen, bathroom Windex through SUNDAY: Plant care - water, deadhead, turn Wash bird dishes Tidy through PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: Finish cleaning storage closet - remove remaining items shelf unit #2, clean it - vac floor - return Christmas angels - sort and re-organize extra kitchen appliances and pans, return to shelves - sort and re-organize any 'stock' items such as light bulbs stored in there, return to shelves - sort and re-organize any tool items, and cleaning items, return to shelves - return to shelves any other items not listed above - return floor items WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - store info for Types 1 2 and 3 in storage totes of Type 2 clothing - file Type 4 papers MONTHLY TASKS: 7th - Extra laundry Wash Loose papers - sort 6th - Light switches and door knobs: Clean 5th - Phones and Remotes: Clean 4th - Lights: Dust lamp shades, glass globes Change light bulbs as needed 3rd - Knickknacks: Change out if desired Move tree-top angel collection to shelf in storage closet Dust top of LR cabinets Find something 'springy' to put on cabinets 2nd - seasonal linens, décor Change DR tablecloth to one with more green From Feb: Update budget book Other leftovers: Put away laundry
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 8, 2018 5:11:26 GMT -5
I got a lot done in the storage closet yesterday, and it's mostly done. Except now I have decided to add to it. I'm planning to move the shelving unit from the cleaning closet in there as well, along a 'front' wall. There won't be a lot of room between the front wall shelves and the back wall shelves, but I think I have things set up so it can still function well, and most of what I need is still easily accessible. Then I plan to move the 2 clothing totes, that may end up being donated in a few months, into the broom closet. They are currently in my bedroom closet, stacked, and taking up too much room. So since I have started a mess, I figure I might as well continue it. In other words, most of my cleaning is being delayed until this is done and out of the way - plus will make future cleaning easier. I will still make these lists, but I may not get to them, until next week - or next month for the monthlies. Actually maybe I will just eliminate the monthlies for now, and start them up, at wherever I am once I get everything else back on track. This is rather strange, because my intent had initially been to work down the hall tending to cleaning up these closets and I stopped when I decided to look after ALL paper projects instead. With an inspection looming mid-month I didn't want to get into a huge paper project mess, so just decided to deal with what was out in baskets from stash and dash cleaning. Now that that is 90% done, I find myself back at the closets again. Anyway it is progress! Thursday is often grocery/errand day or laundry day etc. I'm still trying to work out a system that will coincide with being out of the house 2-3 mornings a week at waterfit, and also changing my usual laundry day of Tuesday since too many others seem to be using that day now, and I have trouble getting machines. I did a quick grocery run yesterday, so I don't need to worry about that today. And I have to see if I have enough laundry for a load today, or if I can wait another week or part. Thursday March 8, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise 25 min PM dishes/ tidy Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa THURSDAY: Laundry - 2 loads - put away WEDNESDAY: PLANTS - finish watering TUESDAY: LAUNDRY: Put clean linens away DUST MONDAY: Scrub - kitchen, bathroom Windex through SUNDAY: Wash bird dishes PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: Finish cleaning storage closet - vac floor - return floor items(?) ADDED: Empty shelving unit in broom closet NOT NEEDED Clean it Move it to storage closet Return items to shelving unit, after assessment Decide how to deal with any leftover items Clean floor of broom closetMove 2 totes of clothing into broom storage closet from bedroom closet Move anything not needed for a while to locker WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - store info for Types 1 2 and 3 in storage totes of Type 2 clothing - file Type 4 papers (MONTHLY tasks temporarily cancelled) From Feb: Update budget book Other leftovers: Put away all laundry
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 9, 2018 5:35:31 GMT -5
