Welcome to Day 3 in our Clutter-Free Challenge.
After seeking God’s help with this de-cluttering process, the next step on our Clutter-Free journey deals with minds. I’ll venture to say 75% or more of our clutter problems aren’t because we don’t work hard enough, or that our homes are too small or our children are messy. Most of our problems start because we can’t think through what needs to be done. We can’t get our minds under control. We can’t make decisions. We are on mental overload.
Do you know that feeling?
For years, I lived with an ongoing sense that I should be doing something all the time. It ate at me. Even when I was focused on something important, there was a latent unease about what else I should be doing. It was an underlying anxiety that hung around, even when there was no pressing deadline or responsibility. It caused stress and lack of sleep.
It wasn’t until I read David Allen’s book, Getting Things Done, that I discovered a reason for this tension. It seems our brains aren’t designed to store and manage all of the information, deadlines and demands that swirl around us at all times.
Allen writes, “The big problem is that your mind keeps reminding you of things when you can’t do anything about them. It has no sense of past or future. That means that as soon as you tell yourself that you need to do something, and store it in your RAM (your mind), there’s a part of you that thinks you should be doing that something all the time.”
It was a head-slapping moment when I read those words. That was it! Allen goes on to explain that the first step to finding a solution is to get everything out of your mind and store it somewhere safe. Not the “safe” place you stored an important document at home, and now can’t find. But somewhere close at hand.
I realized my mind was trying to manage more stuff than it could hold, and one to-do list wasn’t the answer because it wasn’t keeping things in safe places.
With that in mind, I’m going to ask you to do something painful. Not as painful as stepping on a scale, but close. I want you to take a personal assessment of all your responsibilities, projects, priorities and tasks. Everything. Get it out of your mind and onto one notepad or spiral notebook – this will likely take more than one page, and that’s okay. If you have multiple to-do lists somewhere, combine them into this one list. Leave this list where you can see it morning, noon and night for a few days.
On this list write down everything you need to get done. You might start with your home and add repairs, cleaning projects or laundry. Write down things you need to do for your family, such as make a dentist appointment, write a letter to a teacher or take clothes to the dry cleaning. Then move on to other areas of your life: church, community involvement, sports teams, etc. Include big projects and little things, like errands and emails that need to be sent. Nothing is too small to include.
You might want to dedicate one page for future projects, such as planning this summer’s vacation or researching colleges with your daughter. Another page might contain things you want to do years from now, but you don’t want to forget.
If you are employed, you might want to keep those responsibilities separate.
This process will take you days. If it helps, you can organize this list however you see fit now, or just write things down as they come to mind. It’s okay if there is no order to it. Actually trying to organize it now might hinder you if you are a perfectionist. You might not leave yourself enough room in a certain category and then you’ll be frustrated.
For now, capture it all on paper. Don’t be surprised if you feel a bit panicky at how much you have to do. Just take a deep breath and ask for God’s peace. You will feel a sense of relief soon. Even if you go no further in this Clutter-Free journey, I promise you will feel better after this step is done. You’ll feel lighter.
Hold on to that list. Add to it. We’ll get back to it in a few days when I tell you how to use this list to create a project management planner. I think that’s enough for one day, don’t you? 
Tomorrow I’ve got a tip for helping to de-clutter your mind even more. I think you’ll be surprised at what I’ve discovered multi-tasking can do to your brain.
One more thing. I’d love to give away a copy of my book, I Used to Be So Organized. To enter, just leave me a comment today. For fun, include in your comment one thing you are putting on your list. Make it something random, odd or unusual if possible. Or just an everyday thing which needs to get done. I’ll pick someone at random and post the winner on Thursday morning.
Until then …
Grace & Peace,
Glynnis
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me so much responsibility. It shows Your trust in me. Help me to be a good steward of the assignments You have given me. Help clear the clutter in my mind as I work through this exercise. Bring things to mind that You want me to remember. It feels overwhelming to me right now, but I know with Your help, I can manage this. In Jesus name, Amen.
The comments are now closed for the book giveaway. Thank you so much for reading and comments.
My 91 yr old mother just left today after visiting me for a month. People asked “what did you do for fun?” The same thing we’ve always done for fun..move furniture, hang pictures, rearrange and begin to “clean out”. Mom is a “tosser” and I am a “keeper” but she inspires me to see things as she says “KISS” (keep it simple “silly”). Even though mom can’t move as well or do as much…she is my inspiration and I am encouraged we made so much progress and pray I can continue to do this “without” her physically with me each day to do a “little everyday”.
Wow! This is great stuff, can’t wait to get started.
The 1st thing on my list is to run home at lunch to pick up my son’s jacket and take it to him at school.
Jan, You are blessed to have a mom who can model this for you!
One thing on my to do list is to organize my filing system!! Thanks for your thoughts today–very helpful to get started on making a master “TO DO” list!
This is such a blessing as I’m relating to many of you & have been feeling sooo overwhelmed!!! One thing on my list is to clean out my inbox!!! I’m so bad about saying” I will read it later”…& never do!!!
In my mind, I am so organized, but on the outside, I find that not to be so true! A few things I am adding to my “to do” list…….. finish writing thank you cards from christmas and send, get pizza sales form out to all the youth for our mission trip fundraiser, call the dentist, ortho, and doctor for appts.
Thanks so much for the idea of a “master list”, that will be helpful (if I can remember which notebook I put it in)! I am total opposite of Tammy, I am organized on the outside but literally “busting at the seams” on the inside! Information overload! I have tons of ideas stored & not enough time set aside to follow-thru! On my “to do” list I plan to include taking down the rest of Christmas decors (yes, I know it’s almost Feb, is she crazy?, no am I truly the only one w/ decors still up or the only one to admit it?). I also plan to start my kids’ scrapbooks, at least something that shows “proof” they were born! And I would absoultely love to organize my office to be more “crafty”. I know what you’re thinking, can we say PROCRASTINATION!! Thanks for the insight, I definitely need some guidance!
Shana,
You are not alone with Christmas decorations still up! Mine stay up until the end of January every year. I am very involved in the music ministry at my church and the Christmas season is always exceptionally busy. I don’t really get a chance to enjoy my Christmas decor until Christmas is over so I leave it up extra long on purpose. It helps to brighten the dreary winter days and keeps the message of Christmas in my mind after the hype is over.
I am finding this very helpful. I am working full-time, still raising 2 of my 4 children (who are 6 & 8), taking classes to finish my master’s degree, helping to keep my parents in line financially, etc. I get so overwhelmed with everything I have to do that it is having an impact on my sleep at night as I wake up thinking about what needs to be done. I think I need to put something on my list to make sure I take time for me. I seem to be so busy helping and doing for everyone else, that I forget to make time for me. Thank you so much for the help you are giving to so many of us.
Thank you for helping me walk through this process. It is something that I have been in need of. Life happened and my once organized life went on vacation. I am at a point in my life where I am overwhelmed by an older child in college and a child trying to get established on her own, sick and aging parents needing daily assistance, a job that is in flux, and settling a recently widowed father-in-law into assisted living while liquidating his home. When I saw this challenge I thought …why not, maybe I can learn one little thing to help with my now cluttered mind and home. I find that the two are closely related and I can usually judge the condition of my mind by the condition of my home. I have tried to declutter but I stumble and lose my focus. I look forward to walking through this with you and the community of other women. I think the one thing I need to put at the top of my to-do list is to really remember to start the day spending time with God and asking for His direction and guidance in all that I think, say and do.
Paula, as I read your post I completely saw myself in your words. When you said you had a cluttered mind and home and that the two are closely related, I started connecting more with you. However when you said you could judge the condition of your mind by the condition of your home…. WOW! WOW! WOW! I look back over my life and THAT IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE!!!! As I spend time with God and do a new biblical financial study I procrastinate my home. My spirit is being fed in learning new truths about God’s word but my home is still cluttered. And that get’s subconsciously taught to my children. We so frequently “have the world on our shoulders” that we think we can handle everything and forget that God is the OMNIPOTENT One, not us. EVERYTHING is tiny to Him and NOTHING is too big for Him; so ask for Him to guide our everything!
I think I will use a spiral notebook for my lists. I often make lists but lose them!
I will add work on baby books, and make new felt board stories to my list.
Thanks!
I can identify with losing the lists I have made! I try to keep things on my “smart” phone, but it is often smarter than me it seems. On my to do list is to consolidate all of the calendars I am currently keeping..
I think I will use a spiral notebook for my lists. I often make lists but lose them!
I will add work on baby books, and make new felt board stories to my list.
Thanks!
One thing on my to-do list is to get taxes organized for my CPA. While in most years past I try to do some every month, so there is not alot come January….last year I did none! Completely pasted me up with finishing my BA degree and being mom to four! This study is a big inspiration to me! Thank you:) Brenda
I feel so blessed to be a part of this challenge. My overwhelmed brain welcomes having someone else tell it what to do! So appreciate the advice for perfectionists…just writing the list would have become a huge problem for me.
Thanks, Glynnis!
I am thankful for the same direction for perfectionists. I would have been so frustrated to run out of room under a “section”. And to get the list organized would have caused LOTS of procrastination.
I had bought a couple journals months ago – this will be a good use for them. I will add writing preparing a resume portfolio for my daughter with special needs so we can start job hunting as she ages out of the publics schools this year.
Thanks for this challenge. I am praying it will get me on track to getting my life back.
Great idea!… I am getting started on my list… my biggest scariest project on my list:
clean of my desk!
AAAAAAAAAAAMENNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!
The more I read other’s comments the more I want to add to my list… but I’m thinking saving for my trip to Hawaii with my sis and her family ranks at the top of my list:)
Thanks for offering this “blog study”. One thing on my list is getting the children’s picture taken.
Enjoying your Clutter-Free Challenge. Laundry is an endless job! – I’ll put on my list “Do 3 loads of laundry a day” and we’ll see… maybe I won’t have to play catch up on Sat then!
With 5 children laundry has always been a burden. My aunt once said to put a load of wash in during the day and do other chores or activities with my kids during the “wait” time of wash. Then when it’s done drying folding can be done with kids helping. Also she said that when a load is washing during dinner it can be ready for drying after dinner when dishes are being washed. This way clothes are not left in the washer overnight. Maybe this will help your time be more productive; or at least a little less burdensome.
Wonderful idea! Simple yet something we don’t take time to figure out. Love the laundry tip!
I am going to put on my list …” pick out wood flooring “
Im adding Zumba to my list!!!
I understand the “keeper” vs. “tosser” personality. My mother keeps everything. Magazines, newspapers with recipes, knitting patterns, unfinished knitting projects, plastic containers, etc. I fight against clutter in my own home because I hate it. I tell people that I KNOW there is a computer desk in my living room because all those piles of papers are not floating in mid air. >-( I also appreciate my 15 year old daughter who, when she was near 8 had me post one of her drawings on the fridge. Then about 4 days later she asked if we could throw it away because she was done having it on the fridge and didn’t want to keep it. I said yes we could toss it. Then I gave her a big hug and told her I appreciated her. Some things are DEFINITELY KEEPSAKES. But a lot of things are NOT. And just for some of those procrastinators/perfectionists…I JUST took down my Christmas tree 1/7/12 and boxed all the decorations up. AND the boxes are still in my living room.
I’m just sorry that my schedule didn’t get me online before the end of Glynnis’ contest. :0)
yes its so overwhelming..where do i start,nd sometimes i feel like I’m failing myself,coz everything must be in order in my life,when it comes to my home…but today on top of my list I’m putting ‘mE Time’..need2 look after my well being,what i dont do coz i feel I’m selfish if i do it go out with friends…so here 2 a well look after wiFe nd mother!!
One thing that I am going to put on my list is to be kind and gentle to myself, even when I don’t meet my expectations.
One thing on my list is to ask my husband to reset the mousetraps in the garage that have been bumped and set off by accident.
Thanks for this book and this process. This is an answer to prayer.
I will add Make a To Do List to my to do lists : )
I hear you sister!
LOL!!!!
Remember to stop at friend’s salon this week b/c they have a buy 1 get 2 free sale on good shampoos, conditioners, etc.
Years ago I always thought I was organized, now I seem to be constantly saying ‘when I am organized’. So now the time has come to ‘get organized’.
First item on my list – Stop dreaming about it, write it down.
One thing on my to-do list is “rest”. I want to allow myself time when I am tired, to release the feeling that I have to be in constant motion. I am allowed to sleep the 8 hours my body requires!
i thought i was the only one. I always feel like- if I’m not moving I am neglecting something or being unproductive, leaving me exhausted at the end of the day.
Amen!
Ditto
I would encourage you to read The Contented Soul by Lisa McMinn. . Helped me give myself permission to rest!
thanks Debbie!!!
One thing on my list is to inventory the books we have listed on various websites and pull the ones that are taking up space. I am also going to clear out the last of the storage unit books and close that down. Thank You Cindy It is going on my list to do that is…… Trying not to give myself an out….. LOL
Thank You Glynnis for this series on removing clutter. It is much needed in my life right now. I hate clutter. I am the kind of person that likes to have a specific place for everything but my house is far from that. Having a husband and two kids, who love to just put things all over the place and being a working mum it is has been very difficult for me to maintain a clutter free home.Also our house is small so if there is anything out of place it immediately looks cluttered and untidy.The clutter in our home has been frustrating me for many years but it has become too overwhelming for me and I have just not done anything about, but thoughts of the clutter are constantly at the back of mind.Reading your tips and advice have really motivated me to finally do something about this and helped me realize that I need to tackle one thing at a time.Thank you for also helping me realize that the problem might be that we just have too much unnecessary stuff.The first thing I’m going to put on my list is to sift through our stuff and prioritize what is really necessary to keep.
Ronell,
You are speaking my life! Husband, two children, working mom, hate clutter but yet feel so overwhelmed to tackle it. I too have come to the realization that it is because we just have too much unnecessary stuff. God calls us to not have anything more than what we need. Although we give, it is not enough. We are blessed by TOO much and in return it has been a weight. This clutter in my life is daunting me I feel encouraged to accomplish it with the help of Glynnis guidance and reading post like yours reminding me I am not alone. Thank you Ronell and Glynnis for your nudge to get started.
Sincerely,
Suzzi
I am the mother of 6 (what a blessing!) and 2 kids ago I started drowning a little EVERY day with STUFF! Now, with a move this past summer, and a new home-schooled kid, I’m buried….mentally and in actual clutter. One silly thing on my list is to put away the two cake mix boxes my one year old left on the floor beside my bed BEFORE christmas! I know your ‘list thing’ works. My organized husband had me do this once and it was terrifyingly 5 pages long…..but EVERYTHING on that list was done. (at least I think….I lost that list).
