Will Decluttering Help My ADD?

What makes me most distracted? Hmm--that's a tough one. I would say weeds and junk. If I walk outside between May and October, I will often lose track of my original mission and begin pulling weeds. If I walk into another room in the house to get something, I often forget my mission as I notice clutter along the way. I'm hoping that my participation in a decluttering mission for June will help me maintain focus as I move from one room to the next in my daily chores.

Today is Day 12 of the Minimalism Game. I had out of town company for days 8-11, so I did a couple days ahead of time, and I've caught up with the rest today. Over the past few months, my children have been on a chore rotation where the responsibility of washing and drying dishes and emptying the dishwasher is on a weekly rotation. The chores have gotten done consistently on most days. I'm always delighted to walk into the kitchen before bed and see that all the dishes have been washed, dried, and put away. Unfortunately, like a "clean" bedroom with a messy closet and a pile of stuff under the bed, my kitchen has become cluttered behind closed doors and drawers.

From time to time, I, as the mother and homemaker, must step in and correct the mess. I could "make them do it." I've taught them all many times to stack bowls of the same shape together and to corral the lids in a zipper bag to keep the storage container cabinet neat. In fact, I probably will recruit one of them to fix that particular mess. But the drawers and pantry were full of little bits of stuff that could easily be recycled or thrown away, ultimately making the clean-up process easier since the closets and drawers could more comfortably hold the items that really belong there in an orderly fashion. In any case, the decision of what to keep or toss is up to me.

With that goal in mind, I purged the following items.

Day 10:

I recycled 10 old gardening magazines. I did get distracted and look through all of them one last time. However, I discovered that radish seed pods can be used in stir fries, so it was worth the look (I have several radishes that have gone to flower this week).

Day 11:

1. Cat medication (over 4 years old)
2. Almost empty bottle of calcium with a "best used by date" of October 2010
3. Bottle of blackstrap molasses. Yes, it's a good source of iron. But it's gross.
4. Nearly empty can of Clorox Disinfecting Spray (I don't use many chemicals in the house anymore, so it has been in the closet for years!)
5. Dried out floral foam
6. Container of mini Christmas cookie cutters--used once, 6 years ago.
7. Lint roller handle for which I can no longer find refills
8. Bottle of eye medicine from 2011
9. Old shoe box that had corralled vinegar and other bottles in the pantry. Replaced with nice round tray that will function as a Lazy Susan.
10 & 11 Several Walgreens prescription instructions and an empty cough medicine bottle

Day 12

1. Broken plastic fork
2. Instructions for a salad spinner
3. Instructions for a can opener
4. Bent metal fork someone found in the yard, which was washed and put on the side in the silverware drawer years ago. Nobody has ever used it.
5. Broken wax crayon for use with Easter egg coloring
6-10 Medicine cups and spoons with calibration that is worn and hard to read
11 & 12 plastic baby spoon and fork set with teeth marks

All items except the cookie cutters went to the recycling or trash. I will give the cookie cutters to a friend or donate them to Goodwill since they are like new. As I have been decluttering for nearly two weeks, I am delighted when I open and close a drawer without a struggle. I feel more peaceful when things are orderly. And, if things are orderly, I can more easily maintain focus.

The kitchen is in much better shape now, and I have a better idea of what is on hand in the pantry and refrigerator. My next step is to make a menu and grocery list. Since the clutter is gone, I should be able to sit in the kitchen and get the lists done without distractions.

Do you struggle with ADD? Is your house cluttered? Maybe a month of the Minimalism Game will help you cut the clutter and establish more focus. If you try it, let me know how it goes!

Disclaimer: I am not trained as a doctor or psychologist, so I don't have professional qualifications to help you with ADD or ADHD. I'm simply a person who is easily distracted and is happy to share my experiences on things I've tried that help me to maintain focus.

Accountability and the Minimalism Game

As I mentioned in my previous post, a friend invited me to join her and some of her other friends and family members in the Minimalism Game.

