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10-Minute Task List

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10-Minute Tasks Featured Image

In this post, I’ll discuss why I developed a 10-minute task list, what it is, and how you can use it in your life.

Table of contents

Why a 10-Minute Task List?

When I first started bullet journaling, I remember a conversation with my husband where I felt dejected by everything I had to do and never felt like I got anything done. I know you’ve been there, too. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, your to-do list grows faster than you can cross items off it. The main culprits seemed to be the recycled tasks. You know, the ones that keep reappearing even though you check them off. Like laundry, dishes, or cleaning the kitchen counters.

That’s when I came up with the 10-Minute Task List. If I found a snippet of downtime, I’d refer to the list and see how much I could get done in those few spare minutes. Seeing how much I could do during those few clusters of minutes felt amazing. But then, the next day, I’d feel that same frustration by having too much to do and not seeing a dent in the tasks.

When I realized that I needed to give credit where credit was due and write down the things that I did during those 10 minutes, for more reasons why I recommend writing down the things you get done, check out this post. It was game-changing mentally for me.

10-MInute Task List in Mind Map Format - List of tasks you can do in 10 minutes or less | ChocolateMusings.com

The Intent of a 10-Minute Task List

The intent is to create a reference for those chores that plague my mind and distract me from my project so I can take care of them before I sit down. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. You want to concentrate but keep getting distracted by the dirty dishes or the cluttered desk. You spend more time fiddling and ignoring these outstanding items than working on the project you need to finish.

If you took 10 minutes to clear away some of the clutter from your mind and satisfied the need to straighten your house a little, do you think you could concentrate? I found a significant improvement in my concentration when using this method.

Have 10 minutes? Make a bullet journal collection with a list of household jobs that take 10 minutes or less then see what you can accomplish. 10-Minute Task List

Finding Clusters of Minutes for a 10-Minute Task List

I have 3 children: the oldest, 12. The youngest just turned 4, and one in between. We like to enjoy our time as a family, and I teach my kids to work hard, and they enjoy helping me do chores. But I do not want to spend every waking moment cleaning, scrubbing, or sorting. I know my kids wouldn’t like helping me do that much cleaning, either.

I started thinking about how I use the cluster of minutes each day. 10 minutes to spare here, 5 minutes there, and I often squander those minutes away. I don’t need my house squeaky clean or perfect. But I like it organized and prefer not to step on Cheerios or Legos on the floor. Why not use those clusters of minutes to work on items from my 10-minute task list?

Have 10 Minutes? 10 Minute Task List in Mind Map form in My Bullet Journal - Go to Collection reference for getting tasks done in a short amount of time | ChocolateMusings.com
Original Version
Have 10 Minutes? 10 Minute Task List in Mind Map form in My Bullet Journal - Go to Collection reference for getting tasks done in a short amount of time | ChocolateMusings.com
New Version in My Current Bullet Journal

Spare Moments

I decided to develop a list of things I could do in just 10 minutes or less. Because we all have spare moments, these items would help lessen the overwhelm of life and help keep me more organized. It was all in the name of being more productive.

I find that when I sit down to work on a project, my mind is suddenly overcome with everything I’ve neglected. All sorts of distractions crept their way into my conscience, demanding attention at that time, although they were nowhere 10 minutes earlier when my mind was not trying to focus. Thoughts of the cluttered bathroom counter, the clean dishes in the dishwasher, and loads of laundry yet to be started.

If you cannot focus, do a quick brain dump of everything in your head. That way, you know what you need to do but focus on your current task.

Making a 10-Minute Task List

Here is the list I started on my phone when I started brainstorming all the ideas I could do in 10 minutes. It quickly grew larger as I realized how many things I could get done in 10 minutes or less, when I created this spread in my bullet journal. I organized each in a category surrounding the central idea.

Cell Phone Notes Version: 10 Minute Task List - things you can do in 10 minutes or less | ChocolateMusings.com
Part 3 Cell Phone Notes Version: 10 Minute Task List - things you can do in 10 minutes or less | ChocolateMusings.com
Part 4 Cell Phone Notes Version: 10 Minute Task List - things you can do in 10 minutes or less | ChocolateMusings.com
Part 2 Cell Phone Notes Version: 10 Minute Task List - things you can do in 10 minutes or less | ChocolateMusings.com

The 10-Minute Task List Bullet Journal Collection

Instead of creating a top-to-bottom list, I started with a central title and built my list based on categories. I love mind-map formats like this because I can move around the list more easily while brainstorming. I don’t feel I have to complete one section before moving on.