Thats my life, Carrie. I have 5 kids, and we’ve mostly homeschooled, but the kids are in school this year, and an amazing school too. We found a school that was right for our dyslexic daughter, and in doing so i felt this would give me a break and i would be able to get EVERYTHING organized for once. I started to get UNorganized after my 4th baby, and have slowly been sinking. I now have a mess that is neatly put away in boxes that need to be sorted and organized. I get overwhelmed when i see all those boxes labeled “needs organizing”!!!! But guess what? i havn’t gotten very far and the school year is about half ways done………. AAAAAAAAAH. I so need this study! I’m praying for the Lord to help me get rid of this mental clutter i’m in and then on to the storage room! God Bless all you out there that are doing this study!
Plan a birthday party. get invitations today
I consider it a God thing that I stumbled across your website just in time for the clutter-free challenge. Thank you, Glynnis, for letting God help others through you .
One thing on my list is to hug and listen to my kids more often.
Blessings, Jen
As one who “used to be so organized”, I’m much in need of a new way to look at and deal with the clutter in my life. God is faithful and I am trusting Him to help me in this journey back to a clutter-free life.
One thing on my to-do list is to pick up, unload and put away the food order for our church’s food pantry every week.
Along with 500 other things, I have to help my 11 year old daughter force feed her sick leopard gecko and soak him in sugar water….:)
Begin new list for adoption process and fundraising:)
Pamela we are actually getting ready to bring home our baby girl. We have paperwork, court, and flying to Taiwan left on our list. We hope to have her home in 3 to 6 months. Where are you adopting from?
So exciting! We have adopted 3 boys (2 from Russia and 1 from China). We feel God leading us to adopt a girl – but from where? Why the Lord has placed Vietnam in my heart is bewildering as the Vietnam program is currently closed to the US. We are researching different agencies now and getting ready to start the paperchase again:)
Good luck with everything!! If you have a blog or website to follow, I’d love to hear about your journey!
Pamela, If you need some assistance with adopting in Viet Nam, I have Vietnamese friends who may be able to help. Let me know if you would like me to ask. My friends just sent money our women’s scripture group helped raise to provide rice to send to villages that have nothing . I know there is a need for help and probably a need for parents as well.
I would love to hear more.
Glynnis…thank you soooo much for doing this 15 day clutter free series! I am in need of this! For so long now, I’ve been saying to myself..”maybe I have adult A.D.D”, I can’t seem to get anything done around the house, in my mind I know what needs to be done, but I just can’t seem to get focused enough to do the things that need to get done! And then again I keep telling myself,” well…I am 51!” but I know I’ve always been kind of like this, that is with a husband, 3 sons, 1 daughter ( our beautiful special needs daughter we adopted from Bulgaria 12 years ago!) 3 dogs, and 1 cat! In my mind I’m organized! ;0) but in reality I’m not! Lol!!! Oh…that’s right, so on my list? Since I’ve turned 50….I get to have my first “colonoscopy” in a few days! Hooray! Happy De-Cluttering! ;0)
One of the many things I am putting on my list is getting rid of the three or four (I’m not even sure how many there are!) extra children’s bikes in my garage, so I can park my vehicle in it this winter.
I don’t know where to start….oh, maybe get the tired dead wilted plants out of their pots and create one attractive dish garden instead of three old ugly ones.
I’ve been doing seminars on organization for years. I am always trying everyone’s new or tweaked ideas. You are absolutely right about everything so far. When it comes to the assigned tasks of actually de-clutterng, I always tell people to take a black trash bag (not clear), and each Saturday, fill it up with broken or worn out things and throw it out before you have a chance to change your mind. Also a favorite tip is putting a trash can in the garage right by your car.
Great tips! Thanks.
I like that idea about the trash can by your car….Our car sure gets junked up pretty fast!!!!! Then I take things out and set them in the garage (some trash, some to go in the house)….Oooo – I thought of another idea to set next to the trash can (a container for things that need to be put away in the house.) Then make that one of the kid’s jobs for the week….otherwise my garage will still be a mess….even though my car is clean. Okay – enough talk about cleaning out the garage….better write that down on my list that Glynnis encouraged me to write.
Making a list challenge. First I have to find a notebook and it is somewhere on the messy desk and then an ink pen that works and I have to put the clothes away and the kitchen is a disaster and all that stuff on the table and…now what was that I was supposed to do? Oh yeah..a notebook!
LOL…I can TOTALLY relate!!!
Wait–you’ve been to my house haven’t you!! I can soooooo relate to what you’re saying!
I will finish one activity and email three business associates today.
I am so thankful for this clutter-free challenge already. Thank you! One thing going on my list is to write a matron of honor speech before this Saturday
I’m going to add something to the list for myself. I’m going to get properly fitted for under garments.
Here, here!!!! Can’t wait to do the exact same… *after* I pop out yet another baby next month. LOL Thanks for reminding me to put this on my list.
Me too. I find i always buy my kids clothes first, and then IF theres money left i buy myself what i need, but usually theres nothing left and im the one who is frusterated that i don’t have what i need. I am going to buy myself a little something occasionally too, WHILE theres money not IF theres money! I read something the other day. It went something like this: You are doing your children an injustice if you ALWAYS put them first. They learn that it’s ALL about them, and that is not preparing them for their future.
On my list of To-do’s—Bug Bomb the attic! I saw a spider up there at Christmas time while retrieving Christmas garland to decorate my daughters mail box. (In January of 2003 I was bit by a Brown Recluse Spider while up there and I have been afraid to clean the attic since!) Well I now have the mind set since Glynnis’ de-Cluttering challenge to ‘Take-My-House-Back’ and that includes the attic! So, ‘Become the Terminator’ and ‘Bug Bomb The Attic’ will be line item number 1!!! (or maybe I’ll just call the Bug Guy out and have him take care of it!) Yuk—I hate spiders! :b
We are in the process of moving. In packing & storing for nearly a year now, I’ve come to realize how much I really CAN do without!
As I unpack … each item I remove from a box … will be given the option (after not seeing it or using it for this time) to stay, trash or donate!
I love living clutter free and do not look forward to unpacking all the debris in my life, but with God’s help, I will know (or pray to know) the difference!
Greetings Lisa R –
I moved from the East coast to the Midwest, basically by MAIL about 6 years ago. Mailing was cheaper than paying a mover because most of the things I wanted to keep could be sent bookrate. I gave everything away that could not be mailed or fit into my car. I seem to fluctuate between being able to live with very little, or in overwhelming clutter. Oh for a balanced life! By the way, I am STILL opening boxes – I basically labeled what was in each of my 165+ boxes, but now and then I find something that I really enjoyed using, and it’s like getting a reward! I love the idea of unpacking the debris of your life and then blithely trashing it! What freedom!
This challenge comes at a perfect time for me!
The first thing on my list will be to find more
STUFF to take out to the garage for The sale I planned
to have last fall but never got around to it!
So thankful I came across this site. I have so much in my house to declutter and my life.I am so excited to begin this challange. Thank you Glynnis and Thank you Lord I found this.
This challenge is just what I need right now. THANK YOU! I’m ready to declutter my mind as well as my home!!!
One of the random things I have to do today is put my daughter’s MP3 player in the chicken coop playing a Justin Beiber song. (science project)
Today i will add to my list de-cluttering my jewelry box…you said something odd didn’t you? I have a jewelry box that i think about all the time. I will admit that it is costume jewelry, however, some real gold items are somewhere in the ball of mess in this jewelry box. It’s been two years since my husband asked me to get through that box and get rid of the ‘stuff’ i wasn’t using, well, here we are two years later and i had the nerve to pull it out of the closet and peeked in it-my, my, my. Can’t wait to see what i can still use, toss or maybe even sell some of the real gold items
I am really looking forward to de-cluttering. Your challenge gives me HOPE. SURVIVING is on my list. I look forward to when I can change that to THRIVING!
Hang in there, Jen. Your sisters are praying for you.
Amyt
Thanks for doing the challenge. I keep losing my mind on staying clutter free and organized.I alway leave a room to get something only to come back with nothing but ” what was it I wanted”. One thing I want to do is clean that closet I keep shoving thing in only to clean it yet again.
Thank you so much for this series. Your comments really help me not feel so alone in the madness that is in my every day life.
One of the things on my list is to take the clean laundry to my mom who is in a nursing home (and of course pick up the dirty laundry)….
I’ve been on a journey the last 2 years trying to do exactly what you are helping many with. I have been decluttering my life, little by little. David Allen’s book Getting Things Done was a real life changer for me too. One thing on my to do list : Call the Melting Pot to see if we can make reservations for a Youth Girls’ Night Out. We want to get dolled up and have dessert at the Melting Pot around Valentine’s Day!
Make a list… Whew… I hope I can do that without stressing
My Husband calls me “3S” (Stick Stuff Somewhere) or Class 1 Hoarder..
First I want to clarify that my house is very clean and neat, nothing is out of place, but my problem is I do Stick Stuff Somewhere.. BUT.. my Somewhere’s are my closets, drawers, cabinets, behind doors, under beds, attic.. “Out of Sight Out of Mind”.. I want so bad to tackle one of those “Somewhere’s”, but it doesn’t happen. The thought of bringing all that out, scares me, I don’t want to see the mess.. But, I am hoping with this Challenge, it will be a start!! Start with one thing at a time.. Good Luck Ladies with your Clutter FREE Challenge!! I know I will need it
My flesh is saying “OH NO!” to the post today knowing that it will take some valuable time to get it all on paper. This fleshly feeling, although quite apparent, was able to be squelched because prior to reading the day 3 post, I prayed what I learned yesterday: God show me your wisdom in what Glynnis has for us today.
My prayer covering for all who read this is for perseverance and endurance as we work on this task. I am thankful for God’s peace in my spirit as my flesh cries because of the digging that must be done in my mind. I know that He will bring victory out of this.
On my list is: not do ANYTHING for 10 minutes
Thank you for writing so plainly and practically. What wonderful reminders and challenges.
On my list is to plan a trip to Hawaii to see my daughter. She moved there in November so I am eager to go see her.
Thank you for the challange… I am excited to see what God is going to do! One thing that will be on my list is to enjoy the little things…like snuggling up in the bed with my sweet 3 year old little girl.
To do… Turn off the griddle. (I accidentally left it on yesterday, Thankfully my husband turned it off.)
Also pray that our adoption paperwork arrives today. We need to send it to Taiwan very soon.
I’m going to put “keeping a list” on “my list!” You pegged me completely!
One thing on my list is to stop putting myself off because “I don’t have time.” So, first thing on THAT list is find a babysitter for my 1 and 3 year old, and get an eye doctor appointment. I should get to see, too, right?? =)
on my list of to-do’s: go through my growing 3 month old son’s clothes and move out the sweet little infant clothing he can’t wear anymore (already!). It’s taking up room and I know I need to organize it, but he’s the last baby and I think I”ve been putting it off because it makes me a little sad. I’ve got lots of pictures though and a healthy, sweet boy and clothes are just clothes. Thanks for this great challenge!
Get the Christmas stuff ready for the attic this weekend!
One thing on my list is to call the babysitter so that I can go on a date with my husband
Thank you so much for this!
My son moved to Korea for school this past July and we are hoping he’ll return for Christmas.
I have been using his room to put stuff I don’t want to deal with and now you can’t walk in his room or his bathroom without crawling over boxes of stuff.
Top of my list will be to reorganize the attic so I can clean out my son’s room.
Thanks again for allowing God to use you to help others.
Elizabeth
Today really hit home for me. I thought I was having early onset Alzheimers because I forget so much. I have 2 jobs/ministries and family, my daughters wedding to plan, and a benefit for a child with cancer and and and…I forget stuff. Way too often. You hit me today. So with all these big things to do… I was late today because I could not find socks to wear. So on my list …sort the socks!
Today on my to do list is to get my son to preschool on time. I am excited to come home and start my complete to do list.
One thing looming over my head is my wish to do something with the years worth of backlogged digital photos on my computer along with streamlining home videos into one format so that we can enjoy them as a family. Thank you again so much for allowing God to speak through you to help us slightly chaotic and orginizationally challenged women!
I need to scoop out the litter box each and every day!! It’s easy to do it daily, but a nightmare when I forget to do it for a week.
This process is going to be an interesting one. First thing on my list… I have to speak at a large chuch on the 22nd of this month and have not written a thing. Need to write my speech. Procrastination and clutter seem to go hand and hand with me.
I once had a friend tell me, I’m not crazy like I thought I was. Her words were, “That is just how your brain works!” I’m all over the place mentally and lists have been my saving grace through that mental clutter. (God has been that peace through it all!) I used to have a main notebook, but I have left that wonderful practice somewhere in the last 2 years. I’m excited to get it back! Thank you for the direction. The first thing on my list will be to attack my little girls’ closet (3 girls in one small closet!) or reorganize the pantry. I’m excited for my baby’s nap time to get something accomplished from my list!
On my list, fold clothes! I have a bed habit of throwing them in a chair/dresser/ or even the floor..yikes! I know it is terrible and I can never find what I am looking for. So today fold my clothes! This post really was an eye opener for me because I always remember to do things at the worst time possible to do them!
Wow…wasn’t expecting this to be my first challenge! I was all geared up to clean out those over stuffed drawers. Didn’t realize how over stuffed my minds was. The first thing on my list is to take my son out to the Nike store to exchange his Xmas gift that i keep putting off and feel really guilty and bad about because it disappoints him and wears on my mind. I want that task gone…to make room for another.
I am putting on my list to make my sons first dental appointment. : ) thanks again for this timely teaching!
I have aspired to be like my older sister who is really really organized.. Perhaps a bit OCDish organized, but I have to be gentle with myself and while getting more organized will be wonderful for my life and allowing time for things I enjoy, I also am focusing on basking in what God made me. A woman who can adjust easily with what comes my way and to know that even if I can’t organize all aspects of my life right now, He has made me different from my sister.. And He did so on purpose.. So while I’m working on my life list today and tomorrow; I am also trying to realize we are not created the same but can be His feet and and hands to others in many ways!
Ooooohhhhh, this is scary to me, writing down everything I need to do. But, I started this project with prayer that I will do each step with you and complete it.
One thing on my list is to distribute all the awards to the kids at Awana’s (“Approved workmen are not ashamed” as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15) tonight. This is actually one of the easiest (and enjoyable) things on my list.
I plan on keeping two lists, one personal and one for work.
Thank you for ‘organizing’ this series on decluttering for us.
This challenge is everything I have been praying for. I REALLY need some help getting decluttered and organized. Right now I am so exhausted just thinking about writing that list that I am going back to bed to try and get the energy to write the list. (Yawn)! Help us all Lord!!!
My “to-do” list today is to make a “to-do” list. ha ha ha ha….Thanks for breaking this down for us.
Thank you for this blog so far i feel like you are writing to me i feel so overwhelmed and cluttered all the time. The one thing I want to put on my list is to try to have quiet time to myself for bible study and prayer
One of my MUST-DO projects this year is to be a better steward of our family finances by betting a better planner. We waste too much food in our home because of poor planning when it comes to grocery shopping. That stops today!