I got the storage closet mainly finished yesterday. I managed to fit the 2 totes of clothing (which will probably end up being donated) into the storage closet yesterday. They fit well and I didn't have to take apart the cleaning closet (yet). And now the laundry hampers are back in my bedroom. I also caught up some paper work and my dishes. And did 2 loads of laundry, and most is put away. There are still many things out of place, but my plan is to finish those off/ tidy up today. I'm going to call it Finish Up Friday. In addition I plan to go to waterfit this AM, although I probably exercised too much yesterday and I hurt all over. I'll definitely take Saturday off, and maybe the entire weekend. My poor muscles need a rest. But I want to talk to V today at waterfit and decide my future days. Yesterday while I was checking something out in my email, I came up with an additional plan. My emails/ inbox are just as bad as my paperwork problems. I've signed up for too many blogs, plus I get a lot of commercial emails. I'm afraid to delete blog posts because I don't want to lose them, but I don't get them read either. I used to try to assess 1 type of blog post per day, or per week, and none of my plans worked out. Yesterday I got the idea of assigning a letter to each day of the month (1-26) and each day peruse the emails whose sender starts with that letter. I think that will make much smaller chunks. I'm sure some days will be much more than others. Just in passing yesterday I saw that for some reason I have a ton of J's. However, I do not have to do them all at once. I can delete the obvious and maybe pick 1 blog per month to really assess. I think as I narrow my life choices as per clothing and foods/ recipes, I can then delete the blogs that no longer resonate with me. Anyway the letter of the day will be another addition to my daily list. Yesterday I was able to delete about 300 emails, from the letter H. Friday March 9, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise (waterfit) PM dishes / tidy Assess email per Letter of the Day Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa FINISH UP FRIDAY: TIDY THROUGH: Entrance Kitchen LR DR Hall Bathroom Bedroom Spare room ASSESS EMAILS: Letter of the Day: I LEFTOVERS: Laundry - finish putting away Plants - finish watering Scrub - kitchen, bathroom Wash bird dishes PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: Finish cleaning storage closet - return floor items(?) - move anything not needed for a while to locker WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - file Type 4 papers - shred papers (MONTHLY tasks temporarily cancelled)
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 10, 2018 8:33:30 GMT -5
I did not do well yesterday. Went to waterfit in the AM, came home a bit worn out, but then had stomach issues related to diet. So I didn't feel up to doing too much. I'm hoping for a better day today. Not much in the way of cleaning was done this week, although I did work on the storage closet project. Normally for the weekends I have a project going in addition to the spare room cleaning. The only 'project' I want to do right now is a complete tidy, plus move around a few things in the spare room. A big part of the mess is still paperwork needing to be filed, or shredded. (I don't intend to do much more until yearly inspection is over, mid-March, so could be this week or next) Anyway my goal for today is to just work on each room. Initially I thought 10 minutes, but I think 15 will give me a chance to do more, although I hope I don't need to do 15. In some rooms that might just be tidying. In others I might even get the dusting and vacuuming done. I'll just go with the flow and see how it goes. I may need to fit in a tiny grocery run too. Today's Chore of the Day (day 10) is to clean the microwave (and it really needs it). I have been exercising a lot this week, so today may be a rest day. As I was writing this, I got a call from ds, asking me if I wanted to go with them (he and dgs)to an event we had to cancel last weekend. It's now 8:30 and he is picking me up at 9:45 - and I still need to shower. We are supposed to also meet ddil's mom (G) and sis (A) there. So plans have changed. Why cant anyone give me more than 1 1/2 hours notice for morning events? (I watched all week to see if we'd do it again.) Saturday March 10, 2018 DAILIES: Self care Make bed Catch up on dishes at least once 1 bag garbage out Clean kitchen counters, stove top Vac around bird cage Bird care Exercise - rest day? PM dishes / tidy Assess email per Letter of the Day Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa 15 minutes in each room: Entrance Kitchen LR DR Hall Bathroom Bedroom Spare room ASSESS EMAILS: Letter of the Day: J (There are a lit of J's) LEFTOVERS: Laundry - finish putting away Scrub - kitchen, bathroom Wash bird dishes PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: Finish cleaning storage closet - return floor items(?) - move anything not needed for a while to locker WEEKEND PROJECT: Paperwork - file Type 4 papers - shred papers MONTHLY TASK: Day 10 - clean microwave ADD: Time out to event with ds and dgs, plus ddil's mom and sis (planned last minute)
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 11, 2018 9:05:21 GMT -5