So far, I've kept up with each day's number goal. We have been sending "reply all" messages to each of the players in our game. 

Here are my small victories:

Day 2: Today I recycled a pile of papers out of the office and recycled a magazine that had been sitting on the end table in the living room for a few weeks. It's trash night, so they went to the curb! It's nice to have a clear corner on my desk! Hoping to tackle the garage tomorrow.

Day 3: Today, I threw out a cracked 14 lb barbell weight that had been left behind by the previous homeowner. We've been here nine years! I also threw away the welcome mat our realtor gave us that used to say "The Ford's. Most of the letters had worn away and it was cracked in half. I also got rid of a pile of lathing strips that had been on the raised beds in the garden, but they seemed to be more of an annoyance than a help with the "square foot gardening".

We are having out of town company starting Sunday, so I will be doing some of my "8, 9, 10" days with other days. I finally cleaned out the kids' craft cupboard which also held my almost fourth grader's 2nd grade school books. I recycled a giant stack of paper and old magazines, found a fast food sand castle toy to toss, and gathered a pile of books to give away. I think it more than covers "8"!

Day 4:

1. A key of unknown origin to the trash

2. Pile of sample work from my portfolio from 1995 (computer products catalogs and brochures), recycled 3. Life vest for a 30-50 lb child--in the van, ready to donate to someone who can use it.

4. Stack of mementos from the 1980s (concert program, perfect attendance certificate, other junk) that mean nothing to me now.

Thursdays seem to be loaded with appointments, and I've have several today which have kept me in the van, not able to purge any clutter. I have 10 more hours to locate 5 items to evict from my home. I can do this!

A Game for Decluttering

A friend sent me an email last week inviting me to join her in The Minimalism Game. Apparently Josh Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus have made headlines and written books and blogs about being minimalists. I bounced around their website a bit and looked around at my clutter and thought, "Sure, why not?"

The Minimalism Game begins on the first day of a new month. The idea is to get rid of stuff every day in proportion to the date. On the 1st, one item. On the 5th, five items. All the way to the 30th (for June) when 30 items should go out the door for a monthly total of 465 items. According to their site, you can rid yourself of "Clothes, furniture, electronics, tools, decorations, etc. Donate, sell, or trash. Whatever you do, each material possession must be out of your house—and out of your life—by midnight each day." 465 sounds like a huge number to me. 

I have been putting off the decluttering I planned to do two years ago when I started this blog. The laundry room is better, but still not decluttered. The garage needs a major purging. And my closet has been neglected for far too long. Maybe I do have 465 items I can purge from my home.

If you are ready to declutter, join me in The Minimalism Game! I will post my progress each day. Feel free to share comments about your progress, too!

Today, June 1, I threw away a broken bicycle pump that was sitting in the garage for several years.

Tomorrow, I will find two more items!

We Can't Afford That

My husband and I are both frugal about most things. At times, I will mention various improvements that would be nice to make around the house or things I might like. Other times, he mentions bike or running gear that he would enjoy. We've both frequently responded to these dream purchases with the stock answer: "We can't afford that."

Around tax season this year, I started to reflect on whether we could "afford that"--whatever "that" may be. I realized that since my husband starting paying the bills 10 years ago, I haven't had the intimate awareness of our funds that I had early in our marriage--the awareness that enabled us to have a buffer in savings and to pay a vehicle off early. Sure, I'd look at the reports in Microsoft Money and see the income/expense comparisons, but it didn't mean much to me. I'd go shopping and blindly swipe the credit card, confident that we could pay the balance each month, but not really considering the future or our savings goals. We've had the van for 14 years. At some point it will need replacing, and I don't want a 5-year car loan!

