|
|
Post by desposito on Dec 14, 2022 20:15:02 GMT -5
Thanks Swampy, I used to love December but that's the month my sister died so now that seems to be making things harder. I looked back at my tally sheet and have only done a little over an hour on challenge things since my last post, so I'm not even going to reprint the list yet. I will, however, describe what's going on.
Everything just seems much harder at the moment, my energy is low and my mood is too. There were several things I still had to do to prepare for winter, both in the house and in the garden, and because of the limited energy I can only do a few physical things per day and then I can't do any more--so those fall jobs are taking priority.
So...my cleaning goal won't happen, there are too many other things that come first.
My basement won't happen because I wasn't able to get the handyman here, and since it's so close to Christmas I'm not going to call him again until January. I actually bought a small saw so that I could do another job that I had for him myself, but I don't think it's the right kind to cut apart the cabinets I want to get rid of so I'm going to put that off for another month.
The plant room cleaning was supposed to just make things look better, but I turned it into a much bigger cleaning job so I've only gotten through part of that. That's okay though, the room does need a major cleaning, it will just have to extend into next month.
Most of the other things I'm just super slow at, I've done just a little on each.
There are two good things, one is that the current filing is almost done, I just have a small pile of hard stuff in the bottom of the basket, the kind of things I feel like I should save but don't have a file folder already made so I'm wondering if I should make a separate file or just put them in with other things. I'll be able to finish that one.
And the one really good thing is that in trying to find a fiction book to read, I'm going through a few of them and finding out that I don't really need to read them! Or keep them! Which is remarkable, since I kept these books for years because I was so sure they were important ones. After going through a few that I decided I didn't want to read, I finally chose one that I knew I've been waiting to read, but it's a Holocaust story and I read one of those a few months ago--and in reading the reviews for this book it's a particularly intense one and I just don't think it would be a good thing for me to read a book like that now. So although I will not be reading a fiction book for this part of the challenge, I'm considering this a big victory because now I can't wait for the next challenge when one of my goals will be to go through the box of fiction that I've been looking at to see how many of the books in it I can let go without reading!
So...that's where I am. Hopefully next month I'll feel better and winter will be fully upon us so anything that I haven't done outside will just have to wait until spring.
How is everyone else doing? Only about 2 weeks left!
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by desposito on Dec 14, 2022 20:16:39 GMT -5
Friday I loaded chair and ottoman into car and dropped off at thrift store
That is a huge deal! It has to make it easier to move around!
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by mylittlescholar on Dec 16, 2022 20:36:52 GMT -5
Okay, I just captured action items from my blog and this thread and put them into a word document. I need to start by decluttering, sorting and organizing the list! Probably into the Urgent/Important grid, as Christmas is in eight days and NYE is in 15.
I put a big project to bed this week: sent the final paperwork to the estate lawyers. I have also kept up with establishing new care providers and making and keeping appointments.
I think I am going to do the sticky note method to organize my list--I probably have a lot of sticky notes from the last time I did a brain dump that I can use.
The next task is to clear space on the DR table to work on this tonight.
ETA: I made it! It includes more than enough for the next challenge, as well as urgent stuff for next week. I will post it somewhere soon!
|
|
|
|
Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Dec 19, 2022 8:33:35 GMT -5
I'm sure there will eventually be a different "challenge thread" for the months of January-February 2023. Just an fyi, there is now a "2023 goals for new year" thread up in the "Squalor Discussion" section. (that section is viewable only by logged-in registered members). takeonestepatatime.proboards.com/thread/33918/As always, we are each free to post whenever/wherever works for us, and we are free to use any threads, or change our minds as needed. The simplest rule is to post in whatever way works most helpfully for you, on any given day. |
|
|
|
Post by CourageouslyLion SeeksSerenity on Dec 19, 2022 9:06:48 GMT -5
I admit that sometimes I feel intimidated by setting goals for myself, whether it's for the day, the week, the season, or the year. But I have learned that reading these goals threads really helps me, even if I don't post on them. These threads help me to internally direct my attention to what I want to do. Thank you to desposito Diane - and to all the participants - for keeping these periodic threads going! |
|
|
|
Post by catcats on Dec 19, 2022 22:08:19 GMT -5
I haven't worked well on my original goals--The den is worse now than when I started. I should have realized that I wouldn't have been able to tidy and clean up the den before Christmas when all the gifts and wrapping stuff, etc. would be IN THERE until Christmas. DUH !!! That might be a January, February thing, but I have kicked it off the now list until after the holidays. Good riddance.
