Monday Monday

Monday is my day to reset for the week and get my ducks in a row - make some plans for health and home, and how I will step up for the Natural Living Challenge. 

Agenda this week:

1. Read "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning"

2. Order plans for the week

3. Self-care

1. Read "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning":

I am just starting this book by Margareta Magnusson (2018), subtitled How to free yourself and your family from a lifetime of clutter. This is just what it sounds like, a process for tidying up before you die. The goal is to lessen the chaos for those who are left behind (and also for ourselves right now).

"Life will become more pleasant and comfortable if we get rid of some of the abundance."

Journal: Last week I cleared out some books and some jackets, and put the comforter away. This week I'm working on Wade's stack of clothes and the bedroom closet - this is not MY work, but it needs to be done!

2. Order plans for the week: 

One of my core values is to cultivate the spiritual quality of Order, practicing habits of self-regulation and creative energy, instead of acting on impulse, or giving in to mental overwhelm.

This goes right along with my Balance and Intentionality focus.

My Order Plan has 2 parts:

• Morning order: At about 9:15, say "10 Things!", and get up to fill the dishwasher, take out the trash, etc. and while I do that I also count out 10 things to put away.
• Daily choice: Later, when I do my house cleaning task, I'll choose one space to really sort through. 

This week my attention will be in our laundry room: The shelves are packet too tightly to function or find anything needed. This week I plan to remove about half of what's up there and give it away or store it in the shed... which means  I'll also need to sort out the shed a bit!

3. Self-care:

It's an extraordinary time, with my partner in the hospital and myself sick with a cold. A friend asked me yesterday how will I care for myself while caring for my recovering husband? My plan is to stick solidly to the habits I've built - exercising, gardening, and plenty of time for writing. And a focus on building in more water and better snacks.

But I can already feel it tilting a bit. How can I make this easier? 

• Snacks: Get my favorite hummus, fig bars, cottage cheese, sweet yogurt, egg salad, and roasted almonds.
• Smoothies: Perfect my smoothie recipe.
• Remember to have tea.
• Plan and schedule my own lunches and dinners.
• Escape to the garden, to walk with a friend, or to sit in the hot tub at least once a day.