Once I moved the list to my bullet journal, I created a mind map version of the list. Since each section circles around the main topic, I won’t start at the top and work my way down. I’ll move dynamically around the list as needed. If I were to list ‘Kitchen’ on the top of a list, I might only clean the kitchen and never move to the bathroom when I start a 10-minute task period.

But that’s just me.

If you’re comfortable with a top-to-bottom list, do what is comfortable for you. Use this method and customize it to suit your tastes.

10-Minute Task List Bullet Journal Collection Header | Mind Map Format for listing collections of ideas surrounding a central idea - in this case 10 Minute Tasks | ChocolateMusings.com

Need a 10-Minute Task List for Work – Not Just Home?

I use this list while I’m at home. I’m sure with a little retooling. You could customize a list to accommodate your work life, too.

If you’re at work and use this method, you might have longer than 10 minutes. You might develop a 25-minute task list instead of a 10-minute task list. Whatever fits into your schedule or slots in between meetings or zoom calls. Having a go-to list makes a huge difference in getting more things done. Because I don’t waste those spare moments deciding what I need to do.

Why Not Longer Than 10 Minutes?

Many people use a Pomodoro timer or the Pomodoro technique to work in short bursts on various projects. I usually have a sliver of time to get something done before the next big thing. 10 minutes is usually the time I have left on the oven timer before we sit down to dinner.

If I can schedule 25 minutes, I will do it. But even if I schedule 25 minutes, I’ll still record these ‘wins’ in my 10-minute task log. Because it’s more about feeling accomplished than the name, I call it.

Magic Happens When you Write it Down (There’s Research Behind It!)

I’ve heard numerous times throughout my life that brain connections are more powerful when you write something down. Not only do you think about it, but the physical transfer of electric brain pulses controlling your fingers to form letters, spell words, and complete sentences creates an even stronger memory as multiple senses are now involved.

I could go on and on about my passion for writing, but that isn’t the point of this post. So here are a couple of articles I found related to why I like to write things down. (I find this stuff fascinating!)

Other research highlights the hand’s unique relationship with the brain when composing thoughts and ideas. Virginia Berninger, a professor at the University of Washington, reported her study of children in grades two, four, and six that revealed they wrote more words faster and expressed more ideas when writing essays by hand versus with a keyboard.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/memory-medic/201303/why-writing-hand-could-make-you-smarter

The act of writing is a complex cognitive process relying on intricate perceptual-sensorimotor combinations. As a highly sophisticated and comprehensive way of externalizing our thoughts, giving shape to memories as well as plans and dreams, sharing our stories, and communicating our emotions and affections, writing always involves the skillful handling of some mechanical/technical device and necessarily results in a visuographic representation – some (more or less) readable text, in the form of a string of letters or symbols.

https://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-haptics/digitizing-literacy-reflections-on-the-haptics-of-writing

The Magic of the 10-Minute Task List in My Own Life

After I created this list of items to do in 10 minutes, I went on with my daily life. Then something magic happened. It was just as the kids were going to bed. They were slowly getting into their pajamas, brushing their teeth, filling water cups, and trying to prolong the process as long as possible.

I found myself with about 10 minutes as the bedtime routine dragged on. Instead of harping on my kids, I used the time to tidy the kitchen, put dishes away, fold towels from the dryer, and start a new load of laundry. In the meantime, the kids straightened the living room while I emptied the garbage, de-junked some surfaces, and straightened my desk. I competed against a mini-timer in my head.

After goodnight kisses and the kids tucked in, I looked around and approved. I never referred to the 10-minute list I made, but I didn’t need to. Instinctively I knew what was on that list. Immediately my brain realized that I had 10 minutes and set an internal timer. Once that imaginary timer dinged – the sense of accomplishment blossomed. The best part is it didn’t take an hour or two! All it required was a mere 10 minutes.

What Happened After Those Magical 10 Minutes

A wonderful thing happened later that night as I sat at my desk, wanting to work on a project. My mind was clear! Undone tasks did not hang guiltily over my head. Thanks to those dedicated 10 minutes, I found a mindful peace and added focus to the task at hand.

I’ll review my 10-minute task list and add to it every once in a while to keep it fresh in my mind and keep the magic flowing.

Find out what happens when I start recording the results of the 10-minute speed-cleaning sessions. I couldn’t predict the amazing shift in mental health!

Interested in Building Better Habits?

Here are some books I’ve read on organizing, decluttering, and habits. I’d love a recommendation and add it to my list. Let me know if you have more to add in the comments below.  

 

Why Record Your Completed Tasks?

