Keep Calm
I spend a lot of time thinking about all of the things that I need to do and get done. My To-Do list is a mile long and never gets shorter as I continue to add to it quicker than I can check items off. If you are like me, which I am sure many of you are, then you are always looking for an easier way to get through the list even if you have a partner to hand a Honey Do list off to share the load. One of the biggest problems is finding the time and the balance in our lives so that we are not overly consumed with doing chores and spending more time relaxing and enjoying life. Besides having to try on a daily basis to not have to have everything perfect and clean and done, I have come up with my 10 minute plan that satisfies my need for a clean and organized space, the need to accomplish my goals and allows me to check off my list.
10 minutes is all you need coupled with a chill pill to calm the desire to have it all done this very minute. I have actually been following this little plan since 2001 and I have fallen off the wagon more times than I would like to admit, but I just get right back on the horse and start my 10 minutes again. My home and my life is very far from a Better Homes and Gardens magazine, but I really do like to have a clean and organized home, it is my Zen. I noticed that when my home is clean or has the appearance that it is clean, I am happy and calm. When it is a mess, my emotions go out of control and I cannot think straight. It is a known fact that clutter and chaos are outward signs of what is going on the inside of someone. It becomes an ugly spiral. So, you are wanting me to get to the plan. If we tackle our mess and our To-Do lists in 10 minute increments eventually everything will get done. It may take longer than you really want, but EVENTUALLY your rooms will be clean, the closets and drawers organized and you can apply the 10 minute method to anything that you need to do. DISCLAIMER- some things will require an entire day or several hours and there will be no getting around those bears, but when it comes to daily chores this works beautifully.
When I come home from work each day and before I plunk my butt down in my chair to write or zone out, I make it a point to check off some items on my list. I found that I can do 6 10 minute chores and it looks like I spent an entire weekend cleaning. I set my phone timer and go. When the timer goes off, I move to the next chore or I may cut into another chore, but when that hour is up I am finished and I sit down, get a cup of tea, a glass of wine and I am done. My 10 minute list may look like this:
- 10 minutes to wipe down everything in the bathroom
- 10 minutes to sort through and throw away mail or paper clutter
- 10 minutes to wipe down/dust as much as I can in the living room
- 10 minutes to vacuum as much as I can before the timer goes off
- 10 minutes to gather and take out the trash
- 10 minutes to wipe the inside of the refrigerator
Anything can be on your 10 minute list. You can even do JUST 10 minutes per day and will still accomplish something at the end of the 10 minutes. The key is to not burn yourselves out either so that you will not want to continue doing this every day. Another key I found was to put things away every time I use them – not only do I know where they are the next time I need them, but then I have less 10 minute chores each day.
Now if you are like I was years ago and periodically every now and again, I have a tendency to collect crap and then I get these areas that need tending to – like my office right now. When I think about going into my office I get so overwhelmed and I just avoid going in there – I don’t want to even look at it. Nobody would ever know just how bad my office is right now because the rest of my home looks neat and organized, but the office has become a catch all room lately and I need to stop it. First, I stop putting crap in there. Every time I feel compelled to walk to the office to hide something, I stop myself and I either throw it away or I place it where it really needs to go. Next (this is where the 10 minute method is fabulous) I set my timer and spend 10 minutes every night (when I get home) just going through stuff and putting it where it belongs or throwing it away. I am still working through the clutter, but every night when I go in there, I notice that it is looking better and better. The great thing about setting the timer is that it makes me work really fast because I want to get as much done in that 10 minutes as I can. If I only do those 10 minutes each night, I still get a sense of accomplishment that I have done something.
I have also tried to 1 in 2 out rule – where every time you buy something new and bring it home, you must get rid of 2 items. That worked for a week.
Now that I have explained how I tackle my clutter and household chores with my 10 minute method, I also use this to catch up on other things that I love doing, like writing, reading, playing with my pets, being outside in nature in my garden or looking up at the stars, talking to an old friend on the phone, having a cup of coffee, bird watching, taking a hot salt bubble bath, giving myself a mini facial or a semi-manicure- just little moments for ME that fulfill me and feed my soul. These are the most important 10 minutes of them all because if we do not give back to ourselves (even if it is 10 minutes a day) then we will not have anything to give back to the ones we love. Nourish yourself first so that you may nourish others.
I hope this inspired you a little and I would love to hear how you utilize your 10 minutes so please leave a comment so that I can find new ways to get it done!