I sort of forgot about the kitchen island post until late in the morning today. I took a picture, but I was determined to make improvements. I just wasn’t willing to let it sit like that today. Hooray for determination!
So here’s my before picture:
I didn’t have time to properly clear it all off, so I decided to time myself for 5 minutes while I worked on clearing it, and then take another picture.
The five minutes seemed to fly by, and I was making good progress, so I decided to give myself 1 more minute timed.
After that, I was still super motivated and really wanted to work on it for just 1 more minute (and that’s really all the time I had anyway).
So after 7 minutes (plus a quick wipe of the sponge), here’s how it looked:
I really need to remember that timer thing again. The timer helped me to stay focused and it helped me to work fast! Now, I can get work done on the island and the clutter that is left doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
How are your clutter hot spots doing?
That is some pretty amazing progress for just 7 minutes! It is amazing what can be accomplished with a little focused time and determination.
Thanks! I don’t think I would have the same results if I wasn’t timing myself.
Good job, Elizabeth! Not only does your island look good, I see that your stove and the area by the microwave are pretty empty too.
Thanks for noticing.
I noticed that also. I was going to comment something along the lines of “Not only did you get your island cleaned lots in a few minutes, I see that the other counters are improved as well. Good progress.”
Yay! great job!!
Great job! I’m a big timer fan. The kids do 5 minute pick-ups and I do 5, 7, or whatever time I can manage between kid and baby needs. Racing the timer makes it fun and I stay focused better instead of getting side-tracked and fluttering around. Thanks for the posts. It is motivating for me to see someone struggling through similar home issues and making good progress. Yay you!
Inspiring!
I eliminated a clutter magnet. Thank you for giving me the perfect opening to brag about it.
Roommate and I each had an inbox in a convenient but highly visible spot. Over time they morphed from inboxes to boxes-for-stuff. Recently I had the “brilliant” realization (note sarcastic quotation marks) that if they weren’t being inboxes, why did we have them at all?
Now I’m wondering what else I might have that is a clutter magnet. (Other than my roommate, that is.)
Great job! I need to do more of that! I do realize, however, that for me there are some clutter magnets that should be kept. Like the floor.
Don’t forget about the kids. Clutter magnets or not, you should probably keep them also.
Yay! Great job on keeping up the momentum on the counters. They are a magnet for clutter, are they not?!?!
I am still going crazy with the endless clean clothing that makes its way onto the “formal” dining room table (aka, the one hardly used). I CANNOT seem to keep this table clear and it drives me insane!!!! I need to grab my timer, my Iphone, put on some Pandora with energizing music, and get to my 7 minutes! Thanks for the push!!!
I know that insane-because-I-can’t-keep-it-clear feeling! Energizing music helps me, too!
I put a shelf unit in my laundry room with baskets, one for each of my kids and one for me/linen closet. I just fold the laundry right out of the dryer and put it in the baskets. The older ones put their own away.
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