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Why Record Completed Tasks? Here's what I discovered when I started writing down the things I accomplished - how it helped motivate me and improved my self-care | ChocolateMusings.com

Why record your completed tasks? Isn’t it enough to do a bunch of tasks and feel satisfaction at the time? In this post, I’ll describe how recording my completed ’10-minute tasks’ each day reduced overall overwhelm, led to a feeling of accomplishment, and refreshed my mindset. Which, in turn, resulted in more motivation to keep going day in and day out.

Read this post to find out more about my 10-minute task list. Here’s the original spread vs. the new spread in my current bullet journal. Most of the tasks are the same!

I love this mind map format for task lists – because it makes them feel equally important. I don’t do the same task every time because it’s at the top of the list.

Table of contents

Create a 10-Minute Task List

When I started bullet journaling, I remember a conversation with my husband where I felt dejected by all that I had to do and never felt like I got anything done. I know you’ve been there, too. No matter how hard you try, your to-do list grows faster than you can cross items off of it.

That’s when I came up with the 10-Minute Task List. If I found a snippet of downtime, I’d refer to the list of repeating chores and to-dos and see how much I could get done in those few spare minutes. Seeing how much I could do during those few clusters of minutes felt terrific. But then, the next day, I’d feel that same frustration by having too much to do and not seeing a dent in the tasks. That’s why I started recording my completed tasks.

Have 10 Minutes? 10 Minute Task List in Mind Map form in My Bullet Journal - Go to Collection reference for getting tasks done in a short amount of time | ChocolateMusings.com
Original Spread
Have 10 Minutes? 10 Minute Task List in Mind Map form in My Bullet Journal - Go to Collection reference for getting tasks done in a short amount of time | ChocolateMusings.com
New Spread

Don’t Plan it Out

In his original bullet journal format, I know Ryder Carroll uses a list format to jot all his tasks down. It’s what helped him manage his overwhelm. Similarly, recording your completed tasks creates an irrefutable record that you did get something done, even when you feel like you didn’t.

However, these 10 minutes don’t require you to plan beforehand. You take advantage of a sliver of time and furiously work from a suggested list. Getting done what you can. Then the fact that you record it afterward focuses your attention on what you did, instead of looking at a half-crossed-off to-do list.

Keep in mind I’m not saying that you shouldn’t keep a running to-do list. Instead, I’m saying to keep a tally of everything you did in a separate “Ta-Da” list so you don’t compare the overall task list to what you accomplished.

Why Record Completed Tasks

When the feeling of overwhelm and defeat kept coming back day after day, I realized that I needed to write down what I did. When I’d glance over the list of ‘done items’ later on, I had to acknowledge that I did more than I remembered. And that’s a good feeling.

Blue Box #inmy10minutes - list out all the things you accomplished - you might be amazed at how much you actually got done vs. what you think you got done. That's why it's important to jot it down!Read about the other benefits in this post | ChocolateMusings.com

Give yourself credit where credit is due, and write down what you do during your 10-minute task sprints. This is part of my self-care regimen and the effort to be kinder to myself. We can all afford to be a little kinder to our minds.

When I started writing my finished tasks, I noticed a reduction in my overall overwhelm. It wasn’t that my to-do list was shorter. It was that I was giving myself credit for the effort that I was putting in. It’s been said repeatedly that we are not kind enough to ourselves. Recording your completed tasks so you can briefly bask in the accomplishment creates a gateway for building confidence and self-esteem and living a life where you’re more gentle with yourself.

Why Record Completed Tasks? Here's what I discovered when I started writing down the things I accomplished - how it helped motivate me and improved my self-care | ChocolateMusings.com

Add Every Accomplishment

Give it a try. If you do a 10-minute task sprint and get 2 or 3 things done, start making a list of all the things you did. Add every accomplishment to your ‘look what I did’ list. Then see what effect it has on your mental state. Test it, and see if it reduces your overwhelm and lifts your spirits.

You might find the motivation to keep going. Just like an object in motion tends to stay in motion, a person motivated stays motivated.

10-MInute Task List in Mind Map Format - List of tasks you can do in 10 minutes or less | ChocolateMusings.com

Create a Go-To To-Do List

I created a go-to to-do list with tasks I could do around the house in 10-minutes or less. This 10-minute task list in mind-map form was the catalyst for helping to reduce some of the overwhelm I felt daily because it all felt like ‘too much.’ Your task list will likely be different than mine.

After working on the to-do list, I created a little space in my bullet journal to write down the tasks I did in those 10-minutes. Recording those completed tasks certainly made me feel better, which helped reduce my overwhelm. Writing it down provides proof (to me) that the week isn’t wasted, and it turns into a personal show-and-tell of the things I was able to get done.