Amen Sister! We do the same in our house. We are trying to create menus to stick in our house though. We will see how long this lasts.
Dena, regarding finances, I highly recommend Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University or reading one of his books, if you never have or are interested. We did his course, offered at church. While it was a bit overwhelming for me on top of thinking about all of our clutter and to-do’s, finances/resources and being a good steward is important stuff and we are trying to implement as many of the strategies and tips as we can.
I’m a little scared of making one gigantic to-do list. Eye-opening, I’m sure it will be! Thanks for the encouragement.
I’m excited about this clutter-free challenge. To say, I’m overwhelmed sometimes would be an understatement. On my to-do list is to remember to feed the dog and the fish. I know the dog will be ok, but I’m not ready to explain to my two year old why the fish is floating upside in the tank if I don’t feed it…
I would love a copy of your book, Glynnis, but if I win, I’d first hand it over to my mom, who needs it desperately! Thanks so much for your blog series on de-cluttering. Life-changing stuff!
I have to finish planning my cub scout Scientist activity Badge meeting. I ended up winging the first half of this activity and ended up confusing Bernoulli’s principle and Pascal’s Law. I felt like such a dope.
I definitely agree with Dena’s posting – it is the same thing with me – be a better financial steward –
Writing everything down will definitely be a challenge –
– definitely necessary, though – but in addition to better money planning, I need to add regular prayer time to my list!
One of my to do items is to begin meal planning to save money!
Make eye appointments for 2 of the kiddos. Thanks for the encouragement!
I am adding “plan a trip to Washington, DC” to my long term to do list. I homeschool my kids and my husband and I want to take a trip out there before the kids are gone from home – and I don’t want it to just slip by into that “things to do someday” never-never land. For the short term, I really need to defrost my freezer before this year’s venison is ready!! Thanks so much for this challenge – it is really causing me to think!
This is truly such a blessing and I love how God puts things in order… This morning at work I was having a discussion with a co worker. I said there are 168 hours in one week. If we add up, work, sleep, ministry , meals… there is still so much time left! So, on my FB status I asked my friends what’s their idea of priority, understanding that God is first! Ty! I def need to declutter my life!!! I’m putting spending time in prayer on my list… blessings and smiles
Finish the book Chasing Mona Lisa for my book review blog!
First thing is reading everybody else’s suggestions because I already see a lot of things other people are doing that need to go on MY list!!
Thanks so much for what you are doing for us desperate women out here.
Oops forgot my e-mail in my comment and added it to this one.
On my list will be to organize (and print) photos that seem to be everywhere somehow in the midst of full time job, taking classes toward my degree, 2 boys in soccer, and a daughter preparing for college. THanks so much for this task you have given us.
Reading through all these comments helped me add other things to me list. On my list is daily movement, whether it be a class at the gym or a walk around the block.
One thing that will be going on my list is to take care of my dog. She’s behind on her vaccinations and grooming. So easy to let those deadlines slip by when you’ve got children to keep on vaccination schedules too!
My husband and I own our own pharmacy, I teach part-time, we have an almost 2 year old who keeps me busy, and a 9 month puppy who just started obedience class. I was disappointed when you didn’t jump in to let us get started on our house, but after today I understand how important de-cluttering our mind is. I shutter to think about how long this list will be, but I’m excited to get started on it.
My mother just turned 92 years young and I enjoy every day I spend with her at the nursing home where she lives.
I am loving this challenge! I daily feel overwhelmed with my daily tasks let alone, the “I never get done” to-do list. My list is already long and have only been at it a few minutes!
CLEAN THE CAT BOX! I HATE this job…but not as much as my kitties hate it when I don’t!
Just made a list this morning on the whiteboard of the things I need to get done before we leave town next week. 1st item…laundry. Item for the future…that dentist and eye appointment I keep putting off.
I am adding to my list, to pray for my husband on a daily basis. He is dealing with stressful work and personal issues.
Loved todays post! I misplace multiple to do lists and important items frequently. Looking forward to turning things around. Buying a binder or notebook today.
Thanks,
Donna
Is it ok if our list takes the entire spiral notebook? =) Just kidding, but my list will include lots of home remodels/extras and some small repairs. Of course being a stay at home mom it will include lots of chores I am sure. But first will probably be getting the Homeschool Room clean and organized. I will say I finally after 4 years get to mark one home remodel off of my list. My husband FINALLY hung my storm door!!!! Oh yeah, Oh yeah!=)
Painting my bed room would be nice since it hasn’t been done since we moved here 15 years ago. Or I could scrape the peeling paint off the ceiling in my sons room since the tub upstairs leaked and ruined it last year. Or I could………just pick any room in my house I’ll find something wrong with it.
I used this method two weekends ago and now I don’t know where my list is
On my new list I’ll write “find old list”.
LOL catherine u seriously brought a laught my way! Ditto on what u say! on my do list i will put dont loose this list>LOL
norma
I need to finish last year’s scrapbook. I don’t think I’ll do one this year, at least not a year-long, document every single thing we do scrapbook. It shouldn’t be stressful, it should be joyful.
Today’s clutter free day is just what I needed. Time is too precious a gift to give it away with mental overload and frustration. I’m terrified to write down my entire to do list, but I am also looking forward to the relief it will provide. As a single working mom, I need to add my son’s homework time to my list.
I began to pray and ask God what clutter my mind,and it’s worry,worry about my children ,worry about if the people that living in my home are they taking care of it while I’m in Germany,my mind get clutter with now I have paint again and fix every thing,
So happy to be doing this challenge!!! I LOVE the focus on God and His provision and guidance. I forget to start there and what a difference it makes when I remember!!
Have a GREAT day in the LORD!
One thing on my list is to Meal Plan on the weekends before I grocery shop! This makes my week go so much more smoothly! Thank you for the de-clutter challenge! It’s just what I need.
Once again, you were in my brain! I like one of the others’ thing to do — write “make a to-do list” and I think I’ll make that my first step, too. I’ve read about doing the type of list you describe, but have always been to overwhelmed/intimidated by the mere thought to even begin. It’s time to change that. It’s sort of like what I read in a bible study years ago — when you sit down to do the study work, satan will start popping things that need to get done into your head to keep you off task (read — destracted) so keep a pad of sticky-notes with you and write down the things that pop in your heasd so you won’t forget them. What you’re suggesting is really just the same thing using a different type of paper. On an encouraging note, I took advantage of some time last evening when I was alone in the house to get my closet cleared of all the clothes I had been stashing on the floor in the corner in a ‘give-aaway pile.’ Needless to say, the pile was spilling over into where I need to walk. I now have multiple bags in the corner of my bedroom, but at least they’re bagged and off the floor. Baby steps, right?!
One thing on my list is create our family budget. eek!!
Thanks for this awesome tool – to help me de-clutter my life! I have a baby coming in May – and am already in the “clean-out/nesting” mode…..so this has been VERY helpful already!!!!
One item on my list is to clean out the tubs and unused electronics in our garage. (My husband is always buying the latest electronic gadgets….then the old ones always end up in the garage.
So excited to read your blog everyday and get started decluttering – especially my mind! Thank you for your insights!
Thank you for this clutter-free challenge. I’m working at opening my mind to what God has in store for me through this. One thing on my list… finish my 11-year-old’s baby book.
Go through the boxes of clothes in the basement and start donating/giving away the clothes the girls have long outgrown.
I have to do thank you’s for the cattle program that helps support the school we work at. It’s been on my “to do” list too long.
Did my list, among the many responsibilities; return defective Christmas gifts, buy snacks for Girl Scouts, make a digital photo album before the Living Social offer expires, and do my Christian yoga 2x week (for sanity).
I have actually done this recently, making one huge To Do list. Doing this was freeing because I was face to face with truth: I can’t possibly accomplish all this! It was such a John 8:32 moment. Thanks so much for these fantastic posts. They are real keepers, to be referred back to time and time again. Can’t wait to see what’s ahead.
A long-time item on my list: Take a writing class. I so, so, so much want to do this.
You asked for something odd, unusual, etc. Well – I have to soak the shower head in vinegar so it will spray properly again
I am potty training 2 two year olds, while trying to keep the 2 Three year olds doing positive behavior and having 2 under a year fed and happy. ( I have a home day care) Once this job is done just think of all that extra time that I can organize my house.
What a great idea to make a list! I have take pictures of the kids and write down their funny sayings.
on my list…clearing out closets…husband, me and my 10 month old son…Time is so short! He is so active…but if I write things all down…i might just approach the small bits of time I have in a different more focused way. Love david allen’s approach too:) thanks:)
I am so enjoying your blog. I realized that the messiness I was dealing with in my last job was directly related to being entirely overwhelmed. I am looking forward to writing out the to do lists. I’m sure that it will help with the low level anxiety that comes from not knowing what needs to be done. One of my items on my list is to find the envelopes I lost awhile back.
I think on my list should be to unpack a couple of boxes stashed in the closet from when we moved in 10 years ago
I am SO enjoying your de-cluttering tips! You are such a blessing to me each time I read something you have written, and you always seem to be in tune with what happens to be going on in my life at the time.
My goal this year is to clean out every drawer, closet, and cupboard….one at a time. I am making progress. I am trying not to become overwhelmed by looking at all of them at once, but just one of them at a time. I have completely finished cleaning out two drawers…I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it is progress, and I feel good about it! I love the verse where Jesus instructed us to not worry about tomorrow because there is enough to deal with for today! One day at a time…may God help us all to remember this and apply it to our lives every day this year! Thank you so much for your kind encouragement and for the time you have put into this challenge for us! You are a great blessing to the Kingdom of God!
Cheryl Smith
Oh Glynnis, you are reading my very mind!!! lol This is SO about me. I am constantly overwhelmed with thoughts and things needing to be done that I DO just NOT do them. I’m so grateful for this series!! Cannot wait to unclutter my home AND my brain!!!! I’m always so scared I’m going to forget something, and sometimes…..I do.
I can tell you that we went through the MANY totes of Christmas decor, wrapping paper, tissue paper, etc., and got it down to ONE tote. YIPPEEE!! My husband convinced me that I didn’t really NEED 50 different assortments of birthday bags, valentine bags, Christmas bags……you get the jist. 
Keep it coming!!!!
I am going to have a list a million miles long!!! One thing I am going to put on my list is to stop spreading myself thin in all the things I am involved in and really hone in on the gifts God has given me instead of bouncing from one thing to another.
Thanks! It’s a little overwhelming to think about writing everything down, but I totally understand how my brain is cluttered up with all of those “to-do’s”. Of the many projects and decluttering that need to be done, our basement is the dumping ground, so I’d like to toss a lot and put some shelves to keep things off the floor. Not very exciting, but it would feel so great!
One thing I will put on my list is to put the Christmas boxes in the garage rafters.
Thanks for your words of wisdom about making list so my mind isn’t overloaded
20 years ago, the company I worked for did something called a “Brown Paper”. The premise was to take a large roll of brown paper and put up large sheets of it all around the building, hitting all the departments, highlighting all the main projects/processes, etc. Employees were encouraged to take post-it™ notes and put them up wherever they felt there was a gap in the a process, something ‘out of order’,where they felt that there was something good, a different/better way to so something.
As you say, “I used to be so organized”. I would love to find some brown paper, lie down on it and have people come and stick post-its™ all over me to help me get back-on-track!
Today…buy a nice notepad!!!
I love your point today about not organizing your list just yet because us perfectionists will get frustrated in not having enough space for our list or whatever, this is so true! It’s funny, I think of myself as a closet prefectionist probably because I have perfected being a perfectionist which might make me even more a prefectionist, go figure.
Anyway, something on my to do list, oh the choices I guess one of the random things is I need to get by dogs toe nails clipped, they are so long and hurt everytime she jumps up to say hello. She hates it, but it has to be be done. I’ve really enjoyed the first three days, can’t wait for more!
~Kim
This is exactly what I needed to read this morning! With the birth of our first child (our miracle baby) approaching, I have SO much to do. My house feels like little tornados have made its way through. One of the things on my list is to find a painter because I painted about half of my downstairs/foyer/stairwell on my own before I got pregnant (six months ago), and its not finished! My husband and father in law (who are both busy men and don’t have time to finish it for me) won’t allow ladders to be brought in my house because they’re worried I will climb them and try to finish it myself (I love to paint)! Its become the monkey on my back!
The first thing on my list is to pray daily for God’s direction and peace throughout this process. It seems that I quickly get caught up in the mind clutter and then have difficulty taking the next step to complete anything else that needs to get done.
I am the queen of the to do list. But to even get to my to do list I must find it under all the Christmas decorations that are still in the process of coming down. So the challenge is one. Perfect timing. Merry Happy Clutter Free Challenge to all and to all a good year.
On my list–take house key to neighbor so she can let our dog out tomorrow. Very random! Thanks for the tips.
Thank you for this challenge. It is what I need right now. And an even bigger thank you for giving us what we need rather than what those of us who are performance based want. Your post thus far have been more about being than doing and what an awesome perspective as we gear up for the task ahead.
An item on my list – clean out the guest room.
on my list…put down my iphone and spend time with my two boys!
Well….. I have an extremely clutter filled house. We are a family of 9 living in a tiny house so the slightest thing makes it look cluttered. I try on a daily basis to get something down and end up frustrated cause by 5:00 when my husband comes home I don’t feel like I got anything done. I also home school so that takes a big chunk out of my day. But…… I’m making a list cause to add to all that I’ve got cooking to do for the family community kitchen that my church is hosting on Sat. Also, I am over a baby shower at the end of the month. I am a list kind of person. So, that’s where I’ll start, making a list of things I see that I can accomplish now. Grocery Shopping and taking one day at a time.
Thanks so much for all that you’re doing to help me get uncluttered.
Michelle
What an amazing approach to get things done. Its hard to rely on thing to get done yourself, with the help of God you can accomplish anything. Like the Bible says “Call unto me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things.” Jeremiah 33.3. I am so excited about getting organized, finally being able to take a breath of accomplishment when it is all done. You know, putting everything that needs to be done on a sheet of paper is not the easiest thing
. I think that this list is going to go on for like “ever”. The one big job that needs to be done around my house is to replace the burnt out foglights on the outside of my second story house. Know anyone with a 20 ft ladder?? I do more home improvement things than my husband. I’ve already replaced the insides of all the toilets and seat covers to name one!! Arent the guys supposed to be ones that are handy with tools??? Anyways, thank you so much for God giving you the opportunity to share your organizational findings with the rest of us. Have a Blessed day 
To add to my “to do” list….check dates for local nurseries offering gardening classes this Spring!
On my list: make lists for each family member – I don’t need to manage all these tasks by myself! There are 4 other people in this house, and the kids are getting old enough to start helping. Sometimes they just need to be given a specific task.
