Afraid of Running Out

Do you ever find yourself in a quandary over doing the projects on your list, because somewhere in your subconscious, you are afraid of running out of things to do?  I know I get that way.  I look around me, and there is no end of things to do, and yet I panic.  What if I were to run out?  What would I do then?  *breathing in a paper sack* 

The fear can be overwhelming, but so can the ridiculousness of the situation.  This morning I was talking to a gal, who brought up this very point.  She was asking how one is to stay motivated when it seems that the work will never be done and yet you are fearful of running out.  My first suggestion was to make a bucket list.  She started laughing, and said, "I think it would take about a 5 gallon bucket to hold my list!  By the way, where did that term come from?"  I told her that I thought it was a list of things you wanted to do before you died.  She thought about that for a moment, then said, "In that case, I will never run out of things to do."

I felt like her response was key.  So often we are absorbed by what we see, we forget to dream and we forget the dreams we have already had.  We forget that if we fulfil one dream, there will be another one, ready and waiting to take it's place.  If we finish one project, we will find another one to do.  It is like the kitchen floor:  Sweeping the floor today will not make it disappear.  It will still be there tomorrow.  It will need swept again tomorrow, and if your house is anything like mine, it will need scrubbed too.  There will never be an end of things to be done!  (I know, that can be good news or bad news, depending on your mood.) 

I told her that me favorite way to keep moving was to come at the situation form a new direction.  That is the reason for "Today's Inspiration", found at the top of the page.  It is one way to come at things, from a new perspective, and at the end of the day, you will know that you got at least one 'big' thing done.  One thing that will make a difference, even if the kitchen floor does need to be swept again.  again.  again.  again.

Is there an echo in here?

Oh, and she decided that her 'big' thing was to fill up the scrub bucket with water once a day, and use it for whatever.  Be it a shelf in her new home that has not been scrubbed in 40 years or the kitchen floor.  It really didn't matter what.  The point was to do it.  To be able to say that it was done!

Getting Started with an In and Out System

An In and Out System is designed for handling projects, not chores.  To make one you will need a box or basket of some sort.  Even a large paper bag will do.  Sticky notes and scrap paper.

For a long time, I have haphazardly used this dollar store dish pan:

It has worked, but do to its size, things tend to get lost in the bottom of it.  For this reason, I decided to replace it with this basket, which I found at a second hand store:

Since it is much smaller, I have to deal with what I put in it more often.

Once you have your container, gather up your projects that need to be done, but will take more than two minutes to do.  Anything that takes less than two minutes, do!  Write today's date on a sticky note and stick it to the project.  If the project is big and/or already has a home, like a scrapbook or quilt, write the project on a piece of paper--one project, one page--with today's date at the top, and drop it in. 

Why today's date?  So you will know how long that project has been in the box!

Next, look around for non-gatherable projects, like painting walls, and add them to your box, using the scrap paper.  Remember to date it.

Now, when you have your chores done, or a bit of time for a project, you will have a box of them waiting for you.  It is recommended to work from the top down, so as you are setting up your box, you may want to sort things into the order you most want to get them done.  When a new project comes in, it goes on the top of the pile.

When a project is finished, it will be gone from the box, hence, no Out box.  If the project was written on a piece of paper, toss it when you are finished!

If you start on a project, but are unable to complete it, cross of the old date, and write today's date on it.  I like to cross of the old date in such a way that it can still be read.  This way I know how long it took and how often I worked on it.

* * * * *

How I am Using My In and Out System:

Years ago, when I used this system before, I had every project in my house listed.  We moved before some of them were completed, and, I hate to admit this, but several of those projects are still in boxes.  I threw out the project from my old In box several years ago, because they were just a reminder of things not done, that I didn't have time for.

Because I do not want the box to overwhelm me--I know my tendency to run and hide--I am only working with one room at a time.  Today, I went through the kitchen, gathering projects and getting things done.  I collected, until the basket was full.  Then I cleaned the surfaces thoroughly that I had cleared.

Is everything in the kitchen accounted for?  No.  I decided ahead of time where I was starting and what the stopping point would be.  For me, the stopping point was when the basket was full.  If I had been limited by time, then a timer would have told me when to quit gathering, giving myself five minutes to wipe down surfaces and finish up.