Every once in a while, I’ll call out to my husband, “I’m going to do a 10”. And immediately understands that I’m going to clean fast and furious or take a break for a few minutes to try and feel like I was accomplishing something. He loved the idea and noticed a difference in my anxiety levels afterward. I could also tell that my focus level increased following a 10-minute break.

Weekly Bullet Journal Spread with a place to write my 'ta das' (I call them #inmy10minutes) or things that I've done. It works as a confidence boost and adds to my self-care | ChocolateMusings.com

Give Yourself Some Credit

If you struggle with these same thoughts, try recording the things you get done (no matter how small they are). Make a list for the week of the menial (but finished) tasks you did all week long. Give yourself some credit. This process will work wonders for your overall view of yourself, especially if you record your finished tasks consistently for a few weeks.

Pro Tip:

You don’t have to create a 10-minute task list if you don’t want to. You can use your everyday task list instead. I promise you’ll be surprised about how fast you work when you focus and are trying to beat the timer. I love creating a mind-map-style task list, so one section doesn’t seem more important than another section.

Today for My 10 – My Recorded Finished Tasks

Here’s a classic example of when I started doing something, I kept going after the 10 minutes was up (but not much longer) because I felt so motivated. This one was probably two sets of 10 minutes.

First of all, I took a deep breath. Then, I cleaned the bathroom sink and the mirror. After that, I cleaned up and organized all the kid’s toothbrushes and toothpaste, discarding dried-up tubes of toothpaste and old toothbrushes. Next, I picked up tissue scraps from the floor, scrubbed the toothpaste off the counter, and cleaned the toilet.

Onto the floor next, which I scrubbed. Following the floor, I checked and arranged their shampoo and soap bottles in the bathtub. Six minutes down.

Recorded task list - a fun way to doodle your day & record the things you accomplished | ChocolateMusings.com

I could stop there, but I decided I had a few more minutes and gladly made my way to the kitchen, where I quickly emptied the dishwasher and filled it with spare dishes in the sink. I cleaned out the baby’s high chair – we had rice, and it was a mess! But it looks great now. Lastly, I swept and scrubbed the floor.

Whew! Don’t you just love that feeling of getting all those nagging tasks done?

It Doesn’t Take Long to Record Your Completed Tasks

Once I finished the myriad of tasks, I took one more minute to jot them all down. It’s amazing to look back each week and feel a sense of accomplishment when otherwise I might have criticized myself for not using my time wisely. Recording these finished tasks changes my perspective and reduces my daily overwhelm and anxiety. You don’t have to create this sheet of doodles. Making a list is good enough.

These 10-minute tasks have really changed my life. I only wish I had thought of it sooner. I’d love to know what you do in your 10 minutes. Use #InMy10Minutes and tag me @ChocolateMusingsCreates on Instagram.

After-the-Pen Examples of Recorded Completed Tasks

Here are some real-life examples of my recorded tasks using #inmy10minutes. One week, I cuddled with my little one for 10 minutes. Another week, the whole family was sick, but I made an effort. In other weeks, I recorded a long list of completed tasks. Consistently recording my 10-minute efforts is what makes the difference, and I give myself credit for the efforts I put in.

#inmy10minutes accomplishment box - where I take 10 minutes, do as many tasks as I can then I write them all down so I can give myself a little credit | ChocolateMusings.com
Even when the week is rough like this one - I love seeing whatever effort I made. Recording completed tasks gives a sense of pride and motivation to keep moving forward | ChocolateMusings.com
Purple #inmy10minutes recorded completed tasks. Seeing this list of things I did, gives me a boost to keep going - give credit where credit is due and recognize all your efforts | ChocolateMusings.com
Blue Box #inmy10minutes - list out all the things you accomplished - you might be amazed at how much you actually got done vs. what you think you got done. That's why it's important to jot it down!Read about the other benefits in this post | ChocolateMusings.com

Take The Challenge:

Here’s your challenge – just try it out for a week and see if you have a cleaner house and an improved mental state.

  • Take 10 Minutes
  • See How Much you Can Get Done
  • Record What Your Completed Tasks (this is the important part)
  • Be Proud of Yourself
  • Repeat

The key is to write it down and give yourself credit. It’s not important what you got done in those 10 minutes. What is important, however, is letting yourself see your successes and recognizing your efforts. Try it for a week.

Instead of taking 10-minute bursts, take the challenge at work or at home. After each hour, use one minute to list all the things you got done. Keep a running tally of your ‘Ta Das’ or completed tasks. Review it at the end of the day and end of the week. Give yourself a pat on the back because you deserve it.

