Monday, September 8, 2008

I've been noticing a pattern.

This is the craziest thing to me, but I have certainly been noticing a pattern to if I'm going to have an "on" day or an "off" day in regards to how productive I am.

I am not kidding about what I'm about to tell you. (note: not sure why I'm being so dramatic and I do hope you are not let down when I tell you what I'm about to tell you).

When I wake up to a clean, picked up house it is going to be a very productive day. If I wake up to even a bit of clutter or stickiness on chairs/floors it is harder to get stuff done.

I am so curious if anyone else in blogland is the same way?

With that said I'd like to talk about what a grand day this has been so far. It all began last night when we put the boys to bed and went to town on the house. Blinds, Ceiling Fans, Floors, the works.

Waking up to a sparkling house is just the BEST! Well, I did a couple of things this morning that I never do.
  • went to the store with all three kids in tow
  • used coupons

I really hate coupons. I mean hate em'. I rather have 5 feathery bang bad hair days in a row than to have to deal with coupons.

I did come up with a wonderful system that worked beautifully that I'd like to share. Because, besides the fact that all coupons come with some kind of invisible pixie dust that makes them multiply when you're not looking, and expire the day before you wanted to use them, I always forget to use them at the store when I'm actually trying to use them.

For my system you need 3 things:

  • 3 ziplock bags
  • 1 black marker
  • coupons

Mark one ziplock with the number 1.

Mark the second ziplock with the number 2.

Mark the third ziplock with the word TODAY.

Here's how it works. I put all the coupons I intended to use today in the bag marked 1. I put all the other good coupons I'd like to use this month at some point in the bag marked 2. As I was shopping and found what I was looking for from the 1 bag that the store actually had I moved the coupon to the TODAY bag as I shopped. So, at the end of my trip, I had all the coupons for what I actually bought for the day in the TODAY bag and it was nice.

Which leads me to another question. (yeah, go ahead and prop your feet up and make some popcorn, this is turning out to be a long one). Ok, at Wal-Mart. Who is supposed to load the bags into the cart? Us or the checker person? It's always an awkward time for me and I'd just like to know. Kroger doesn't have these issues.

One last thing to share before I go. At Wal-Mart today I bought some vinyl mattress liners for the boys beds. They go right on top of the mattress, then you put your quilted mattress cover, then your fitted sheet. They repel water. I'm going to go back and get one for the King size bed too, that way if the kids accidentally ever get sick while in our room we'll be all good!

Well, that's all for today. I am so curious though about if your homes effect your productivness.

12 comments:

Jenny said...

My KIDS effect my productiveness:) It sure is nice though to wake up to a nice, clean house. I always have mine clean enough for Mrs. Mindy to come everyday. It's still far from clean, but it's as good as it gets for this season of my life:).

heather said...

1. i can't address the productivity question. sorry...
2. you put your groceries in the cart at walmart. obviosly you haven't had that checker that totally stops working and stares at you until you get your bags out of her way. :)
3. i thought you did the grocery game?

Anonymous said...

I have a pattern too. It goes something like this:

Week 1: I'm so fat and lazy. I've got to exercise every day, even if I don't get anything else done. I can get by without a nap.

Week 2: Wow, the house is piled to the roof. If I just drop the exercise for this week and focus on the house, I really think I can get on top of things. I'll pick it back up next week. (Still no nap.)

Week 3: I'm so tired, I don't care about anything else. I'm going to rest when I can, forget about cleaning, and just have fun with little Anna.

Start over.

Anonymous said...

Wal-Mart--I try to load the bags as the cashier bags them, to save time. Once they have my total and I'm scanning my credit card, if there are bags left, usually they put them in the cart while I'm paying.

Of course, my baby is pretty well contained, and I'm not trying to corral two active boys at the same time.

MS said...

I'm in the middle of making another house a home and can't seem to function until things are put in their place so, yes, my productivity level is completely affected by the state of things in the house. I do miss the days when people bagged and placed my groceries in the cart for me. I even remember the days when my mom or grandpa would drive through and have their groceries loaded in the car FOR THEM. Or, how about a grocer walking to the car with you and loading them there? Ah, the good ol' days.