Still worked on the DR desk a while, but now , even that has to be shoved aside. I simply can't accomplish the goals like those and prep Christmas too. Plus some health issues going on.
However, I have been working hard enough , I think, for the age I am, and the things I have to do ! I'm calling it a win. Congratulations to all of you in your endeavors and your accomplishments.
Blessings to all.
catcats
|
|
|
|
Post by gillian on Dec 21, 2022 7:03:04 GMT -5
Hi gillian, glad you're joining in! My sympathy in your first Christmas without your husband, that's hard. I hope you're still able to enjoy the season. Well, I have waited extra days to report, I'm still mainly working on the same things. I'm really getting into the plant room cleaning, I envisioned just cleaning up the worst mess but now I want to clean all the plant surfaces too.
Only 4 more days in month #1! Diane
Thanks Diane. I must confess I haven't done much for Christmas, except for buying presents for my offspring. Thankfully, it will just be ourselves for Christmas, so we just have ourselves to please. My daughter spends a lot of time in the living room and is not very good at tidying up after herself - undiagnosed ADD, depression, fatigue being the causes she claims. I think the Fly Lady and co. used to talk about putting out fires - that's what I do most of the time and don't have much time for doing major clear outs of stuff that isn't needed there or which needs to go elsewhere. We need a new sofa and my daughter has sent me a link to one she likes the look of, but we haven't managed to get it ordered. She has Asperger Syndrome and anticipates problems in communication if she orders it and I have a lot of other things on my plate as well as a bad case of procrastination when it comes to that sort of thing. One thing we did achieve was a new bathroom - floor lifted and replaced, tiles, bath, shower, whb and toilet replaced - looking really good. Apart from the new settee, the next project will be the front hall, in particular the front door. I hope everyone enjoys Christmas or whatever holiday they celebrate and is free of anxiety about having things done right. Gillian
|
|
|
|
Post by desposito on Dec 23, 2022 20:37:44 GMT -5
Hello lion, I'm glad you're finding the challenge threads helpful, maybe some day you'll want to join in with a tiny little challenge to start out with!
Catcats, I also found that Christmas stuff (sending out tons of cards) and my prepping the house and garden for winter took a lot of my time these 2 months, if I had put those down as challenges I would have been successful--but that's okay, the challenges I choose are things that are beyond what I manage to do on a daily basis. So I think anything we can get done is a plus!
Gillian, dealing with a bathroom remodel is quite an accomplishment, and I'll bet it's so nice to have everything new!
I meant to come here this afternoon and finally report so that I can still have one week left to work on things, but I'm dealing with the excessive cold here and it's very distracting, I'm worried about pipes and possible power outages and getting my old dog in and out of the yard safely, so I didn't get to it--tomorrow it's going to be almost as cold as today but I'll see how it goes.
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by desposito on Dec 25, 2022 13:14:08 GMT -5
Okay, I am finally going to report what I did since the last time I posted, which was so long ago I lost track of how many days it was. I did 20 minutes fridge cleaning, 50 minutes on plant room cleaning, 10 minutes on filing (still not quite done, another 10 should do it, I'm also trying to file things that come in daily) and 30 minutes on office supplies. I cleaned out the pencil drawer of my tv desk, which has a lot of stuff in it and gets messy quickly. I also potted up 2 cuttings, one was a few small pieces of Christmas cactus stems that fell off my large plant, and the other is a small chunk of tephrocactus that spontaneously fell off my very small plant--it had three pieces, one fell off, so I potted it up separately and hope it will root. I don't know why the piece fell off, they are supposed to grow into several branching pieces but mine never did that--in fact, it doesn't do anything for a very long time and I think it's dead, and then there will be a sign that it's alive--very strange plant. They are also called "pine cone cactuses".