I have to research sports available to my son at the local school (we homeschool) or from the town – do I don’t miss any deadlines – Little League? Indoor Soccer? Winter Basketball? I really must get on this one!
BTW – thanks for the chance to win your book!
One thing on my list is to gather, organize and file all the paperwork for my son. He is on the autistic spectrum. This is one of the elephants in the room for me.
Making my list and checking it twice… Oh wait, then I have to put “checking the list” on my list!!
Onto my list I’m putting: “Get rid of empty boxes”. We had a small fire last summer and are finally almost done with the clean-up. I have lots of empty boxes from the cleaning company that I’ve unpacked but haven’t gotten rid of yet. Time for that unnecessary clutter to go!
Thank you Glynnis for this Clutter-Free Challenge and for sharing your talents with me and the others.
I have been battling with ‘clutter’ for the last 20+ years…I am very thankfull for my co-worker that shared the Proverbs 31 Ministries daily devotions with me. This is how I learned about the challenge.
One item on my list is to hug and appreciate my husband more often and to daily tell him how blessed I am. Endless Blessings, Valerie
Thank you – like many others – I need to commit my list to paper.
As I’ve been reading, I’ve been thinking, “oh my, has Glynnis seen my house?”
Thank you for this challenge, it’s one I have been needing…………
One of the things I’ve added to my list, reglue the odd piece of wood that I broke off of the door frame at work as I was putting up the garland for Christmas……..
Along with too many other things….but step 1-remove squishy gross pumpkins from my porch.
l
This is great, Glynnis! As we started back homeschooling, I kept feeling more and more entrapped in quicksand, with all that needed to be done. I’ve always tried to fight the physical clutter but never the mental. I am so excited to get to my list. I’m putting selling my massage equipment on my list.
One thing I’m putting on my to-do list is I need to sort my arts & crafts supplies.
Talk about an “ah ha” moment… I’ve always wondered why I can never feel peace in the moment – like I’ve always left something undone. I can’t wait to share this with my brother. We’ve wondered whether it’s a genetic flaw, ADD, or something from the way our parents always stayed on us to do “more.” But I think today’s blog nails it. Unfortunately, one thing I’ll be adding to my list is to find Mr. Allen’s book “Getting It Done,” which might then give me one more thing to do (AND more clutter?)!!! But maybe I can share this book or at least knowledge of it with my brother. Your prayers are helping me so much already. I can feel God’s spirit at work, cutting through the chatter and giving me new strength to emerge from my piles of “gotta save this” that I imagined defined me.
Thank you for this exercise to help me de-clutter. I’ve always sort of prided myself at having a clean house….but DON’T go in the closets! hehe I wake up most mornings thinking of a million things I need to accomplish. By the time my family gets up, I ‘rapid fire’ things at them they say. My mind is always filled with things I need to do. One thing on my list for tomorrow…make a Daniel Fast friendly lunch for my 17 year old son to take to high school.
Thank you for the inspiration! I am so excited about having a better plan….one that works. I am putting on my list ..take old clothes to Rust Street Ministries, ones I cleaned out of closet last weekend.
I am always making lists! That’s the only way I can keep myself focused on the tasks at hand and moving forward. If I don’t have a list, I find other things I WANT to do (like watch TV or play on the computer) and never accomplish anything. Added to my list today — fixing the knob that opens our mailbox; boy, I hope it stops raining!
Inspired by this study! My to-do list includes de-cluttering my bedroom which has somehow become a storage room! Thanks for the help!
I love how you were talking about feeling like you should always being do something even when you are doing something. That totally describes how I have been feeling… thank you! One thing on my to-do list is to organize my daughters’s clothes that don’t fit anymore… a 6 month old and a two year old…. that’s a lot of pink clothes sitting in our spare closet!
Actually READ a packet of legal jargan I’ve been putting off for months so I can move on with my business plan…. reading that is going to be worse than organizing!
Good morning! Its a rainy day here in north Florida!
The main thing I need to put on my list is clean up my paper clutter. I just cant seem to get a handle on this. I also need to put on there to vacuum under my bed!
Blessings,
Janet W.
On my list; move the treadmill out where I will see it and actually begin using it again. Ouch! Love your ideas, hope they will help a “clutter collector” like me…
I am going to go through my sock drawer.
Writing everything down is a great idea. My husband had trouble sleeping the other night and left me a note to check the woodpile and make sure it was safe and sturdy so that the boys won’t get hurt when they bring in firewood. I will keep this on my list to check once a week until the cold weather has past.
I’m going to add “find a calm, beautiful setting to relax alone on Monday for a few hours” to my to do list.
This is been so true for me. I often give up on tasks before I even start because of the “mental anguish”. It does cause sleeplessness, and also, I often don’t do “fun” things because of the sense that I need to get my house done first, but it is never “done”. I hope that makes sense. I will start with “the list” today.
Like many others have said, this challenge came at the perfect time for me! One of the first things on my list – write the letter to my elderly aunt I have been putting off.
I love these challenges! My list includes creating the weekly Powerpoint presentation for my church service.
Find my husband’s medical records. I have to check back through several doctors in 2 different states to find them and have them sent to our family doctor before he can even be seen here. Thankful he hasn’t needed a doctor in the last 5 years we’ve been here!
i need to teach my 7 year old how to clean the hamster cage.
I think I have to stop saying ONE DAY and figure out what I can do today—like the belt rack my daughter asked for this past summer—the parts are in a box in my office and all I need to do is paint on the word belts and assemble it but I haven’t ……..time to get it off the mental list so it can stop nagging me!
I am adding, “clean guest bathroom” to my list. It is a chore I regularly avoid but feel great when I actually tackle it. Thanks for this opportunity!
Oh sweet mercy…at the top of my list will be create budget. Dont you HaTe making a budget? I can stick with it…its the making it that i hate. Ugh. :0)
Heather: have you ever heard of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University? He also has several books out. Highly recommend if you need help with finances/budget. It will change your life! Biblically oriented too.
This is exactly what I am feeling. Everyday I have this sense of unrest in my soul. Just as you describe, it has been eating at me and I have a constant sense of unease. I am so thankful to be on this journey with you. I can already sense order coming back into my life. And yes, I used to be so organized but that was before 4 kids and everything else that I pile on in my life. So one of my to-dos this week is to get crickets for my daughter
s bearded dragon, Spike because the ones that I just bought him are too small and will only last him two days… Yikes! Have a blessed day!
I need to order my Christmas – oh I mean – New Year pictures to send out!!!
This is so helpful. I often feel there is so much to do, that I can’t get started on anything. I like the idea of putting long-range things down, too, so I don’t have to remember them. I will add planning our summer vacation…seems a long way off, but it will get here before we know it!
I turn 50 this year and you’d think by now I would have learned to ask God to help me with the little stuff. This is helping so much! I work from home with our family business and it’s easy to get distracted with doing home stuff vs. office stuff. My 3 boys (including my husband) can be a challenge to get their things put away — not to mention take care of my things. I want to be able to inspire all of us to take of all the stuff that clutters our lives. We spend so much time looking for things.
Thanks!
Thank you for the challenge! TO DO: Take down the Christmas tree!
I need to add “Eat healthy food today”…..having trouble remembering that one. I would love a copy of your book.
As I have many things on my list that I don’t even consider ‘things to do’ (like laundry because if it didn’t get done, now THAT would be a disaster!) I appreciate the encouragement to realize I have a daily list that fills my brain. My needed item will be to write my thank you notes from my wedding.
What a timely message! I have been plagued by mental clutter for years – and I do mean plagued. Health problems have followed the mental clutter. I am eager for healing! On my to-do list is vacation planning! I am also one who feels she needs to be moving or doing all the time. Having a dedicated vacation time will free me up mentally to relax, like giving myself permission. Thank you for following God’s lead, Glynnis!
I just want to thank God for the wisdom he has given u to help so many people like me.
It’s all about “THE MIND”! So far yesterday was my favorite getting into a position so God
can speak to u.
Glynnis – I am adding to my list ideas for dinner! Sometimes I see recipes, or remember something I made before that my family liked – but I’m at work. Then of course when I’m at home trying to put together something for dinner I’m at a complete loss. This “dinner ideas” will help me put together my grocery list too!
Thank you for this challenge. It has been so encouraging to me and just what I need to be hearing right now. I always think of clutter as material things but you’ve definitely have hit it on the head with clutter in our thoughts!
One thing I will be adding to my list is to clean off the top of the dresser among so many other things.
I too thought I was having early onset Alzheimers because I forget so much. I saw someone today that I knew and for the life of me can’t remember where we met. Although my house can use some decluttering, my mind is my biggest problem. I thank God for finding this clutter-free challenge!
On my list is picking up my 6 month old granddaughter tomorrow for a weekend visit! : )
On my list is to remember all the things on that list that I keep in my head
Heres a funny for ya. On my massive list of things to do: Change my hormone patch :} Hope your day is filled with laughter. Thank you for the post, It was spot on. I am making my list now. Melanie
Oh, my! You’ve hit a nerve and it looks like I’m not alone. I’m drowning in our stuff. I’m a pack rat who likes things to be in their place but I’m living with three messies who are even worse pack rats. I never seem to actually clean the house as it feels like all I do each day is move the same stuff from place to place. And then my husband came home all excited last night because a pharmacy was giving away free vitamin supplements. So now I have 15 more large bottles to find a place for… hmmm… add to my list to throw away all the expired medicines in our cabinets!!
Thank you for doing this!
Clutter vs organization = brilliant!
There I was trying to figure out how to repack 10 boxes of Christmas decorations into 2 today boxes when I came across your challenge. A quick “detox” of regifted Christmas gifts & loading up my car with Goodwill donations I now have two well packed boxes of Christmas favorites & a whole lot more space in my storage closet!
On my list: Attack Mt Laundry with a vengeance! Call Hazmat if I haven’t surfaced by tomorrow!
One thing going on my to-do list is to go through the 2 “junk drawers” and 1 “junk cabinet” still in my kitchen from our “moving-in-around-Christmas-gotta-hide-this-stuff-from-guests-quick” moments …wow, that was 3 weeks ago and I promised myself I would clean them out right after Christmas! ugh…can’t wait to conquer this list
Day 3- This is good. I started doing this a few years ago because I had too many lists, and too many little notebooks, putting everything into one notebook is working out well, because everything is in one place. Especially at work! You can look back and see what has been completed.
I will be adding to my list “REMEMBER NOT TO PANIC!”
Because after reading what you recommended to add to the list…I feel like I’ll be writing a Bible. LOL.
I love the title of your book. I think that it is every New Mom’s anthem.
Because at some point, you realize that without God…it just ain’t possible!
Today I will stop thinking about the food to prepare for my daughter to take to camp. Instead, diet in hand, I will write it down!
I have been wanting to get more organized for some time. I keep putting off bigger projects because I always have all the other “stuff” to take care of. This will be a great exercise for me to put everything on paper. One thing I would like to do is repaint my bedroom but have put it off for two years because of my lack of organization. Thanks Glyniss for doing this.
Start baby quilt for baby due in 10 weeks.
Thank you for this study! I have, for so many years, stored everything I have to do in my head. I didn’t realize how stressful that was and how it didn’t help anything get done. One thing I’ll put on my list is to try to do one household chore a day so that it doesn’t pile up. I’m so lazy and I need to acknowledge that sin in my life and ask the Lord to help me.
Take down my Christmas tree! Yes, it is still up (and no, it’s not a fire hazard, it is still pretty healthy).
Thank you for this blog. Organization is much needed in my life. I need to replace lights around the house that have been out…specially the one above the oven in the kitchen!
One thing on my list is to paint the end table in our family room. I’ve had the paint for a year and still haven’t gotten it done.
I am overwhelmed just thinking of this to do list. It will be random, and once I get things down and add to the list maybe it will make more sense. My biggest goal today is to “organize” my mind and focus on the present.
Hi Glynnis,
I have on my list to start sending money to people/ family members that I think may need it. Alot of times I may do it for birthday’s or holidays but i want to start doing it just because and my hope is that they wont have to ask for it. There are so many people that I know without jobs or struggling to make ends meet so I think that is a start just to try to help more people with whatever their need maybe.
I NEEEEEED your book!!!!!
One thing I am putting on my list is I need to cut a door in dh’s office so he can come in that way and leave all his homework in the office instead of strewn from the front door all the way through the living room and the kitchen.
Thank you for the clutter free series!
I am loving it so far! One thing i need to do is clean out my closet!!!! It is the catch all of our home 
First things on my list are: shower, start laundry, return overdue library book, drop off hubby’s work clothes at dry-cleaners, grocery shop, and plan Brownie meeting for tonight. Love the idea of writing it all down in one big list. You really pegged me with your ‘perfectionist’ comment – so I am going to bite the bullet and not worry about organizing this list AT ALL and just write everything down as it comes to my mind. Thanks for your encouragement!
-make a student loan payment
-call the doctor for my husband
-pick up carpool of kids
-watch niece and nephew at 6pm
-create grocery list
-grade a few papers
-2 loads of laundry
This is a start!
Show love to my children – that’s on my to-do list daily. That way, I will do it.
This is so me! I have an unexpected day off (clients canceled), so I am awake at 5:30 overwhelmed with all of the things that need to be done. Before I can even really start my day I can’t see the forest for the trees. I feel like I must have ADD and go from one task to the other without completing the first thing. So I sit down in front of the computer for the third time and up pops this wonderful email from Glynnis! It always amazes me how God gives me what I need at just the right moment, even when I forgot to pray about it. So here I go, this is for me harder than stepping on a scale, but I am committed! Breath…Deeply…Go!
Everyone’s comments are so inspiring, and the challenge for today is really putting things into perspective. I’m looking forward to reading more comments as the challenge continues, but for today, I have started my notebook, and I am going to clean the kitty box, and get a cupboard cleaned out in my kitchen so I can actually put some things away. This will free my mind, so that when the kids come home, we can play games (all sorts), read books, and make some goop!
bong!!! did anyone else hear the big bell just go off in my head? talk about a message resonating! so much sense, but something i have never considered! getting out my pencil now!
A friend and I were just brainstorming over my overwhelming to do list yesterday. How fitting this message is. So true how your brain keeps remembering things over and over and has no sense of time. One of the things I need to put on my list is to purge my closet of clothes from high school and college. 15 years is too long! I really am not going to wear it again!
I’m putting “buy trash bags” on my list. I keep forgetting them!
The second paragraph really spoke to me. I work from home and was too tired to continue at 8:30 a few nights ago, so I decided to take a 30 minute nap. I didn’t wake up until 3am. I came to my computer and finished what I needed to do, then I felt guilty about wanting to go back to bed because I knew there was more I could be doing.
Send a short email to my girlfriends to encourage them in their daily walk!