Last week I started back to waterfit - and yesterday I told G that I'd be there M W and F. It's been taking a lot out of me, especially since I'm just starting up again, so I need to take it more easily at home on those days, since I'm so tired afterwards - or hope to get part of it done before I go. Ideally I could also do a quick grocery run on the way home, thus avoiding going out an extra day for them,(but so far I have just been too tired). Other days I usually exercise in the evenings. So my weekly plans are (as always) up in the air. Some weeks I want to clean by rooms, and some by tasks - so I think the best compromise might be assigning tasks to front and back (rooms) of apt. each day. I am going to post a list for the upcoming week here and see how it goes. If I do the task on a different day, I will add in an initial for the day after the 'done' symbol. I will update the list each morning. In addition for each day I have a letter of the day for decluttering emails, and a Monthly Task of the day (1-31) so I will include those in the list as well for the entire week. Some tasks, especially the monthly ones might fit into a different day better than the one assigned. Sundays will remain a general tidying day, plus time for the birds. WEEK OF SUNDAY MARCH 11/18 - SATURDAY MARCH 17/18 DAILIES: Self care Su M T W Th F S Make bed Su M T W Th F S Catch up on dishes at least once Su M T W Th F S 1 bag garbage out Su M T W Th F S Clean kitchen counters, stove top Su M T W Th F S Vac around bird cage Su M T W Th F S Bird care Su M T W Th F S Exercise Su M T W Th F S PM dishes / tidy Su M T W Th F S Assess email per Letter of the Day Su M T W Th F S Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th Sa SUNDAY: Tidy through Clean bird cage Plant care Time with birds MONDAY Scrub front of apt (kitchen) Change linens, restock Small grocery run Exercise: waterfit TUESDAY Scrub back of apt (bathroom) Change linens , restock Exercise: Figurerobics 1 30 min WEDNESDAY Water plants Th Clean bird cage Dust front of apt Sa Launder linens T, put away Exercise: waterfit THURSDAY Dust back of apt Launder clothing, put away Errands Exercise: FRIDAY Vac and mop front of apt Short grocery run Exercise: waterfit SATURDAY Vac and mop back of apt Exercise: 40 Minutes (26 cardio, 14 mat) ASSESS EMAILS: Letters : K L M N O P Q MONTHLY TASKS per DAY: 11 - Clean out fridge 12 - Clean small kitchen appliances - kettle. toaster, blender, grill, etc 13 - Damp mop floors and baseboards - bedroom, spare room hall 14 - Damp mop floors and baseboards - LR DR 15 - Pay bills, update Quicken, budget book 16 - Deep clean shower tiles 17 - Good scrub bathroom floor OVERDUE: 23 (last month) - oil change 10 - clean microwave PROJECT FOR THIS WEEK: MENDING: Resew button on blouse Fix buttons on blue pea coat Check buttons on red pea coat, fix any needing it Resew hood button on burgundy jacket Finish cleaning storage closet - return floor items to storage closet or spare closet - bring out some spring knickknacks for top of LR cabinet Paperwork - file Type 4 papers - shred papers
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 18, 2018 8:07:43 GMT -5
I didn't do so well last week on getting any weekly or project work done. But my main focus was getting back into exercising, especially waterfit, and I went 3 days last week, plus exercised I think every day except Thursday. After perusing several Pinterest boards and seeing some different cleaning plans, I have come to the conclusion that things are not going to be as I want here until I finish finding all of these spare bits of papers and things without homes actual places to 'live', and then I can get into a better plan, as well as fit in my exercising better. I am also trying to better my evening routine, which would include doing dishes after supper. I think I am realizing that by doing my exercising late in the day, it takes away from my evening hours to have a better routine. (The intense heat in my apt hampers my exercising throughout the day. I'm not sure it's any cooler (as in it's still 80F in here at 8 PM) to exercise then than during the day, but I am coming to the conclusion that exercising away from home would not be as gruesome, and maybe I can go longer. (I'm not usually able to complete a routine, but I think it's because I'm working against this heat.) Plus most of the exercising away from home is often over and done with before lunch time. It takes away from my more energetic morning time, but I'm finding I'm starting to get into better evening plans, since I'm not trying to work it in too. So I am hoping to work in other exercise days outside my apt and earlier in the day. My email decluttering plan on working on 1 letter a day is working well. I'm slowly getting rid of things that have built up way too long. It's good to do in my quieter afternoon times. Anyway, for this upcoming week, I'd like to just work on finding places for all of the little messes here and there that are hampering me. 1 room a day, just on what I call Major tidying. I MIGHT progress to dusting too, but if not, I hope to be able to do whole room cleaning, including dusting by