Tuesday becomes Monday

Tuesday is the new Monday because of our extended weekend: This 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:

1. Read "How to Keep House While Drowning"

2. Giving Each Thing a Home

3. Self-care

1. Read "How to Keep House While Drowning":

I got this little book by KC Davis (2020) from the library a couple of years ago and thought I'd like to review it this month. Her philosophy is "You don't exist to serve your space; your space exists to serve you. ... There is a big difference between being on a journey of worthiness and being on a journey of care."

Chapter 6 is Care tasks are functional. She means that house tasks are functional and the house is meant to care for us, rather than us caring for the house; so first I need to discover the function, isolating it from the moral and judgmental reasons. This releases me from doing it to look good, and instead I am doing it to care for my needs. 

"Clean as you go" is a good concept, but in real life, it doesn't always work, because it fragments the creative process. My own practice is to gather all the parts of a project in a box, do the project, and then put the supplies away "later". The problem for me is when later never comes, or the project is never finished, and more supplies get dumped on top of the first set.

It might be better for me to have an "End of Day Reset" habit, to sort out all the supplies and either put them away or replenish them. I need to find the way that is enjoyable for me, so it doesn't become a barrier to doing it. "In the end, the approach that you are motivated to do and enjoy doing is the most 'efficient', because you are actually doing it, and not avoiding it."

This totally explains why I like to load dishes directly in to the dishwasher, and W likes to rinse and stack them in the sink- our processes indicate what we find enjoyable.

2. Giving Each Thing a Home:

My house care theme for the month is Basic Care and Zen Order. This means do the basics each week (sweeping, dusting, etc.) and find a zen balance of order that feels good. I have asked myself "Why am I holding on to so much stuff - how can I make letting go super easy? How can I make sorting fun again?"

My New Order Plan:

1. Simplicity Time: Each day before my nap take 10 minutes to tidy one area or box; gather all Homeless Items on the kitchen table.
2. Reset Time: Each afternoon, find homes for homeless items and craft supplies - make sure to leave abundant roominess!

This week I plan to:

• Gather all the cardboard boxes and store in the shed or recycle.
• Sort and simplify the paint supplies boxes
• Simplify the studio paint supply shelf and make it a self-help station.
• Sort and put away old craft projects
• Sort big toys in the studio and under the table and donate some

3. Self-care:

I need some gentle self-talk around self-care too. As I age, and my body thickens and weakens, I feel myself being pretty hard on myself.

I've got a solid habit for daily exercise with my Stand Strong routine, and good mental health habits - gardening, and plenty of time for writing. Now if I could only regulate my intake of water and better snacks. Ideas:

• Snacks: Get my favorite hummus /cottage cheese / avocado on whole grain crackers, sweet yogurt, fig bars, and roasted almonds.
• Build in 3 water breaks each day.
• Plan better lunches: Quiche or tuna / egg salad / on a thin whole wheat I like.