Tip Tuesday - Room By Room To-Do

This task is as straightforward as it sounds. All you need is a pen & paper. You are simply observing & taking notes in this task. Walk through each room of your home and write down the things (big and small) you’d like to accomplish in each space. Don’t get distracted by the things that need to be done. Remind yourself that the initial task is making the list. 

1. SCAN & EVALUATE THE ROOM:

• Walk in and turn to the far left side of the room. Slowly scan the room from top to bottom writing down things that need to be done, until you’ve made it all the way back around to where you started. 

• Look for things that need attention or that you want to change/improve.

  • Cleaning

  • Decluttering

  • Repairs

  • Trash

  • Sorting

  • Decorating

  • Filing

  • Renovations

• Repeat this exercise in every room in your home. 

• You can use a different sheet for every room, it that helps you visually break down the to-do lists!

2. MAKE A GAME PLAN:

• Take a deep breath - it’s overwhelming when you look at the whole house. This strategy will help you break it down room by room. Whether your lists are minimal and simple or daunting and scary this is a good practice. Just like all of my other “list making” tips this exercise will get these to-dos out of your brain and onto a piece of paper. Sometimes making the list is the hardest part, but it is the BEST place to start.

• When you’ve got the lists finished go through room by room and prioritize the list. Maybe you color code it or just simply number the tasks by priority. 

• If you have other people living in your home, SHARE THE RESPONSIBILITY. Think through tasks that everyone can complete and involve your spouse, kids, etc. When everyone living in the home invests in the decluttering/to-do lists they are more likely to help maintain it!

  • Consider your strengths & the strengths of your spouse and kids. If possible, give everyone something they can easily accomplish first. Everyone is motivated by different things, so you have to consider that! If your husband doesn’t care AT ALL about your craft supplies, don’t ask him to declutter that space for you. You want to divide up the list so that everyone feels like a successful contributor. 

3. INTENTIONALLY SCHEDULE TIME TO TACKLE THE LISTS:

• EVERYONE IS BUSY. But if these things are important to you, you’ll prioritize your time to make them happen. This could take months of even years to accomplish and that is okay!

• If you have a certain day of the week or time of the day that you can dedicate to tackling the tasks, do it! Calendar it on your phone, write it in your planner, set a timer…do whatever it takes! 

• The reality is a lot of us don’t have that flexibility daily or even weekly. So if you can’t dedicate a regular block of time to tackling the lists, don’t be overwhelmed by that. When you find yourself with canceled plans or a few minutes of down time, choose something on your list that you can accomplish completely or get started on in the window of time you have.

• As you are planning your week or month, choose a day to dedicate to the lists.

4. STAY ON TOP OF IT:

• Things happen, we get busy, priorities change on a whim sometimes! Whatever you do, don’t quit!!!  You may go weeks without marking one thing off of your list but don’t feel defeated by that. You did all of the hard work to go through each room and come up with a plan!

• Keep the list in front of you regularly. I suggest a weekly or monthly check in on the list.

• Set a reminder on your phone or write it in your calendar to do a Room by Room To-Do check in! 

• Celebrate your progress and choose which items you’re going to tackle next. Make a plan! 

• If you need to re-write your lists, indicate the more pressing things with a * or by using a different color.

• Leave space on your lists to add things that come up as you go!

• The likelihood of these lists ever being completely finished is very slim. We are always thinking of new projects and things we want to improve or accomplish in our living spaces. That is normal! The list is just meant to give some structure to all of your thoughts & goals.

As always, if you would like a more specific plan for your space, I’d love to help!

We can set up a productivity consultation in person or virtually. Message me if you want more information on those services!