Life Tip #3 Shut Up and Clean the House!

in #organize6 years ago


If you are in the dumps or have a specific complaint you are obsessing over this is my advice! Shut up and clean the house, sounds harsh, but there is shock value in that. I've been told it is harsh, rude, insensitive which is exactly what makes it stick with you. If you obsess over it the only way to get it out of your mind is to try it.
I picture you sitting in a mess, clothes piled, or thrown everywhere, dishes in the sink and head-full of one time chores undone. I imagine there is someone on your mind who has you totally pissed and obsessing over the offense. Perhaps they are not apologetic for the trouble they've caused and that is just a further layer of mental funk. Sitting there stewing is causing you self-condemnation and doubt that you will ever come around. Maybe you could go out but you know coming home again is a bummer. The mess is still there staring at you.
I mentioned a twenty-minute rule in another article. The way it works is you commit to a straight twenty minutes at one chore. I suggest you do the daily things first as those will have a quick jolt of ambition. You may think doing one of the one time chores is more self-gratifying and you may be right. It's been my observation of people that the one-timer things have shorter gratification periods. On the other hand they seem to make people way happier than the daily stuff. therefore, I won't be dogmatic about what I think you should do first, as long as you get up and do something for twenty minutes. If you go longer that's great! Don't let yourself shorten that twenty minutes. You can live through twenty minutes of anything! Try to focus on one thing and finish it. If you organize an area and a lot of things need to be moved somewhere else: don't make a separate trip for each item. Make piles of things to go to other particular places. Kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, car, for example. Maybe you could have the dilivery of those things be outside the twenty minutes, that adds, or keeps the commitment to quality focused into the twenty minutes.
I think you will be surprised that you can stew over the trouble just as much while working. I've noticed people work more vigorously when they're frustrated. Depressed is another story, but it can be that way. It may take your mind off the issue, depending on how intricate the task is. That could be another reason to do a one time chore: if it requires more thought than the dishes. It makes sense something you don' t do frequantly takes more thought.
After you have accomplished something,( hopefully fully) you can decide what and when the next twenty-minute task will be. Commit now, if you can, to make it a habit to always be planning and scheduling your next session. I have witnessed this contributing greatly to improved moods and lives. If you do a session four or five times a day you will be amazed how quickly a home can be brought back into shape and the owners' spirits with it! It is truly amazing how order brings brighter moods and higher self-esteem.
Like I said, you can stew and moan while you work but try to resolve to stop any negative thoughts. Easy to say right? If you are a Christian hopefully you know Jesus invites you to cast your cares on Him "Casting all of your cares upon Him because He cares for you." I would suggest you run over the fruits of the spirit in your mind and judge for yourself if your emotions line up. If not, confess it to God and ask Him to show you another way to approach the thoughts of the thing. The way that has it's emotional outcome being one that exibits love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, meekness, temperance, faith and longsuffering. Also, bring all your thoughts into the obedience of Christ. Anything you are positive is right or wrong without having to ponder it, commit to do right.
If you aren't a Christian you can still meditate on bringing your thoughts into boundaries that are established in your conscience. I'm only making the distinction because people who don't know the bible just don't have the written word coming back into their thoughts. I believe that is the main way God speaks to us, through the bible and after you've read it a bit it justs comes back to you at the appropriate time. It really is a comfort I wish you could experience. It also has a lot to say about how we are to describe ourselves, to ourselves. All of those are self-affirming and full of power. "Speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to the Lord in your heart."If you have ever had a prayer language let it revive! Speak it out loud and by so doing chase any demons away. You have spiritual authority and I believe this is one way God has you exercise it. If we will rule and reign with Him during the thousand year millennium we probably should be training for that eventuality. "Many are called but few are chosen." "The first will be last and the last first." It is a different way of looking at things that can be totally mind consuming. You can pursue the things of God as far and as deep as you like, it is a never-ending quest. If you could make the twenty minutes a spiritual commitment the physical work will be quicker and of better quality. I 've seen that in my own life a lot. It takes being committed to thinking the way God thinks and to ever be thankful to Him. The combination of meditation and praise can cure a lot of hurts big and small emotional and physical. " As you believe so be it done unto you." "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Maybe read a few psalms or a chapter of Jesus sayings, if you need something to meditate on, those are great places to find a good word!
Being an organizer has allowed me to see this system work! I hope you will try it and it helps you body mind and spirit! Feel free to come back and let me know how it's going. All of my quotes are bible versers, apologies I did not list chapter and verse. It's that thing where they popped in my head but without chapter and verse attached.
All my photos come from Pixabay. Best wishes!