Don't Put it Down, Put it AWAY!

Todays title has been my mantra....it only takes three weeks to break or form a habit, right?! This is a HUGE lifestyle change for me....I've also added, "Don't walk past it". Its going really well and I feel super good about it.

I actually completed my next task before I even knew I was supposed to! Thats awesome. I was supposed to make a list of three friends or family members that I could discuss my progress and problem areas with....and, well, thats you all. So, thanks!! :)

Next is to write a list of three things I would LOVE to have more time for...you know, if the "have-to's" are taken care of.

#1. Spend more time PLAYING with and DISCOVERING with my children. Projects, goof-offs, trips, learning, research, etc...

#2. Reading. Both recreationally and devotionally. I LOVE to do both and have zero time or energy for either.

#3. This was a tie....I was going to try to choose but I can't. SO, 3a is Scrapbooking. Digitally or on paper, it doesn't matter to me. To document all the fun things I would do with my kids! And 3b is couponing, theres nothing more fun than clipping, organizing, and finding great deals with them! I love when ALL my stacks are clipped and in their proper place. Plus, I'm working on a birthday project related to couponing, that needs to get done!!

So, those are my three goals to have time for. My three motivators.

UPDATE:
I super appreciate everyones suggestions on my calendar issues. I purchased a "Moms Plan-It" calendar today. I've used one before with pretty decent success but haven't purchased one for the past couple of years. It is already posted on the fridge and labeled with each persons name and has all the events I could think of on it. Including when paperwork and payments are due! :) That makes me happy. I will also be retrieving my birthday calendar from the basement and hanging it right next to it! Also, I have entered a daily reminder into my phone calendar to coordinate my purse calendar and my fridge calendar and any other calendars that need to be on our central one. It takes three weeks to establish a new **healthy** habit. (:

Another great task I accomplished was getting my jewelry box organized. My mom brought over an old tack board and inspiration hit. I hung it behind my bedroom door and untangled ALL my necklaces and hung them up in an orderly fashion. It should be super simple to maintain, seeing as how all I have to do is rehang it where it was when I'm done.

This road to organization is an exciting one. I can't wait until the whole house is in order.

A side benefit of mindfully not wasting time is that I got our angle bay windows trim and window seat painted yesterday!! Something I've wanted to do for the last FIVE YEARS! Awesome. :)

Changes to be Made

So in my last post I talked about what THREE areas of my life are the MOST frustrating. I must admit I had planned to post again the very next day and was committed to sticking with the reading plan for the online study of this book. It SO hasn't happened. I could give you 100 excuses but that's all they'd be. It's so typical of me. SO something I want to change about myself. SO FRUSTRATING! My husband must cringe every time I say I want to do something that takes more than a one week time commitment. School, Bible Studies, Organization, Diet and Exercise plans. My follow through is just NOT there. Ever. It makes me sad....HOWEVER I am working on it. Famous last words right??

Seriously though, despite that I haven't read any further, I have been keeping up with the postings for the study and have learned a lot through that. This whole time I have been sssllloooowwwllllyyyy working on organization within my house. I have worked through our game cabinet, my "desk" area, and my pantry. (Which is now brimming with stockpile items, thanks to my couponing).

My focus goal from last time was to come up with quick solutions that could make a change towards being more organized in the three frustrating areas. Those areas are time management/calendar tracking, laundry, housekeeping. One of the topic suggestions that I read may have changed my life forever...I even wrote it on our kitchen whiteboard:

DO NOT SET IT DOWN, PUT IT AWAY. NOW!

Isn't that the story of my life. I fold laundry and set it on the couch. I walk in the house and place whatever I'm carrying on the kitchen island or dining room table (where it usually ends up staying). I sort laundry on my bed and it ends up heaped in a basket again because I get distracted and forget about it until its bedtime. So we have been practicing this...not walking by things on the floor, not setting stuff down, not leaving the laundry sit (still working on this), picking up dishes when I leave the room, and all the while, trying to teach everyone else to make the same changes. This is the solution to #2 and #3. But not #1. I have no clue what to do when it comes to a calendar. I have tried Google calendar. I forget to program things in. Or Nick does. Ive tried a written calendar "big style" on the fridge. Once again, things don't get written down. I tried a carry size that can lay on the island or go with me. Once again, same problem. I tried programming it all into my phone, same problem. **SIGH** Anyone noticing a pattern. Maybe I need HJ for my lack of motivation and follow through. But it seems the root of my problem has been identified. As stated at the very beginning of this post.

Do you have any suggestions?? How do YOU keep track of everything going on?? I need to figure this out soon....before I have FOUR kids with plans and not just two.