You know, sometimes we just don’t follow through with our lofty intentions.
Maybe even the not so lofty ones.
Maybe the “keep crumbs off the floor” and “de-stink-ify the kids’ bathroom” ones.
But you know what?
We can pick up and get going again.
If those priorities are still important to us, why not reframe, reset, and retry that struggling habit so we can enjoy a clean floor, a non-embarrassing bathroom, or picked-up kids’ rooms?
So here’s today’s reset: What I want minimalism to look like in my house, and where it’s falling short. (Plus what I’m going to do to fix it!)
Following through
First thing on my parenting list: The not-picked-up kids’ rooms – even though I told them an hour ago (and they’re plenty old enough to know better!).
Yep, this one’s on me – if they’re getting away with a lack of follow through, that’s because I’m letting them skate on it. (Ouch, a little bit?)
So, let’s push the reset button.
- Is having tidy rooms once a day still important to me?
- Do I feel more peaceful when that happens?
- Or is this expectation adding unnecessary pressure to my day?
Answer: Actually, I feel more out of control when their rooms aren’t picked up. Like I’m not passing on my “take responsibility for yourself” and “keep things tidy” values. (Which I’m not.) So… yeah. I do want to keep this one.
The Fix: Every evening after supper, I’m going to sit in the room (if necessary) to direct the clean-up process. That has always worked – I just didn’t want to spend the time. But, at least all the kid bedrooms are together, so I can pop into one and then the other if I’m getting bored.
Limits for them, too
Next up: Struggling to believe that space limits are just as necessary for my kids as they are for myself – and putting that into practice. (Rather than giving in to the whines and pleads of my small offspring!)
Yes, this is another parenting fail from me.
They’re the ones doing the whining – but I control whether or not I give in. Not them.
So all those overflowing toy box complaints? Are really my fault. Because I didn’t sit down and make them declutter (or swoop in to do it for them).
Back to those questions once again.
- Is keeping the toys inside their current containers still important to me?
- Do I feel more peaceful when that happens?
- Or is this space expectation adding unnecessary pressure to my day?
Answer: It really bugs me when the “towering mountain of Sunday school papers” reaches tipping proportions. (And it majorly frustrates the efforts of the younger ones to keep their room picked up! They don’t understand that the container can only hold so much, and they’re trying their best to put things away in the right place. Which they are doing.)
The Fix: Sit down for a declutter-thon with the young ones (and maybe the older ones, too!) on our next break. Point out how the box is piled triple-high with special papers, and now when they add any more, everything slides off onto the floor (or worse, their heads!). Explain that the only way to fix this – the easy way to fix this – is to get rid of some of the papers. Lay out their options: recycle, give away, take a picture and then recycle, or keep.
Do I feel more peaceful when this happens, or is this expectation adding unnecessary pressure to my day?
Declutter before the holidays
Finally, thing number three on my “bugs me” list: The non-existent, pre-Christmas decluttering – always such a good idea, yet somehow I never get around to it before the holidays (and toys) hit.
So. Let’s analyze.
- Is having pre-decluttered toy shelves still important to me?
- Or is this expectation adding unnecessary pressure to my holiday season?
Answer: Well, to be honest, I don’t feel “in the mood” for decluttering when everything’s at a normal level. It’s when my space limits are overrun that I get in gear and haul out the trash bags! So, this is not happening because it feels unnecessary before Christmas rolls around, and very necessary after.
The Fix: Hmm – maybe I should run with that! Let my editing match my personality, you know? Which means, New Year’s decluttering all the way! (For the toys, at least.) By that time we’ve gotten through the winter birthdays, plus all the Christmas gear, and have some idea what the kids are really playing with (from their pile of presents). That’s what I’m going to do.
See how this works?
- Find your top annoyances in trying-to-be-minimalist life.
- Check in whether they’re still a priority to you or if they’re getting in the way of your goals.
- Then hit the brainstorm button and see what comes up.
Who knows? You might have a genius idea lurking in the back of that brain, waiting to come out!
That’s how I hit the reset button in my pursuit of minimalism. (Because, you know, I didn’t get it all right the first time.)
Which part of your minimalist pursuit could use a do-over?
Run through these questions and get yourself back on track today.
