Yup. Here I am, home. I have the time to clean and organize. My kids are in school all day.
What do I do instead? I watch other people clean other people's homes. "Clean House," Clean Sweep," and this one i found about organizing kids' rooms. (don't know the name)
My hope is that these shows will motivate me to actually make the three piles: keep, sell, trash. I will then paint the rooms, box the toys, hang the clothes, and weed through the books.
My husband tells me that what I don't know is that the people on those shows will just go back to their messy, disorganized ways. He dares the show to have a follow-up week, where Neecie Nash just pops in on the people.
Anyway, I am here at the computer now to find the exact times of the shows. I am so pathetic.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
I learned this in church: Motivation follows action.
Not that it helped me much. I keep waiting for the Modivation Fairy to visit. So far, she's been visiting everyone else and procrastinating about getting to me. And you too, apparently.
I love those shows. I finally gave up, though, and hired a cleaning service to come in and do my spring cleaning. They just finished an hour ago, and as I walk around to see clean surfaces next to piles of stuff that never got put away, I'm feeling the light tingle of the Motivation Fairy, compelling me to get rid of stuff. I hope she's got staying power...I don't have time right now.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
I hate cleaning. Cleaning is boring and annoying. If I have free time I'd rather read a book than clean or eat ice cream.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Our two kids share a room. We have a very small house. My daughter is ten, and my son is eight. We never cleared out their crap, uh, stuff, before the barrage of Christmas gifts came in, and now their room is a poster room for one of those shows.
One of these days. I do get good ideas from those shows. And I did buy some organizational containers from CVS.
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Mark is scared of all the home improvement/organization shows. I watch HGTV almost exclusively, and every time my eyes light up watching someone remove a wall or custom-build all their furniture, he starts sweating. Posted by whiskysunrise (Member # 6819) on :
I love these shows too. I would also like to see what happend after a month.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I wonder if we write and request a "drop-in" show, if they would do one.
I did organize my Tupperware cabinet recently. That was huge! Oh, and my spice cabinet.
I am sort of potentially anal. I have a checklist of all the places in the house, drawer by drawer, that I am going to organize. The two above-mentioned locations have been checked off. Only about forty more to go!
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I have problems getting any schoolwork or my research work done when the house is cluttered. So, I have to clean up the clutter to clean up my mind, sorta. Or something.
Am I the only one with this problem?
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
That is called "procrastination," Mack. The only time my room was ever clean in college was the night before an exam or paper.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
No, no. If it were procrastination, I'd find WAY more fun things to do. Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I would believe you, if the cleaning did not happen right before the research/writing/studying, Mack. I am standing firm in my "It is Porcrastination" stance.
Today, I am switching my cans and coffee items with my mess of a wraps and bowls cabinet. I bought some of those little shelf risers at Linens and Things.
Hmm. Before I do that, I think I need one of those things you put the plastic wrap boxes in, that bolt into the cabinet door.
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Nope, I think it is motivation. I often find that if I clean the house, the "action" of cleaning/organizing makes me more productive. It sets the structure for your mind to follow.
Sadly, I've been out of the habit as of late in mind as well as action.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Christy, You know what? When I see parents of young children with spotless homes, I think, oh no. I know how much time it takes when you have a baby, and how much time it takes to keep a house spotless. It is important to let it go, and take that time for yourself and Tom and that adorable little baby.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
"the "action" of cleaning/organizing makes me more productive. It sets the structure for your mind to follow."
I used to always have to play a computer game before doing any studying or writing. It was like a warm-up. So, OK, Mack, I will concede and give you"motivation."
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
Nup, I'm going with your first answer Elizabeth.
It is procrastination - but because it's doing something *worthwhile* its easier to justify it to yourself and tell yourself that you're being productive. Even though deep down you know that colour coding your pantry is not going to get that essay written.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I think I agree with Christy that it's motivation. I'm a known procrastinator and if I'm procrastinating, I'll do something far removed and often physically far away from what I'm procrastinating.
...I think that made sense.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I like to clean and organize other people's homes.