I offered to relieve him of the money management duties earlier this year, not because I could do a better job than he could with paying bills, but because I could do a better job with my spending if I was more aware of our finances. After paying the bills and recording in Microsoft Money for a couple months, I wondered if there was a better system. We have attempted to use the Money budgeting tool for years, but it is cumbersome and doesn't give me the control and focus I was hoping to find in financial software. I couldn't easily change the dollars in a category to reflect the month-to-month changes in life. My husband has told me for years that budgets don't work. He's an accountant, and is 3/4 through the testing for the CPA, so he knows more about business and finance than I do. Although I didn't want to believe budgets couldn't work, it seemed he was right. 

Four rules for YNAB Method.
Image credit: http://www.youneedabudget.com/

I wasn't ready to give up, though. Like any modern thinker, I started searching the internet for answers. How could I better manage our funds so we could "afford that" if we really needed it? My search brought me to "You Need a Budget (YNAB)." YNAB is a method of money management that helped me recognize the problem wasn't with budgeting. The problem was with forecasting--planning a whole year's worth of spending before the dollars ever hit the bank accounts. If you look at the four rules of YNAB, you'll see that the first rule is to give every dollar a job. What does that mean? Simply, the money you have gets assigned to a budget category. No forecasting here. You take the money on hand, you look at your monthly expenses, and you start assigning the money to categories. 

The first thing I realized about YNAB was that it seemed friendly. I know, that sounds like a dorky reason to pick a budgeting software program, but stick with me here. YNAB offers a 34-day full-featured demo of the program so you can work through a full month's worth of bill paying and learn to use the software before making a financial commitment. YNAB also offers free online live classes, discussion forums, and personal support. I have taken several of the webinar classes, and each instructor was personable, knowledgeable, and helpful. With each webinar, I learned new skills to use for our budget.

The second thing I realized about YNAB was that it works the way I thought a budget should work. Forecasting is frustrating because there is no "typical month." Every month has an emergency or a surprise expense. Rules two, three, and four help us to plan, adapt, and adjust for those surprises so that we can "roll with the punches" and make informed decisions about our spending. 

YNAB utilizes the Cloud, so if you share accounts, each computer and smart phone for your household can share a single license. You can add spending instantly and check category balances before making a purchase, and every device will have up-to-date information. That also means that when my 5-year-old netbook dies, I won't have to worry that I've lost all of my budgeting history like we did when the old computer died with our only backup of Money 7 or 8 years ago.

Click here to purchase YNAB with 10% discount.

My experience with YNAB began with reading through the website and downloading the software. I started setting up accounts and categories for a day or so, and then participated in my first webinar. I didn't realize until the class started that for each class, YNAB gives a free license to one participant. I never won a license, even though I took four webinars. However, by the fourth webinar, and the 30th day of my trial period, I had budgeted for the purchase of the software! 

Since I found the software through another blogger's website, I realized I could get a 10% discount if I used her code to purchase the software. She, in turn could earn $6 for the referral. Since I purchased the software, I now have a referral code which can save you 10% on YNAB! If you are new to my blog, please bookmark this article and then download the YNAB trial. If you don't win a free copy through the webinars and decide to purchase, please come back and use this referral code to get your 10% discount!

I have been using YNAB for almost two months now. As I mentioned earlier, we live a frugal lifestyle, but seemed to be living paycheck to paycheck. By using YNAB, we're very close to achieving the Rule 4 ideal of living off of last month's income. The rainy day funds could be bigger and our retirement planning definitely needs more attention, but in the short term, I feel more confident about our spending. This morning, I was able to say: "You need new running shoes? Yes, we can afford that today."

My Grandmother's Dress

My 94-year-old grandma is selling her house and moving to a lovely independent living "villa." It's a condo-like duplex with a sun room that overlooks woods and a lake. Grandma loves bird watching, and I imagine many feathered friends will flit outside her new windows this spring and summer. In addition to the beauty of the place, the community atmosphere will give her a chance to make new friends and enjoy activities in the main building while having her independence and privacy at her new home. If she needs more care in the future, assisted living apartments are available.

