The One Thing Principle

Earlier this week I found a link about the One Thing Principle on Handmade Homeschool.  In reading the excerpt Sarah shared I immediately followed this link to read more.  Basically, if you take one thing/topic/project/etc and give it full attention you will feel at thought you've accomplished more than you will if you've attempted to do several things.  The example that was shared was with regarding to homeschooling, but the truth is this can be applied to anything in your life.  By doing less you actually do more!

Many days I have ended feeling like I've not accomplished what I wanted to--this can be with regards to homeschooling or housekeeping or project completing.  I decided to consciously do it the rest of the week.  Each day I've chosen one thing that we were going to do and do it well!  I have to say that in doing so I have felt accomplished and more things have been done.

I'm hoping to be more mindful of this each day.  Especially today as there seems to be sooooooo many things that need to get done.  :D

Have a great Friday!

Photo found here.

Order, Organization, Routine, Etc.

In my attempt to Do Less and clean more things off my "plate" and create a space that is sheltering for my soul, I am beginning a month of cleaning on 'one layer deeper'. My BFF and I often joke about finding things we thought had long been disposed of when we clean "one layer too deep." However, I'm finding that I need to clean on this level so that I can actually have things in order. So my home can breathe!

I'm doing way too much. I'm feeling very emotionally drained. I need a bit more organization of what we do have. I also need to make some deep purges for myself and with my family. We've gotten rid of (passed long, donated, recycled, thrown away) a lot, seriously. But even after all of that, there is still a lot left to be removed in addition to all the clutter that piles up on a day to day basis. (Oh, the piles!) I often feel like I'm losing my mind.

I read an article on Simple Mom entitled The Clutter You Can't See. It talked about relationship clutter, time clutter, body clutter & mind clutter. Areas of our lives where others don't always see the piles of mess we have but that are cluttered nonetheless. This clutter is sometimes harder to remove and adds to the overall pressure in our lives. There were some good suggestions given for how to de-clutter these areas. I totally see that my life has been full of clutter and I am SO ready to de-clutter!!!

I've been working on coming up with a routine for us that is flexible but consistent so that the things the must get done--can and the things that need to happen--will! On paper it looks so easy--translating it into real life is more challenging. I'm including the children more and they have daily chores that they must do to contribute to the good of our home. They've gotten to help out all along, but now I've made it a daily thing as opposed to a random activity.

Just the other evening I read a an article in a parenting magazine about how to organize children's spaces. I have to say I've read so many of these, looking for something cute & quick to help us get organized. All these articles are basically the same. I'm now learning that just like anything else that is worth getting/learning/doing/having--this is going to take time as well. And, something else that I'm seeing is that I do have time. Time is what I have.

So, how do I eat this elephant since I'm not a big fan of elephant meat? One bit at a time, with tipping sauce and some good company, baby! ;-) Anyone want to join me??

For the next month I will be taking my time de-cluttering, putting a little more order in our lives, getting in the flow of a more natural routine and being thankful for the time that I have to do so.

I found the picture at the top at: Apartment Therapy.

8 Things

This week, in keeping with the Do Less Revolution, the 8 Things list is of my guiding values. I have to say that in reading the post on Magpie Girl, I realized that what I actually value isn't what is guiding my life on a day-to-day way. I mean, I'm definitely making life changes, little by little, but I haven't put down on paper what it is that I truly value.

I still see this as a work in progress that will need reviewing and tending to. This is what I see right at this moment. As I'm seeking to by authentic and true to who I am and who I'm becoming (even more of ME), I know that this list will evolve and become more accurate.




8 Things: Guiding Values
(random order)
1. Creativity
2. Truth
3. Love
4. Family relationships & friendship
5. Authenticity
6. Simplicity
7. Harmony
8. Freedom

In typing these out, it now gives me something else to evaluate the activities of my day/life. I so want to live meaningfully and have a positive impact on those around me. I want to slow down and really be present (the whole mindfulness thing comes to mind here)! I want to put away the fear and live with my heart wide-open.

8 Things: I Need Less Of

so I couldn't resist especially since today's 8 Things have to do with the whole 'doing less' revolution.

8 Things I need less of:

1. stress--most of this, unfortunately, is self-given. yeah, i have a lot of 'normal' everyday kind of stress: kids fussing & screaming, too much to get done, running late, etc. but in looking at the stresses of my life there is enough that i am placing upon myself. as much as i'd like to say they or he or she it's really me. i've got to value myself more than this. i am choosing not to accept it from myself any more.

2. perfection--one of my stresses. in attempting to make things 'perfect' in my world i place a lot of pressure on myself. the need for deadlines. the lack of sleep i get because i'm either trying to complete tasks or feeling down about not completing them.

3. fear--i don't have a lot of fears. but the ones i have are big ones. the fear of being alone. the fear of being found out--that i'm not what i seem to be. i mean, i am, who i am but not always who i'm supposed to be. fear of being a disappointment to those who matter. again, i'm working diligently on these because i'm learning that those who matter really want to see me--not the image (see pledge of authenticity).

4. clutter--everywhere i look in my house is clutter. ok, this isn't all true. i've spent the last few days cleaning my dining room, bathroom and kitchen and the girls' room. so THOSE spaces are mostly de-cluttered. however the rest of my house is full of clutter. i'd like to move to getting rid of what doesn't have a place. whether it's paper, clothing, books, toys, etc. i really do need less of this in my life!

