MaryLiz...Yes, I have been finding that a day without decluttering is one that I feel kind of "blah". The decluttering brings on a kind of high for me. A satisfaction with myself. Actually the funny thing for me is that my mother is very neat, clean and clutter-free. I think that she is to an extreme. I say to myself, "I don't want to get like my mother!" But I see myself getting that way more and more everyday. I have a long, long way to go...but yes, it does make me feel a certain lightness & pleasure when I do some straightening or cleaning or de-cluttering.
I cannot say it is like you...automatic...but it is there when I do it! Maybe that is down the road a bit for me. I have only gotten started in the last few months.
How long have you been at it?
Sounds like you should enjoy it! I think that is probably the goal in all of this!
Margie

Yesterday my daughter cleaned and swept the dining room-it has natural oak floors. I was so inspired, I cleaned the kitchen, swept and scrubbed the floor, even cleaned out the refrigerator. I woke this morning to a beautiful clean downstairs. Now I'm inspired and will clean the family room today. Momentum! I spend too much time reading Flylady,I had to dis-enroll. But in general it's a good idea to do her daily missions. In five weeks, you hit every area in the home at least once. And housework, even done imperfectly, blesses your family!

I agree - I think Momentum is a good term for it. It's like doing a little bit, you feel better so you do a little more, feel even better, etc. I think Order is a type of Kudzu - it kind of begins to take over.

Now, clutter - that definitely is a Kudzu!! LOL I have to cut that stuff back every little bit.

It's also true that a feeling of accomplishment makes you feel accomplished.

So, if you tidy up the end table, you have accomplished something, and you will feel that you can eventually "fix" whatever OTHER thing is making you feel blah.

And of course, though I instantly recognized what you are talking about, I don't actually DO it. So I'm going to let you "haunt" me tonight, tomorrow night, and through the next several weeks. (cue Twilight Zone music)

Thanks!

I think I start out *knowing* that if I do something (declutter/cleaning wise), I'll feel better about life in general because I love, love, love being in clean, efficient spaces, and it is a self-esteem booster. Unfortunately, I have to force myself to act on it - I'm naturally lazy, so it's not automatic for me at this point.

But I hope it becomes habit eventually, because once I get going, it feels good (and I feel good too).

"I have been busy, so I haven't visited very often lately.
. . . when I am at home, and things don't feel right for some reason, whenever I'm feeling frustrated or stressed out, instead of resorting to one of my procrastination behaviors, I have been decluttering and putting things away and generally straightening up".

I am sure I should follow your example and get busy rather than doing so much "motivational reading." hehe :)
Kudos!

Elizabeth

You people are rubbing off on me because I have been going through things that I haven't in years. Everyday I do one thing that I have been putting off and of course it never takes as long as I thought it would. Since I am doing more cleaning and purging my kids seem to be going through things and letting go also. Love it.

I have been at this FlyLady stuff for a little over one year. And lately, I just find my hands moving to declutter something without any conscious decision beforehand. It's kinda weird to realize that what once was a seemingly insurmountable chore has started to become somewhat automatic.

Somewhat. I sometimes still need to talk myself into the daily zone challenge. Sometimes, I don't even get to it. But that's OK. The general trend is toward improvement.

I have finally gotten to the point where I truly believe, all the way down to the bone, that I deserve to live in a clean, harmonious house.

The motivational reading helps with cultivating that "I deserve a nice place" attitude. At least it helped me. So don't stop reading, just try to put a bit of it into practice as soon as you can bear to make yourself get up and get started.

Momentum. That's a good description. I think it's also the contrast of seeing how nice one area looks, and the desire to see the rest of the house looking that nice.

I wouldn't say I'm FLYing yet, but I am definitely aware that I have wings, and am starting to flap them a bit.

I have learned that procrastination takes a whole lot longer (and a lot more bad feelings because I haven't done "X" yet) than if I just make some time to do even a little bit of the job. I hate to pass by the same mess over and over, and feel bad each time I see it.

There is still so much I'd like to do to make our home look nicer; I think I need to prioritize. I ask myself, "What will make the biggest improvement?" If I chose a 15-minute job that shows big results, the feeling of accomplishment boosts me along. Maybe that's the momentum of which you speak.

maryliz - It looks like you are overcoming perfectionist tendencies and seeing the big picture, GETTING THINGS DONE! ThatÂs a major accomplishment in my book.

I am going to follow your example and try to not allow myself to worry about what I have not done - even for a moment - but INSTEAD do SOMETHING, ANYTHING, that will make a positive impact. Create a reason to feel good rather than nursing feelings of defeat and self disdain. Not to be melodramatic . . . he he :)

Elizabeth

dd50, you wrote: "Everyday I do one thing that I have been putting off and of course it never takes as long as I thought it would."

Just 10 minutes ago, I put fresh Q-tips in the swab holder from the bathroom cabinet. And it took like 3 minutes, maybe even less. And I thought, "how old do I have to get before I really remember--in a cellular, "action" level instead of on an intellectual, distant, philosophical level--that stuff just doesn't take that long to DO!"

People have been saying that here on the organizing form for as long as I've been here. *I* have been saying it.

Why can't I remember?

". . . DO! People have been saying that here on the organizing form for as long as I've been here. *I* have been saying it. Why can't I remember?"

Talley Sue NYC - Tisk, Tisk! (wagging my finger) - sometimes a habit is just a habit, and it can (fingers crossed) be changed.

Elizabeth