Usually a 2 or 3 hour block is most manageable - you can get something accomplished without gettng too fatiqued. Actually book this time in on your calendar book or set a timer, then turn off the phone ringer and send the kids off somewhere, whatever it takes to make this your time.

If even an hour or two block is difficult then go for a half hour project like cleaning out the medicine cabinet or sorting through all the shoes in the bottom of your closet.

I invite you to add your thoughts or experiences: Have you had success with doing 1/2 hour a day or 1 hour every Saturday and seeing results?

1. Heidi said…

   Hi Cynthia,

   I’m very impressed with the high quality of wisdom and caring that you express in your website. Thank-you for all your efforts in world service!

   On Clutter to Clarity: This article should be helpful for anyone suffering from clutter. I’ve never really been the type to let clutter build up. I like a clean, organised living or work space and have always managed to manifest that for myself even while sharing a home with a husband and four kids who didn’t necessarily agree with my cleanliness ethic. It has been a matter of prioritising it and organising times to deal with it, plus getting my family to cooperate.

   For instance, each season we have a BIG cleaning day or two, if it takes that, in which projects like windows, storage areas, yard and porch, cars - things that don’t require daily maintenence, get their due.

   On the weekends we do laundry, make a menu for the week, go shopping, deep clean the kitchen and bathroom, vacuum and dust. Working together, this usually takes half of one day.

   On a daily basis I’ve set aside one hour for cleaning and organising. I just decide each day where the needs are and go for it. I also lovingly nudge everyone else into helping by reminding them to put things where they belong rather than just dropping them somewhere.

   This procedure works quite well and has become quite automatic over the years.

   For my desk, which I spend quite a bit of time at, I follow a simple set of rules that help me to keep it de-cluttered. a)File it, b)Throw it away, or c) Give it away.

   Perhaps the biggest problem I’ve had with living an organised life has more to do with the spirit with which it is done. I’ve gone through all kinds of emotional angst and resistance to what is required to live in a clean orderly environment. The Discipline of Maintenence can seem quite joyless and gruelling, unless it is done with a spirit of love and service. It is really this one attitude adjustment that makes it all possible for me.

   Comment by Heidi — Mar 2, 2006 @ 5:52 pm

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