:: just 10 minutes ::

i have a confession to make.

I AM A MESSY PERSON.

I AM A VERY MESSY PERSON.

whew, im glad i got that off my chest! now, if being a messy person wasn't enough...i just have to complicate it a little.

I AM A VERY MESSY PERSON AND I HATE MESSES!!!!!

yup thats me. messy while despising messes. leaves me in a conundrum.

there are many (many) times i have talked to my sweet husband about hating how messy our house can get. but i look around and realize ~ the mess is mostly mine!
the 6 pairs of shoes under the couches and kitchen table ~ yup mine
the opened mail fanned out across the table ~ you guessed it mine
the magic bullet parts on the counter ~ again mine
the sink of dirty dishes ~ ours (finally something thats not all my fault)
the onion skin and potato peelings on the floor and counter ~ i blame it on me attempting to cook
the dirty clothes on the bedroom floor ~ hey i may be able to wear them again

i think you get the point. im messy. but it drives. me. crazy. beyond. crazy. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (i had to get that off my chest).

this summer i did a little bit better controlling the mess. life was pretty relaxed and i found some pleasure in keeping the house straightened (gasp, its true). but school started a little over three weeks ago for us. school = work, i teach, sweet husband does campus ministry. so three weeks of full time work plus about a week of prep...that being said...our house has gotten a bit cluttery...well messy honestly.

and again it drives. me. crazy.

so i came up with a plan. a 10 minute plan. just 10 minutes monday through friday.

it boils down to this:
as soon as i get home (immediately after walking though the door...immediately!)
set the microwave timer for 10 mins (and only 10)
straighten, wipe-down, wash, put away the 6 pairs of shoes, you get the point
when the timer goes off ~ stop..sit down, prop my feet up, eat a snack, rest

it only adds 10 minutes to my work day but makes my evening so much less stressful and more relaxed. i no longer have to be overwhelmed by the clutter...oh happy day :)

i tried out the 10 minutes today for the first time...and look at all i got accomplished:
shoes put away
floor in living room, kitchen, and bedroom picked up
counters, stove, and kitchen table straightened and wiped down
dishwasher unloaded
sweet hubby's work stuff organized
tools put back
laundry started

i say it was a very successful 10 minutes.

and i came away with only two rules...and both of them have to do with the dishwasher
1 ~ start working on dishwasher tasks LAST
2 ~ if you start unloading and loading and the timer goes off...finish before you stop

thats it success in 10 minutes :)

now for me to feel caught up on housework i just have to fold laundry, ill tackle that after my rest...