Going thru closets and sorting our clothes. Thats one that I keep putting off for later…
I hate mail. I hate it. I pay my bills online so i only go to the mailbox when i think it is fixing to fall over from being full. My car is heaping with this mail that i then throw in the back (once i look through it to make sure there are no jury duty notices in there). Getting through the mail has got to be on my priority list.
Wow I really need to get started!!!
1. Make a list of everything I need to do!!!! Yikes
2. Get someone to feed the cat and dog while we are gone.
I used to have one of those lists and it literally had everything on it. I have no idea where that list is now so I’ll just have to start from scratch!! One item that is definitely at the top of the list – make time for my husband.
I really liked how you summarized the GTD info and tied it to the need to feel like I always have to do something. I have read all 3GTD books and have made half hearted attempts to implement it. I think I focused on the mechanics of the process way more than the benefits. You give me a push to throw everything into my list (inbox) and really get this under control and to add the biggest most important thing to my GTD – God and prayer. And at the top of my list -I need to do it today. Climb up and peek into the light fixture on our ceiling fan and make sure that the paper airplane that was perched on the fan blades for the last few days didn’t fall into the light fixture just waiting to start a fire.
Having a husband, 4 kids active in sports and a demanding job, this list will definitely help. I have so many things going on in my mind that I forget too many things. Number one on my ‘to do list’ is to make a spot for ‘quiet time’ for me and the Lord.
I am adding to my list to be patient with myself. I am home dealing with chemotherapy treatments and missing working full-time, so I sometimes feel I should be able to get more organized and get things under control. Im also learning to add some fun times in my days to add balance to my life.
I am really enjoying this challenge… I start every morning reading the day’s challenge and it has been very helpful! I am looking forward to making my list even though I know it is VERY long! One main thing on my list is getting laundry put away!
I am so used to feeling buried by my clutter and am so excited to start the process of “digging” out! I am going to add to my list- finding a way each day to show my family how much I love them, and to schedule a time for being still and listening for God’s still, small voice. Thank you so much for this incredible journey!
Thank you for beginning by helping me get a new mindset for dealing with clutter. I needed that! My massive list will include completing my oldest son’s high school scrapbook – he’s 37!
I will add remember to smile on my to do list. My life is so crazy and stressful right now at work and at home that I feel like I have nothing to smile about!
God’s timing is so good. I’m in the middle of the first major move of my life. My husband and I moved in to a family home next to my parents and are now moving across town. Looking forward to a clutter free life in our new home! One thing on my list for this week is to settle on paint colors!
This challenge is exactly what I have needed for a very long time. My mind is always going, I feel as if I am on a hamster wheel! The first thing on my list is to enjoy the moment with my family,instead of stressing over the next thing to do! If I accomplish this, I would then stop going to bed with a guilty conscious, praying for a second chance to do it right tomorrow!
Thank you for this challenge!!!!!!
I’m going to include some stops doing on my list as well. Stop feeling guily when I stop to breathe and fill in prayer. Carving out exercise time is totally on the list as well. Manual list ratherthan a computer list will help me too!
On my list: Find a doctor that takes my insurance and set up an appointment.
Thanks for this study! It is just what I need right now.
Okay, honestly, this excercise freaks me out but I’m excited to see where it leads. One thing on my list of things to do is to complete a journaling project that has been simmering in my brain for about a year.
One thing on my list is to finish a quilt I have been working on for 4 years!
WOW – this has already been so helpful. I so appreciate you starting with the spiritual and mental aspects of this topic rather than giving us lots of “projects” to give us a false sense of help. I’m going to finish organizing our office. It’s almost done but I have a bad habit of stopping just before the project is finished – I think it has something to do with it not being able to be perfect so I just don’t finish at all. Looking forward to more words of wisdom from you – thanks!!
Adding to the to do list: go through and put away Christmas gifts
I am going to add to my list “catch up my scrapbooks.” I know this will be a huge step for me. I am constantly waking up in the middle of the night and writing things down so I can clear my mind and go back to sleep. I am so looking forward to a clutter-free life.
I really, really need to sew badges on my daughter’s Girl Scouts vest so she can go out selling cookies and look like she’s done someting! The sewing kit, vest and badges sit next to my computer at home, and I keep thinking of other things to do instead.
Thank you, Glynnis, for help in this journey! I already feel better. I’m trusting God to help me declutter my mind, and He’s coming through as always!
I’m adding a long term goal on my list: saving my scrapbook making projects for when I’m in the nursing home…if I make it that far! My grandma did scrapbooks while in the nursing home until her eyesight failed.
WOW! The sticky note picture was what my mind looks like. I will place on my list “Remember Kim you need to make a list”!
Thank you for this insightful journey. As a career Mom who travels a great deal this has been a much welcomed relief. I call myself organized but my thoughts run away with me quite often. Today’s blog really put things into perspective for me.
One thing off my to do list would be to organize my computer and get rid of emails. I am bad about not deleting emails and not organizing them if I still need them for later.
I have to clip the dogs’ toenails! clickity click!!!!
This is such a God send study for me. I need this more than anything I have ever needed. On my list: plan my vacation when I retire. I am only 41, but I am ready to travel.
Top of my list:
STOP PROCRASTINATING. DO IT NOW!!!! I have been so overwhelmed with things that I have put off and have piled up, that I don’t even know where to start anymore. I was so happy to join clutter free. I can do this today (not tomorrow).
This makes so much sense! I really, REALLY need this. One of the things on my list that I’ve procrastinated on for so long….I’m going to “unsubscribe” to all those crazy emails I get from companies I don’t even know. Seriously, how in the world did I ever get on a newsletter for fishermen? Oye!
I’d love to win! I need to get started on my lists :0
Change the locks at the cabin.
One thing on my to do list today is to send off invitations to a Premier Show for one of my Hostess’ and buy more stamps!!
This will be quite the task. Full time job, mother, wife, hobbies, direct sales….and the list continues. One thing I definitely will be putting on my list: Growing my Thirty-One business!
Just added a new responsibility last week- taking daily care of my kefir grains!
One thing I’ll put on my list is placing all the addresses for Christmas cards on an excel sheet. Then I’ll just have to figure out how to merge them to address labels for next Christmas!
One thing going on my list is…plan the details for my hubby’s 30th birthday…a surprise skydiving adventure for us!
I need to make an appointment at the consignment shop to take some old bridesmaid dresses in.
I am inspired by reading this today as well as all the comments from others. They made me laugh, smile, think, ponder, and eased my mind that I am not alone. I don’t consider myself a lazy person, yet my house always looks cluttered. I can so totally relate to all you that said you have “messies” in the house – referring to kids, husbands, pets, etc. Every day I’m cleaning up after the dog, who has separation anxiety big time (read goes to the bathroom in the house), scooping cat litter, washing a bazillion dishes, doing non-stop laundry, picking up after everyone else, while trying to fit in my prayer and Adoration to our Lord….at the end of the evening (or late into the wee hours of the morning), I am utterly exhausted! I am so very blessed by our gracious and merciful God and I praise Him and thank Him daily. Just need to get my “mind” decluttered as Glynnis suggests and make those to-do-lists and give my brain a much-needed rest to focus at tasks at hand!
I am SOOOOO THANKFUL for this blog, OMG, it amazes me how God orders our EVERY STEP!! My family and I had been having ALOT of frustrations and anxiety and never really realizing that the CLUTTER we have could be contributing to it. This is a journey that I am DEFINATELY looking forward to going on. I know this is a day to day process, but I am EXCITED about the VICTORY at the end. I am a home child care provider, and currently preparing to become licensed, so one thing I have to add to my list is the process and procedures of licensing.
I have learned that I need to de-clutter before I can organize! I need to fold laundry!
Thank you so much for this exercise. Need to clean out my paperwork bill box, and get rid of old stuff that can be shredded.
Blessings.
7 kids all homeschooled, and one very disorganized mom. Boy, do I need this study!! Thank you so much for allowing me to tag along. It’s nice to know there are others out there who are knee deep in chaos, and there is help for us all. One thing on my list…paint my bathroom. It’s been half painted for 1 and a half years now, and I mean half painted. No trimming, half a wall painted, at this point I’m not even sure I still like the color
I’ve done a similar exercise before (writing down everything that you have to do, then trying to make it fit into a monthly, then weekly, then daily calendar – and then you realize you have too much to do and too little time). Can’t wait to see where you go with this!
Our house is in need of some updating and upgrading, so that is my current project(s). Today is already full, so I’m spending a few minutes this morning planning on when I can tackle the next small piece of the big project. The plan (for now) is to order 2 paint colors tomorrow, then pick them up the next day, then on the weekend I’ll paint one half of the wall one color and the other half another color and see what looks best. Takes a little longer this way, but I’ll be certain when we paint the whole room!
I need to make an appointment to take some old bridesmaid dresses into a consignment store.
Your blog is very encouraging. I am excited about the challenge. One thing on my list is to paint and redecorate our basement and turn it into a more comfortable family room for us to enjoy together. It was my son’s bedroom but he has recently gotten married and moved out. I also have many other projects to add to the list. I can totally relate to what you said about having a cluttered mind. I will start to do something and think of something else I need to be doing and so nothing really seems to get done. It is frustrating. Thanks for you help and encouragement.
Wow, as I was reading your post today, I felt like you were talking about me! It is so nice to know that I’m not the only one who feels so overwhelmed and scatter-brained. I loved your statement about always feeling like you have to be doing something…I can relate. I will work on my list and because I’m always the one with the camera, I have mounds and mounds of photographs that need put in albums (as in 1000s of them). Thanks for your ministry.
I need to finish filing the HUGE stack of papers sitting on the desk in my bedroom!
Thanks for sharing your wonderful insight. It really is an answer to a prayer. I love how God uses others to “show me the way”. I’m adding to my list a difficult journey: deciding my life path according to what is best for ME. I’ve always made life choices based on what’s best for my husband, children, family members and even the children’s pets! ha! This is difficult for me to do as I’m used to thinking of others first, but God has placed this task on my heart, so I have faith He will guide me in the right direction. Blessings!
Your blog is very encouraging. I am excited about the challenge. One thing on my list is to paint and redecorate our basement and turn it into a more comfortable family room for us to enjoy together. It was my son’s bedroom but he has recently gotten married and moved out. I also have many other projects to add to the list. I can totally relate to what you said about having a cluttered mind. I will start to do something and think of something else I need to be doing and so nothing really seems to get done. It is frustrating. Thanks for you help and encouragement.
Thanks for the inspiration and simple step by step process to declutter! One random item on my lengthy to do list is to download pictures off my camera.
That’s me – swirling! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
Task: Put away my Christmas jewelry!
Get the Christmas bins put away!!!
Dye my hair red…I know it’s an odd thing to include; however I have the dye just need to take the time to do it! Glynnis, I get so excited when I see your name in my inbox. I am forever changed and my husband is loving it
.
This does seem daunting, but I will try…
I need to take my winter coat and a dress I borrowed from a friend ALMOST A YEAR AGO to the dry cleaners.
Cleaning up the mountain of my children’s school papers that is on my kitchen counter & in boxes because I just couldn’t part with them. Keep a few special ones & LET IT GO!
Finally organize the photos that I piled on the floor by my desk!
I need to write and send 2011 Christmas cards. Ugh. Also need to get ready for a move in about six months.
I gave away my last little fabric zipper bag that holds my favorite pens. I will have to make another one. School starts soon! Is it a priority today? Maybe not but it is something fun and creative to do.
Thank you for this clutter program, I look forward to the next task…
I will add that I need to clean under the kitchen sink.
Wow! Thank you Glynnis! I so needed this series of emails and help! GOD is GOOD!
Right now I am looking at a pile of papers in my bedroom that consist of our children’s past school projects and achievements. Going on the list…
Finish painting my daughter’s room!
Thanks for the idea to write it down…and the warning–it’s a ton. One item on my list that I am looking forward to is making my daughter a t-shirt quilt to take with her when she leaves for college at the end of August.
I started my list, and man-o-man….I began to get anxiety just looking at all the “things” than I need to do. One of the things on my list is my husband needs a tune-up on his truck. I know that is the husbands thing to do but it weighs heavy on me for some reason. I just want things done! As I am writing my list I am giving them ALL to Jesus! I know I can’t do it but HE can!!
Thanks for the tips on decluttering preparation the last few days. The most recent things on my mind that I can list include compiling ideas for a fun night monthly as part of our Wed. night kids program at church. I’m also getting ideas for my daughter’s birthday. It’s down the road, but I feel some sense of accomplishment when I start as early as I can. Sending blessings for your day ahead:)
Wow–I already feel like I’m behind just seeing all these responses to your Clutter Free Challenge!
I am one of those perfectionists you mentioned, so my post is a commitment to write down the things in my mind, and use a notebook that has rings so I can add pages to the different categories as I need them. Being a newly published author has added more responsibilities, and blessings, to our already busy family life (guess I’ll have to add a new category to the notebook!) Thank you for starting this process with the root, and not just helping us to organize the leaves and branches!
what needs cutter is my mind from worry,I worry about my son he 23 yr old,worry about my home in S.C.,I’m in Germany so my mind wonders,if my home is ok,what do I need to do went I get home and so on.
I need to find time to exercise, even just walking
Thank you so much for sharing your words of wisdom. Despite my daily or weekly to do lists, I realize that I’m still trying to keep track of too much in my brain. No wonder I feel so frustrated and not at peace. Today, I need to figure out something to make with the leftover beef roast.
THank you for hosting this challenge – I consider myself very organized (I am an accountant, need I say more!) But the older I get, the less motivated I am – both my kids are now in college and since we don’t have as many activities to plan arounds, I have gotten lax on things and now it seems like there is no organization at all! My husband has bought into the “reclaiming our hosuse” mode, which is a tremendous blessing and we are slowing working on our project list, making daily to do’s as well as long term ones. One thing on the short term list is to clean out the drawers under the washer and dryer – you would think that is one place that would stay clean – wrong! May God continue to bless you and your ministry!
Finish sorting the books for the church library…..been on the mental list for a long time.
get the gerbil cage cleaned out
(and hope the gerbil is still in there somewhere under all the shredded paper)
How funny! I had the same problem, but gerbil was never found
Hope yours is still there!
Thank you for your posts. They are great. I am wearing a bracelet that has a kind of security lock on it. It needs to go on my other arm, but I can’t do that on my own, and as I live on my own, on the list it goes …
I love lists. Today I need to pack for my trip tomorrow!
Thank you for this, clutter has been my way of life. I feel bogged down, hopless. Even the simple things like laundry is a cause for frustration and fighting with my husband. I want so much to change, but looking at it seems insurmountable. I have resolved to tackle this problem head on. It is time, I want to grow my family with adoption (I have three kids of my own already) and I have put it off because my home is such a mess, who would want to put another kid with me?? NO MORE EXCUSES! This is the year and this is the time! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
My task is to find where in the heck the button I found in the dryer came from…
WOW! Has this post really helped my brain out today!
