As previously mentioned I am going to work on emptying out my garage unit attached to my apartment. In this unit I have a lot of containers of the things I have held onto over the years. There is of course the typical stuff, like Christmas decorations and Oliver's old baby clothes, a suit case of cards I've received, a box of cords, and many many bikes and trikes. Some of it will have to go--sold off via craigslist, and I'll cross that bridge when I get there. For the rest, some of it I will get rid of, other important things I will have to move into my apartment. Thus starts the first step to project number 2, making room for my stuff from the garage by de-cluttering my apartment.
I am going to try and donate something every week. That means picking one corner at a time to go through. Knowing me, I would, without direction attempt to de-clutter my entire apartment in a days time, ruining any chances of enjoying my day and setting myself up for failure when while I will achieve a great deal, I will not manage to get everything done at once. This is what I tend to do--all or nothing.
Our good family friend, Bill once told to quit trying to eat the elephant in one giant bite--so I am making a list and then I will begin tackling each space and getting to enjoy the sweet taste of success as I cross each thing off the list.
1. Oliver's Toys: He has so many toys, and while he plays with a lot of them, there are many collecting dust and taking up space. Together he and I will sort and eliminate the extras. Some of them will be donated to the salvation army, others to friends.
2. My T.V. Cabinet: This is my paper storage/dvd stash/tool cabinet/picture storage/catch-all. I need a paper storage system but this is not the place and could be put to much better use!
3. Pantry Shelving: The space above my washer and dryer is meant to be used as pantry space but we've set up shelving in the water heater closet so instead this holds everything in the kitchen that doesn't have a home and gets so bad that things pile-up and spill out. We have a lot of eliminating to do in here!
4. Coat Closet: Why is it so hard to get rid of shoes and coats I don't wear anymore? They are just so damn expensive and so nice. What I don't wear will go to my clothing closet. I need the space for stuff from the garage more than anywhere else. Swim gear and outdoor gear will need to fit in here.
5. My green desk: Talk about paper storage. I need to use this for work stuff because I certainly have a lot of it and I could use a better system.
6. ALL my work stuff: Ever since we got rid of our local office my home/garage has become the dumping ground for equipment and paper--its gotten a bit absurd.
So, if anyone needs something, let me know--I probably have it! (and sorry for such a boring post).
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Projects
Sitting in Henry's Coffee Shop, sipping a coffee, eating a piece of lemon bread and listening to Otis Redding I'm reflective of all the major steps I've taken in the last week to feeling more whole.
In attempting to fine-tune the amount of television Oliver and I are watching, I realize my biggest problem is not necessarily how much we watch, but when we do it. That was the entire point of the first week after all--to pinpoint the balance of setting limits on our first goal. Just by limiting the times at which we can watch television has helped with a number of problems--first and foremost, by not watching at inappropriate times I've picked back up more positive habits in its place. Sure my DVR is stacking recorded programs like they are going out of style--but hey, I'll catch-up when I can, and in the meantime, I've caught up on some sleep :)
I am in a much better place this week than I was last week. I had a good visit with a friend of mine who helped in giving me some perspective (thank you Laura), and with the support of my amazing older brother I can see that I really am making headway in my life. I get so fatalistic about time, as if I am always running out. With that mentality I will miss everything in my sons life--and in addition--mine. We are both worth more than that.
I have a few big projects this spring and I'm ready for the snow to go so that I can get rolling on them. I am working to re-design my friend's apartment. She is a single woman in her 60's--both children grown, but living in a small apartment with a gazillion books, three cats, and serious space problem. We are working with some handicaps that limit our spacial options--the placement of certain objects limited by her disabilities/capabilities. But all and all--it is an extremely exciting project and I am enjoying it--I just need to give it and her more of my time.
Project number two involves cleaning out the garage unit that I have. It costs me money to store my stuff (and my families stuff) in there every month. I have renewed my lease for June and I've renewed it without the garage, so I have until then to clear out the space (and maybe/hopefully sell off a few items).
The final major project of my summer is to work on remodeling my sister-n-laws kitchen. She would really like to get this started and I think it would be a fun project for both of us.
I am realizing with all of these exciting projects, I need to really maximize my time and that starts by making the most of the moments I have while I'm in them. I need to get more done at work during work hours. I need to give Oliver more of my undivided attention when we're together, I need to make the most of my days off--if this doesn't help me at setting limits in my life, than I don't know!
Regardless I feel hopeful and after the few weeks I've just have--that is a major step in the right direction!
In attempting to fine-tune the amount of television Oliver and I are watching, I realize my biggest problem is not necessarily how much we watch, but when we do it. That was the entire point of the first week after all--to pinpoint the balance of setting limits on our first goal. Just by limiting the times at which we can watch television has helped with a number of problems--first and foremost, by not watching at inappropriate times I've picked back up more positive habits in its place. Sure my DVR is stacking recorded programs like they are going out of style--but hey, I'll catch-up when I can, and in the meantime, I've caught up on some sleep :)
I am in a much better place this week than I was last week. I had a good visit with a friend of mine who helped in giving me some perspective (thank you Laura), and with the support of my amazing older brother I can see that I really am making headway in my life. I get so fatalistic about time, as if I am always running out. With that mentality I will miss everything in my sons life--and in addition--mine. We are both worth more than that.
I have a few big projects this spring and I'm ready for the snow to go so that I can get rolling on them. I am working to re-design my friend's apartment. She is a single woman in her 60's--both children grown, but living in a small apartment with a gazillion books, three cats, and serious space problem. We are working with some handicaps that limit our spacial options--the placement of certain objects limited by her disabilities/capabilities. But all and all--it is an extremely exciting project and I am enjoying it--I just need to give it and her more of my time.
