Avoiding Work or Any Other Thing in Your Life That Could Be Good For You

Do you ever have a day that you feel fine, but you really do not want to do any of the things you could do?  I think I hit that day today.  I really don't feel like I have done much that is significant:  it has been my lull during the middle of the week.  I feel great, but I realize I have used all kinds of avoidance techniques when there are obvious things I could do around here.

Do you know how to read the signs of avoidance?  Do you blame it on fatigue or the blues?  Do you know how to make yourself do some of the things you are not getting done?  Do you really want the day to just slip away?

Here are some of my obvious signs of avoidance.  Please keep in mind that I feel fine.

1. Staying in my p.j.'s.  Yes, I know pajama days are a valid way of resting, but sometimes you just have to get regular clothes on to get moving.
2. Staying on the computer too long.
3. Walking by that bedroom chair that is piled with clothes.
4. Walking by that full clean laundry basket.
5. Starting to do a small cleaning project and getting conveniently distracted.
6. Thinking of all kinds of things you Could do, but staying on the computer too long.
7. Feeling bored when You have lots of things that you could do.
8. Feeling guilty that you feel good, and you know you could get ahead on your work;  but, you get a cup of coffee or some sort of snack to munch on.  (That is one I try to avoid.)

I think I could probably come up with a much longer list, but I am tired of avoiding stuff.  I think I am going to set my timer and do #8.  After that, I will reboot my laundry or maybe I will do that first.  Then, I am going to shower and wash my hair.  I have really been avoiding that one, because it is cold here.  Also, I am going to take the time to pat myself on the shoulder for the things I have gotten done, rather than feeling a vague sense of guilt and wondering if someone was judging me for sitting around a good part of the day.  In fact, I am going to go ahead and congratulate myself for getting up today at an earlier hour,  which is something I have been working on.

Here goes.  I hope this will encourage you on one of your days of avoidance!!!!

Where Did That Dust Come From?

I thought I had dusted everything last week, but my eyes saw a thick layer in the afternoon light.  Where did that come from?  How did I miss that cabinet in the breakfast area?  It looked awful, and I had visions of dust spreading through my house.

Problem solved!  I grabbed a microfiber dusting mitt and got busy.  I wish I had timed myself, because surely this job took no longer than 2 or 3 minutes.  Then, I threw the mitt in the towel laundry bin.  Simple job.  It was simple, because the clutter is gone from that area.

Dirty Walls in the Bathroom?

Today, I was shocked as I swiped at the wall in my bathroom with my cleaning rag, and the rag had dirt on it.  The walls did not look dirty or moldy.  However, the dirt was on the rag, and I could not deny it.  So after I cleaned a small portion of wall, which is all I will do at a time, I wondered how it got dirty.

Image Courtesy of Mr GC / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Our bathrooms are places that get filled with steam;  sometimes, we spray hairspray in our bathrooms, and the air in the house that circulates has dust in it, whether you dust regularly or not.  The dust in turn sticks to the wall.   Perhaps, it is not as obvious as the dust that collects on horizontal surfaces, but it is there just the same.

How should you clean your bathroom walls?  If they are not moldy, a little spray detergent that does not have to be rinsed will do.  Today, I actually used my rag that I used on my bathroom counter.  My walls are made out of a material that does not have to be coddled like painted walls.  Also, I did not go for the whole wall.  I did a portion, and I will do another portion later -- I plan to use a sponge type mop or an extendable cleaning wand.

My bathrooms are clean, and it was easy.  I even took the time to dust off three shelves in my main bathroom.  Also, my toilets and sinks look great!  I left a couple of jobs for later -- actually probably tomorrow.  This is how to clean as you go along, so things do not pile up.

Here is a helpful link to How to Keep Your Bathroom Clean Without Cleaning. 

Baby Steps To A New Normal

Yes. I know we are no longer preparing for the holidays, and you may still be tired from the extra activity. However, do you want all that hard work in 2015 to go to waste? Do you want to keep things up, or to have to work much harder than you should have to do the next time you expect company? Would you like to have a cleaner house in 2016? The zone for this week is the Kitchen. What a great way to start the year. The habit for this month is to shine your sink. It's not too late to start. http://www.flylady.net/d/zones/zone-2/

I am putting in another plug in for FlyLady, because quite frankly, I would rather use my energy for living, than figuring out new ways to do jobs that can be done using her methods and encouragement. The important thing is to remember that this is a guideline. It is up to you to manage your time and body. Let's aim for better, not perfect.  I know I won't do it just like she does it, and you do not have to either.  However, each day you are able you have something you can aim for.   Baby Steps will get you there

Make an uncluttered house your new normal for 2016.