That really puts things in perspective. When we have mental to do lists we really do not forget about them! Especially Mom’s that want to do things for their kids. My first thing to put on my to do list…get all the junk out of my head and on to paper. I am such a visual person…I feel like this will help me so much when I actually cross items off of my list. Thank you so much for this post Glynnis.
Wow! This is great stuff, can’t wait to get started.
The 1st thing on my list is to run home at lunch to pick up my son’s jacket and take it to him at school.
oooooh this list is a big one and I’m feeling slightly nervous that I’ll take up a whole book! On my to do list is to pause, breathe and take part in the moment when those spirals of “got to get it done” start shouting!
Oh my gosh. Just reading this post makes me anxious! So much to do! My list will be huge. One of the more important things is arranging my mother’s prepaid funeral and filling out a huge Medicaid application for when her savings run out now that she is in a nursing home. Talk about clutter. That Medicaid application has been occupying a huge part of my dining room table since last June. The longer it sits there the more anxious I get, but every weekend after the laundry and cleaning and bills I just have no energy to tackle it.
Wow! This is going to be overwhelming for this perfectionist, but with God’s ever-presence, I am (trying to be) confident that I can do this exercise without having a mental breakdown! One thing I am putting on my looooooong to do list is: finish reading and summarize the 4 books required for the adoption of our baby!
Oops! I forgot my email in my comment! Adding it to this one.
To sort through our Christmas decoration and downsize them…a lot!
Thanks so much for this Clutter Free Challenge! Love it already!
For months I have been putting away to turn in my expense reports which could gain me hundreds of dollars. I have putting it away because I have to gather receipts and fill few forms. I know I sound crazy I should have jumped gun to put money in my pocket but I haven’t. So its in my to-do list for work.
Taking those pre pregnancy pants out of my drawer. They don’t fit in there (or in me) anymore!
I love the idea of writing it all down! I always feel like I have so much to do. I am a bit of a perfectionist and it drives me crazy! I’ve been working on my perfectionist problem, reminding myself that I don’t need to stress over little things….God will help me through it! I’m going to get busy starting my “to do” list….#1 PRAY that I remember everything I need to do!!!
Thank you for ministering to us in this way. One thing on my list will be to find 15 minutes each day for myself to do NOTHING, or read or something that I would normally consider unproductive.
I need to finally tackle the remaining boxes in the closet, garage and storage area from our move 6 months ago. I need to add that to my to do list and declutter
Looking at all the comments above me, my to-do list looks a little small. I’m a college kid living at home, and “school” takes up a big chunk of it.
I want my list to have “encourage somebody” on it, because I’m the type of person who likes to see results, so I tend to gravitate toward things that I can see. Sometimes my calling to be an encouragement gets overlooked in all the stuff I have to do.
Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy life and sharing what God has put on your heart! I have always had a problem with being overwhelmed by my ‘things to do’. We just returned from our first overseas mission trip and it definitely changed my perspective on life. Things I thought were so important (that I allowed to stress me out) doesn’t seem quite as important any longer, especially when compared to needs of others not as fortunate . This being said, a new item that will be on my list will be to plan another mission trip. I pray that I will always be mindful of whats truly important and not get so wrapped up in my bubble of comfort.
Top 3 on my To Do List:
1. find time for quiet time
2. more quality time with family
3. exercise and stop complaining there is no time do so
Apparently time is an issue with me! : )
Work on my to do list – for just 15 minutes at a time because it feels completely overwhelming!
We just moved so I have boxes and boxes of clutter to unpack…hopefully some of it will be cleared out of my house!
Thank you for this challenge!
Ahhhhh! I just put “write a to-do list” on the top of my to-do list. That picture w/ all the sticky notes, that looks like my desk at work. My house looks great, it’s my room where I have all the junk; I have trouble throwing stuff away. I’ve been there for a year now and still have unpacked boxes of stuff, just stuff. Agggghhhhh. I did however empty and toss most of the contents of one box this past weekend; my thought process “If I haven’t touched it in a year, I must not need it” But I cried over tossing a pair of torn pajama pants out, my mom gave them to me; she passed almost 2 years ago of cancer. Thank you for your blog; I’m trying and hope to conquer clutter and organize! As you can tell my thoughts are disheveled as well.
I have a ton of things to do, unusual things, I will include two that I have to do that have not happened. My 10 month old poo’d while in his play pen I believe he was sitting on a stuffed tiger now the tiger has poo all over his face, so I need to wash it. And yesterday I didn’t realize that my 3 yr old had her nailpolish in the car , so she got creative and painted a nail polish picture on the inside of the window…Two odd things that are on my list :/
Well not sure how to start. Where is that notebook when you need it. My decluttering has to start with me just like you are saying. I have so much garbage in my life right now I really do need to declutter. I have two sweet sister in Christ that helped me thru part of it last night at bible study. What a blessing to have such sweet friends. It doesn’t matter what is going on they will just let you sit and cry if that is what you need. I will start me decluttering by laying these these things at God’s feet and trusting Him to send me the wisdom I need to handle them. Like you say once our mind is decluttered we can start on whatever else we need to declutter.
Thanks so much for these three days and I look forward to the rest of them.
Blessing to you
Judy
I will, if nothing else, take the word “procrastination” out of my vocabulary. Everything you have stated so far is sooo true. Starting on my list already. I will not allow it to overwhelm me. I will stand in God’s arms and recieve HIS peace to better my life and the life of those I love. Thanks for the inspiration.
At the top of my list will be planning my 6 year old’s birthday party coming up next month!
I need to classify something as a responsibility that normally get push behind on my other responsibilities. spending some quiet “whatever” time with my husband after the kids bedtime.
Upload Christmas photos!
One thing on my list is to move the 2010 (Yes, that is correct) files out of the current file drawer.
Thank you for getting me to slowly do something that I’ve been wanting to do for over 20 years and using God’s help to do it because I know that I can’t do it alone. Clutter has caused lots of disagreements with my spouse. I want to have a happier home. May God help all of us through Hiss vessel named Glynnis. I will make that list right now. God’s help to all the ladies who posted above and below me.
One of the items I am going to put on my list is to read today’s blog entry to my husband. We have enjoyed sharing the last two together.
I’m loving these de-clutter lessons. It seems like you are reading my mind! I will
make a list – again – but this time with the idea that it’s part of a plan! Thanks for your insights and prayers! Biggest thing on my list is organize old pictures and get them into albums.
I have your book started reading it still in the pile of books to finish reading. I can’t say I used to be organized because I have never been organized. Enjoying this challenge but would like any reference to where we should be if reading the book along with the challenge. I will have to take a break because going to visit my 87 dad and 81 mom (she is n nursing home) for 2 weeks bit will be reading along. Thanks for writing the book and this challenge.
Today, I MUST list the things to buy for my daughter’s birthday party and then buy them.
One thing on my list is to clean out and straighten my walk-in closet (so I can actually walk in it).
So excited for this challenge. I dare to say this will be as life changing as the health goals I have made for myself. But today on my list is to have some fun for a change instead of always being about work. So today I am going to meet a friend for lunch and then run and play with my dogs. Ending the afternoon working on the list:) Thanks for your wisdom.
Oh boy…there are so many things! One thing I will be putting on my list is to organize the files in my office so I know where everything goes once I get it in the mail. I can’t wait to get it done!
Thanks so much for your blog – this is wonderful!
Blessings,
Liz
After the divorce, my son and I downsized to a smaller, more manageable sized home. I find myself constantly “purging” closets, etc of unnecessary, unwanted items and have a higher-than-ever need for organization. In making the list you suggested today, I have soooo much to do and know there will be things to add to the list in the next few days. There are so many physical things that need to be done around the house, errands, ballgames, appointments, etc on my list. But I am adding in some ME things. Time for my crafts (which are, by the way, cheaper than a shrink) and physical activity to help the outside and inside of me! Geeez. I am tired already but am so ready to transform our daily lives into organized chaos instead of unorganized chaos. There is a difference!
To clean out my personal items from my resale business I just sold. It is overwhelming and sad but needs to be done.
Honestly, I really have never looked at my life as being too full of things to do. I don’t normally sign up for a lot of things. I do work full time, but so do many other people. I always feel like I am WAY less busy than most people–I always just figure I am inherently lazy. I have a nearly 3 year old son, and the things he requires don’t always come packaged neatly or at a specific time. I am not sure how to put all that down. I am also wondering if I can try to do this on my computer or my android phone–paper just causes piles in my life, even when my intentions are good.
On my list I am putting that I have to remember to make Green (deviled) eggs and ham platter and Cat in the Hat parfaits for my daughter’s First Grade class in March.
I “remind” my self of this often I have already made the grocery store list for this.
I also am calling my list “My portable Brain”.
Thanks
I want to finish my basic Christianity book, I only have 10 pages left, so I can give this challenge my pure undivided attention. I am so excited about de cluttering my mind and my house!
Thank you so much for this challenge! One thing on my list will be to go through my hope chest (my husband hand made for me about 18 years ago:) and organize all of the years of pictures etc. into albums.
The one thing that I am adding to my list is to start doing something for ME!! It happens way less than it should for me to be the only ‘bread winner’ in the home.
Wow! So many comments! Apparently we all need a little organizing help. My organizing abilities seem to change from day to day. It’s keeping up with it that is the trick. I have a huge list to write on my notebook page……and you’re right, if I put it all in one place I may actually use it! I have tons of lists all over the place. Just can’t seem to find them when the time is necessary. I think I am actually going to have to keep it in my purse too…..nothing worse than stopping at the store to get that “thing” you need and you can’t remember what it is! So, the big thing that I need to put on my list is to get rid of those 12 year old taxes receipts in the many boxes in my bedroom cuz I just simply don’t have anywhere else to put them!! Bat’s in the attic !! Anyway, I’m sure that whoever you choose, they will be truly inspired by your book! Lisa Evola
One thing fun I’m adding to my list is to add the new David Crowder CD to my iTunes and then sync my phone. I had just completed adding all my music this weekend, but this will be a fun one to add : )
Read my Bible every day BEFORE turning on my laptop!
I may need to join you on that one, Carol. Thanks for sharing it.
I am really enjoying this devotional. I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions, BUT I really wanted to commit to reading my Bible and spend time with God in prayer EVERY DAY. What a joy that has been and what peace! It is my job to wash floors and clean bathrooms in our house. I really don’t mind it at all, but even more than that I do the cooking and baking – LOVE that! Now that I am working less this year, I am so grateful that I can start “de-cluttering” and indeed I have started doing that.
This comes at a time where my life is changing in many ways. I have always thought of myself as organized but never really EVER felt like I got enough done. On my list will be playing with our disabled 12 year old, making time to relax and spending time with our older two when they are home. And already as I am writing this list my mind gets anxious with the other million things I need to put on my list. UGH!! Lord, please guide me each and every day to honor you with my time! Amen!
Getting outside to take down Christmas decorations on my balcony in the cold brrr. I know I need to do it.
Thank you for the email, though I’ll have to find them again in my overflowing, cluttered Inbox! (By the way, I’m a fantastic list maker but don’t seem to have/take time to convert lists to action. I’ve even found college lists that make me laugh.) My problem is time/energy. By the time I’ve finished the urgent work tasks, it’s 9 pm and time to go to sleep and do it all again tomorrow.
Really enjoying your clutter-free study thus far!! And you are so right…most of it is in my head! Organizing my craft room and getting rid of piles will be on my to-do list!!
So there is this ladder in the backyard – a very long, big ladder. Everytime I look out the window I say, ‘I have got to get that ladder put up’. (notice how I said ‘everyday’) Why is it that we will walk around it, almost trip over it and even get mad at it, but then just leave it there . . . The ladder is going on the list (smile)!
(guess i said, ‘everytime’, but trust me, it is everyday!!)
On my to-do list will be to organize our home office so that we don’t misplace a bill or payment due.
I love this post because this was (or maybe still is) me. I tried to keep it all together by just keeping it all in my head. I had so much going on that the idea of writing it all down seemed to be daunting. By writing it all down, however, I realized that it was too much and maybe that was why I was stressed all the time. I also liked your comment about the perfectionist side of wanting the list to be perfect and to not let the perfectionism hold back the purpose of writing down the list. While I have made some big strides in becoming the organized woman I once was, I am following along in your challenge to see what else I could do to live life with more thriving and less surviving.
I recently found out that I’m expecting our first child, and although I’m incredibly excited, I also find myself stressing out about all new things. For example, I’m definitely putting on my list that we need to adjust our budget and savings plan accordingly. We’ve been concentrating on paying off debt, while both working 2 jobs, but we know that working 2 jobs will eventually not be feasible for me, nor what we want for our family, but we’ve got to find a way to make the numbers work. And that – and everything the whole money drama includes – is a major clutter in my mind!
I’m going to add to my list to purchase an extended dust mop or Swiffer to get the cobwebs up too high for me to reach.
The feeling of always having to be doing something (something on the to-do list) is often overwhelming! I love to sew and quilt. That is something that gets bumped when life gets too busy. I hope that de-cluttering will allow me to fit in some time to do something I enjoy and not just be doing things that “have” to be done. Thanks!
On my list I am putting “make my husband’s life easier.” He works so hard for us every day so that I can be a SAHM, and I put a lot of responsibility on him. The first thing that will make his life easier is to show him that I am serious about saving money for the future.
The top of my list is to organize my home office and put things in order. It causes me stress to work in there with such clutter and so much to do, especially with all the year end things. I have been putting it off for months.
One item on my list is to schedule dentist appointments. I need to find a new family dentist. I think part of me is putting this off because I dislike dentist appointments:)
Thanks you for the great ideas
Ironing all the clothes hanging in my laundry room!!! The figure out a way to STAY caught up. Thanks for these challenges.
I have been making lists lately so this will be the list I already started and adding on to it. One thing on my to do list that I want to include is to start a present for Christmas next year. My Christmas this year was way too stressful because I didn’t get anything done until last minute. I want to solve that this year and make a present for my mother and sister-in-law and store it away until Christmas just hoping that I don’t forget that I’ve done it. LOL
I am so glad I fially sat down and read your emails this week. Once again I saw the first day email and passed it saying The 2nd day came through and said the same thing…Perfectionist, so perfect nothing ever gets done! So today day3 came through and for some reason I went back to day 1 and started reading. This was different than all the other thousand prgrams I have read! Asking for God guidance to HELP ME? What a concept! I am almost 3 years sober and you know how I made it? Asking Gods guidance!! This morning with your emails, I am able to return to the basics of recovery and use those tools applied to de-cluttering. I am so excited!! Thank You for reminding me of what really works, Talking to God!!
PS…one thing on my to do this is follow your daily assignments. As soon as I stop writing you I am on to get the commitee in my head to stop carrying on their meeting and get the notes flying around up there out and on paper!
Hmmm…..Oh how I would love to have ONE notebook to keep everything in.