#InMy10Minutes Challenge - take 10 minutes to do as much as you can, then record the tasks you finished. Repeat each day. The effect is more than just a cleaner house. It changes your mental view point as well. Try it out. | ChocolateMusings.com

Moms Need Timeouts Too!

Sometimes, instead of cleaning, I take 10 minutes and put myself in ‘time out.’ Moms need timeouts too. And some days, instead of doing tasks, I take 10 minutes to restore my mental health by reading a book that I wouldn’t read otherwise. It is a book I want to read, and I do it for fun. Sometimes I take 10 minutes to cuddle with a kid who needs attention. It’s hard to slow down when there are so many things happening. But if they need it, use your 10 minutes and give them all that attention. Remember to record it – those are important moments. They’re not a task, but they need to be written.

No matter what I do during these snippets of time, I make sure to record these completed items because writing down these finished ‘tasks’ reduces my overwhelm and gives me confidence. Then I look back over the week and realize how many things I got done. If you try this challenge, I think you’ll find that you get more done than you realize. Give yourself a little credit. This is why I record my completed tasks because it helps me do more and feel better about myself.

Question:

What do you do with your 10 minutes? Let me know!

Remember to plan your life so that you live beautifully, and don’t be afraid to try something new and find your inner muse. ~Tricia

Battle With Stuff #2: How to Create Decluttering Habits

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How to Create Decluttering Habits

Create your Own Declutter Habit Plan | Create, Do, Conquer the Everyday Clutter | ChocolateMusings.com #declutter #organize #plan

Hey! Welcome back! Here is post #2 in my Battle with Stuff Series – I call this one Decluttering for Life. It’s all about creating putting those decluttering habits on autopilot.

I’m excited to show you what I did to make decluttering and straightening my house a daily part of my routine. This process helps me identify the biggest “Clutter Problem Areas” for my house, what I would “ideally” see and what I’m going to do about it.

Read Post #1 Here

I hope that it will help you and help you start thinking about what you can do in your home in small snippets of time rather than waiting for a big chunk of time or feeling like you ‘wasted’ an entire Saturday or weekend just to have it fall back into disarray the moment your kids get home from school.

My Ah-a Moment for Creating Decluttering Habits

In the last post, my aha-moment was that decluttering is not a one-time event, it’s an everyday battle that requires specific decluttering habits to combat the on-going clash between all the things and the ideal view I have in my mind’s eye for each room in my house.

Now here’s the hard question: How can I make a habit of decluttering my life? Because it’s not just one act, it’s an everyday movement to keep stuff from taking over every inch of space. Part of my clutter is the everyday neglected chores. The laundry that piles up, the dirty dishes scattered after cooking a meal. All. the. legos.

I knew I needed to identify specific times and events that helped me take care of the ‘clutter problem areas’.

What To Do First

First, I started with the known – my schedule. And then I will figure out where the problem is and how to tackle it with clearly defined decluttering habits.

You can think about your schedule and the sequence your day follows. Make a list of the things you do every day starting when you wake up to leave the house then what you do when you return home.

My Schedule:

I go to work at 9:30 am every day. I get up with my kids at 6:30 every day, and the oldest two leave at 7:20 when the bus whisks them off to school. We get home at 4:30 after taking one of my friend’s kids home from daycare. From there it’s homework (which drags on forever) dinner prep, dinner, and then it’s time to get the little one to bed followed by the other two with some spare moments in between.

If you saw my Ideally Planned post a while ago – the day is rarely ideal. Maybe I need to declutter my day as well….But that’s a story for another time.

Do you feel like your days are also cluttered with ‘stuff’? Such as stuff to do, stuff to finish?

Here’s the Plan to Create Decluttering Habits:

Declutter Habit Key: Use snippets of time to keep areas organized, and doing specific tasks when other known events take place.

For instance: Dishes in the morning while the kids were making lunches. Sweeping while talking to mom on the phone. (Does anyone else do this? Just me?)

Nightly Decluttering Habit: Just before switching the light off in my office nook – look at my desk before turning out the light at night and taking a minute to put away the markers, throw away the scraps of unused paper, nestle all the pens back in their spot, plug in my iPad, set out my planner for the next morning, dump any dirty watercolor water. Generally, straighten before going to bed. That way, I wake up with a clean area – a place to work in the morning with fresh ideas. Rather than worrying about the mess from the day before.

