Tuesday, July 20, 2010

New Habit: The Monday Morning "To Do" List


In Quick and Simple Clutter Control at Simplify 101, Aby defines clutter as lingering or incomplete intentions. I particularly like the way she put this aspect of it:
If we intend to get a project done, and we don't get it done: it's clutter.
(taken from Lesson 1 of Quick and Simple Clutter control)

A "To Do" list, then is a preemptive strike against clutter. Yes, as Brian Tracey would say, it is a clutter clearing device of its own: it clears the clutter from your mind of all those racing nagging thoughts about what you need to do. But it is more than that. Somewhere, in "Unclutter Your Life in One Week," Doland mentions sitting down on "Monday" morning and making a list of all the things you want to get done that week. It's one of those "doh" ideas--of course I should do that. Why haven't I done that before?

(To be fair to myself, I was in the habit of taking a day before our week began to plan our school week: what needs to be done each day and so on: but I've never applied that to my home life.)

Our "weekend" is Sunday and Monday, which makes "Monday" really Tuesday. So, without further ado, I present the Monday Morning "To Do" list (on Tuesday. Which makes perfect sense.) I plan to do my best to chip away at this list all week and present what I've managed to complete at the end, either of each day or on Saturday. I am looking after my 2 1/2 year old nephew Wednesday morning and from 8 to 5 (or so) Thursday through Sunday this week.


Take picture and list for sale: (Bargain finder, Craig's list)
  • Tae Kwon Do sparring gear
  • Dog crate
  • Dog house

Freecycle:
  • two large speakers with speaker wire

Schedule:
  • Kids' dental appointments
  • Chris and I for bloodwork
  • kids' for swim lessons in August at pool
  • sign up son for animation lessons at City Arts Centre
  • kids' and Chris's eye appointments
  • daughter for music lessons

Declutter:
  • Rubbermaid kitchen drawer. Match lids to bottoms. E-mail Rubbermaid and see if they'll send replacement lids
  • Kitchen drawer full of bags and tubes of wraps
  • Spend 15 minutes of book sorting
  • list everything to go to eco-centre. Start collecting items.
  • remove rocking chair from kitchen
  • supervise 15 minutes of decluttering in kids' rooms
School:
  • Start planning next academic year
  • have kids re-start their math today
  • write out goals
  • plan this week

Canadian History:
  • pick a topic
  • begin research
Errands:
  • pick up drycleaning!
  • shop for produce on menus
  • see list

Housekeeping:

oh what the heck, the Errand List:

Home Improvement Store:
  • rubber feet for step ladder
  • 8 hooks for hallway
  • screen kit for upstairs bathroom window
  • small extension cord for microwave
Other:
  • 6 small buttons for shirt
  • soap dispensers for hand soap and dish soap for kitchen counter
And there we have it.

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