Stuffer
I’ve been frustrated today with the amount of laundry that has been piling up in each of our rooms, the amount of dishes in the sink at the end of the day, and the amount of necessary paperwork I’ve been meaning to attend to.
I realized that I have gotten into the bad habit of stuffing things, and waiting until the need is urgent to get it done. I wait until there’s nothing clean to wear, before I do the laundry, wait until the bills are nearly late to pay them, wait until the very last minute, then work frantically, stress out, and get it done in the nick of time. So comes my desire to organize my time, but I don’t know how. I write lists, I have a day planner, but important things still slip through the cracks. So my first question is, how many people plan their days meticulously, or do you go with what comes at you and do what needs to get done?
I do this relationally as well. I think things don’t bother me, consider myself easy going, not too picky, not choosy, don’t care, go with the flow, and then something happens, and out of nowhere comes all these things I had no idea I felt, remembered or cared about. I stuff, and then out it comes when I can’t seem to take anymore. I want to be able to really really let things go. I want to stop stuffing. Are you a stuffer? Any suggestions?
~This is something I may be working on for the “21 day challenge.”
January 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
I’m a stuffer, too!
This is how I manage mail: It’s a rule in our house that nobody, and I mean NOBODY, is allowed to get the mail out of the box except me! Sometimes I would be searching for bills, knowing they were due, but I never saw them. I would end up calling to get the info to pay them, then find them stuffed somewhere at some point in the future. Now, I don’t get the mail until I have atleast 15-20 minutes (daily) to open all mail while I’m sitting down with my checkbook, computer and trash can nearby for junk mail. I write the checks upon opening the mail or pay them online immediately. (You may have to wait until funds are available to actually mail some checks.)
This is how I manage laundry: We taught the boys (at age 9 & 10) to do the laundry. Seven years later, the only laundry I’ve done is what I don’t want them to do, my work blouses, sweaters, etc. We started when they were younger than that though, by having them fold the washcloths, then the towels and so on. We have a central laundry basket in the laundry room. Three sections: whites, lights and darks. Everyone puts their laundry there and each day a load of laundry is done. (I still put the bleach in the washer when whites are done!) The towel hamper is separate in the bathroom. Kids can learn to sort laundry at a very young age.
Same with dishes, we started small and I haven’t done dishes in years, except the large pots and pans. Thankfully, we have a dishwasher so I don’t have to worry about sanitization.
I’m not a listmaker and I don’t have a dayplanner. Instead all important things go on the calendar hanging on the wall in the kitchen for everyone to see. The boys (now 16 & 17) are responsible for putting in info that pertains to them, bday parties, ball games, etc. If it’s not on the calendar, don’t expect me to make exceptions for you. (They learned this the hard way.) The grocery list is a dry-erase board by the calendar. You want something from the grocery, put it on the list. This started when they were old enough to write (and not necessarily old enough to spell, and that was fun!)
Now, having said all that, the system does break down at times, and hasn’t always worked just the way I wanted it to. But it makes day-to-day life easier to manage for this working mom.
January 29th, 2008 at 10:02 am
Yeah, Kristin, otherwise known as a procrastinator.
I don’t have any suggestions, but I wish I did. Maybe we can help each other through the 21 day challenge.
on the relational side, that totally happens to me! I will get upset about something and it will take me some to process through why and often it links back to the past. sigh.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:11 pm
I am not a stuffer in any way, shape, or form and you will never be allowed inside my bedroom without a two week warning, I mean, notice.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Cristy~ good suggestions. Thanks for the e mail too!
Amy~ Yes, that is probably a better definition! I hope we can help each other through the 21 day challenge, moral support.
Nancy~ ok, noted!
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:16 am
Thanks for bring this topic up Kristin! I enjoyed reading Cristy’s post…I tend to procrastinate as well, but learning to write things down on my planner whenever it comes to mind. Thus, I carry it with me and if I do not, I usually have a notebook handy because as humans, we do forget. Per the laundry and mails as Cristy mentioned, we pretty much do the same. I have two brothers who are now almost 21 and 19, yet they do the laundry, take care of dishes, and even cooks when needed in addition to other house chores. The goal is to share the fun!
Best always!!!