Create Clutter Busting Habits - Grab your Free Worksheet | ChocolateMusings.com #clutterbusting #declutter #organize #habit

How to Start

To start ‘decluttering for life’ I collected a list of all the ‘problem’ areas in my house. (Scroll to the bottom of the post, my video walks you through the process.)

Make a list of all the problem areas in your house. If the ‘stuff’ has a place, then it needs to be straightened. If you put something away where it belongs, and it spills over the space, it either needs a different space or there’s too much stuff. So in that case, ask yourself “what can I pare down?”

Declutter Inventory Checklist | ChocolateMusings.com

My big issues in my house:

  • Kid’s toys picked up and put away
  • Dishes in the dishwasher/sink cleared
  • Table cleared
  • Too Much Paper (school paperwork)
  • Laundry – specifically when laundry has to be re-washed several times or clean laundry piled up in my room
  • Master Closet
  • Surfaces cleared

You can also make a list of the big issues in your house. We might have some of the same issues. Whatever they are, you can use the worksheet to create a plan.

Second Step: Imagine – Give Yourself a Visual Reward for Your Hard Work

Imagine what you want to see. What is your ‘ideal’ view? What do you want to see when you look at a particular drawer? How do you envision your living area? Where are your kids’ toy’s stored? What feeling do you get when you see a clean space instead of a cluttered mess?

Third Step: Be Specific about Change

Considering that I do not have huge spans of time to dedicate to straightening or decluttering, I need to use triggers or certain times of the day or events to change my everyday actions.

Clutter Problem Area:

Piled Up Clean Laundry

Ideal:

Laundry sorted and put away when it comes out of the dryer instead of stacked against the wall in my bedroom.

Plan – Be Specific

Here’s how I break never-ending, always overwhelming laundry into specific tasks per day:

Do one batch of laundry per day. Start the batch at 6:45 am while the kiddos are eating breakfast. 8:00 am switch the laundry from washer to dryer. 9:15 am just before leaving for work, take the laundry out and put it away.

I’m a fan of anything that doesn’t create too much overwhelm and can be checked off on a day-to-day basis. In other words, laundry is a never-ending task, but telling myself that I’m required to only to do one batch per day gives me the freedom to do something else without the guilt AND bonus – I can check it off my to-do list! So instead of a chore that never ends, I’m done after one!

Set a Specific Time – a Switch in Mindset

Setting a specific time makes a HUGE difference in my mindset. The ideal is no longer arbitrary. There’s a means to accomplish the goal and I know what I must do every day to do it. Decluttering is a life skill and I plan on learning it so well I don’t realize I’m doing it.

Setting a specific time is something that I learned from a Skillshare class taught by Cynthia Koo – “How to Design Your 365 Day Challenge” – she also suggests writing the event you will do before or after your task. Just that simple step makes all the habit-creating difference in the world.

(By the way, look at her Instagram @wontoninamillion) she said she used the 365-day challenge to help build her business and post every day, which made her have to create new content for Instagram, which was a win-win.)

The Power of Habit

As Charles Duhigg suggested in his book “The Power of Habit” – we need to create a simple and obvious cue, implement it in our routine and receive a reward, and create a craving for that reward. I can’t tell you how satisfying it is to walk into my room and see no laundry piles. That in and of itself makes me do a little happy dance. Up until I came up with my trigger, doing this happy dance was far and few between, but it’s something I want.

So, let me ask you…when it comes to clutter, what do you want most to see when looking at your own clutter problem areas? What is your ‘dream view’ and subsequently what is your reward for dealing with clutter?

My Plan to Win the Daily Battle with Decluttering and Stuff #1

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My Plan to Win the Daily Battle with Decluttering and Stuff

I battle with stuff every day. The things that I have in my house and my life – all the minutia. All the stuff. Stuff from Target, stuff from Walmart, stuff from Costco…stuff we’ve had for years, just stuff. I wanted to figure out a way to deal with all the things, and manage it going forward.

Last year, I read Marie Kondo’s book – before she was on Netflix – and it spurred me to clean out my closets, drawers, kid’s toys, kitchen, I even roll my socks to this day… but evidently, I went wrong somewhere. I still have too much stuff for my 3-bedroom, 2 bath house. 3 kids and 2 adults have a lot of stuff.

Love of ‘Stuff’ at its Limit

Don’t get me wrong, I love my art supplies and notebooks, but I feel like I’ve hit the ceiling. A limit. And yet when I walk into a supply store, the intoxicating smell of bound paper, the crackle of a package of pens lure my senses into insisting that I need yet another item despite the lack of space in my house.

I read books on happiness, books on habits, books on decluttering my life, and yet, I still can’t find the answer to my problem.