1. CLOTHING--get ready for winter GOAL 40 minutes
2. CLEANING--other than routine things GOAL 3 hours and 10 minutes
3. BASEMENT GOAL 1 hour and 20 minutes
4. FRIDGE CLEANING 20 minutes
5. PLANT ROOM CLEANING 2 hours and 50 minutes done
6. POST MORE BOOKS FOR TRADING 10 out of a GOAL of 10 This project is done.
7. READ BOOKS FROM MY OWN STASH GOAL 2 I have started reading the nonfiction book I chose for this, but decided not to continue with the fiction, so I need to choose a different fiction book.
8. CURRENT FILING 50 minutes done
9. OLD PAPER 10 minutes done out of a GOAL of 2 hours
10. PLANT CUTTINGS GOAL - (Still don't have a count of them) 4 containers of spider plants, graptosedum, golden pothos? and my mystery plant (maybe dracaena) cuttings, tephrocactus stem and Christmas cactus stems done
11. ENCLOSED SPACES GOAL - Reorganize as many of them as possible 2 drawers done (wallet drawer, bag drawer) - 1 cabinet done (3 shelves of kitchen items and food) - 1 cloth bin done (plastic bags) 1 pencil drawer done
12. OFFICE SUPPLIES & STATIONERY ORGANIZATION 30 minutes done
|
|
|
|
Post by desposito on Dec 25, 2022 13:19:15 GMT -5
There is one week left to this challenge, and I will keep working on these goals. I will continue them into next year too, plus I already have another goal in mind plus am looking forward to going through some of the books in my little storage spaces now that I see that they are not as appealing to me as they once were.
Oh, and I meant to mention when talking about cuttings, that the numerous spider plant cuttings I planted last month have grown about 4-5 inches so far, so not only will I have a large plant to hang up by spring, I might actually have to divide them by then, they will have outgrown the pot at this rate!
Diane
|
|
|
|
Post by Unswamping on Dec 26, 2022 20:40:02 GMT -5
Diane this is a difficult time of year for a lot of people. Losing your sis makes it harder. It’s ok if you can’t keep up with the challenges. I hope the cold is over for you, yes it was excessive especially for December. That’s great news about the spider plants, you have such a green thumb! Yes getting the chair and ottoman helped.
mylittlescholar great work on getting final paperwork to estate lawyers. Hopefully that is the end of all that. Post it brain dump sounds like a great idea.
catcats funny how we always forget how much chaos Christmas causes! Be gentle with yourself. Take care of your health first, every thing else will get done in its own time. You are doing remarkable.
gillian you have your hands full! Great job on getting bathroom done! I bet it looks great. A new sofa is something a lot of people struggle with. It’s a big purchase and a lot of people procrastinate and wibble wobble on their decisions. I hope Christmas was wonderful!
I forgot what my challenges were. I know the pantry was one, that hasn’t happened yet. I did get furniture shuffled, bookcase to living room, other bookcase to foyer. All books reshelved and foyer organized. Did a segment of a huge office project, I don’t think that was on list but it felt good to get it done. Plus it didn’t take me as long as I thought it would, which means I’m not dreading working on other segments. Have been without running water since I woke up Saturday, I think there was a water main break from excessive cold. Water is back on now so I am focusing on catching up. Almost done catching up on dishes. Swept part of kitchen floor. Cleaned up cat fish area, it was a huge mess. They had probably a pound of kibble on placemats and floor.
|
|
|
|
Post by gillian on Dec 28, 2022 18:44:19 GMT -5
Thanks for your encouraging words, Diane and Unswamping. The bathroom was an urgent project and we are very pleased with it.
We were not particularly Christmas ready - The tree was finally decorated late on Christmas Eve, but we had a nice meal together - kept it very simple - and a nice time opening presents we'd given each other.
