Declutter the mind

Enjoy quiet time daily, and list your thoughts.

Well, I started the declutter project in June and by July I had stopped.  Then I started again in August, and before I knew it -  I had stopped again.  September and October passed with no focus, and now it is mid-November!  I have been so proud of myself with weight loss and dieting, so I couldn't figure out why this area was so hard to master.  It is funny, since I was such a neat person growing up.

I had given myself motivation. I promised myself that I would decorate the space really cute.  However, I could not seem to stay motivated.  One of the tips in my initial blog about this subject was, "If this step is hard, then spend some more time working on your feelings."  So, step one should have been to declutter the mind!  I am learning that just like cleaning the home, clearing the mind should be a daily task. Wow, I had an aha moment.

One of the things that I did this summer that was really helpful, was to spend 15 minutes being quiet as soon as I woke up.  I would go outside and enjoy the clouds passing.  However with the Fall season, my mornings were busier.  Between getting ready and running the kid(s) to school, sometimes I didn't have 15 minutes.

To master the clearing of the mind step this week, I decided to play spa-like music (Pandora artist station - "Zen Garden").  After the first day, I felt a little calmer but I was also very angry.  I could not explain why I was so angry - no PMS!   The second day, I began the music and I started to cry.  I cried for a few minutes. 

Before this music journey, I thought that I was okay.  Then, I started writing down all the things that were irritating me.  After releasing all my thoughts I actually felt better.  I know that they would not be instantly fixed, but I literally felt like a weight was lifted.  Thankful for my faith, and believing that "trouble don't last always."  I was thanking God each day, but I wasn't listening each day.  I was too busy, just running in circles.

So for the next 28 days (December 8th), I am going to start my day with 15 minutes of quiet time.  I will include a note pad to jot down my thoughts.  I will put decluttering the space on hold for now, as I master step one.  

Thanks,
Fanuppa
www.fanuppasoaps.com

Good All-Purpose Cleaner

I just wanted to share a quick all-purpose homemade cleaner that you can quickly make.  It calls for just two ingredients:

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

• Dawn dishwashing liquid
• Vinegar

Pour equal portions of Dawn dishwashing liquid and vinegar in a spray bottle. 

I found all 3 of these items at Dollar Tree!  It just melts dirt away.  Let it soak for about 20 minutes for really dirty spots.  It works great on cleaning glass, shower, stove top, counters ...  It is not soapy surprisingly.  It just cuts the grease and dirt.  The great thing for me is no breathing problems from cleaning. 

I recently joined some online liquid soap groups so I can learn how to make my own liquid soap.  My next step is to try this with some bar soap that has been diluted with water.  I haven't tried it with other brands, but update me if you do.  Have fun cleaning.

Thanks,
Fanuppa Soaps

De-clutter - Reset!

The focus last month became my new diet, so the declutter project slowly became inactive!  Now that the diet is becoming more routine, I should be able to give the decluttering more focus.  Decluttering is similar to dropping weight.  They both involve getting rid of stuff you don't want.

I also think that declutteriing should be part of a daily home cleaning routine.  So I am going to start my Fly Lady cleaning plan again, and get this done.  I liked the 28 day challenge for weight loss.  So I am going to apply it to the declutter project.  I am pushing reset!

Fly Lady is a fun plan.  You start by doing some "baby steps" daily, and before you know it your house is clean and organized.  Baby steps include putting on shoes and keeping a shiny sink.  I also like watching the Jen videos on cleaning and organizing.  Yes, I am pushing reset.

Declutter Week 2

STILL DIGGING!
Well, I stayed with the goal to spend 5 minutes each day on the area.  It is hard to say no to 5 minutes, so I didn't.  Weekends can be challenging, so I did 15 minutes last Friday to cover for the weekend.  I can actually see part of the desk now.  At this rate, it may be 3 more weeks!  That is fine (better than not focusing on it).  The fact is that progress is being made.  I feel better, and my vision is focused on how the space will look when I get to decorate it!  My decorating inspiration is the desk in this article.

Wish everyone happy cleaning and de-cluttering, and I will update you next week.

Note:  Still researching the laundry/utility soap bar idea.  Many are very sensitive to laundry detergent, so they need a good base bar to make their own detergent or to remove stains.  

Declutter

WHY WE CLUTTER? Before we discuss decluttering, let's step back and ask ourselves why we are cluttering?  There is usually something that has you stressed or depressed.  The loss of a job or a loved one can really change how you feel about everything.  The first step in decluttering is to deal with those emotions.  Talk with a friend, family, and/or counselor, and work through those feelings.

MOTIVATION!  The next step in decluttering is to find something that motivates you to dig through that pile of junk. Sorry, your wonderful things!  For me, I have a picture of what the area will look like after I remove the items and get a chance to decorate.  Decorating is my motivation.  I can shop and make the area pretty!  Maybe you have lost something and know it is in the pile. Or maybe set a deadline and throw a party to motivate yourself.  If this step is hard, then spend some more time working on your feelings.

DIG IN!  Okay, you can do it.  We will begin with baby steps.  Today spend 5 minutes on the pile. As you pick up an item it should go into one of these categories:  HOME (where in the home should it be? Hang the coat in the closet!), GIVE AWAY (start a donation bag to Goodwill or some site-put in your vehicle before your change your mind or forget), or TRASH (you can do it, think of your motivation).  Do the 5 minutes each day, and hopefully we will see some progress by next Thursday.

 I remember years ago, my grandmother and her sister getting the family together to clean my great-grandmother's house one Saturday.  It was pretty horrible.  I look back and realize that she was a mother and wife, and the loss of her husband must have caused her great pain.  I am sure aging was a factor too, and the issue possibly was an early stage of Alzheimer that we didn't know about yet.

We will spend a few weeks talking about decluttering, then we will get to the fun part which is decorating!  Keep the faith, my brother, my sister...hold on.

(I am looking forward to offering an all-purpose house cleaning soap bar soon!  You can find our products here.)