Learn how to approach home cleaning and organizing goals by focusing on progress and adopting a goal of simply making the home better. Shift your mindset to continuous improvement in decluttering and celebrate small successes along the way. Discover the remarkable story of Lillian Gilbreath, a scientist and inventor who revolutionized the home-making industry. Emphasize progress over perfection in decluttering and accept limitations to prioritize energy and time. Maintain consistent standards, find inspiration in progress, and explore opportunities to become a certified decluttering coach.
Focusing on progress and celebrating small victories is essential for achieving goals.
Accepting physical limitations and finding alternative ways to make progress can lead to a more functional and enjoyable home.
Deep dives
Focusing on Better All Along the Way
The podcast episode discusses the importance of focusing on progress and celebrating small victories instead of solely fixating on the end goal. The host shares her personal experience of feeling frustrated and stuck when she only focused on achieving a perfectly decluttered home. By shifting her mindset and setting the goal of making her home better, she found that any action she took, no matter how small, contributed to making her house more functional and enjoyable. The episode emphasizes the importance of accepting and embracing the reality of your situation, whether it's related to decluttering, physical limitations, or health diagnoses. It encourages listeners to redefine success and acknowledge that progress is valuable every step of the way.
Decluttering with Physical Limitations
The episode addresses the challenge of decluttering for individuals with physical limitations or health issues that make the process difficult. The host acknowledges that traditional decluttering strategies, like immediately taking items to their designated place, may not be feasible for everyone. She advises accepting one's limitations and finding alternative ways to make progress, such as asking for help or adapting the process to accommodate their needs. The episode also highlights the importance of accepting that certain items may no longer serve a purpose in one's life due to physical limitations or health concerns, and that letting go of them can actually make the home easier to maintain.
Selling vs. Donating
The podcast episode explores the dilemma of whether to sell or donate items when decluttering. The host shares her perspective on the value of selling items and the realization that in many cases, the effort and time required to sell things may not be worth the financial return. However, the episode also acknowledges that some individuals may need to go through the process of trying to sell items before feeling ready to donate them. The focus is on embracing progress and celebrating every item that leaves the home, regardless of the method chosen.
Maintaining Realistic Standards of Efficiency
The host discusses the concept of maintaining realistic standards of efficiency in household tasks. Drawing inspiration from Lillian Gilbreath, an efficiency expert, she encourages listeners not to raise their standards when adopting new tricks or tools that make tasks easier and less time-consuming. The episode emphasizes the importance of appreciating the progress made and not succumbing to perpetual dissatisfaction or constantly raising the bar of expectations. By setting realistic standards, individuals can experience the true benefits of efficiency and feel content with their achievements.
It's easy to get discouraged when you look at all the things that could or should be happening. But focusing on "better" all along the way is how you get there. And celebrating "better" is one of the best ways to keep going!
