Home Organization - Edited by Laura Wheeler

Moving up to Improvement and Beautification

 After you have started to see the effect of creating new habits, and have learned how to do fast cleanups and feel that the dumpster is a GOOD thing, and after those habits have been occuring long enough to form some nice routines, you may find that the house gets cleaned so fast that there are a few minutes more to do something else!

Sometimes we look around at cleanup time, and find that the basic chores which we have scheduled in are already done. Things did not get dirty, or there is so little to do that it is just a second or two of pick up.

When that happens, you can start a list of small long term tasks to do, or big fix up things that can be done instead of marathon tasks.

Instead of cleaning up the closet that had been neglected for years, you find that the closet is clean, and so are the other major messes. So you can work on painting a room in that time instead.

When you go to do the 5 minute quick attacks and it takes only 1 minute, then you can oil a couple of squeaky hinges instead. Or tighten the doorknobs - for some reason hinges and doorknobs are a frequent issue in our home! All those little hands!

Instead of spending your money on a new laundry hamper to contain the mess in the laundry room, or on heavy duty cleaner to finally tackle the grease by the back of the stove, if you find that those things no longer need done because the daily routine prevents them getting bad, you can spend a little money on a decorative item. We found that if there was a surface in the livingroom that had nothing on it, the kids would fill it. So the top of the piano, the top of the half height shelves beside the entryway, and the top of the storage cabinet, all needed something pretty there instead. That reminded the kids that there was a reason to keep it cleared off. But we could not afford to do that when there were still other items that took the resources. Now that things stay cleaner, we have the time, and a few more resources, to do some decorating and repairing.

Long term, this helps you take more pride in your home, and if you involve the kids in it, it can help them see that keeping it clean is more important.

Using this guideline, your home can gradually, over time, become better and better.

Lay the structure though, and take care of the most important things first, before you begin long term home improvements. This is a natural step that you grow into if you keep making progress. You will know when you are there. One day you will look around and wonder what you are supposed to do next, because the scheduled time for cleaning has not been filled. And certainly there is no rule that says it cannot get less, it is just that if you choose to use that time for more improvements, there is something you can do to help brighten things even more. When that day happens that you look for a big cleanup task to do and cannot find one, or that your 5 minute room rescue does not take more than a few seconds, it is time to make a list. Add to it every time you think of a small task that can be added. A little planning and a list means that you can quickly fill those bits of time with something meaningful that keeps you motivated to keep your home improving.

1. Building Life Changing Habits

2. Decluttering and Doing 5 Minute Swift Attacks

3. Creating Lasting Routines for You and Your Family

4. Moving up to Improvement and Beautification