Eating the Elephant–Volume 4

This week was pretty disappointing as I didn’t get anything done in the house and it all looks like a war zone. I had friends in town this week so we went out to eat a couple of nights and I got food poisoning so wasn’t able to catch up on the chores. However, I’ll keep plugging along.

Goal–Have a Clean Kitchen
There are about two loads of dishes waiting to be done and the counters need to be washed off.

Progress

• Empty the dishwasher and actually put the dishes away when it is finished–I did this most of the week, but fell down at the end of the week.
• As dishes become dirty, load them in the dishwasher and start it when it is full.–Better–but not perfect.
• Wipe up spills as they happen–I didn’t do a good job of this..
• Throw garbage away as it happens versus letting the empty boxes and cans sit on the counter.–It seems like everyone else was bad at this as they didn’t put a garbage bag in the can and just let it sit there.

Elephant Ears for the Week–I’m going to leave the same elephant ears as they are not ingrained yet.

• Empty the dishwasher and actually put the dishes away when it is finished
• As dishes become dirty, load them in the dishwasher and start it when it is full.
• Wipe up spills as they happen
• Throw garbage away as it happens versus letting the empty boxes and cans sit on the counter

Goal–Always have clothes ready to wear in the morning

Progress

• Put clothes away as soon as the dryer is done–I’m exploring whether this really works for me or if its’ better to put them in the hamper and take it upstairs at one time.
• Mend clothes when buttons fall off etc, instead of sitting them aside to do something with later–Didn’t do this.
• Put clothes away after work (hamper, hang up jackets, take jewelry off, etc.)–Was pretty good about putting things in the hamper, but I still need practice.

Elephant Ears–I’m going to keep the same ones this week as I didn’t do a stellar job.

• Put clothes away as soon as the dryer is done
• Mend clothes when buttons fall off etc, instead of sitting them aside to do something with later
• Put clothes away after work (hamper, hang up jackets, take jewelry off, etc.)

Goal–Clean Living Room

I’m in the process of doing a deep clean on the living room, so some of these are getting taken care of that.

Progress

• Carry dishes into the kitchen when you are done with them–better–but not perfect
• Carry the kids belongings up to their room instead of waiting for them to do it–I left Cat’s things sitting. I’m getting really resentful about having to continually put other people’s things away.
• Put shoes away instead of kicking them off on the floor–Total loser on this one.
• Throw papers and other trash away instead of piling it up–Not a total loser, but I didn’t do a great job on this one.
• Go through mail once a week–I did go through the mail this week and didn’t let it pile up.

Elephant Ears–Not enough progress to justify moving on to new habits.

• Carry dishes into the kitchen when you are done with them
• Carry the kids belongings up to their room instead of waiting for them to do it
• Put shoes away instead of kicking them off on the floor
• Throw papers and other trash away instead of piling it up
• Go through mail once a week

Goal–Clean Bathroom

I made less progress in keeping the bathroom clean than in any other area. I’m still awful about throwing my clothes down and not in the hamper and at putting things away.

Progress

• Refill the toilet paper as soon as it is empty–I did this one and did carry morein from the bathroom.
• Put clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor–Loserville on this one
• Put away bottles, jars, etc.–I did an okay job on this one, but not stellar.
• Don’t leave books, magazines, etc. in the bathroom–Loserville

Elephant Ears

• Refill the toilet paper as soon as it is empty
• Put clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor
• Put away bottles, jars, etc.
• Don’t leave books, magazines, etc. in the bathroom

Goal–Clean Family Room

Progress

• Don’t leave my computer bag sitting down stairs. Put it and all the related junk by my desk.–I was a loser at this.
• Carry dishes and food upstairs as soon as I’m done–I was pretty good at this one.
• Pick up garbage (magazines, soda bottles, etc.) as soon as I’m done–There are still coke bottles sitting around that I left out.

Elephant Ears for the week

• Don’t leave my computer bag sitting down stairs. Put it and all the related junk by my desk.
  Carry dishes and food upstairs as soon as I’m done
  Pick up garbage (magazines, soda bottles, etc.) as soon as I’m done

Seems like this is the same exact post as last week and in a lot of ways it is. I just need to keep plugging away. I’m thinking about taking a day off of work to get the house cleaned so the work is incremental and not the huge overwhelming task it always seems to be.