Somehow I think if i keep starting new ones, I will be organized. 
I think I have kept STAPLES in business buying “new” ones to start organizing! 
To put on my list: Finish my boy’s “school” books…the ones with the pics from K-present. The two oldest are in 8th and 10th…..guess I should finish it before they graduate! 
I remember Erma Bombeck saying ,”Two pack rats can marry but they shouldn’t have children.” I’m one of those children. Thank you for your articles. I need to do this but I haven’t known how or where to start.
I am SO thankful to be a part of this challenge. Clutter on the outside you can see, but you are helping us understand and deal with the clutter on the inside. I didn’t realize how much it effects the outside. I can relate to everything already! But instead of getting stressed and beating myself up (the usual cycle) God has lead me to yall to help me do this. I CAN DO THIS!
)
My daughter started Kindergarten and a fireman visited her school 2-3 months back. She reminded me for 2 weeks straight that we need to change the batteries in the fire alarms. I have been TOO busy for THAT…even though it is important to do and very important to her. Today it is going on the list…and we are going to do it.
God bless you for telling your story and helping is all.
Well…I have 3 lists. A project list, a list I want to do with my kids, and a typical” to do list” . Combining them should be interesting! One thing on my list is cleaning out my garage…I get nauseous when I think about it!
this all makes so much sense I’ve just been so unfocused because of too much to do, I would have never seen it on my own! One of the things on my list is to get my shelves in the pantry more orderly so that things don’t fall out when the door is open.
I have an overload of things I am responsible for. I have a husband who thinks his only responsibility is his paying job. That leaves basically everything else on my shoulders as trying to get him to help out is just a waste of energy I could be using for other tasks. It is my constant prayer for strength to do all that I have to do. I can’t do it all and then I feel guilty about it, then i get angry at my husband for not helping, then I think well he is the only one bringing in money so I should just do it all and not espect him to help out. I have health issues I am not allowed to lift over 10 pounds due to a neck injury, so dealing with pain along with the chores is common. I still mow the yard even though the Dr says it’s not a good idea. If I don’t it won’t get done. we have had 3 of his 4 Children live with us and they will see me outside mowing and not even offer to bring me a drink, let alone help me with mowing or anything else. I feel like it’s just me and Jesus in this relationship. He’s the only one who really cares and I feel like I let Him down by not being able to get everything done. I am hoping that through this challenge I will have a better outlook. I was organized 12 years ago, that all changed when I said “I do”. prayers are much appreciated. thank you.
I finally took all my pictures out of the paper diaper boxes that they were in. That dates how old my children are. I want to get them all scanned and organized
Planning my daughter’s Sweet 16 birthday party! I need to think of a great idea – maybe taking a group to an overnight at a waterpark hotel – going to research options and prices!
The litter box and Toby, our kitty, keep reminding me to put ‘change the litter box’ on my list. I think I will do it right now to get it off my mind and put it on the list for next week
Thanks for your inspiration to declutter our hearts and minds, not just our homes 
Wow, I could have written this post! My husband asks me constantly why I can’t just relax at the end of the day. The answer: because the running to-do list in my head NEVER sleeps!! It holds everything from picking new music for my students to getting the dogs groomed to my daughter’s dance costumes! It’s exhausting!!
I’m excited to see what the management journal looks like! Till then I’ll see if I can get EVERYTHING from my head to the paper!
Jennifer
When did I lose it? My ability to organize that is. My mind is cluttered, my house is cluttered, and my life in general feels cluttered! My daughters and two beautiful granddaughters have moved back home with me and my husband. Although I LOVE them with all my heart, my space is just not my own any more. I’ve been on quite a journey this last year that includes lots of health struggles as I continue to battle the effects of a cancer diagnosis last February. I just need to refocus and refresh! The one thing that I really want to get done that falls so far down on my list that it gets lost is waxing. There…I said it! I need to wax my lip.
I know this challenge is going to help me refocus my energy and get back to that place of organization that I so long for. Thanks Glynnis!
I am for the most part pretty organized at work at home. Can’t stand not to be. But I do feel guilty when I don’t get things done. The first thing on my list is to relax a little. Take some time for me – exercise etc. and don’t be so hard on my self – feeling guilty for doing exactly that!
On the top of my to-do list today, after I get home from work; before we go to church, is to clean out my son’s room and closet and pack away all the clothes he has outgrown in the past month.
I just moved into a new house and everything is pretty much unpacked except my closet. It is a disaster and will be going on my to-do list–hopefully near the top!
Glad I don’t have to add “Read all the comments left on my blog” to my list! Wow, you sure have a lot to read today….
Found the empty notebook, now to begin the dreaded list. Think I would much rather step on the scale than do this one, BUT I think it will be a tremendous help once it is complete and organized.
At a loss for something unique or quirky for my ‘list’…..
Trim the dog’s toe nails……
Planning summer. In the summer I work at home and the kids are at home, so I set up their days with a planner and a weekly theme and things to do. I know it’s early, but I like the planning part.
Gee I always considered myself to be organized, but I am learning that to be Not so true, haha! My to do list will consist of More Godly time with my family!
Thank you for opening my eyes.
Wow, I needed this entry today. I have recently returned to the work force and with a 16 month old and a demanding kindergartner I often feel overwhelmed and exhausted. I attempt to make to do list daily but often times I add so many side notes to the list that I can no longer read the original list, making completing it virtually impossible. So i’m dedicating today’s to do list to making a chiropractic appointment for myself. I have been having back problems since I had my youngest son. I have recently attempted working out and have to stop due to excruciating back pain. So I Renda being of some what sound mind and body pledge today to praying and asking God to assist with healing my burdened back. Hopefully relieving this burden will help with clearing out the rest of the clutter engulfing my life.
On my list-paint my daughter’s bedroom and hang the wallpaper border in the bathroom. I’ve had the wallpaper border now for about 2 years!!!!!!
Love this exercise even though it terrifies me!!! LOL!!
Great exercise, can’t wait to get started and take that deep breath of “trusting you God” to do all that I have to do this year. One of the items on my list is – write my dissertation (i’m a liberty university ed.d candidate and feeling overwhelmed with my life on most days).
Oh, thank you so much, Glynnis! You took out one of my to-do’s via this post! I’m thinking of consulting a psychiatrist/psychologist already because I have been suspecting that I developed ADHD! Now that you have described exactly what I always feel, and I know there’s nothing wrong with you, I suspect there should be nothing wrong for me,too! (right?)
Before I got married, I was able to handle 5 jobs at a time (all technical, including teaching Mathematics in a university!) and I was so organized! After marriage, especially after I had a child, I don’t know what happened. In fact, I am resigning from my job effective end of this month because I need to focus (F-O-C-U-S!!! I never imagined ever being pressured by that word!) on taking care of my husband and my daughter, and I’m already getting sick because of stress and fatigue. To be honest, it is a painful decision to leave my job, but I had to do it, and I thank God for a husband who supports whatever way so that I could bring back the bubbly and healthy me… Kidding aside, my sincerest thanks, Glynnis, because I have been praying for a mentor in this area of de-cluttering my life. May God bless you and your family more and more!
Oh btw, for my to-do, well, I will start training my 4-yr old how not to pee in her bed while sleeping. That’s the one I would substitute for “making an appointment with a psychologist to check for ADHD.”
*Thanks for reading this lengthy comment! I’m just so ecstatic to find someone who sued to be like me!*
*used to be like me
I have been recieving the daily devotions for quiet sometime from a friend. I have been totally overwhelmed with the clutter in my life and home. After a year of remodeling, I had just made the omment to my daughter that I didn’t have a clue where to begin. i think that is why God showed me your post on this challenge. The thing I will add to my list today is to turn to God more often for advice on the little things.
Playing picture catch-up. I’m 2 years behind after my second baby. Oh my!
My mother has Alzheimer’s disease – I have been trying to find activities or crafts that we can do at home that won’t frustrate her.
That is on my list.
I love lists! The thought of one giant, brain-dump list is intimidating! My paper is filling ever so fast! One item that made the list is finding a spot for the beautiful sunburst mirror I received for Christmas.
This is a strange item to be put on the list, but I need to find the box of other pictures that I have, my dad has requested a picture of him in his navy suit that he says has the date 1941, he wants the picture for his obituary. I found one but I don’t think it is the one he wants. He is 86, he has paid for his funeral, written his obituary, wants the picture. Now this man preached on January 1, so he is preparing. So here is to finding the picture. He is one prepared man. Once I find the picture, I need to mail it. Okay back to my list, and yes I would love a copy of the book. Blessings. Diana
First item on my to do list: Personal Daily Spiritual Time – read the scriptures and pray. Here I go!
today:
do my Bible reading, prayer time, and Bible study homework (because it really IS more important than looking at my friends’ facebook statuses!)
Thank you, Glynnis.
I sort of have a list like this going, but today’s entry made me think of adding other items to my list, like longer term items. One item currently on my list is to run 5 miles. Hoping to check this one off today.
A project for the near future is to turn our daughter’s crib base into a dry erase board. I’d originally wanted to make it into a chalk board, but my husband suggested a dry erase board because it was less mess. Are there any other pros/cons to either we should take into consideration? Btw, Thank you for doing the Clutter-Free Challenge!!
Grateful Sister in Christ,
Alanna
Honestly, I’m overwhelmed at the thought of even making the list, much less having to look at it afterward and figure out how to do it all! Close to the top: Put in that last hour or so of work and get that book proposal in the mail! I’m blessed to have a friend who pushes me and reminds me, yet it’s still unsent. Time to listen!
Well, my 5 year old grandson has come to live with me. He has been with us since Thanksgiving and is in Kindergarten. The first thing on my list is to get his new room not looking like a guest bedroom but a little boys room.
I will put on my list: put away Christmas things!
Kelli
One of the many things going onto my list is to water my potted plants on the front porch and patio on a regular basis. I walk right by them and wonder why they always look “sad;” they need my attention too!
Glynnis, thanks for this challenge. I shared it in detail with my husband this morning, and will be writing about it on my blog as well.
My one task: email my friend. she sent me a lovely long email a few months ago, and I just haven’t made time to write back.
WOW, after reading some of the comments and realizing HOW MANY OTHER WOMEN are dealing with this particuilar de-clutter issue, I am ENCOURAGED and EXCITED about this journey. Glad to know I am not alone!! I have a large house with lots of storage so it’s easy to keep EVERYTHING I “might need sometime”. At the top of my list will be to actually sign up for this e-mail encouragement…a friend shared today!!
when you said to post an obscure item from your mental “to-do list” my first thought was…paris! go to paris! someday…
I love the part of the prayer today, thanking God for trusting me with all the responsibilities he has trusted me with. On my list…organizing our house before the arrival of baby 3 (broken down into lots of to-do’s)!
I’m always saying “When my life slows down…(I will do such and such)” and it never seems to slow down! So hopefully I can tackle the small things, one thing at a time, even when the big things are going on. Maybe I’ll start with changing the water in the fishbowl today!
I was just thinking this morning, as I was getting ready for work, that I need to schedule my husband’s vasectomy we’ve been talking about for so long!
Thanks so much for this Clutter Challenge. I have spent the better part of the past 2 weeks clearing my home of clutter and orgainizing each room. But one thing that still feels cluttered is my mind. I have so many hats to wear, and what seems like not enough of me to go around … I am constantly making to do lists… On this new master to do, I plan to add “keep finances in order” and “paint the rocking chair red” … well those are just two of the many! Thank you for always being an encouragement! God Bless!
I need to PACK. We’re in the process of moving, but the date keeps being pushed back. It’s hard to plan and prepare when there is a blurred timeframe. I have random boxes everywhere and can’t find anything. Today, I am going to make a game plan. Pack room by room and get this mess under control!
Need to get my January meal planner done & update the grocery list before the month is over! (A little behind this time.)
“Darn” my socks! I don’t put my feet first and I guess I’m not taking good care of my feet as I keep creating holy socks! Either the socks aren’t made the way they used to be or it’s me! I feel like I’m in colonial times by sewing socks to save on buying more & wasting otherwise perfectly good socks
Today- I am going to actually start the to do list that I keep telling myself I am going to do!
thanks for helping me clear my mind!!
Blessings to all!
One thing on my list is to sort through my kindergartener’s pictures and projects that have been sent home and recycle some of the ones we aren’t going to hold on to.
Can I first just say the idea of listing EveryThing I do and need to do and get to do stops me right there. There’s just so much to do I don’t even know where to start….the idea of even thinking about all this has combusted my brain! But I want things to be better so… I will just start small. As I take a quick survey of my house….I’ll guess I’ll start with doing all the breakfast dishes that my kids left before school, then I will sort through all the papers they have left on the counters from homework and school projects last night and then there’s the 5 loads of laundry that needs folding and then……
I am putting take time for myself everyday on the list. I do not take time to just sit and read a book or do something for myself whether it be something as simple as have tea.
I look forward to getting organized with you!
I am loving this challenge so far (though I admit today’s exercise is a bit daunting, as I was the college student that would get freaked out when I saw everything that had to be done in one semester listed on the syllabus). Sometimes I intentionally do not make “to-do” lists just because I know I will get overwhelmed and do nothing instead. So I’m eager to see where you (and God) lead us in this regard.
I couldn’t pick just one, so here are 3 randoms on my list:
-put Christmas back in the attic
-call church regarding new bible study opportunity I will be teaching
-make boarding appointment for dog
help my college son re-oraganize his highschool room into a college dorm feel- which includes removing the recliner we hid in there over Christmas to make room for the tree!
One thing I have to do is organize my daughters neurodevelopmental therapy. She has 42 things to do each day for her therapy and some of them more than once. We have 7 children and we homeschool them. Plus I have to work part-time 3rds on the weekend. I feel so overwhelmed and very tired. I so desperately want peace.
Oh Thank you Glynnis. You are speaking my heart everyday…that I just didn’t know how to put into words!!!! One thing (of many) on my list will be cleaning and purging our bedrooms. They are hurricanes to say the least!!!!
At the top of my gigantic to do list, in BIG letters, my first thing to do is to take a big, deep BREATH!!!
I am so scared (lol!) to make my To DO list!! But I will
Thanks for helping all of us out here!
One item on my list today is to organize the trunk in our room, to place sheets/blankets for our queen-size bed in it so I don’t have to run upstairs to get fresh one.
Thanks for the opportunity to win the book and for sharing your perspective on organizing life! =)
One thing I will be adding to my list is: maintaining a small stash of snacks in my car for when I pick the kids up from school. They are always STARVING (ha!) and I have learned that having something healthy for them to snack on right when they get in the car cuts down on a LOT of whining on the ride home
God is amazing! My goal this year is to be more organized & clutter-free. I was thrilled when I learned about this study! God’s timing is so perfect! I’m thankful you added the note about not worrying about categorizing the list; I’m a frustrated victim of O.C.D so that was helpful to hear. One of the things going on my list is visiting elderly relatives. I moved back to Michigan in order to be near family and now it seems like life gets too busy…I need to spend time with those members of my family who have memories yet to share with me. I’m a little nervous about starting the list…but I will begin with prayer. I would say I will end with prayer too, but I’m afraid the list may never end!
