Failing | Staying Organized

It is currently week five of quarantine and I think even the dog is sick of me being home all day. I'm very lucky that I'm able to work from home so the days don't drag on too much...ok maybe when I'm overwhelmed with everyone sharing their wonderful ideas of how to stay engaged they do. But, other than that, I'm pleased with how I fill my days.

One of the things that has felt very overwhelming during this time has been my goal of staying organized. I feel like I'm constantly cleaning and putting things away. For example, I've got a favorite pan that I use for nearly every meal that I cook. It's non-stick and a nice teal color. Because it's my favorite I use it at least two times a day -- I've tried to stay away from ordering takeout to save some money so cooking more it is. And since I'm constantly using the pan, that also means I'm constantly washing the pan. And the spatula, And the tongs. And the plates, utensils and anything else that goes into cooking and eating a meal.

My giant bottle of dish soap that I've had for months barely has anything left. And to top it off, my dog is shedding her coat so I'm sweeping and wiping things off on a daily basis. Add in the increased use of my bathroom and I feel like a professional housekeeper with a second job as a communications coordinator. And God bless you people with kids because I can't even begin to image adding them to the mix.

On the plus side I'm wearing fewer bras and have resigned to wearing leggings and sweats, with the occasional blouse for my video meetings, so the laundry has been lessened. Only dressing from the chest up for the win!

But it doesn't help that I'm not the most organized person to begin with. I use several cups a day, don't make my bed and use my night stand like it's a dining table. I'm definitely regretting having not built the good habits before all of this started.

So what can I do now? I decided to play to my strengths and give myself a visual aid. I recently ordered a fridge calendar to help keep track of the things I've done and what I need to do next. It included a calendar, three dry-erase markers, a separate grocery/to-do list, magnetic icons for things like laundry and birthdays and an eraser. You can find the calendar HERE.

One of the biggest things I've learned while using this calendar is to be realistic, and forgiving, with completing the things I write down. No, I'm not going to workout every day. I knew that was a lie the first time I wrote it. I let the whole manifestation thing get to me. But I did create alternating days for sweeping and doing dishes. I wrote down what days I cooked and updated my grocery list. I even added the chores for the dog.

Being home all day, every day has certainly taken a toll on my relaxation time. But, I figure if I can build the right habits now, I should come out on the other side of this quarantine feeling more like a grown ass adult that is proud of her home and ready for guests at any given moment.

#failingfast #stayingorganized #ImTiredOfCleaning #fail #succeed