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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 4, 2017 13:33:39 GMT -5
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In the book Oh the Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss, he talks about The Waiting Place.
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If you find yourself confused:
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How to Play:
Look around the house/room for things that are waiting to be done
Make a list of some things like so, then when you do it, edit the post, and give yourself a checkmark!
Waiting:
 by the front door, a box to be broken down
on the floor and in a tote, shoes to be put away 4 pair x 3 (you set the increments, this way partial tasks COUNT)
in the sink, plastic obstacles for Vanya's dish to be washed
newspaper in the bottom of Vanya's cage - to be changed, replaced
a shelf is waiting for the one pin, so it will be secure and not wobbly
3 music books are waiting on a chair to be put away x 7
For me, the more checkmarks and rewards I can give myself the better I feel about myself. As I took these from my list, it is marked what I was able to get done in about 30 minutes. The shoes have been in the tote since August when we went on vacation.
IMPORTANT: You do NOT need to follow the order of the things on your list. The idea is to get moving, get things that are waiting dealt with.
Just like in the Dr. Seuss book, Oh The Places You'll Go, you have things that are waiting to be put away, washed, taken out to the bin outside, or whatever. Anything, almost can go on there.
This is simply a way to help get past any inertia of getting going, by looking at it in a fresh way.
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 4, 2017 13:41:41 GMT -5
OK, here is my list that I will be working from in the game:
WAITING FOR ME,
Vanya's cage is waiting for me to change the paper at the bottom
5 roses are waiting to go on the Christmas tree x 7 (this means I will put 5 roses on the tree, repeat it for a total of 7 times, although I can do 5, then go do something else, (very likely to happen - because so many things are waiting to be done) - I ended up putting one plastic bin of decorations on the tree last night, there are 2, plus the penguins I bought last year which never got on 
4 pairs of shoes that are in a tote, or on the floor to be put away
hangers picked up from floor of closet
music book I had printed and bound - waiting for the label to say what it is x 5
music book I downloaded, printed and bound - waiting for the label x 2 reverse list item.
5 music books sitting on the desk and chair waiting to go on the new bookcase x 5
in the sink, plastic obstacles are waiting to be washed and set out to dry
some plastic obstacles are still waiting in the collander for a place to dry - pulled a drying mat out of the drawer, so that I could get them out of the sink and drying
shelf is waiting for the pin - so the books can come to their new home
shelf pins waiting to come out of the Lowe's bag, so they can be in a temporary home, until the shelves for the kitchen arrive
togglers are waiting to come out of the Lowe's bag and be in the box of togglers - for now - so they are all together
plastic bag was put in the place for them
dirty clothes are waiting on the floor to go into the hamper
the last 2 clear off the bench by front door, and empty a shop and drop bag, and help me defend a territory.
water bottle is waiting to be rinsed, and refilled, and put in the fridge to be used for the aloe and chlorophyll drink later
phone waiting to go back to its charger (land line - sat on the couch for a few days  )
socks waiting to be put away
donate items on floor waiting for a bag so they are ready for transport
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 4, 2017 15:19:45 GMT -5
You are right H2H it IS a responsibility list. It is an ETE list. Some things that are waiting have only been there an hour, some a few months. Some longer.
I am trying to be sure to include sit down items too. So, I am sure to sit down for a bit.
You are so right - it is easy when there are no visitors, keeping everything tidy is not as "important" - no one there to cast judgment on things not being "just so."
The check boxes are where the smiley face is. You have to be in regular reply mode, not quick reply to get the boxes above (you know that though). You place your curser where you want the check box, click on the smiley face, then click the check box. or whichever one you want.
Sometimes, I do things, then put it on the list. I call it a reverse list. It helps me.
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 4, 2017 15:54:40 GMT -5
Sometimes, I do things, then put it on the list. I call it a reverse list. It helps me. << I think this would help me too! and yes i use quick reply too much! I am learning, THANKS for that. I signed up for the do 3 things..and mucked it up..so your way to POST-list items may help me..I get sidetracked so easily seeing something else needing done,possibly MORE needed, thanwhat I listed..so I divert..but in my head it all adds up to " stuff got done" I will post about this in my HuDD topic, but I am fast realizing i AM to old and "un-able" to do what I am doing!! it IS too physical to haul 200 lbs of chopped ivy. and I did the chopping too! I am TRYING to focus on ONE chore, one area, one deadline..and not get too side tracked. some days I have pride, others I feel scattered..I imagine the surly old neighbor dude looking over our shared fence and being judgmental HA.. I know for CERTAIN he is, too late, but I want to take pride in having overcome the messes caused by 8 years of long delays and little help.
