This seems to be my constant source of hesitation when it comes to spring cleaning/ organization. It's like I really desire to fix, revive, organize and clean - but I just can't figure out how.
I have a couple of tips & tricks that I've learned over the years, and I'll share some of them here. I'd love to hear what some of my readers do, though, too! So please, feel free to comment on this blog post and encourage others by sharing what your tips and tricks are regarding spring cleaning, and the ever-present question, "What do I do about...?"
Tip #1 - Figure out what the eye sees first. This is usually the culprit of feeling overwhelmed, at least for me. I've taken some pictures of my home in the current state that it is to help illustrate my point:
1) The papers on the end table. They are there temporarily, but this could potentially turn out to be what Fly Lady calls a "hotspot," which I do not want.
2) Everything else is in order. This is how I bless my home and my husband - by making sure that our home communicates an inviting and loving atmosphere. I take care of it to the best of my abilities.
1) The carpet is vacuumed, with no stains or dirt on it. This is not to say that it is always this way, or that our home is perfect. It rarely is. It's just that I have company coming over today (piano lessons), tomorrow (Ladies' Bible Study), and throughout the weekend (Small Group Bible Study and family), and I want to make sure that my home is company-ready.
This next picture is the entryway to the dining room through the living room (pictured first). Here we have our first glimpse at 3 of my worst hot spot areas (yes, I said 3!)
1) The kitchen table. It's usually cleaned off, but I tend to sort stuff there. It's still there from yesterday.
2) The kitchen counter. Lunches, hot water kettle, coffee mugs, etc. are usually found there.
3) The wine rack behind the kitchen table (which we just use as a shelf. It's now housing my coupon mess.
This is how my house looks today. No holding back. I did no tidying before I wrote this post.
A couple verses I use to motivate myself (usually in the form of sticky notes), are as follows:
"Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for men." Colossians 3:23 (NASB)
"...to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God cannot be dishonored." Titus 2:5 (NASB)
I encourage all of my readers to look those verses up and do whatever you need to in order to be reminded of them - daily.
I've read, heard and been taught that it takes 30 days to make something a habit. That's why I'm trying to make a habit of getting rid of my hot spots! This is something that is on my Spring Goals/ Ambitions list! (Which I have not posted yet; please stay tuned!)
When my husband comes home from work, he does not become frustrated or overwhelmed by hot spots. If he sees them, he generally ignores them until we've had time to ourselves for a few minutes, and then we'll get up and he might ask if there's something he can do to help me out around the house. Occasionally, I will say, "Yes, could you take this or that and put it here or there, please? That would really help me!" But usually I just do it myself. Am I missing an opportunity here? Maybe. But it's not my husband's job or conviction to manage the home - it's mine. Scripture is very clear on this.
Don't get me wrong; Robert has his own jurisdictions for which he is responsible. These are (currently): dishes, recycling and outside work. And yes, I do help him with that stuff when he needs or asks for it. Just because we have our own jurisdictions does not mean that we are cut and dry about it! This home is built on the foundation of the Lord, and we'll do everything we can to continue to build it up in that way - even if it means putting aside our own jurisdictions, priorities or desires to help the other person.
A great example of this is last week, with the yard tidying projects we've been doing. I had purchased a bunch of herbs and veggies to plant (see my previous post on that here: Spring Cleaning Mastermind Notes part 2), and he had a lawn to mow and flower beds to weed. I told him (as we pulled into the driveway from working for about 3 hours at the church at a volunteer service project event), "If you'll get out the weed eater and the edging tool, I'll do that part so you can just mow the front yard and then be done with it." He considered it for a minute and said, "No, I think the more important thing for you to do is to plant your veggies and herbs and stuff. I'll handle the rest of it; it won't take too long."
You see that? Team work! I know that yard work is not my husband's favorite thing to do, and I tried to be helpful and ask if he would prefer for me to help him with it, since it was going to get done that day one way or another. He considered my thoughts, and made the executive decision (as we call them around here), to keep me doing my own thing so that together, we could be more productive. (Many hands make for light work!)
So, to wrap up this post, I'll just say this: Because I have two piano lessons to teach today, Awana tonight, and some other projects I have to accomplish around here, I probably won't get a lot of time to devote to my hot spots. But that's okay. I'll set my timer for 30 minutes that I do have, and get as much done as I can. And I will resolve to be okay with going to bed at whatever state my home is in!
Be sure to stay tuned for my upcoming posts, which will include my Spring Cleaning/ Organizing List, and my Spring Goals/ Ambitions List, and a post about my personal cleaning schedule, cleaning before company and convictions about keeping a clean home. :)
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