Good luck finding things at mine.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Get over here, Ketchupqueen!
I am almost through Laundry Mountain, a daunting task.
Thing is, when all the laundry is folded, it does not fit in the drawers.
My husband went through a bunch of old, goofy clothes and put them in the Goodwill pile. We are on a roll!
Edit: Two minutes to Clean House!
[ February 17, 2005, 02:58 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
I also love those shows, but my house is already like the after shots (what with the OCD and all).
I have to stop myself from organizing other people's homes when I visit. Usually, I don't realize that I'm doing it - I'll be talking to someone in their kitchen and suddenly realize that I've cleaned and alphabetized their spice rack.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:suddenly realize that I've cleaned and alphabetized their spice rack.
There's another one? I thought only my mother alphebetized spice racks...
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Mrs. M, Ithaca is really quite lovely this time of year.... And our new house has a delightful half-painted guest room.... You'd be welcome to stay as long as you like! Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Mrs. M, you're welcome to OCD all over my house if you like. I might even pay for the airfare. And you can have your own room with private bath.
I'm lucky if I can find my spices. I know what cabinet they're in. Approximately.
I do alphabetize my DVD's, though. Actually, I don't...I make my son do it for me. I'm going to be in so much trouble when my kids move out.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
I just keep saying I need more storage. One day when I have *enough* storage, everything will magically fall into place.
And yes, I too am much better at organizing *other* people's stuff than my own. My paperwork has a tendency to end up in THE BOX.
I also OCD over some things and not the other, but not always the same thing and no clearly defined order as to why or when it changes either. Right now it is the dog/laundry room. If that is clean, and Swiffered it doesn't matter as much about everything else. It used to be my computer/bills desk. Probably would be better if it still was that desk, but it isn't anymore.
AJ
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
George Carlin:
"Get you sh** off my dresser. I've got to put my stuff there."
I just finished folding Laundry Mountain.
I decimated my closet, leaving only anbout five things in there. The rest were "I will fit into these again when I lose weight" dreams.
I changed the towels from being under the sink to being in the closet.
In about two minutes, I will collapse, but that was today's physical therapy.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I need to do laundry but we're out of quarters.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Fess up, Mack. You are out of quarters because you used them on arcade games, in anattempt to procrastinate doing the laundry. I am so on to you.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Well, no, I used them for drinking games last night.
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
Liz!
I so need to clean out my daughter's closet. Maybe I'll do it tonight while the rest of the fam is off at church activities. me, yeah, right.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
It felt good, Jeniwren, it felt good!
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
Woo, Liz!
I just managed to do that myself, although the bags are still waiting to go to Goodwill.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
quote: The rest were "I will fit into these again when I lose weight" dreams.
I did this the other weekend. It was kind of sad - all my pretty clothes.
But realistically, I will never, ever be a size 2 again. So out they went.
***
Mrs M - you could also come here y'know. My spice rack is organised by region of origin rather than alphabetised, but I'm sure we can compromise.
And then we can sell all the stuff I don't need and go shopping! Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
I figure, if I lose enough weight to fit into those clothes, then darn it, I deserve new clothes. Tomorrow, I shall attack the bathroom closet, tossing old cosmetics, bath toys, and who-the-heck-knows what kind of junk.
What is interesting/sad when watching the organization shows is the real pain some people feel when parting with their stuff.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Our DVDs are alphabetized. Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Wow, OCD sure gets you a lot of invitations.
I'd also like to see a reunion show and see if these folks are keeping things neat.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Our DVDs were alphabetized. Until we found an ant trail going through them. I have to redo it. But they are all (all 520 of 'em) entered into a handy dandy database.
Books, now, that's a much bigger accomplishment. I have at least a couple thousand paperbacks alone, and I've always had those alphabetized. Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Mrs. M, instead of a reunion show, how about a "drop-in" or two? Now that would be interesting.
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There's another one? I thought only my mother alphebetized spice racks...
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Liz!![[Laugh]](graemlins/laugh.gif)
me, yeah, right.
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