For example, I folded 3 towels that I had washed the other day, that are on the back of the chair, WAITING to be folded, then put away. Now they are folded. So, I am one step closer. Now, all I have to do is put them away. But, that won't happen yet.
Great job on the chopped ivy!!! We have vines that are taking over too. A little at a time, DOES ADD UP. In fact, we got one of those DR Trimmers (mom's idea) we were waiting for cooler weather to try it. It is still in the box - WAITING. Been there since August. I do think it will help a lot. We had something similar before and it helped. I don't do well with a riding lawn mower. Only the easy to mow areas get mowed. So, our plan is to get little by little done, so in time my brother and his son are able to mow the whole place. Just now we are getting good to work outside weather.
It IS a HUGE amount of work to keep up with weeds and vines, even for me and my mom. Little by little is what got my place looking like it does now, which is way better than before. I know how bad it would be if it was just me out there. Especially since I have been focused on the house, and she has been doing more of the outside stuff, just a little a day on it. I have done just a little a day on keeping weeds at bay for years. It makes a difference. It gets stuff done.
I think what matters is learning what works FOR YOU and how you as an individual are wired. I do a little here and a little there. It DOES make a difference as long as STUFF GETS DONE!!
A lot of times I know I need something TO finish or to fix something so it will work better or just to fix it. I will get the stuff, then get sidetracked and the stuff waits in the bag, the project waits unfinished. Like I needed good zip ties - like the ones electricians use, not dollar store versions or Walmart versions, evidently the ones for electricians are safer better for birds. So, I got those this morning. Now the Peek A Boo perch that I made Vanya - so he will have a warm place to sleep on cold nights which will happen likely this weekend - can be finished. He needs it in there now, so he has a chance to realize he can safely get in there. Before the cold night happens. I try to combine trips to get things to fix things, so often, something is already waiting for parts by the time I get the part or parts.
So it is also a finish what you started list.
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 4, 2017 16:05:25 GMT -5
More things Waiting for me:
gift wrapped waiting for tag x 2
gift waiting to be wrapped x 4
towels waiting to be folded
towels waiting to be put away
shelves waiting to be installed in bathroom x 3
pillow waiting for its sham and to be returned to the bed
Reverse List Items:
wrote a letter and got it in the mail - a receipt accidentally came with my order that belonged to someone else, so I have it ready to go in a Christmas card, with a note, to it's proper recipient
go to Home Depot get more lights
lights on the tree x 2
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Post by creativechaos on Dec 4, 2017 16:08:26 GMT -5
i like your workalong list and new game, 1rarebeautifuldove - i get overwhelmed by writing long lists but it helps breaking things down into baby steps. i don't know WHAT worksfor me. it varies daily or even more often. it's a continual guessing game and a mystery to my addled brain. i've noticed that even with chat challenges, i say i'll do something and then i rebel against my own directives, and do something else - but hey, as long as i do anything to beat back the entropy, i consider it a win. hmmmm.... tell me more about credit for partial lists getting done; i like the idea of that! |
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 4, 2017 17:12:43 GMT -5
Credit for doing ANYTHING on multiple items that need to be put away, dealt with, washed, folded, anything:
clean towel on back of chair waiting to be folded x 3 (like in a crochet or knitting pattern) you will do it 3 times in total
if you fold 1, then get sidetracked - phone rings, something on the stove starts boiling over, you all of a sudden remember you need to email someone, whatever, no matter why - you still folded 1, one is ready to be put away. so that is one check mark.
if 2 get folded - 2 check marks
if 3 get folded - 3 check marks
usually you can put away 3 folded towels as easily as one.
but especially on a time consuming thing (meaning several minutes) like wrapping a Christmas present, well, each one deserves a checkmark!
the game was necessary for me today because I got such a late start, Vanya was uncovered partially but still in the master bath - he did have food and water, but, I just needed to hurry to make my appointment - I didn't allow myself much time because of the coffee temptation if I did
so when I got home I felt like I was behind, everything needs to be done, I don't know where to start, so rather than running in circles, I started looking at things that are waiting to be done - it could be 5 minutes, or 5 days or 5 weeks or 5 months or 5 years - anything unfinished is waiting to be finished. I start a lot of things, then get sidetracked, and don't finish. I needed a way to help me finish.