next week, without any obstacles. I'm going to disregard my monthly plans until I get a better handle on this other stuff. My priority is exercising/ getting more fit, and then I am trying to fit everything else around it. So this week's plan is going to be rather vague. In addition I had a fairly major problem arise on Friday, that will take multiple steps to resolve, and that is my first and foremost goal for this week. WEEK OF SUNDAY MARCH 18/18 - SATURDAY MARCH 24/18 DAILIES: Self care Su M T W Th F S Make bed Su M T W Th F S Catch up on dishes at least once Su M T W Th F S 1 bag garbage out Su M T W Th F S Clean kitchen counters, stove top Su M T W Th F S Vac around bird cage Su M T W Th F S Bird care Su M T W Th F S Exercise Su M T W Th F S PM dishes / tidy Su M T W Th F S Assess email per Letter of the Day Su M T W Th F S Mop kitchen floor M W F Swish and swipe bathroom T (W), Th Sa WEEKLIES: (For this week only) MAJOR TIDY: Kitchen Entrance and Hall + Dust and Vac Dining Room Living Room Bathroom Bedroom Spare Room POSSIBLY: Dust throughout OTHER TASKS: Clean bird cage 1 2 Out of cage time for birds Water plants 1 2 Deadhead plants Laundry days 1 2 Groceries 1 2 DEALING WITH PROBLEM THAT JUST AROSE: Going through paper files Associated phone calls Associated errands N/N Returning paper files ADD: Make sure it's corrected DAILY EXERCISING Su Pilates 33 min M T W Waterfit 45 min Th (Rest Day?) F Waterfit 45 min S Aerobic + pilates 36 min Email Declutter: Letter of the Day R S T U V W XYZ ADD: Some A's LEFTOVER PROJECTS: Mending: - Resew button on blouse - Fix buttons on blue pea coat - Check buttons on red pea coat, fix any needing it - Resew hood button on burgundy jacket Décor: - bring out some spring knickknacks for top of LR cabinet - put out spring tablecloth - clean light fixture above DR table before changing tablecloth Paperwork - file Type 4 papers - shred papers ADD: Sort, toss, put away manuals lying about ADD: Dump run ADD: Light bulbs changed by ds
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 25, 2018 7:56:55 GMT -5
Last week, after I posted my list, I had a change of plans. (Isn't that always the case?) And then I try to make my plans work without changing the list and it gets a bit confusing to work that square peg into the round hole, but I try.
Anyway, recently I have been looking at different on-line plans - which seems to be a hobby for me, and although one I posted about (in my blog?) didn't feel like it would fit 'me' as it was outlined, I took the general idea and am working it for me. The original is basically a rectangle of 14 squares, with each square containing a room or chore, or two. And none of the squares have days or dates assigned, you just work around, moving from 1 square to the next, as your days allow. Some days (squares) repeat around the rectangle. The creator realized that some days get busier than others, or you are sick, or doing lots of errands, or an activity comes up that you want to do, and as a result that day's cleaning task might not get done, or creates too much stress to get it done too. But this plan gives you the permission to just do what you need/ want to do on those days, and then you pick up where you left off - in other words you are never behind. Although you do need to do several daily things to keep on top of routine stuff.
So I decided to take this concept and work around my apt. I started at the front door and am working left (Mt Vernon Method) doing 1 room or area each day. Ideally the whole room will get cleaned on it's day, but last week I was mainly dealing with getting out of place things away in order to do better cleaning in future. In reality the room of the day will only take 15-20 minutes for me. (BTW I did not make a rectangle of the 14 squares - mine is just in my head right now, and is probably less than 14)
I really only got 2 areas touched last week, but the whole place seems to look (and feel) better. I had several days where I had too many extra (1 time) things to deal with so didn't get as much done as I'd hoped. I also decided that IF I had to do a day of groceries and errands, then it is an 'off' day, although I am trying to work them into my daily plans, not weekly. In addition I decided to collect my papers for that week (and some previous stuff) into a basket that I will call my Sunday Basket, from another blogger, and will work on that instead of a room on Sundays. Most Sundays I also take the birds into the spare room and allow them out of cage time if they wish, and my time for that is completely unpredictable, so it's good to not plan a room - plus my paperwork probably needs more attention than individual rooms, so it will be a constant. In the upcoming week, I'm not sure how to plan in the weekly' cleaning rooms, as it will be a day-by-day event - so I'm not sure whether to post 5 or 6 areas yet. I think I will only post 5, but can add in a 6th if I don't need an extra day for something.
