Project Clean House
by Angie Mizzell
The last thing I need is another self-help book. But here I sit, staring at my latest purchase from Barnes and Noble– Peter Walsh’s workbook, It’s All Too Much. The book promises to provide the tools I need to conquer the clutter in my life. I have noted the irony: I don’t have space to store another book, yet I have brought it into my home to guide me through Project Clean House.
In my defense, I make a habit of tossing, recycling or donating things I don’t need. And I consider myself lucky. My husband happily shares household responsibilities. But still, the mess seems to multiply– dishes in the sink, laundry in the washer and toys strewn across the floor. Our family grows and our house seems to shrink.
Clutter in my personal space contributes to clutter in my mind. I feel a weight lifted when my house is clean. When I have room to move, I also have space to think. It’s easier to put away the dishes when mismatched plastic containers aren’t falling out the cabinet. My preschooler does a better job of picking up his toys when he knows the blue bin is for trains and the red bin is for cars.
I’m not a naturally organized person. It’s something I have to work at. When I walk into my house, my tendency is drop everything in my hands. As a result, I spend way too much time searching for my keys, sunglasses and cell phone. In fact, not long after I bought Walsh’s book, I realized my cell phone was missing. I drove back to the bookstore and found it, sandwiched between the cushions of a comfy chair. I lost thirty minutes of my life I’ll never get back.
I’m not sure if Peter Walsh can cure me of all my organizational flaws, but it’s definitely worth the time, the sixteen dollars, and the space on my bookshelf (I mean, on the floor) to try.
Just as long as I don’t misplace it.
So tell me… are you organized? What’s your relationship with clutter in your house?
Recent Posts By Angie Mizzell
- Do You Take Risks? - August 30th, 2010
- The Big Questions - August 23rd, 2010
- My Two Cents on Eat Pray Love - August 16th, 2010
- Breastfeeding: A world-wide law? - August 9th, 2010
- Crisis Leads to Opportunity - August 2nd, 2010
Tags: Hybrid Mom, Peter Walsh
I think you’re being to hard on yourself! You are a very neat person and your house always looks great.
That being said, kids are so messy! It’s easy to throw your hands up and let it creep up on you. The second you clean up one mess they’ve created another. I’m trying to be better about cleaning up as the day goes along. In the past I’ve just waited until the kids were in bed and ran around the house like a tornado cleaning up after them. I don’t think that teaches my kids about cleaning up their own toys. I’m very guilty of doing way too many things for my son…putting on his clothes and shoes etc. because it’s faster for me to do it.
One way I keep organized is by selling or consigning their clothes and toys. I keep bags on the floor of their closet to put outgrown, washed clothes into. The full bags go into my “sell” section in the basement. If I notice a toy not being played with I put it in the “sell” section. 99% of the time they never notice it’s gone. It helps me clean out the clutter and I make a few bucks.
I love the idea of keeping bags on the floor of your kids closet. I think my husband would call that “systems.” He’s a big fan of systems.
A place for everything makes me feel like I can get a grip on organization. Everything in the kitchen has a home (it’s just a matter of getting everything in it’s place). My biggest organizational challenge is my husband. He doesn’t mind piles…piles of mail, specifically. I’ve tried everything to get it under control, but when you open the closet door in our office, mounds of years of mail come pouring out. I’m fearful I may have married a starter hoarder
My latest system for organizing our mail is a set from pottery barn. Cork board on top, magazine files on the bottom. I’m not confident it will eliminate the clutter completely, but it will help make sense of it…I hope!
Trish, I feel you! My husband is helpful around the house, but he likes to keep the boxes things come in. For example, we have boxes for cell phones, iPods, watches, etc, stashed in various places around the house… we are being overrun by owner’s manuals, too! But if he reads this, he’ll be sure to point out a few things about me, too!
Angie, I cracked up reading this. I can never find my keys! My husband actually bought me a remote key locator. It beeps until I find them. Good luck with the book.
Oh, Angie. How I needed to hear from you today. Just read has your well run dry and bounced over to this one. Are we twins? Certainly soul-sisters. My well is in fact dry (was it a puddle to begin with?), and I have miles to go before I sleep. I’m off-loading a considerable amount of mind clutter after this weekend, and hope to feel better able to tackle the rest of it once my mind is once again “intact.” Thanks so much for sharing. I feel better already!