I decided, in order to keep my In box from becoming a dumping ground, to set up a second basket, where mail and such could be put until it was time to deal with it.   Mail is on the left and my In box is on the right:

In and Out

Years ago, I read an organizational book that was aimed at those who worked in offices, to help them tackle the projects that fell outside of thier daily routine.  What it suggested was to date each project that came in with today's date, and place it in an 'In' box.  Then, in free time, work on the top project, doing as much as possible in the time available.  The author also said that any job/project that could be done in 2 minutes or less should never be put in the In box.  Just get it done!

This idea of an In box, and it's counter part, an Out box, really appealed to me, so I began using one for the mail and such.  It was great for all paper things, but it didn't work so well for bigger projects.  This is where I had to get creative, and come up with a way to make it work.  I began using scrap paper, such as the print outs from the fax machine, to write projects on.  One project per piece of paper.   This way, like the box of cards, I never had more than one project to look at at a time.  It worked really well.  Then we moved, and I started a business.  Everything in my life had changed, and any unfinished projects were in boxes, along with my In box.

Recently, I have been working to reorganize all areas of my life, and am seriously considering starting an In box again.  There are so many projects to get done.  When I look around my home and yard, I am overwhelmed.   I think an In box for the projects would really help, because my present method of leaving them out, in site, is not working.  They all look like clutter, and when I work on decluttering, I don't know how to handle them.  They would be useful and lovely, if they were finished. 

What are your thoughts?

done list

It is just after 4 pm, and I have done very little today.  I feel lousy.  It is my own fault, but I guess it is also one of those live and learn moments.  Here is what I have done so far today:

1. Made hubbies breakfast and lunch.
2. Got the kids going.
3. Redesigned this site.
4. Wrote a couple of emails.
5. Looked at the garden, decided it was too muddy to work in. 
6. Talked to my mom, on the phone. 
7. Played computer games.
8. Answered a survey.

Great list, right?  LOL.  I hate being unmotivated, so I am going to make myself do something!  Ugh! 

My goal is to complete at least 10 things before 5 PM today.

1.  Picked up the blocks in the hallway that my toddler dumped out.  It was the most obvious thing to do.
2. Hung a load of laundry on the line.
3. Made bed.
4. served the kids a snack and heard the worst song I thing I have ever heard.  Does that count?  Okay, I'll go for 11 things.
5. Put my dough mixer away. 
6. Took extra groceries to the pantry.
7. Cleaned up the glue the little boys spilt.
8. Cleaned the stove top.
9. Put away/threw away 10 things.
10. Listened to all the damage my dog did to the neighbors dog, when they didn't keep the thing on a leash... Don't want your dog eaten?  Keep it out of other people's yard! Okay, enough of that rant.  I know, doesn't count, I'll go for 12.
11. Started tonight's supper.
12. Began marinating tomorrow's supper.
13. Looked up the address and requirements for Locks of Love.

And that is it for now. 

Doggy Meatloaf Recipe

10 pound hamburger
2 quarts rolled oats
1 quart calf replacement milk (mixed)
1 dozen eggs, soft boiled
1 head garlic, minced
juice of one lemon

Soak oats in milk while eggs boil. Mix all ingredients very well, and make into meat balls. Flash freeze on wax paper lined cookie sheets.

I used my mixer, small batches, to get it all blended together. Then I used my ice cream scooper to make the meatballs. When they are frozen, I will put them in a zip lock bag to keep. It will allow me to pull out a couple as I need them.

done list

1. breakfast
2. kitchen cleaned
3. seller of dry calf milk located
4. recipes found for fattening dog
5. three loads worth laundry folded and put away
6. learned how to add videos to blogspot
7. lunch made and supper planned
8. grocery shopping
9. dog supplements and dewormer gotten
10. dogs given their deworming tablet
11. bed made
12. made sure kids chores are done
13. had kids each pick up and put away 20 things
14. found recipe for making yogurt.  The vet suggested it for helping to heal the dogs digestive track.  I am going to make it with the calf milk.
15. Made raw meatloaf for the dog, and have half of it freezing.  The other half will have to wait.
16. Supper

I think I am done for today!

Mario Brothers Bedroom

Mario Brothers Bedroom

There are so many places in life where doing what you know can put you ahead of the game. Lately, I have been working in the garden, trying to get it ready to plant, despite the rain. I have been writing, but have not taken time to backlink.

Truly, I think backlinking is more important than the writing itself, but it is not as much fun. Today I am taking time to improve the standing of this article on creating a Super Mario Brothers themed bedroom.