Last Monday I drove from my home in New England to the Midwest to help my mother (who lives in a neighboring state and had arrived a couple days earlier), grandmother, and aunt. We sorted, packed, and purged items from grandma's home so that she only takes what she really wants and needs to the villa. The house she is selling has lots of storage, which means she had plenty of space to keep everything. I told my husband that I am glad our house doesn't have much storage space because having lots of storage space simply means the storage space gets filled with stuff.

The schnauzer-boxer mix puppy who almost
convinced me to bring her home
from the animal shelter.

From Tuesday through Saturday we gathered, sorted, and purged. Many boxes and bags were delivered to Goodwill. A local hospital had a paper shredding event where we took three or four large boxes. We took a grill and a spreader to the curb and smiled when they disappeared before morning (one woman's trash...). We filled the garage with items for an auctioneer to collect before the big move. We took towels, sheets, and newspapers to an animal shelter. With all we purged, Grandma will still have plenty of her personal items to make the new place feel like home.

I am so proud of my grandma. This decision was very hard for her, but she's been brave. Like most people, she doesn't like change. She was comfortable living in her own home. However, she realized that she honestly couldn't maintain a house on her own anymore. She got choked up several times when she looked at paperwork that mentioned her family and friends who died before her, including all three of her sons. Many memories were stirred up throughout the week as we handled gifts and cards, obituaries and photographs.

As we sorted, my mother and I each took some items that were special or useful to us. Grandma used to do a lot of canning and gardening. I learned those hobbies from her, so I took some of the kitchen and garden tools.

I spent a good bit of time scrubbing and sweeping spaces that had been hard for Grandma to maintain for the past few years since climbing stairs has become difficult, and a bit scary, for her. This "alone time" gave me a chance to reflect. Many families have to go through their loved ones belongings after they pass away. I feel very blessed that we were able to go through the things with Grandma. We got to hear stories of where certain items were purchased (like the full set of Fiesta dishes she and Grandpa bought for $25 when they were first married) or the juice glasses her mother purchased in Florida when they owned a motel in Ft. Lauderdale.

The week also gave me a chance to spend time with my aunt (Grandma's daughter-in-law) who has been a generous caretaker for Grandma for many years. Since Grandma stopped driving about 10 years ago, my aunt has taken her to doctor's appointments, the hairdresser, and the grocery store. She really made it possible for Grandma to live on her own for much longer than she could have otherwise with my mom and I living several hours away in opposite directions. We enjoyed having several meals together in between the cleaning and packing.

Grandma's dress, which is now my dress.

Toward the end of the week, my mother discovered a clothing item in an upstairs room where Grandma's knitting and good linens were stored. Mom held out a long dress which she seemed ready to pop in a Goodwill bag. I grabbed it and held it up to myself. Grandma was about 5'2 before osteoporosis and age shrunk her height to well below 5 feet. I'm about 5'5 and the dress comes to my ankles. I took it downstairs and asked Grandma whose it was. She said it was hers--that she had worn it for bowling banquets. I imagined her 40 or 50 years ago, standing tall in 3" heels wearing her floor-length gown to receive an award at her bowling banquet. Then I went in the bedroom to try on the dress. The dress looks as though it were tailor-made for me. I'll probably wear it with flat sandals rather than high heels, but I will wear it and think of her.

The week went by quickly, but I'm so grateful to have spent the time with my grandma, mom, and aunt as grandma prepares for the next chapter in her life.

Holy Week on the Horizon--Are You Ready?

Wasn't Ash Wednesday just a few days ago? How can it be the Thursday before Palm Sunday? I am not ready for Easter!

I had big plans to read a deep spiritual book and to be more peaceful this Lent. I've read a little bit of the book, but it's weighty and I seem to be interrupted needed whenever I start to read. Or, maybe the problem is that my brain is too crowded right now to focus on the words. Obviously, the peaceful part hasn't been a big success either, except that one day in the garden. 

The past two days, I'd hoped to spend time in the garden, but it's been rather windy, and I have had a number of other excuses reasons for not working outside. April is always a busy month for my family. We have a couple birthdays, Easter, music competitions, and track practice. It seems every time I sit down to write or plan to cook or work in the garden, it's time to get back in the minivan for the next thing on the list.