Gillian
|
|
|
|
Post by catcats on Dec 30, 2022 19:10:57 GMT -5
Well, tomorrow is the last day and I didn't do the goals. I overstretched my thoughts as to what could be done, when also Christmas prepping. I don't mind though. Christmas did get done and was enjoyable. My goals of straightening the den and organizing the DR desk can be done anytime and Christmas had to be done by December 25th if it were to be done this year. Tomorrow, my DD will take me to see my DS as a Christmas visit. The following day, my dear nephew will come and get me and we'll go to his home in a nearby town , about an hr. away, for a big family get-together of my dear Brother's family. I enjoy them so much and haven't seen them in almost a year. Some other issues led into my not doing the goals, such as health problems. I should be able to work on them gradually , but I am not sure that I will choose them for the next goals; I think there is some resistance too. I'll see,  . Congratulations to those who either did do their goals or who did other things instead. And to those like me who kept up, but didn't do these particular things. I'm sure we all worked hard at doing what we thought necessary. Love to all, catcats |
|
|
|
Post by phoenixcat on Dec 31, 2022 9:27:48 GMT -5
Well I "thought" I made more progress than I did  1) I need to finish the home office - it is horrible and a real stumbling block. Plan to start on it tomorrow when the cleaners are here. Outside of pulling some important documents I needed for this and that - still a disaster and I keep moving the filing boxes around - now they are in DM's room. Sigh  2) Continue with my medical appointments. Hoping that they will be mostly finished in November and the only one I will have in December is the nutritionist (which is now covered 100% by my insurance at least through the end of the year). So far, five scheduled appointments for November.  THIS I DID! Believe it or not, next week I'm in the 3 month follow-up range. The holiday food slowed me down but haven't completely regressed  Been very fortunate that almost ALL health problems will improve with diet and exercise. Thankful! 3) We are starting a bathroom renovation early next year which is trickling into the master closet and the master bedroom. Between now and Thanksgiving - I need to get out of those rooms everything that can be donated or thrown away. When the renovation starts - it will just be moving into other rooms with no sorting/evaluating necessary. This was going to wait until after the trip but now I can add to my January.4) We are planning a 3-4 week trip internationally in January/February. Not fully committed yet - a lot depends on my health. But assuming that it is happening - I have a lot of prep regarding my wardrobe and gift items to bring which brings me to... Trip planned - trip cancelled due to reinstatement of all COVID protocols in DH's country - wasn't the best timing and we could have easily spent a fortune to not see anyone and perhaps be sick or in quarantine. Trying for later in 2023. 5) Sort out the closet with all the clothes I typically wear there and see what fits and what I actually like looked a bit in the closet for some items to wear to a wedding. Good news is that I have a lot that is "almost OK" - should be able to fit in another few months. 6) In that closet is a floor covered in stuff that needs to be hung in various rooms - just want to pick out a few that I can hang in DM's old room (nails in the wall already) plus a few that I want to hang in other areas. Then maybe designate a dozen or so things for donate. The rest will wait until Spring 2023. Will need to do something because I have to use that closet for DH and myself because that is where we are moving for the renovation. 7) Maybe (if I can get DH on board) start our own estate planning with meeting an attorney and forming a trust. Drives him crazy because I always get a little nuts about stuff like this when we are both traveling. . However, we wouldn't have wills if it wasn't for that craziness. Signing paperwork next week - then comes the craziness of moving all the accounts into it. 8) Due to a friend's son's wedding - I have two major things happening in December. A) Hosting some of the out of town family so guest rooms/bathrooms need to be accessible and clean and just general "hosting stuff" like food, cleaning. This didn't happen and I'm grateful And, B) I'm having a wedding shower at the house so lots to plan around that as well. This did happen and it went incredibly well. Very pleased with it all! Considering all of the above was IN ADDITION to holiday decorating and entertaining along with food prep and cookie baking plus a half dozen events here and there - I'm OK with what I was able to do. Looking forward to major purging for the renovation which starts as soon as possible!!  PC |
|
|
|
Post by desposito on Dec 31, 2022 20:58:52 GMT -5
Catcats, Christmas is important, and takes precedence--and the new challenge starts tomorrow so you'll have plenty of time to work on any goals you choose.
Phoenixcat, sorry your trip was postponed, you're right, it wouldn't be any fun now anyway. And I can't believe you kept all those medical appointments, that takes a lot of resolve.
I will make the post for the next challenge, hope to see you all there!
Diane
|
|
