No, not the kind you’re thinking of (thought that can be beneficial, too). I’m not talking about letting flowers grow in the dust on your shelves and the carpet become so thick with toys that you can’t even see what color it is. I’m talking about taking a break from your regular schedule and doing some cleaning.
Do you have a closet that something falls out of every time you open it? A game shelf so packed full that you can’t even tell what games are on it, other than the two or three favorites in the front? What about the kitchen cabinets? Do you even really know what’s in them anymore?
A big project can be frustrating for everyone involved, and often, it ends up getting left half done with more of a mess than before. Set attainable goals that can be accomplished in a short span of time—just long enough for it to be a break from the routine without becoming even more “boring” than it already is. You might decide to organize one shelf in the closet one day, and then come back the next (or a week later) and organize the one below it. You might clean out one kitchen cabinet—throwing away anything that is past its expiration date and moving things around so that you can get to what you really want. Is there a table (or counter) in your house that tends to end up being a catch-all for everything as you come through the door? What about a dresser that you and your spouse pile everything on at the end of the day?
Start with something that you can organize in less than an hour. As it becomes a regular part of your routine, it might become easier to spend more time on it; or, you might learn that you need to break the process down into smaller increments of time. Use what works for you.
When you’re done, you’ll discover that a cleaner, more organized space makes everyone feel just a little bit better—even if they’re whining about your next project.
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