Also, I decided that I am a beginner at this. Or I wouldn't be here. I am learning the skills to ETE, to finish what I start, to do the regular things that keep a home going, (like vacuum or mop, on a regular basis),
Also, rather than be hard on myself or think that how I get things done around the house is somehow "wrong", why NOT give myself credit for what I do, rather than feel bad for what I didn't do? If I am getting the house in order, then I am doing it right. My style may not work for a lot of people, but that is not important. I know that I flit from place to place, like a butterfly. (I remember one post that people talked about how they did things around their homes and compared themselves to grasshoppers, birds, butterflies, and I don't remember what else. It was a funny thread - not intentionally but it became funny, especially when Di made one of her clever remarks)
Also, I feel like I have so many partially finished projects, tasks, and it IS easier for me to do a little at a time. So why not make the list that way? Plus, if I can do a little bit, and give myself credit for progress made. As I write this, I paused to walk over and put 5 more music books on the shelf. That is another step closer to things being in order.
It is freeing to write the list and give yourself credit to reflect how you will actually do it. It makes it about accepting yourself, rather than feel bad that you are not different. For me to put "all the music books back" in one job, that is overwhelming. I have learned this with other things that there were lots of them to put away. I knew I would not do them all at once. So, I picked a number I thought I could easily do. Five books. I can do that. It may take me 3-4 days to get all the books on the shelf. That is okay too. Someone else might be able to do it in 10 minutes. But I am not them, they are not me, and there are things that I can do easily that they cannot do.
A lot of this is because I quite simply feel overwhelmed. I want the house in order, because i want Vanya to be able to come out. I still have SO much to put away. So, I simply HAD to find a way to make it manageable and make it doable and keep me going.
It is like if you knit or crochet a few rows, those count. Every row counts.
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 5, 2017 11:54:52 GMT -5
Tuesday 12/5 Things in the Waiting Place
Some are old,
some are new,
there are so many things
I need to do!
I sorted through the music books and weeded out some old stuff and what I believe were extra copies.
skirt on the bed waiting to be hung up
shawl on the bed waiting to be put in the drawer
papers waiting to be put around plants
cardboard waiting to be put around plants
dishes in sink waiting do be washed
waiting to be put in car to be donated:
donations in bags
books on bench
waiting to be hung up:
skirt on the exercise machine
skirt on the bench in the bedroom - when I went to hang it I saw the zipper was jammed so I just grabbed an empty bag from the bedroom floor and tossed it which led to:
things on the floor waiting to be picked up/tossed
waiting to be put away, folded
sweater on bench x 2 in bedroom
waiting to go into car:
tote with things to be bound and unbound
a check is waiting to be written, so it can go in the mail today
the piano is waiting, wondering when I will come sit and play
waiting on the exercise machine
pillow is waiting for its sham and to go back on the bed
in bedroom, a pillow was waiting on the floor to go back on the bed
bank statements are waiting to be filed
REVERSE LIST:
scented candles waiting to be tossed - can't have them with the budgie - these were partially burned -- like about halfway or more
wrapped them with old clothes that needed to be tossed or turned into rags, they were tossed
I plan to get some electric candles to put where they were so that I can have the "feeling of candles"
gathered up the advertiser inserts from the paper so they could be used to cushion the glass further in the garbage bags
Moved from Yesterday (easier to keep track of)
clean shirts to be folded and put in my room
on the dining table, bird training articles in a bag are waiting to have
staples removed,
and holes punched,
and put into a notebook for
containment - there are 3 of them that I want to bind. My mom made room under the work table in the chocolate shop for the chocolate and other things, which was a great idea. However, when I asked her where the binder thingies were so I could bind these papers, (and I had already looked all over the place) she had no idea and began to look all over the place for them. I said, well fine, I will finish these later, I got one done. I could get the ones reprinted double sided, they will fit into the binder that I had (I had taken apart a couple books bound the same way - had I not brought them with me to do, I could not have done anything except punch holes). (I did make a point in my frustration to say "well this is why I am so slow at organizing - I need to know where I put things, so that they can be easily used, not simply move them out of the way so I can put something else there" I did tell her I thought putting the chocolate there was a good idea, and I am glad she cleaned out. But where are the binders. I asked her, shall I go buy more so that I have some?
