Well today is the first day of my week. Lets see how I do. After reading 4 different books on organinzing.... I chose to start back up with my *old faithful. I spent last week getting it all ready to us and even having a couple "Practice Days"
After reading Its all too Much. I was truly overwhelmed with all my stuff and inspired to do a room by room inventory of what I wanted that room to function as, what stuff needed to stay and what needed to go.
After reading Sink Reflections. I was convicted about my martyr type attitude and pride. I also realized I could never truly follow this system because I just cannot wear lace up tennis shoes in my house every day. I have claustraphobic feet :-) . Also its just not realistic for me to polish and shine my sink all day as I use it way too much and to keep my dirty dishes under the sink until I can wash them just grosses me out.
After reading More Hours in My Day. I realized why I liked her system to begin with and I remembered the first time I read an earlier edition of her book. I of course cannot foller her system exactly as I just always have to tweak whatever I do to make it best for me and my family.
After reading Managers of Their Homes. I cried. HA HA HA, yep I really cried. It wants you to be scheduled every half hour of every day. Rotate your childs activities, schedule every half hour of their day etc. I felt discouraged that I wasn't doing enough as a homeschool mom and I just cried. (Thank goodness this is when Rob stepped in and helped me think logically about it all)
I also read a 5th book that also like More Hours in My Day uses the 3x5 card system, but I currently cannot remember the title of that book. I liked it and using the info I read from there and More Hours in My Day is where I came up with OLD FAITHFUL!
*Old Faithful : I use 3x5 cards to track my daily, weekly and monthly chores. When they need to be done etc.
One thing all organizing books, shows etc I have read have in common is they all have the Keep Toss, Give Away type of organizing for keeping up with or removing the clutter. They all say that just 15 minutes a day and in 5-6 weeks you will see an amazing difference, so here goes praying I can get those 15 minutes in.
Yeah this blog was just boring so if you read it.... wow!
Well, J, you saved me a lot of time reading these books. I have read that many homeschooling moms want to read the 'Managing your Home' and hadn't gotten around to it myself. I like that you have reviewed it for me...I am kind of happy with our system, anyway. The best way for me to get a handle on clutter was have more and more kids...funny how the need to declutter became immense once #4 came along. Now, with so little space, and so many people, clutter is a no can do over at Casa White.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Veronica
I'll be praying for you as you start....I like the idea of practice days.
ReplyDeleteWell getting sick turned this into a practice week LOL.
ReplyDeleteVeronica I would love love love to hear what your system is!
ReplyDeleteSOOO not boring! I loved reading your reviews, and your honest reactions to the books!
ReplyDeleteI agree, not boring. I think it just goes to show that what works for one person doesn't work for everyone. And we are always so quick to compare and feel inadequate. Glad Rob could be the voice of reason for you when it got to be too much. ;) I'm praying for you and also inspired to try my own 15 min. a day decluttering! I have a lot of it to do before we can get our house ready for show on the market. Ugh.
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