5. stuff--this is slightly different than clutter to me. it can become clutter when it doesn't have a place but the bottom line is we just have way more than we'll ever use. as a teacher i used to collect and save everything. teaching in public school where resources were quite limited, i learned to create things from leftovers and got into the very bad habit of thinking i'd use something later. it just turned into MORE stuff and clutter around my house. i've given away most everything related to teaching only keeping a bookshelf full of what i'll actually use with my kids now that we're homeschooling. i've gotten into a good habit with clothing! i immediately give away outgrown clothes!! we've even stopped shopping for more than necessities so as to not add to the amount of stuff (the grandparents send enough things to the house for the kids, so my dh & i don't need to add to it! wink, wink!).

6. chores--i really have too much to do. i mean, looking at my list from the other day (at least what i shared there), most of these things are necessities. like laundry and washing dishes, and cooking for the kids and bathing them and cleaning up around the house. i am starting to include them in chores. well, i've always included them, but their "help" hasn't really been help--it's actually been MORE work for me. now that they're starting to be more 'helpful' i guess i need to allow them to do what they can. but somehow this feels like more chores for me--overseeing, instructing, demonstrating, reminding, re-doing, etc. (screaming to no one in particular) WHERE DOES IT END????? (deep sigh)

7. worrying--i can usually keep things in perspective but there are times, now that i'm a mother, that my thought simply run wild!! now, some of my worrying is based in reality (past, first-hand experiences) but a lot of my really big worrying fits are not. i believe that this is in my genes and i'm seeking to create better habits of thinking and speaking to myself.

8. BS--yeah, i still have to deal with some of this....and i just have to say. i need even less!!

if you'd like to join Magpie Girl in 8 Things click here.

Do Less

yes, yes, much easier said than done.

and depending upon how i read this it could be "do less" (less meaning not more) or "do les" (my nickname les short for leslie). hey, i'm already liking this 'revolution!'

so in my blog reading i've stumbled across another really good one: Magpie Girl. it's amazing to me just how many awesome things are out there just waiting for me to come across them. the movement started on this site is simply to do less. i find myself always, no ALWAYS, feeling like no matter how much i do there is still a TON, MOUND, continuous piling heap of things on my 'to do list.'

[side bar: awhile back i come across an idea of writing a 'to be' list instead. i must say that has worked...but unfortunately with all that's been going on in my life i've forgotten it and gotten back into this funky 'to do' list thing again.]

in reading more about this whole thing again, it's prompted me to start anew. the first suggestion she gives is to write a 'have done' list just to get a grasp as to what you've actually done. so, i've taken some time to write my list...i will share the highlights of Wednesday:

washed the dishes
washed three loads of clothes
hung up two load of laundry to dry
put one load in dryer
carried baskets of clothes upstairs
folded clothes in baskets
asked children to put their clothes away
reminded children to put their clothes away
checked to make sure clothes were put away
swept floors
put recycling out for pick-up
empty waste baskets
washed kitchen floor
washed bathroom floor
fixed breakfast for children
played songs that children are learning
read children Bible stories
straighten up living room
ironed my clothes for school
assist girls in cleaning up their room
assist son in cleaning up his room
checked email (all accounts)
responded to some foolishness (email)
read a book to my son
took son to potty (can't remember how many times today)
reviewed phonics lesson with the girls
fed the dogs
watered the plants
added bird seed to the bird feeder
swept off the front porch
prepared dinner (which we eat at lunch time)
cleaned up kitchen
read my notes for class
took a shower
did my hair
got dressed ;-)
reorganized bookshelf in classroom
laughed
read the girls another two chapters in Charlotte's Web
put kids down for a nap
asked them to get back in bed and take nap
walked son back to his room to take his nap (smile)
played with the dogs
played a game with kids (whack-a-mole)
listened to my children tell me about their dreams
emails photos to a friend
blogged
checked homeschool group website & posted comments
read a few more blogs
attended my A&P class
saw a client for a massage therapy session

what's crazy is that after reading all of this again, there are still several things i didn't include. and there are EVEN MORE things that I wanted to get accomplished. i guess in looking at things this way i now question why i would even think that i should be able to accomplish anymore.

so back to this whole 'do less revolution.' the idea is to start acknowledging what i do already. decided what things are most important (that's the task for this week) and figure out what i can let go of. i have to say that there are things i'd just like to do simply because i enjoy them. like knitting and sewing and painting and creating and being outside with the kids and teaching them new things.

i've joined this revolution to get back to...do simple. do important. do less. do les (that's me!).

i'm now starting on this week's task of dividing this 'have done' list into three categories: 1) Things that are absolute essentials. (eating, bathing, sleeping, etc.) 2) Things that feed me/give me good energy. 3) Things that drain me/give me bad energy. To read more about this step click here.

so. i'm off to divide my complete list. will keep you dated on my progress as i learn to better "do less!"

[foot note: Magpie Girl's blog is full of other great things. i'm reading about the Soultribe--which is my next thing (auntie, you'll like this too!!), she also has '8 things' which is something else i want to join in too. but first i need to get my list under control so i'm not doing to much! wink, wink]