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 6, 2017 8:07:48 GMT -5
Wednesday December 6th
vinyl tablecloth waiting on the floor to be put into the closet in the hall x 2
vinyl tablecloth waiting on the sofa to be put in the closet in the hall x 2
horse statue waiting on the floor to go back onto the piano
vacuum cleaner waiting to be emptied - done after some of the green was done
manger scene waiting to be set up
bottles waiting to go to the front x 4 + 4 I found around outside (jars and other stuff)
bucket of bottles waiting to go to the bin out front
manger scene box now back in the craft room on the shelf
rebounder waiting to be bounced on while I sort some papers
Vanya is waiting for an oat spray
drill waiting to be charged - now charging
Reverse List Items:
sorted through about half of a box with LOTS AND LOTS of stuff in it - this is a box from my mom's garage that she thought should be here - almost all of it is going in the trash - spent almost an hour on that box alone
Christmas tablecloth for dining table put in the closet, until table is ready for it
a few things off the back porch added to the trash bags being filled for tomorrow - 4 ready so far
 first shelf is in the bathroom
second shelf is in the bathroom
third shelf is in the bathroom
Normal List Items again:
red bin waiting to go to the front, by the road
set up a bath for Vanya - with lovely wet romaine lettuce leaves to play in
cut out dividers for box (going to be condensing the green crate of papers)
eat some cheese and crackers
go get chicken tenders and potato salad
the little white things are waiting to go in the sides of the cabinets, in the little holes not used by the shelf placement
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 6, 2017 14:01:51 GMT -5
Don't think I start with a long list, creativechaos . I don't. Usually it is 2-5 things. Then, as I do a couple and I see something else, I add them in. Reverse items get added in as well. If I started with a long list, I would get overwhelmed.
No, the same thing doesn't always work for me either. I am always changing the games I play to help me get the house in order.
The constant though is small steps, lots of rewards. Lots of stickers, lots of checkmarks, those are enough of a reward for me to keep me engaged in doing things around the house. Most of the time - depending on which part I am working on, and if doing a closet or a box or a drawer - the only visible place of progress is lots of stickers, calendars filled (yes I still fill calendars with stickers), just to reward myself for items dealt with - the room doesn't look much different if you weeded out boxes, drawers, closets.
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 7, 2017 13:39:52 GMT -5
Last night:
cut the rest of the one package of wrap & zap, much much easier and quicker with the new blade
cut 8 pairs of fabric squares
Things Waiting for Me Today
sweaters waiting to be folded in bedroom x 3 + 1
tags waiting to be cut off bracelets
bracelets waiting to go - in top drawer of dresser for now
sapphire tree waiting to be pruned - about half is done part done is part done
jasmine waiting to be pruned - some is done - and it counts
branches waiting to be picked up
- saw that the trash people had not come yet and so I decided to do a quick garbage bag fill - I decided to just toss the multiple part hula hoop with the balls and magnets that needed to be put together - GONE
- did a quick fridge purge
- grabbed a couple smaller filled trash bags
- got the big bag out to the front - I always feel great when I can do that - add another bag of trash to go, makes me feel like I got *extra* out
dividers waiting to be cut
squares waiting to be pinned with their layer of wrap and zap - half are pinned now. Will put the other half waiting on today's list
little white things waiting to go into cabinet - there weren't enough for all of them. I wonder where I can get more of them
2 toiletries waiting to go into bathroom x 5 (if an item gets tossed it still counts as something going in)
2 toiletry items waiting to go into bathroom x 5
2 make up items waiting to go - into the bathroom x 5
all eye make up items - except brushes, now put awayeither in the trash or in the make up bag, I am starting fresh with eye make ups, I am also weeding out lipsticks, I ordered new things - it was time to update anyway!!!!!!!!!! I am starting fresh with much if it - right now the eye make up, some lip stick, and samples and smaller sampler gift packs of things for me to use -
There are still a few more things like brushes which are waiting to be washed - yes i have the stuff, and other toiletry things, accessories for hair, and other things still waiting to be put away. So, that will continue today (Friday) (which is when I got to the above things) or most of them.
I moved some things to Friday's list.
rebounder waiting to be bounced on while I sort papers
big box waiting to be dealt with - one checkmark for even a few things gotten out of there - it is ZILLIONS of little tiny things - it will take a while - ongoing project
REVERSE LIST:
clothes waiting to go into hamper
quick purge on purse in closet
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 7, 2017 18:03:56 GMT -5
My computer wants to update AGAIN
OK
YAY I emptied the one toiletry box!!!!