The Answer

But today, I think I found the answer to my problem. I am not specific enough, and I don’t put decluttering or ‘finding joy’ in my things into regular practice. I read the advice and yet don’t carry through on most of it. 

Decluttering is not a one-time event. The once and done is a nice concept, but I know now that it’s not permanent. It’s a battle fought constantly. Clutter and stuff want to make my home it’s home, and the tiny humans living under my roof don’t help one bit. In fact, I created a planning spread ages ago with a similar idea, but never put it into regular practice.

Clutter Definition

Here’s where I need to define clutter. I define clutter as anything that habitually gets out of place OR an overabundance of things without a proper home or spills over into other locations. Some people might say it just gets messy, but the mess makes me feel cluttered, inside and out and I don’t know about you, but feeling disorganized on the inside makes me feel restless and ornery all day long.

I don’t want to continually feel like I need to get rid of stuff. If I can put a stopper on the intake, I still have to deal with the items we want to keep. Once I pare down the extra items in my house, I still have things that creep out of their designated places.

My aha moment – combining the advice from two sets of books and combining them into one: decluttering + habit creation = make decluttering a habit.

Working on a Solution

I’ve figured out the problem, and now I’ll go to work on creating a habit for daily decluttering. I’m excited to show you what I’m working on – and I’ll give you a sneak peek!

In the next decluttering post, I’ll step you through how to fill out the declutter habit plan printable.

question mark - chocolatemusings.com

I’d love to know! What do you do to keep yourself ‘sane’ and deal with all the clutter and mess every day?

Ideally Planned: Year, Quarter, Month Week & Day – How To Create Your Own ‘Ideal’

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Ideal Year Month Week and Day | How to Make Your Own Ideal Plans | ChocolateMusings.com @ChocolateMusingsCreates #idealday #idealweek #bulletjournal #bujo

Ever since reading the 12-Week Year by Brian Morgan I think less in 12-month calendar time increments and more in quarters or months. I started questioning why I have to live off of someone else’s designated quarters. So I set up my own quarterly calendar. Ideally planned is what I call it. It fits me, and my life. I’ll give you a break down of my ‘ideal’, but my ideally planned life will not fit yours. Customize to your heart’s content.

My Year in Quarters

The future log in my planner happened to break it out perfectly by section:

Spring Quarter: February, March, & April

Summer Quarter: May, June, & July

Fall Quarter: August, September, & October

Winter Quarter: November, December, & January

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How It Worked Out

My kiddos go back to school the first week of August, so that month doesn’t really feel like summer. I never feel ready to start a new year right after December and the whole slew of holidays beginning the end of October through December, so that’s why I figured I’d align the quarters and start a new year in February. The Chinese do it, so I think I’m in the majority. To clarify – it’s not about being in the majority. It’s about making things fit the way I need them to fit into my life.

One thing led to another, and I created an ‘Ideal Year, Month, Week & Day.’ It was very eye-opening how much time I have, and how much time I…don’t have. If you want to set priorities, I highly recommend creating an ‘ideal’ plan. Start with your ideal day and work backward. Or start with your ‘ideal year’ (things you do during certain times of the year) and work forward.

Things I do in the different Quarters of the Year:

  • Spring: Refresh my house by cleaning, decluttering, setting goals, planning for family vacations
  • Summer: Family Vacation, Back to School Planning
  • Fall: Plan for next year’s calendar year, Recipe Revisions
  • Winter: Focus on What Matters

There’s something about the promise of blossoms and blooms that renews my energy and love for life. As I figure it out, I will add miscellaneous house cleaning tasks. But I haven’t gotten there, yet.

Ideal Year Month Week and Day | How to Make Your Own Ideal Plans | ChocolateMusings.com @ChocolateMusingsCreates #idealday #idealweek #bulletjournal #bujo

Monthly Planning

If there were a weak link in my ideally planned spread, monthlies would be it. I love how planning out your ‘ideals’ shows you your weaknesses and what you can improve. To figure out my ideally planned month, first, I’ll start with a list of things to do every single month. Then break them down and assign them to specific days or weeks throughout the month.

For instance: on the last Sunday of the month, I back up photos, videos and do general digital upkeep on my files. New blog post out on Sundays & Thursdays, Newsletter 3rd Friday of each month. Plan for the next month when there are 2 full weeks left in the month. On the 1st of the month, I do an inventory of statistics.

A cleaning schedule breaks out nicely into monthly and weekly plans. From a financial standpoint indicate bill-pay days and paydays.