Project number two involves cleaning out the garage unit that I have. It costs me money to store my stuff (and my families stuff) in there every month. I have renewed my lease for June and I've renewed it without the garage, so I have until then to clear out the space (and maybe/hopefully sell off a few items).
The final major project of my summer is to work on remodeling my sister-n-laws kitchen. She would really like to get this started and I think it would be a fun project for both of us.
I am realizing with all of these exciting projects, I need to really maximize my time and that starts by making the most of the moments I have while I'm in them. I need to get more done at work during work hours. I need to give Oliver more of my undivided attention when we're together, I need to make the most of my days off--if this doesn't help me at setting limits in my life, than I don't know!
Regardless I feel hopeful and after the few weeks I've just have--that is a major step in the right direction!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Making Lists...
...and then making the time.
Thanks to my sweet friend Laura Kelly, I am making the first step to spending more time with others by joining her monthly book club. I am pretty excited to get there and talk about something of substance with other adults. Yesterday I picked up a catalog from the Lawrence Arts Center to look into taking some classes, then when I got home and checked the mail I had received the very same catalog in the mail--I'm thinking its a sign that I'm on the right track.
Oliver is finally of the age that he can take classes as well, so I'm looking to double book us, he can do his class while I do mine. I'm mostly interested in either writing classes or new artistic mediums...probably water color painting or print making--something I've never done before!
I have to admit I've been in a funk of sorts lately. There are so many reasons I could/should feel the way I do right now, but those reasons never make it any easier to overcome the emotions. About a year ago, I had found incredible inspiration, was getting into shape, had a new place, the sun was shining, spring was here and I felt liberated. A year later, I guess I'm in a funk by my lack of progress, how in some ways I feel like I've regressed rather than moved forward. I guess I thought I would have seen more growth in a years time. So many feelings to overcome and in general a feeling of being overwhelmed that I don't know what to do with. I feel like I have so much to do, but when I find myself with the time to take care of those responsibilities--I don't even know where to start.
So I'm starting here. I'm reading a book (well I read it a year ago and now I'm re-reading it) and making lists. The book is called The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. The book is about "the fine art of limiting yourself to the essential...in business and in life." Frankly, it feels so cliche and silly to even admit to turning to a book (one of self-help origins) in improving my state of existence, but I don't know where else to start and this book gave me tremendous inspiration.
The first step is setting Limits. I have to look at the things in my life that make me feel overloaded or that occupy too much of my time. I need to analyze how much of my time is truly being occupied with these things and try and set limits, provide structure. Using the new limits I set, I will give it a week to see if the new limits work in my life or whether I could limit further, or need more...to fine tune the limits in other words. The second week I will add the adjustments made through trial and error, after that, I will practice making it a habit.
I have to publicly admit the first thing I will be setting limits around. It is rather embarrassing to admit it out loud (even if my audience is so small) but without the public admission I won't be likely to take this challenge seriously. The truth is, I spend (and Oliver spends) entirely too much time watching T.V. and movies. So much that I loose other practices in my life and allow T.V. (something that clearly makes me feel even more depressed) as a way to aid in my current funk. Its time to put the practice to good use. See if I can fill my time differently and who knows maybe gain some positive new practices in its place.
Stay tuned for progress reports to come.
Thanks to my sweet friend Laura Kelly, I am making the first step to spending more time with others by joining her monthly book club. I am pretty excited to get there and talk about something of substance with other adults. Yesterday I picked up a catalog from the Lawrence Arts Center to look into taking some classes, then when I got home and checked the mail I had received the very same catalog in the mail--I'm thinking its a sign that I'm on the right track.
Oliver is finally of the age that he can take classes as well, so I'm looking to double book us, he can do his class while I do mine. I'm mostly interested in either writing classes or new artistic mediums...probably water color painting or print making--something I've never done before!
I have to admit I've been in a funk of sorts lately. There are so many reasons I could/should feel the way I do right now, but those reasons never make it any easier to overcome the emotions. About a year ago, I had found incredible inspiration, was getting into shape, had a new place, the sun was shining, spring was here and I felt liberated. A year later, I guess I'm in a funk by my lack of progress, how in some ways I feel like I've regressed rather than moved forward. I guess I thought I would have seen more growth in a years time. So many feelings to overcome and in general a feeling of being overwhelmed that I don't know what to do with. I feel like I have so much to do, but when I find myself with the time to take care of those responsibilities--I don't even know where to start.
So I'm starting here. I'm reading a book (well I read it a year ago and now I'm re-reading it) and making lists. The book is called The Power of Less, by Leo Babauta. The book is about "the fine art of limiting yourself to the essential...in business and in life." Frankly, it feels so cliche and silly to even admit to turning to a book (one of self-help origins) in improving my state of existence, but I don't know where else to start and this book gave me tremendous inspiration.
The first step is setting Limits. I have to look at the things in my life that make me feel overloaded or that occupy too much of my time. I need to analyze how much of my time is truly being occupied with these things and try and set limits, provide structure. Using the new limits I set, I will give it a week to see if the new limits work in my life or whether I could limit further, or need more...to fine tune the limits in other words. The second week I will add the adjustments made through trial and error, after that, I will practice making it a habit.
I have to publicly admit the first thing I will be setting limits around. It is rather embarrassing to admit it out loud (even if my audience is so small) but without the public admission I won't be likely to take this challenge seriously. The truth is, I spend (and Oliver spends) entirely too much time watching T.V. and movies. So much that I loose other practices in my life and allow T.V. (something that clearly makes me feel even more depressed) as a way to aid in my current funk. Its time to put the practice to good use. See if I can fill my time differently and who knows maybe gain some positive new practices in its place.
Stay tuned for progress reports to come.
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