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 8, 2017 14:10:22 GMT -5
FRIDAY
Last Night:
found iron
set up make shift place to iron
ironed squares for cozies
found more GREAT Russian speaking budgies who speak very very clearly and know other words
REVERSE LIST:
dealt with dead rat found in the swimming pool --- YUCK --- no we do not use the pool, and it desperately needs real attention - we keep chlorine in it, but it still needs major attention
ordered new eye make up and sampler packages and lipstick from Sephora - I heard that was to be done annually - I updated last time about 15 months ago, 16 months ago - so it was past time
baking soda box from floor put on shelf with other cleaning products
stationery boxes from around the house waiting to be put together in one box
a couple things waiting to be tossed from around the house
MOVED FROM THURSDAY:
presents waiting to be wrapped x 5
smoke detector battery waiting to be changed
train waiting to be set up around tree
photos waiting to be uploaded to imgur
parrot photos waiting to be shared
FRIDAY'S Things discovered in The Waiting Place
squares waiting for pins
squares waiting to be sewn step 1
shelves waiting to be dusted behind the tree
floor waiting to be mopped/cleaned in the corner so train can go up
tree waiting for the rest of its ornaments x 4
tree waiting to be pushed back more in the corner
2 small trees waiting for their ornaments
bag of papers waiting to be crumpled so it can be burned = x 2 or 3 bags of crumpled paper ready to be burned while I rebound
5 music books waiting to go on their shelves x 5
5 music books waiting to go on their shelves x 2
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 14, 2017 10:56:18 GMT -5
OK, back to the many many things which are waiting.
And I am going to be including maintenance as I tend to put that off, thinking I will do it when all is decluttered, however, that is not the best way. In truth, maintenance IS THE GOAL!!! Not simply decluttering.
I will most likely not get through all of this today, but I will try.
breakfast waiting to be eaten
milkweed waiting to be planted outside
milkweed #2 waiting to be planted outside
hanging baskets waiting for new flowers
hibiscus #1 waiting to be planted outside
hibiscus #2 waiting to be planted outside
there are more plants, but I will start with these
Music books still waiting to be put on the shelves (and some reorganized)
treadmill desk - waiting to be cleaned - and decluttered
one swipe done on treadmill desk - or one rag - however you want to call it
piano waiting to be played
went to bank and cashed a check which was waiting to be found and cashed - so grateful the check was honored - it was a year old
got water jugs filled which were waiting in the car
now they are waiting to come in to the house
bathroom waiting to be cleaned - mostly shower, behind/under the chair
knobs waiting to go in closet
purses waiting to be put away
knobs waiting to go in craft room
desk in living room and piano waiting to be dusted - did bench and low wall as well - did that one section
bedroom waiting to be vacuumed - even got the birdseed that was spilled there a couple three days ago
living room floor waiting to be swept
living room floor waiting to be mopped
bedroom waiting to be dusted
suitcase from Russia waiting to be unpacked
suitcase from North Carolina waiting to be unpacked
presents waiting to be wrapped
wrapped presents waiting for bows
presents waiting to go under the tree
microwave cozies - waiting for next step
chocolate shop waiting for labels - did about half of them last night this should really be about 10 checkmarks, as I spent hours on this project already, I have about 20 or so more to go. I was up until about 1:30 AM and of course neglected myself in an effort to get this done, and did not realize how big a project it really was, and of course, all other projects had to wait - That is OK, I am planning ahead on these now.
dividers waiting to be made
papers waiting to be filed
clothes waiting to be washed
sheets waiting to be washed
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Post by 1rarebeautifuldove on Dec 15, 2017 12:48:48 GMT -5
I made a valiant effort yesterday. I got a lot done. I am so grateful that I chose to play the piano. I found a check in a card I had not opened. I am EXTREMELY grateful that the bank honored the check. Praise God for His favor on me with the bank people who were super nice.
I spent all evening on labels for the chocolate shop. Which *all of a sudden* needed to be done. So, everything got to wait. I am feeling totally overwhelmed and frazzled. And running in circles.
So, here I will put today's things that are not on, or are repeats of things done yesterday
cherishing me time
wash face
lotions around eyes
lotions on face
brush teeth
wash sheets - yes it helps me to do a step by step approach on frazzled days
strip bed
put sheets in washer
add a few other things
add soap
start washer
put in dryer for a few minutes
put on line
put back on bed
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