I will also add that I have learned more about myself and my own habits this week - or lets say I got more into my day by adapting things. My main attention right now is not my house - it's my exercising. I need/ want to feel better, fitter, stronger and more able to do things. I now realize this is very hard to do at home, due to the high temps in my apt (often 80+ F, no matter time of year) and I wonder if I have trouble getting past 30 minutes or so of exercising due to weakness, or just because I'm so extremely hot. Anyway, I decided recently to go back to waterfit, it's 45 minutes and being in the pool it doesn't feel as hot. I'm trying for 3 days a week, but could go to 4 or 5 if I wanted to use other pools too, but I also want more of a variety of exercising. This week past I also found out that the waterfit instructor that I really like (is lots of fun) also does land exercises, and some of those are pay as you go, so I will probably trial some of those too. They are probably cooler than my apt. But more often than not now, my outside exercising times are in the morning instead of my trying to scramble to fit it in at home at the end of the day. But because mornings were my most energetic times, I've had to adapt other things to accommodate that. And my afternoons are really sluggish. However having my exercising out of the way feels really good.
So - with all of that in mind, what I am trying to do is do my 'back of apt' dailies done in the AM, before I leave. That also includes my own self care. On my way home I might stop for groceries. By the time I get home I'm really hungry, so having an easy to fix lunch is of prime importance. Then my afternoon slump, where I might nap, or do laundry, and I have been using that quiet time to declutter my emails, and catch up on things like Facebook groups.
Since I no longer have to exercise in the evening, it is now open to doing a bit of work - and my energy has returned. So between 5 and 8 I eat supper, do the front of the apt dailies which includes doing the dishes (a huge change for me), bird care, and vacuuming around their cage - and a quick 15 or so minutes in the room of the day. And by 8 PM I am ready to settle down to watch a movie or whatever, and catch up on internet stuff or maybe even start crafting again. And by keeping up on the dishes in the PM, it now gives me extra time in the AM to get other things done.
Anyway that is how the past week went, or at least most of it, considering the extra issues I had to deal with, but it did seem to all work out well, and it was good to feel on top of things.
As an aside, I am noticing extra dust here in the LR right now, and it's day isn't here for another few, so I may need to add in that more often. (That was also the reason I didn't go with the original idea of this plan, since LR dusting only happened once out of 14 sessions, and I knew that couldn't work for me.) I was recalling how, when I first moved in here, I used to go around daily and dust everything in the AM as I tidied. Since I have dark LR furniture, live above a fairly busy intersection, and have my windows open 80% of the time, it seems like dust is going to be a constant issue here. And my birds tend to create even more. I don't think I need to dust it all, all of the time, but right this minute I think a quick LR dusting every evening (under 1 minute with a Swiffer duster) would be a very good addition.
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Post by hollyhock on Mar 25, 2018 8:05:36 GMT -5
WEEK OF SUNDAY MARCH 25/18 - SATURDAY MARCH 31/18 DAILIES: Self care Su M T W Th F S Make bed Su M T W Th F S Exercise Su M T W Th F S Catch up on dishes at least once Su M T W Th F S 1 bag garbage out Su M T W Th F S Clean kitchen counters, stove top Su M T W Th F S Vac around bird cage Su M T W Th F S Swiffer dust LR Su M T W Th F S Bird care Su M T W Th F S Assess email per Letter of the Day Su M T W Th F S Mop kitchen floor M (T), W F Swish and swipe bathroom T Th (F ) Sa WEEKLIES: Sunday Basket Bedroom Spare Room LR DR Outside (Balcony, car, locker) OTHER TASKS: Clean bird cage 1 2 Out of cage time for birds Water plants 1 2 Deadhead or fertilize plants Laundry days 1 2 Groceries 1 2 DAILY EXERCISING (6 out of 7 days) Su 42 min M 45 min T W 45 min Th F 38 min S Email Declutter: Letter of the Day (No letters remaining for this week, so will just work on fuller categories) LEFTOVER PROJECTS: Mending: - Resew button on blouse - Fix buttons on blue pea coat - Check buttons on red pea coat, fix any needing it - Resew hood button on burgundy jacket Décor: - bring out some spring knickknacks for top of LR cabinet - put out spring tablecloth - clean light fixture above DR table before changing tablecloth Paperwork - file Type 4 papers (?) - sort out partly used notebooks ADD: Move 5 drawer tote (bird things) to locker Prepare car for street parking Buy extra groceries re future temporary street parking (up to 3 months)
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Post by hollyhock on Apr 1, 2018 6:20:01 GMT -5
I didn't have a very successful week last week.
