My Room

I'm lucky to have a room to call mine; this small room (which is just called My Room) is where I spend most of my alone time - where I write every morning, and return to throughout the day to recenter and catch my breath.

A room of my own has always been essential for me, because I am an introvert. I have always needed a room with a closed door, and plenty of quiet time to be alone in it - time to read, collect things, make up stories, become an expert at something, listen to rock & roll, or browse the internet. This is not passive or wasted time; I am intensely focused on filling myself up with creative energy and juicy ideas, and the harmony and balance I need to succeed.

My Room is pretty packed with stuff; it's where I store my computer, my clothes, most of my books, my sewing machine and ironing board, and my photo albums and memorabilia. It feels cramped and cluttered, even though it's pretty tidy. This final week of January I will devote to creating some order and peace in here.

Agenda today:

1. Read "One Year to an Organized Life"

2. Clean and clear My Room

3. Simple steps for health

1. Read "One Year to an Organized Life":

I'm enjoying this book by Regina Leeds (2008) so much that I ordered my own copy. The subtitle promises I will get "Completely Organized for Good"! While I don't consider myself to be hopelessly disorganized, I have identified several areas that need improvement.

I'm reading a section called Bedroom Questions, but I've decided to focus on my Office-Dressing-Sewing Room (which is just called My Room), where I spend most of my alone time, and which I'd like to make into a more peaceful sanctuary.

The questions that I ask are:

• What pleases me about this room, and what do I not like?
• Which furniture has meaning for me, and which might I like to replace? What could be reclaimed, refinished, repaired?
• Are my clothes in order? What will I unearth in the closet?
• Do I still need all the books I own, or can I eliminate some of them?

2. Clean and clear My Room:
Every year in January I kick off a month of deep cleaning. My house has mold-related issues that are best done before we get any deeper into winter. I take it one room at a time, and this week I'll clean in My Room. Extra chores this week:

• Clean and dust the dresser, desk, shelves, and bookcases. 
• Top shelf: Clear everything off and scrub the mildew off the wall with detergent and warm water, then use a solution of ¼-cup bleach in 1-quart water. Wait 20 minutes, apply Borax solution and do not rinse.
• Pull everything out of the closet and discover what I have back there!
• Speed eliminate books, clothes, odds and ends.
• Make a plan to refinish the oak desk this summer.
• Update my bulletin board, walls, and knickknacks.

3. Simple steps for health:

This year I've decided to review and work at the Simple Steps model for improving my self-care. I've been choosing one new habit each week to build and monitor. This week my intention is to have a near perfect practice of my four habits to date:

1. Drink 60 oz. of water most days.
2. Eat 2 cups of vegetables every day, and plan vegetable preparation into my routine
3. Walk an average of 3000 steps a day each week
4. Take better care of my teeth - floss every day, and brush more often.