Using Time Wisely

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Cleaning: Creating Motivation through the Sense of Smell

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Photograph Credit: Yankee Candle

As I dusted, wiped, and scrubbed my entire downstairs last week, I lost steam around Wednesday morning. My arms, shoulders, and upper back were sore from all the labor, and I was only about a third of the way done. Yikes!

Though my husband noticed the clean smell when he came through the door, I became accustomed to the smell and felt tired and unmotivated. As I sought for an easy task to get moving, I decided to switch my spring candle with my summer candle.

When I lifted the lid, the aromatic power of the pineapple cilantro ignited my senses, and I was off to light the candle. As the sweet smell permeated my home, I gained energy and strength and got to work.

On Thursday, I continued to work and as I finished on Friday, I kept coming back to my favorite summer scent, the pineapple cilantro candle from Yankee Candle (which rarely goes on sale). For me, this candle created motivation through the sense of smell.

When I lack energy and that walk or exercise routine fails to spur my motivation, I turn to my favorite scents to get moving. This little refreshment spurs me on to completion.

Tracy’s Tip: I keep a sweet-smelling soy candle on my desk upstairs. As I am paying bills and scheduling items, I periodically take a break, inhale a deep breath, smell my candle, and continue with my project.

As you hit a slump with your ongoing projects, surround yourself with your favorite scents to create motivation through the sense of smell. Happy refreshment!

Question: What is your favorite summer candle scent?

2012 Second Quick Tip Week: Using Vinegar to Kill Weeds

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Our Quick Tip Week continues today in the household category, specifically yard work. 

In continuing to care for our yard, garden, and beds, we treat our driveway and sidewalk with weed killer. The grass and weeds sprout through the cracks contributing to a messy look.

Quick Tip #2: Using Vinegar to Kill Weeds

Though not recommended for the yard, gardens, or flower beds, vinegar (white or apple cider) will kill the weeds on hard surfaces.

In reading this Vinegar for Killing Weeds article, I learned that vinegar strips the waxy coating from the leaves making it impossible for the plant to survive. The best part, one or two applications will solve the problem. Presto!

In using time wisely to improve your sidewalks, brick patios, and driveways, consider pouring or spraying white vinegar into the cracks while saving money, energy, and time. Happy maintaining!

Question: How do you kill weeds?

To Do List: Starting the Week with a Manageable Plan

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Whew! What a busy Father’s Day. After a quick morning celebration, worshipping with our church family, and lunch with Paul’s parents, we came home for the afternoon.

Usually, I spend time blogging while the toddler naps and my older kids play. But today, Paul and I enjoyed an afternoon nap.

Making Notes

Awaking feeling rested and thinking clearly, I found myself making a mental list of this week’s activities. Realizing this list kept going, I grabbed my notebook and started writing everything down. At the end of my brain dump, I had a to do list of 48 items to carry out this week.

Assigning Tasks

In organizing the list, I assigned each task to a day of the week. With about 7 items to complete each day, I have a plan for the week.

By breaking down the big picture into manageable sections, the to do list did not overwhelm me. In fact, the list was freeing.

The best part, I felt motivated and knocked off 5 items already. Some of the errands will combine with our activities, so I’m on my way to a smooth-sailing week.

Executing the Plan

Don’t misunderstand. This week is full of activities, errands, appointments, and cleaning. With a plan in place, I can take a break and enjoy my children, rise early to get a start on the day, or move tasks when our plans change.

In using time wisely to schedule your week, try creating your own to do list. You can always add or subtract projects, but getting them off your mental list and on paper (or phone, computer, tablet, etc.) frees your mind to focus on the task at hand. Happy planning!

Question: How do you prepare for the start of the week?   

Scheduling: Keeping It Together (Sort of)

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Cascading Laundry Pile

In between trips to the water park, bounce houses, and day trips boating and tubing, I am back to switching out my children’s clothing.

With the totes piled in the hallway and stacks of clothing in each bedroom, I also have a bathtub filled with stained clothes soaking in OxiClean. Though progress is slow, I am enjoying summer with my children.

I have a l-o-n-g to do list of cleaning projects that will probably take most of the summer. Without stressing, I am just taking the summer one day at time.

In looking back over the last two weeks, I joy in completing my son and older daughter’s closet and dresser while using time wisely with my children.

Besides the piles of laundry (many thanks to those who pass down clothing to my children), we have kept the downstairs picked up, the kitchen cleaned, and a pathway upstairs. 🙂

Does our home need cleaning? Yes! However, I am choosing to schedule summer fun throughout our week while fitting in the cleaning, laundry, and organizing.

Usually very stressed when my home is in disarray, I am learning to accept that I am not supermom. I cannot be everything to everyone, and there are only 24 hours in the day.

By staying organized, knowing what needs to be done, and following through on priorities, I joy in having my children home and enjoying our summer.

If you find summer busier than the school year, then you are not alone. Work from what is most important (your children) down to the nitty-gritty (for me, ironing). Realize that some things are not important now. In using time wisely, do what you can without sweating the small stuff. Happy managing!

Question: What are you letting go this summer? 

2012: Spring Yard Work – Part 3 of 3

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Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

Hoping to show you our completed project today, I can only show a half-finished yard. Though we only have about half an hour of work left to complete the two smaller beds, we did not finish in time for this post.

In using time wisely, we spent the weekend with friends celebrating birthdays and enjoying each other’s company. If all goes as planned, our last two beds will get finished this week.

Thankfully, the two larger areas are complete and look so much better than when we started. Our yard is improving which is progress. The weed killer applied to our grass has reduced the weeds and improved our grass. Love it when one application solves the immediate problem. Now, we will progress to fertilizing.

In earlier posts, I humbly shared our yard’s overgrown weeds and how we removed the edgers and cleaned out the beds in part 1. Then in part 2, I showed how my husband Paul prepared the beds and then treated the beds. In part 3, I will present the finished product after adding new mulch and spreading it in our long bed and under our tree.

Add New Mulch

Wow, mulch bags are heavy! Having loaded the mulch on a cart at Lowe’s, then from the cart to our van, next from the van to our garage, and finally from the garage to the beds tired out Paul. Moving those bags so many times brought shoulder and back pain for a few days to Paul. Yet, he continued to work to beautify our yard. 🙂

For our long bed, Paul added four bags of mulch. The bed under the tree took 2 bags, and the 2 smaller beds together should take 3 bags.

Spread the Mulch

Adding four bags of new mulch to the long bed, Paul spread it evenly and adjusted any edgers to keep the bed’s appearance uniform.

In repeating this process under the tree, the edgers needed more adjusting to keep the mulch from cascading into the grass.

Add More Mulch

Once we spread the other 2 bags of mulch in the last 2 beds, we will begin filling in bare spots. We will use the last 3 bags of mulch to create a uniform appearance in all four beds.

In using time wisely this spring to improve our property, we completed our spring yard work for 2 of our 4 beds by adding new mulch and spreading the mulch. Once the other two beds are complete, we will add more mulch to unify all 4 beds.

As you plan your spring yard work projects, take it step by step. With a little planning and lots of hard work, your yard will improve little by little. Enjoy the process and happy improving!

Question: How’s your yard work coming along?