Ten days remain until Easter Sunday. What can we do to get ready if this Lent wasn't the deep spiritual journey we'd hoped it would be? Here are some suggestions for the remaining days until Easter Sunday:

Thursday: Get to reconciliation.

Friday: Stations of the Cross.

Saturday: Attend a weekday Mass--perhaps try a Latin Mass if one is available in your area.

Sunday: Go to Palm Sunday Mass to begin your celebration of Holy Week. Maybe braid your palms.

Monday: Prepare lovingly for Easter--do laundry, iron, make sure everyone's dress shoes fit. Don't wait until Holy Saturday to prepare your clothing.

Tuesday: Grocery shopping and cookie/bread baking, especially if you're hosting the meal. Again, you don't want to be in the store on Friday or Saturday with everyone who is doing last minute preparations.

Wednesday: Attend a Tenebrae Service or pray an extra rosary.

Thursday: Chrism Mass at a Cathedral and Holy Thursday - Mass of the Lord's Supper.

Friday: Good Friday Service and color Easter eggs. Begin the Divine Mercy Novena.

Saturday: Holy Saturday morning, take Easter food to be blessed. Attend an Easter Vigil Mass where Catechumens are receiving the sacraments.

Sunday: Easter Sunday, Praise God and love the people He has given to you!

If you haven't had the best preparation for Easter during this Lent, it's not too late to give your attention and heart to Our Lord.

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on Us and on the Whole World.

In the Garden I Find Peace

A few weeks ago, I planted seeds for tomatoes, leeks, onions, basil, parsley, peppers, and eggplant. I'm expecting to buy plants for most of those veggies and herbs at local plant sales when I give up hope on my seedlings at the beginning of May.

I'm not being pessimistic here, but realistic.

Tiny tomatoes--I'll feel more confident about their viability once they have a set of "true leaves."

For the past decade, almost every year I have started seedlings indoors only to dump the leggy, dead plants into the compost heap. And yet, each spring I try again, modifying my approach just enough to be hopeful again.  I don't have grow lamps or a green house, so I move trays around the kitchen, trying to find enough light to keep things growing.

Leggy leeks and onions--I haven't given up on them yet!

The trays take up counter space, and probably drive my family a bit crazy. My husband and children are not interested in gardening, and my overzealous planting takes counter space that they would like to use for pouring cereal and making sandwiches.

In those trays, I see potential. I see blossoms in late June and red tomatoes by the end of July. I see onions and leeks next fall. I smell parsley and basil that I will pick just before I use it in a summer supper. I see...a garden!

The weather on this first day of April finally felt like spring here in New England. I went into the garden to empty some compost. We still have some snow and ice on the north-facing side of the fence and near the end of the driveway, but most of the snow has melted. As I walked around the yard, I discovered chives poking through the damp earth and cleaned the dead fronds from the asparagus row. I smiled to find a few spinach seedlings had sprouted in my (new this year) make-shift cold frame.

The sun, warm on my face, shone with the promise that spring indeed has sprung and the time for planting has come. I will be tidying, pruning, and planting for weeks to come, and with a little hope and a lot of prayer, some of my seedlings may actually make it to the garden this year.

Gardening is more than a hobby for me. Of course, I garden to grow healthy food for my family. More importantly, though, I garden because it gives me quiet time in creation with my Creator. In the garden, I find peace.

Heavenly Father, 

Thank you for the gift of creation. Thank you for the birds, bunnies, squirrels, and chipmunks that will disturb my plants and steal my produce. They help me to be humble--and pay my tithes of produce. Thank you for the butterflies and insects that pollinate our plants. Thank you for the rain and the sun that help our plants to grow. Thank you for strong arms and hands to tend the garden. Thank you for a bountiful harvest, if it be your will. Thank you for the opportunity to "work in the vineyard."

Amen.