CHAOS: Day 4

I'm thrilled to say that I have kept up with taking care of my C.H.A.O.S. issue for a total of 4 days. Sure it doesn't seem like much, but when I had a 5-minute notice last night about company stopping by, I have to say that I was so happy. My family room/foyer area was tidy other than a couple toys my daughter dragged out, and it was a cinch to pick them up with haste!

Today is Day 4 of the CHAOS Series, and I'm adding:

4. Clean the Sink

A clean sink is a happy sink, and a happy sink leads to a happy Mama! It really upset me this morning when I woke up to find dirty dishes in the sink leftover from last night's dinner. So, I'm going to implement this rule to take place in the evenings right before bed.

Oh by the way...

I would also like to know who thought it would be a good idea to put white sinks in kitchens?!? That must have been a joke or a ploy to make us purchase Bleach. What a bad idea!

CHAOS: Day 3

It's day 3, and that means adding a new element to my developing routine.

Today,

3. Take a Timed Approach to a Problem Area

I decided to take a timed approach to an area in my house that I am consistently unhappy with! I gave myself 5 minutes to organize the stuff on top of the refrigerator. I usually put my bills/extra paperwork up there so I can keep up with it all.

The beauty of it is that what I'm looking for is usually up there. The bad: it takes me 10 minutes to find it! So, I decided it was time to take care of that unnecessary drama in my life, and clean it up. I threw away what was trash, put my bills in one nice, neat, organized container, put items to shred in a plastic bin, and even had time to spare to knock all the dust bunnies off the top!

The idea behind this is to target a problem spot daily! Even if it a continuation of a spot you didn't finish in the 5 minutes the day before. The result will small reminders of your success everyday and consistent progress on maintaining a home with minimal mama drama!

CHAOS Series: Day 2

It's Day 2 of my CHAOS Series, and I'm happy to report I am already squeaky clean and looking good! (See Day 1) It feels so nice, and I am definitely motivated. I may even be able to skip out on the coffee this morning which is an interesting feat in itself. We'll see how that goes.

I've decided that the quickest way to make your home appear tidier is to make the main hub (the family room) vacuum accessible.

2. Make the Family Room Ready to Vacuum

Picking up all the crap/stuff on the floor is the best way to make a room look tidier, and to have one of the most important rooms in the house appearing to be clean is a great pick me up. I began my morning by picking up the stuff on the floor to the extent that I would be able to run the vacuum without sucking up a sock, getting stuck on a toy, or tripping over the dog (yes, I even kicked him outside for a little while.)

Again, I'm taking it one day at a time. The whole idea is to be able to repeat these steps systematically and habitually until they become second nature.

To say the least, I'm clean and I can walk through the family room without stepping on a Lego. And we all know how much it hurts to unexpectedly step on those hard plastic pesky blocks!

Living in CHAOS: A new series

Do you constantly live in CHAOS?

(Can't Have Anyone Over Syndome)

After my husband brought home unexpected company this weekend, I was mortified by the condition of my house (and myself for that matter!) Being a Stay at Home Mom has its perks, but finding the desire to clean on the weekends just isn't one of them. I mean, anyone who has a normal Monday through Friday job looks forward to those 2 highly coveted weekend days where they can escape the office, put business on the back burner, and let it all hang out! Unfortunately, my weekends often become extended, and its time to find a way to get back on track.

So, my new goal (a tad bit late for a New Year Resolution) is to develop new fundamental routines which can be built upon to create new habits. Eventually, these new habits will evolve into a lifestyle where you have more control over your household, your Mama Drama, and yourself!

So here is my first step:

1. Get Up and Go to Work!

So, you're probably thinking, "I thought you said you were a stay-at-home mom?" Ding, ding, ding, that's right, I am! Now, not everyone is going to agree with this, and that's ok. All I know is that my day is hardwired to be totally different when I prepare myself as if I were going into a traditional job setting. Not only will you feel better after you get up, take a shower, fix your hair, or do a little something for yourself, but you are programming yourself for a day where your productiviy levels are going to skyrocket.

My home is my office, I am my own boss, and the standards enacted in my workplace should be reflective of my company which happens to be my family. I'm not saying to go mop the floor in your 5" stiletto heels, (you can if you want to though, and if you don't break your neck in the process, post pics) but can you imagine going into the office with bed head, morning breath, mismatched PJs with dried mystery substance on the front, and a cup of coffee?!? I don't think so. So, why treat your job as a mother any differently? There is no job more difficult than being a mom, and just because we can often hide behind the 4 walls of our home is not an excuse. We deserve to feel good about ourselves even if we are folding laundry, and I can promise your hubby will appreciate it too.

So, get up, get dressed, fix your face and hair, lace up your shoes, and make it happen!