Radvent Day 2: Balancing

How do I do it all? Pretty simply, the answer to this question is a firm I DON'T. Not even close. But, I really like to think I can (don't we all?). I have a chronic case of "list overkill." On a typical weekend, I will think the following is an achievable list of tasks to accomplish: 1) Clean the kitchen, 2) Sort through our closet and pull out things we don't wear anymore, 3) Have a garage sale, 4) Make eight, 6-foot tall wooden growth charts by burning the lines and numbers on with a $10 wood burning tool from Wal-Mart, 5) Grocery shop, 6) Take Lincoln to the park, 7) If there is time, pull out weeds from our back garden and re-mulch it.

My list overkill usually leads to me being way disappointed when I only accomplish one --or maybe two, if I'm really on a roll--items from the list. Lucas tries to talk me down from my massive to-do lists, but I just can't stop.

Last January, I made this chore chart to help me keep the house in better order. And it worked! I only tackled one or two chores per day, and at the end of the week I got to see all the little magnets moved below the line. After Bennett was born, the chore chart may have taken a little hiatus, but I am pleased to announce that it went back into rotation this week! I found that if I tackle the two jobs right after breakfast and before Bennett's first nap, I have a higher likelihood of actually getting them done. No one is fussy yet, we usually don't have anywhere to be...it's just a good time of day for getting things done.


I am going to keep my to-do list for this weekend at a manageable level. Here goes:

1) Clean the living room.
2) Put out the Christmas decorations.
3) List items on Craig's List.

(It is pretty hard to stop at three. I won't lie.)