Ideal Year Month Week and Day | How to Make Your Own Ideal Plans | ChocolateMusings.com @ChocolateMusingsCreates #idealday #idealweek #bulletjournal #bujo

Ideal Week Plans

Of course, these plans ebb and flow with life and may change from week to week. This is the reason why my plans are ‘ideal.’ Knowing where to focus my efforts for family or cleaning on any given day when I have a small slot of time to get all the things done.

The other day, I listened to a radio host breaking down the hours in the week. If there are 24 hours in a day x 7 days per week =168 hours per week, subtract 8 hours per day for sleeping (who gets that much sleep in a day on a regular basis?!), remove the hours at work (typically 40 hours) and you have 72 hours left. My goodness, that sounds like a lot left over.

It got me thinking about what occupies my time. In my case, I have three kiddos, and they require (and I intend to give) a lot of time. Self-care time (including showers and getting ready), dinner prep, travel time and a myriad of other things. So if I could block like items together (even more than I do, already), it’s possible to conserve precious hours and minutes.

What do you do on a particular day of the week? I find that I get more laundry done if I assign it to a specific day. I clean my bathroom regularly if I know it’s Wednesday.  Adding recurring events like my son’s scouts on Thursdays helps me to not over-plan that evening.

Ideal Year Month Week and Day | How to Make Your Own Ideal Plans | ChocolateMusings.com @ChocolateMusingsCreates #idealday #idealweek #bulletjournal #bujo

Ideal Day Planning

This section was a HUGE eye-opener. I realized how much time I don’t have. So I have to choose what I want to do. Prioritize, prioritize, prioritize. If it’s not that important, reconsider. Time is a precious element every single day. Visually organizing my days, weeks, months, and years showed me just that. And emphasized how important it is to prioritize.

How to Make Your Own “Ideal” Plans

Not sure where to start? I recommend starting big and working down. Map out your year. Do you change batteries in your smoke detector in the Spring? When are your family vacations? Do you seem to always clean your house in the spring or hold garage sales when the weather turns nice? What about holiday shopping? Do you wish to have that all said and done by the end of October so you can enjoy the holiday season without the stress? Well, that’s a good thing to plan.

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Ideal Year Plans

Ideal Year: Recurring events or tasks throughout the Year – for me I broke it into quarters.

However, you might break it month-to-month. For instance, if you have kids, do you shop for school supplies in August or July?

Ideal Month Plans

What tasks do you need to do each month? Can you assign them to a particular week or a specific day? Make a list of all the things you do. Cleaning, bills, tasks. See where it all fits in. You can make a calendar view here or add a second section where you list the days numerically. 1st & 15th – paydays. 5th, mortgage due. Etc.

Do you have recurring events? Include those so you can plan around those items.

Ideal Week Plans

What days do you feel stretched too thin? Are you scheduling too heavy on those days? What can you prioritize? For instance: if you have dance and soccer on Tuesdays for your kids and you’re gone from the moment the kids get out of school to the second they go to bed, scheduling laundry on that day is probably not a good idea.

Do you have any other recurring tasks to do during the week? Figure out what those recurring items and pencil them in. Move them around until it makes sense. Ideally planned is another word for ‘makes sense in my life’. At least in my opinion.

Ideal Day

Now, this is where things get real. List the hours in a day and plan out the big things first. Sleep, work, commute. Then start adding the smaller items around those scheduled chunks of time. Dinner prep and eating dinner seem to take up a good part of the time.

After the smaller ‘have to’ tasks appear on your day, start prioritizing. It’s not about how much time you have, it’s about how much priority you give the things in your life. I wanted to schedule more time for developing my business but saw that I took away time from my kids. I know they are a high priority and had to make a choice. Kids won out. Efficiency just became more important than ever.

Need help getting things done? Set a time to do a certain task. And include it in your habit tracker.

Check out my list of Mid-Month Habit Check Posts Here – there are so many things in my life I’ve improved by keeping a habit tracker.

What gets measured, gets managed - Peter Drucker

Side note: I saw someone on Instagram who planned their ideal day and left nearly 4 hours to sleep every night. If that’s ideal to you, by all means, miss out on those precious zzz’s. But sleep is a huge part of my self-care regimen, so I schedule it out. I discovered when I scheduled my sleep, I made an effort to go to sleep then.

What is Ideally Planned – Really?

For me, ideally planned is not all about fantasy and the perfect life, it’s about the realities that we deal with regularly and how to map it out so life does not overwhelm us on any given day. Creating an ideally planned life allows you to map out your life on paper and show you where your strengths and weaknesses are. Any day life doesn’t overwhelm me, is an ideal day. You’ll have to define what ‘ideal’ means to you.