When I was in high school I remember feeling stressed over college applications, homework, my job, and a myriad of other issues that come with adolescence. My mom gave me advice she once heard attributed to Thomas Jefferson. When asked how he did it all, he replied: “I open one drawer at a time”.
This advice has gotten me through many a stressful time. Choosing your priorities, working on those, and then moving forward is a great strategy. My husband calls it “critical path”. I call it brilliant.
Spring cleaning is much like that in my home. I chose the areas of most concern and worked on those. As for the drawers, I open them one at a time. Literally. If I’m in the kitchen and have a free minute, I’ll organize the silverware drawer. Have a second after the shower? Medicine cabinet! A few minutes before I go to bed my nightstands got the spring cleaning treatment. With this in mind, I’ve tackled almost every drawer in my home over the past two weeks. ONE DRAWER AT A TIME.
This week I’m still going to post about my closet cleanout tips. I’ll also share my book strategies and how I tame the toy monster. As in, the monster amount of toys in my house and not our stuffed Cookie Monster toy. But he might make another appearance since his last bender:
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I’ve been doing that one drawer at a time philosophy and it’s really working. I have most things decluttered at least now (besides the kids’ rooms, attic, laundry room and garage…)
Panamamama, if you find the secret for keeping the garage organized please let me know… we have an entire side devoted just to strollers in the summer, and during the winter random piles of junk seem to accumulate everywhere. Ugh!
I’ve been going through my house using the Bowl Full of Lemons 21 Day Challenge. So far I’m on day 4 (but I’ve actually been at it for 5 days, had a little detour in there) and I’m really happy with how it’s going right now. I love the peace that is coming over my house by having it clean!
Emily
neverendingbutterflies.wordpress.com
Great post! My first day of law school, the dean told us to “chop the wood in front of you.” Same concept, different words. Oh how that phrase has gotten me through many things, spring cleaning the least of them!