Giving In

Sometimes in life, you just have to give in. Cave. Tuck tail. Throw in the towel. Surrender. Raise the white flag. The last part of the week was a bit like this for me. I don’t mean this to sound negative, on the contrary. I learned a great deal about my motivation and my writing habits this week, all thanks to KonMari, ROW80, and good ole procrastination…productive procrastination.

NOTE: If you aren’t familiar with the KonMari Method, or Marie Kondo – the creator of KonMari, it is a tidying and decluttering journey where you are encouraged to keep only what sparks joy.

Introspection:

• Giving in to my desire to declutter and organize helps me focus on my writing – even just one little thing like a drawer or a bookshelf.
• Procrastination isn’t always bad. If something is on my mind I am better off setting a timer and doing it rather than trying to write distracted.
• ROW80 encourages me to be accountable for my writing, without it I wouldn’t have made the connection between writing, decluttering, and productive procrastination. Not in a million years!
• If I don’t read or listen to a book for at least an hour a day my writing suffers. Writers should be the biggest readers. Period.
• I am happier and more content when I write, even when I have to dictate it – nothing beats the feeling of new words on the page, no matter how they get there!
• Everyone is happier when I’m not yelling about how messy the house is…

Accomplished:

• Dictated 1 full chapter
• Typed half of another chapter (still getting hung up with my inner editor when typing)
• Words this week: 6,987 (just for the manuscript)
• Worked on the aesthetic graphic for the new chapter
• Signed up for a webinar on editing
• Plotted a new twist…it struck when I was decluttering and gave me chills!
• Decluttered my dresser, entire bathroom, two linen closets, bedroom bookshelf, Evie’s dressers, guest bedroom and bathroom, kitchen towels, and entire pantry
• Spent a whole day with friends – it had been too long!
• Canceled subscriptions that had forgotten about
• Set the household budget for the next month
• Got through all the laundry…not that it ever REALLY ends
• Cleaned out my email (thanks to the app Chuck!)
• Consolidated ALL my calenders – all 7 of them
• Got a headstart on correspondence for the upcoming week
• Planned all our meals
• Accomplished all homeschool goals with the kids
• Cleaned the house top to bottom
• Read/listened to 3 books
• No television or podcasts
• Hosted a family dinner for 10 of us

Overall, I’m happy with what I accomplished this week. With so many meetings/appointments, family coming into town, and my sudden urge to declutter on top of our normal craziness, I was worried, but it all got done. I’m excited to see what the new week has in store and what I can accomplish with a few curveballs thrown my way. Here’s to “giving in” and accomplishing more than planned!