Motivation is contagious, you know.

I haven't been slacking, you know...just didn't have time to update. Yesterday I got the ENTIRE bathroom de-cluttered, organized, and cleaned. (well, except the floor.) Given that our bathroom is roughly 20 sq. ft., that probably doesn't sound like much of an accomplishment, but you'd be surprised. You know those grocery store plastic bags? Well I filled FOUR of them with old medicine, toiletries, nail polish, and makeup. I've heard rumors that most makeup isn't meant to last more than a year, but I'm pretty sure I found stuff from high school in there. I shouldn't admit this, but there was a 20-color eye shadow kit from CLAIRE'S of all places. (don't judge.)

Anyway, the nice surprise was that this morning, it was actually easier and faster to get ready for work. With less stuff (and only stuff I actually use) I was able to save some minutes off. And I don't usually spend more than 5 minutes!

I had about 7 bottles of body wash in the shower...many that I had scooped up last year because students left nearly full bottles in the dorm at the end of the year and then I just kept keeping them, even though I never used them because I actually had plenty that I had picked out and bought myself. sigh. Will I never learn??

Oooh...here's a random tip that's working for me...I've gotten dishwasher soap that I LOVE the scent of (it's lavender, by Method). Doing the dishes has taken on a new zen quality for me.

I took pictures, but...ironically...they're on my work computer. So maybe I'll add them tomorrow.

Michael took pity on me and did my laundry for me yesterday too. For some reason it doesn't really bother him and it's one of those tasks I can't stand because it takes forever and involves so many steps (both figuratively and literally, since the laundry is three flights down) that I find it paralyzing. Maybe if I did it more frequently... (what? every six weeks isn't enough?!) He doesn't fold though, which is only fair, and that was supposed to be on my to-do list today, along with the kitchen and bathroom floors. But, well, I didn't get done with work until 10 pm, so I gave myself the night off. Which is okay, because, if you scroll back down to the rules, it stipulates that I do something 5 days a week, so I'm still on track! Plus, I deserved it. We had three separate "incidents" in the dorm this weekend, so we are fried.

I haven't been to the gym in 4 days, though, and I don't know if it's more because I've been too busy focusing energies on the de-cluttering or because I've been on duty. Either way, I'm pretty sure I've burned some extra calories anyway, and getting organized is pretty energizing and motivating. Plus, I was smart and made it part of the rules that I would cut myself some slack in other areas. =) I know how to set myself up for success! ;)

In case you're in suspense, I should tell you that, of the stuff I cleared out over the weekend, I put the food in the dorm kitchen and much of it seems to have disappeared. The stuff that other people might like I put in the basement for now. I'll see how much I accumulate over the next couple of weeks of de-cluttering and will either donate it en masse or save it for the yard sale, depending. (Alicia, the cookbooks are down there if you're interested.)

And, I got to try out that new form I made myself for interviews at work today and it worked really well, so this organization kick is paying off already! I'm a little sad I didn't get much de-cluttered today, but it was a seriously hard and long day, on the heels of a seriously long and hard weekend. On the list for tomorrow is floors and folding laundry. After that...it's the hallway...which includes coats, snack closet/hardware closet, and...the first of the bookshelves.

eeks.

til then...go organize something, and tell me all about it! Motivation is contagious, you know.