Have you heard that there is online grocery shopping? Reasors does it here in Tulsa. You select all your items and someone grabs them for you at the store and you just pick them up!! The cost? $5. FIVE DOLLARS! It's SO worth it I think. Granted I haven't tried it yet, but I'm in the middle of my first shopping list on their website so I'll let you know...

The Uptons said...

I've gotta think I'm more of a Jennifer on this one. I like to run, but if I make the time to, I feel good that I exercised but am usually too tired to go blinds and ceiling fan crazy cleaning. I usually pick exercise (right now anyway). I love a clean house, but in no way am I over the top...picked up works in my book. In this season of life, even if my house was spotless, I don't think I would feel like it was because someone would be spilling something, or dragging out every toy...guess they like a clean house too!

the Fosters said...

I feel good when the toys are picked up, the pillows on the couch and the dishes put away. It doesn't bother me too much about the house being vacuumed and dusted until after a couple of weeks. (If I make it to make the bed, then I really feel like the house is looking good.)

I didn't know about the lining for the bed. We just have the mattress cover. Noah has had a bad last few nights with wetting the bed. He is potty trained and has never wet the bed. Any suggestions??

Way to be getting the all 3 kids to the store. You are super mom!!!

Becke' said...

Of course I am more productive when my house is picked up and clean! It means I am spending my time doing things other than picking up and cleaning! LOL! I think Satan is attacking our friendship by not letting you on my blog. I don't like him very much. Have a great Tuesday! See ya tonight.

Anonymous said...

Let me say this (not that I'm an expert, just some thoughts I heard expressed and discussed recently in a Bible study)...As Americans, we place a GREAT value (sorry Walmart) on productivity, so much so in fact, that we determine our own worth and value on how productive we are. Our problem obviously is that unless we're "productive", we feel like crap. I'm not saying throw out the productivity along with your Flylady CD (which is super lame if you've heard any of it), but we definitely need a shift in our thinking about productivity--what is it that God wants us to do today? I love to wake up to a clean house, and yes, I'm irritated when I wake up and there's clutter...I don't want to do anything. I think the root of that is the value idea...the house is reminding me (when it is dirty and cluttered) that I am not doing a good job and that I am a bad wife and mother--which is NOT true. If the house is clean, my pride soars, and I know that I'm the best wife and mom out there--I mean, look at my house!!! I know this was probably more than you bargained for, but there you have it!

Anonymous said...

Yes! Yes! Yes! An orderly home does effect productivity. The reason: You don't wake up feeling overwhelmed and already behind. Thus, more energy and eagerness to accomplish things, (whatever those things may be). By nature most of us don't know where to begin when we feel overwhelmed, and tend to not even begin, causing us to get further behind. Having been a "Home Organizer" for a part-time job in the past, there are a few things I try to stress when helping someone with their home. SIMPLIFY is the first key word. If you don't need it or use it, GET RID OF IT. The second thought is: 'Everything has a place, and everything in its place'. This is easy to do once the habit of putting things away when you are finished with it is established. Kids can be taught this concept, and will do it if they see it done by their parents. If things are not put away immediately, there are 3 times during the day this needs to be carried out: Before nap (rest) time, before Dad comes home from work, and before bedtime. There are a few other reasons a home should be kept in order. First, God is a God of order, so it makes sense things function better when there is order, and secondly it shows honor and appreciation to our husbands, and Dads who have worked hard all day to provide what we need as a family. That's also a good reason to teach our children to take care of their toys, and for us as wives to take care of the things around our home.
Well, Anna, your observation of noticing a pattern has certainly provoked several responses and I couln't resist, either.
Enjoy your day!
Barb

Anonymous said...

This is my first time visiting your blog (got the addy from Megan Schell's blog) and I have to say, you are HILARIOUS! Love your writing style.
And while I'm at it, I totally agree with you on the productivity bit. When my house is a mess in the morning I start the day off "behind" and get stressed out as I try harder and harder to catch up. The day goes MUCH smoother when I wake up to a clean house.

Anonymous said...

This is my first time visiting your blog (got the addy from Megan Schell's blog) and I have to say, you are HILARIOUS! Love your writing style.
And while I'm at it, I totally agree with you on the productivity bit. When my house is a mess in the morning I start the day off "behind" and get stressed out as I try harder and harder to catch up. The day goes MUCH smoother when I wake up to a clean house.