Just as I was considering trying to get in more waterfit classes, I received a notice that starting TODAY, I'll need to park on the street for up to the next 3 months. They have been working continually on our 2 parking garages, and had closed off and worked on maybe half of each garage. But now they are moving to the next phase, and it seems like now both garages need to be completely empty. Living in the midst of downtown, there are a lot of parking obstacles all over - many apt buildings, meter parking, busy streets with bus routes and no parking etc, so it's already limited. We were given permits to not have to abide to timed parking (as in 2-3 hour time limits) but the 12 hr parking limit still applies, and some streets have no overnight parking. And do they enforce the 12 hour limit that much? So I am just hoping that there's enough spots to hold us all, but I'll probably have to park at a minimum of 2 blocks away, with the potential of having to move my car at least twice a day.
So this new problem kind of overtook my thinking this week and I didn't get much more done. In addition, not parking on-site might make any moving things into and out of my home more difficult, although I realized I could park for a short time at the meter on the side to bring in anything I 'carry the distance. But I also stocked up on the heavier or awkward grocery items like toilet tissue, laundry soap, bird seed and some frozen products.
So moving ahead this week, I don't want to plan to do too much until I see how much extra time this might take out of my day. I also had considered that it was easier to exercise away from home lately, but will that happen - that might add in an extra car moving time. (Re the 12 hour time limit - I'd prefer to move my car at 7 and 7, or 8 and 8, rather than in the middle of the night - but unless I try out evening waterfit classes, I'd still have to move my car to go to an 11 AM class (I don't want to be walking the streets alone at midnight.) So I might have to move my car 3 times a day.
Anyway this upcoming week will be the real trial, to see how it all works out. So I do not want to plan to do anything else. Still no word on the annual inspection - super had said 'mid-March'. So I just want to keep my apt in an okay state.
It occurred to me this week, that if I could keep up with the dailies, and the more than once a week tasks, then I could possibly get by with just doing 1 chore of floors, say on Saturdays (no waterfit). Groceries will now be just buying as needed on my way home from something - so whatever I can carry a few blocks, so it might add to my daily time but it won't take up most of another day.
So that will be my plan for this week. I noted last week that I did a few extra chores, like moving things out of the spare room to make more room, but that was unplanned, and only took about 15 minutes, so for this week I am going to keep myself open for quick unplanned tasks - MAYBE 1 a day - but no expectations.
I'm going to take daily LR dusting off of the task list. Since I have twice a week tasks of cleaning the bird cage and plant care, I will add apt dusting to twice a week, and see how that goes. Actually what I probably need is 1 for dusting and 1 for scrubbing - meaning the bathtub, and kitchen things like the microwave. I'll see how it goes.
The main goal I want is to get in my exercising, so I don't want any of this stuff to hamper that. (Although it seems like I will be forced into more walking anyway.) Anyway I will post last week's projects that I didn't get to, but with little expectation of doing them or anything more.
I had been dealing with decluttering emails quite well, but last week I did none. I had started in the middle of the alphabet (middle of the month), assigning a letter per day, and had run out of letters, although I could have gone to some letters with too many emails still. (By letters I am going by the first letter of the 'from' address.) So I had later decided to do a letter each day Mon-Sat. but not on Sunday. Sundays I SHOULD work on my Sunday basket - papers collected from the week. I planned to do this while I sat in the spare room, with the birds, giving them the chance to fly out of their cage. Last week I could not get 'into' the basket - possibly because the room just felt too cluttered. But this week I cleared a few things out, and I'm hoping that might help. Although this Sunday (today) it probably won't happen. Mainly because It's Easter, and I will be going out for a family brunch. Plus the birds have all molted and are growing in new feathers. This takes up a lot of their energy, and they are irritable and tend to sleep more. None came out the past 2 weeks, so for this week I'll probably not bother, and hopefully by next Sunday they will be in better shape.
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