I’ll pray through the process! Bless you in your ministry!
I’m so enjoying this clutter-free series. After work I’m going to make my list. On it I need to include: buy gift card as a belated Christmas gift for our postman!
I am trying so hard to simplify my life…and your ‘system’ is my attempt at it…I plan to use your tips and jot down all the chaos of my life…the first being my home business clutter!
I’m always thinking about taking guitar lessons. Literally, it’s almost always on my mind. So, I added it to my list so I can let that thought pass and be free from trying to remember it all the time! It’s on the list…I won’t forget.
There are so many things on my list. I noticed last night that I have a pantry full of food but I still struggle with what to cook for dinner every night. So, top of the list is to organize and inventory my pantry so I can use what we have (or donate it if I have bought too much).
I already have a list sitting in front of my desk right now, scares me to keep writing what I need to do. My goal is to get our closets cleaned out, one at a time. Trying not to think of all the rest….good luck everyone
Paint over giraffe spots with “boy colors”
we are expecting a boy and my husband thinks my daughter’s room is too girly for them to share (I did jungle theme, but the giraffe does have pink & purple spots)… so this fixes part of the problem! 
One thing I’m adding to my list is to win a copy of your book!
Or maybe buy it 
On my to-do list is to sew on buttons and mend small tears in seams, etc. so we can actually wear all those clothes in my mending pile!
Thanks Glynnis – what a great idea to create the list. It just might take me days:) One thing on my list is to spend more time with my husband – really listening to him and showing how much I love and appreciate him.
The first thing that on my list is to have more quiet time with God.
I do have many things I could do. My mind is
exploding with thoughts. However, I feel that
without this quiet time, I can’t focus and
become so consumed with life that it
it takes my attention of Him and makes me exhausted.
I love today’s blog! Everyone thinks I am SO organized and I think… I use to be. If they could only see in my head – scary mismanagement going on up there! TMI on my list of to do’s – find my retainer in the new bathroom. We just moved and I know it’s in there somewhere but the only time I think about it is when I’m not even home to look for it. Ugh! =O) Its only been a week and I don’t even remember what color the case is. I’ve been wearing one for 15 years, until now… and I cannot remember the color.
To Do: Train two of my Haflinger horses to work together in harness so they will be ready to pull a spring tooth harrow this April to work up the soil in our market garden.
(How’s that for odd and unusual?
First thing to do: Write a thank-you note that I keep forgetting to send!
Love these challenges, looking forward to learning more.
Clutter has been the nemesis of my life. Thank you for your help.
To Do: clean the living room windows and start teaching my 7 year old piano lessons.
Thank you Glynnis! After a kitchen home remodel, a death in the family, and the holidays in the last 4 months…I was ready for a fresh new year and an “organized” year. What I didn’t realize is how truly cluttered my mind is! The restless nights of “don’t forget to do that” must end! Thank you for your insight to start here. I’ll be making a list today, and on it I will be including the dogs birthday! Yes, the kids keep asking if we can have a “party” for him and upon realizing it was today…I felt stressed! I don’t have time for that today! Well, it will go on the list. Today has a different priority, unpacking from our holiday trip!
My to-do list includes finishing photo books for my 2 children from their school year of 2010-2011!
I’m trying to do this mentally, as I’m sitting in the hospital around the clock with my mother, who had major spinal surgery on monday. so I’m reading the daily update, enjoying them, and mentally preparing to get to it when I return home, probably next Wed. thanks for doing this study. I have hope that i can do it and succeed! the old brain isn’t what it used to be…I need to dump some stuff out.
I really liked this part of your prayer “Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me so much responsibility. It shows Your trust in me.
One thing I’ll put on my to do list is to find all of the to do lists I have lying around the house.
I’m ready to start that list today and say thank you, Glynnis, for telling my perfectionist side that it doesn’t have to be perfect!
Glynnis…
You are so kind for doing this study – thank you for letting God use you in awesome ways. This list is ideal for me.. I’m hoping that “decluttering my mind” will allow me to stop feeling like I need to be doing something all of the time (even on days when I get good things done!) I love this list b/c if it’s not written down, it’s very likely that it won’t get done. One of the things on my list is to hem my curtains. My husband put them up for me 5 months ago and they are too long! I’ve been procrastinating and it’s going on the list. Thanks Glynnis….I mentioned your website to our homeschool group last night when we talked about organization. Everyone needs this…All is grace..
Loving this challenge. I need to hook up new BluRay today. God Bless.
Thanks for this series. I love it! Something on my list is finish a meal/dinner plan for THIS week. Im already behind and so busy! I feel lost without my meal plan for the week.
I’ve been working on de-cluttering for 5 years now since our family evacuated for a hurricane. In the end, the most important things were my husband and children, a few pictures and quilts and a chalkware santa collection my father gave me. I was so overwhelmed trying to “save” our stuff that I realized the stuff wasn’t important at all. Still, I remain paralyzed by indecision because my mind is cluttered. The one thing that’s getting thrown out today is a plastic baggie in my son’s closet that contains a rattlesnake skin. It’s been in there WAY too long. Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
This is a great tip! I work from home as a Special Education teacher for 5 years now and I can honestly say on my 5th year I am coming to perfect this exact tip. My spiral notebook has a page dedicated to every week. In my heading section is left over or rescheduled tasks from the previous week. On the right side going down is all my task for the week- I write this out the Friday prior and have become so familiar with what is manageable work load that if I have more than 6 tasks, I’m looking to work some that night. Also, these task are my ‘big task’…my list does not include checking email or making calls (I have that set up daily on my Outlook calendar:). I use to put it on my list but for some reason it made me panic before I’d even start the week. On the left hand side of my list is my personal/family/community tasks. And since you asked for us to mention something on my list, I have down ‘Call for hair appt’. I recently turned 30 and feel it ashame that grey hair doesn’t come in as highlights..ugh!
I love this tip and couldn’t agree more with feeling lighter after you do it- oh so true! Also, it helps with self-discipline and gives you a feeling of accomplishment when you look back and see all those crossed through tasks!
I forgot to mention that 6 tasks is referring to what I can put in daily- not weekly:).
On my list is manage my email!! Learn to make a folder to save these clutter free
Emails. Thanks for the motivation! Kim
Today I will start my list, I am a little scared of the list. But hopefully in a few weeks I will see a difference.
Thanks,
Carol
One thing on my to-do list is to clean out my laundry basket so I can actually use it to hold laundry! It has become the catch-all for everything that doesn’t have a home! I think I desperately need to read your book. I am thoroughly enjoying this series so far and I’ve already made my “organizational notebook” as I am calling it. Thank you, Glynnis!
I have been searching for a long time for an opportunity like this. I hope and pray that with God’s help this will change not only my life but our whole family so that we can serve the Lord as he would have us serve him. We are in dire need of change before our family just disintegrates. One thing on my to do list is to research the camping spot for our church camping trip this summer (I’m really behind on this task!).
At the top of my list is a daily reminder, often used in the past when feeling overwhelmed: God will give me the time to do what is really important – i.e., what is important to Him – and what doesn’t get done in time won’t make a difference in the long run.
This thought has brought me a sense of peace and calm on many occasions when I just didn’t know how to get everything done that I thought I needed to get done. And guess what? What didn’t get done in each situation didn’t really matter, after all:)
I hope someone reads this and uses it, because it really does help.
I have always wanted to learn how to play the guitar and be able to play at church. I have started and stopped with learning and recently learned of a good online lesson source that I want to put on my list for ME!
I look forward to getting these emails everyday. I was struck by part of your prayer this morning. I tend to have weekly pity parties for myself (that’s an improvement, cuz it used to be daily, I am becoming new
and wonder why I get stuck (at least that’s how I feel) with doing so many things while my husband does not(that’s my thinking, not necessarily reality), then I read your prayer this morning. Thanking God for giving & trusting us with all the responsibility we have. It hit me that I SHOULD be thanking Him for choosing me to do the job(s) I do within my home and with my kids instead of having negative thoughts about my circumstances and my husband. WOW..just another way He is transforming me!
So included in the list of things to do is: actually write my “to do list”, begin thanking God every time I start to think about complaining or having negative thoughts about the things I need to do, and just as important, I need to wash my hair today so they let me in to watch my son at basketball practice tonight
Thank you for being in His service
Thank you so much for this de-cluttering workshop! I am a very busy mom “taxi-driver” and am constantly thinking of everything I need to do while I am in the car driving and can’t write anything down. I’m hoping that making my to do lists will help get in all out when I am not driving. Otherwise, any ideas??? Thanks!
Thank you so much for offering these tips. I have been pulling my hair out trying to get my house in order. I have three kids, 12, 2, and 1. I help my husband by being his secretary for his fulltime job. Part-time we both run a very small cleaning company. And I am a full-time student in addition to volunteering in my community. Time is precious. I’m going to use your tip to get everything down and then hopefully be more efficient in the multiple areas of my life. One thing I will put on my list is to play a game with my children.
On my list is to reorganize my kitchen cabinets so I can get to everything I need quickly. Dinnertime will be so much easier if I get the clutter out!
Thanks for the inspiration and guidance. One thing on my list today, Honestly is shave my legs! This is one thing that gets put off, especially in winter, but always makes me feel better when done!
One of the things on my list is to take back a bunch of pretty baskets from Target that didn’t end up fitting in the space I wanted them for!
Thanks for these great tips! With God’s help, I am looking forward to the de-cluttering process.
Alison
Prior to the new year I had begun de-cluttering my home..donating items I no longer use or will never use — you know, those thoughtful but useless gifts, or items tucked away that you forgot you even owned. Closet by closet, drawer by drawer, one room after another..less is definitely more! The less is more concept is so freeing.. it really allows you to appreciate what you do you have.
I am already starting to feel better with this 15 day project. Below is jsut a few of items I am going to list today.
1) Declutter my life
2) Declutter my life
3) Declutter my life
4) Read God’s word daily (morning & night)
5) Be a Great Wife
6) Be a Great Mother
I will continue with the other things later. Thank you for your time in this project. You have probably made more clutter in your life, by teaching us to de-clutter our’s. I really appreciate this.
Have a Blessed day!
ONE THING I WILL AD TO MY TO DO LIST IS GET OUR NEW DOG BELLS, FIXED. SHE IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD AND HAS A BLDDR CONTRIL PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THIS HELPS BUT I KEEP FORGETTIGN TO TAKE CARE OF IT! THAS IS PRETTY RANDOM LOL
leave work at work
Thank-you so much for this challenge! I signed up thinking to get my home in order, and have been blessed and challenged in a way I hadn’t even expected! I can’t wait to be FREE!
Hooray- I am loving the Clutter Free challenge. I too have read David Allen’s book. At this point, your blogs are expressing my own experiences. As I read today’s entry I felt my head nodding in aggreement with you. Thanks Glynnis!
One thing that needs to go on my list is to clean my oven. It needs it so bad and I never think about it when I have the time to do it. I love the idea of keeping a complete list book in a easy to reach area so hopefully when I do have the extra time I will go to my list and get stuff done. Thanks for all that you are sharing!
Holly
Thank you for this de-clutter series, I soooooo want to win a copy of your book! One thing on my list is splitting fire wood.
Wow – I have to pick just one thing to comment on! HA!!! Kidding – thank you for these devotionals … they are already making me feel as though I (with Father’s help) I can finally create some order out of the chaos!
One thing on my list is to fulfill the promise I made to myself when we moved almost two years ago. That is, “I will open and do something with EVERY box” I will not again move boxes that I didn’t even open from the last move!! So far, I’ve done pretty good – but I still have some boxes (5-10) to go. Many are in the office closet – and that’s another project on the list!!!
Thanks again!
I want to get a schedule figured out for my homeschooled children and for myself as I am taking online college courses.
The first thing on my list is to get a notebook….Of course this is still in my mind. Not sure why I struggle with just doing this. I lay in bed every night thinking about what you talked to us about today, losing important sleep each night! For some reason having you suggest this is more powerful than me suggesting it to myself and I actually just went and got one of my kids old notebooks that they had some paper left in and started using it! Why do I think I need a new notebook for this? Silly.
Thanks again, Carla
needing to create a family calendar – it doesn’t work any more to keep it in my brain where no one else can see it! this blog gave me insight to why that is! thanks!
First thing on my to do list…..ask for God’s peace…everyday
Second thing on my to do list…..rest. Because the Lord says we need to do that. It’s crucial to our well being.
Third, make time to take care of my health. If I don’t make it a priority I can’t do anything else.
Fourth, make healthy meals for my family. Our body needs the proper fuel to function well.
This is soooooooo what I need ! I know that all this stuff going round in my head is part of what keeps me from getting stuff done in the first place! I really don’t even know where to start writing things down!! I guess I can start with ‘clean up computer desk’ since it’s right here in front of me!!
Thanks for this Glynnis!
Marilyn
Take my vitamins:)
Thank you so much for for today’s challenge and our de-cluttering our minds. That struck a cord with me and I am going to find a notebook to begin this process. It feels overwhelming at this point but makes sense to be able to do it. I will also put my coupons in my coupon binder today to prepare to grocery shop tomorrow. Thanks for walking us through the process.
I’m sure I’ll have a million things on my list but the first that comes to mind is buy birthday cards for all the January birthdays in my family. You’d think I’d remember since mine was last week. Sadly, no, because it wasn’t written down…until now. Thanks, Glynnis!
I am loving your challenge! The timing couldn’t be better – I have an almost 2-yr-old and another one on the way – trying to balance being a mommy, working a full-time job and being a good spouse….the list goes on. One thing I will be adding to my list is figuring out what to do with old cards people have sent me. I have a hard time letting them go, especially if they wrote a personal note in them. Thank you Glynnis for all of your great tips and inspiration!
Glynnis, thank you so much for doing this. I will work on my to-do list.
On my to-do-list again today is to remind my husband to get his mother a Christmas (yes, I said Christmas!) gift today so that he can get that off of his to-do-list!
Thank you for letting God lead you in this. It is something I look forward to everyday! I really needed this. Since my 4th son was born about 11 mos ago, I have struggled to be organized and stay on top of things…..which was pretty easy for me b4 the 4th child!
I really need to clear my desk and get it ready for doing the taxes. Seems like a never ending task! Thanks for the series…it’s really making me think through the issue and not just the surface. Blessings!
One thing on our list is to fix the bathroom sink so we have cold water there again!
I would LOVE to be able to de-clutter my MIND. I have had a rough end to 2011 and the start to 2012 is just as rough. I have so many hardships with my siblings and Mother that in itself keeps me from doing anything to de-clutter my home. I used to be clutter free. Now it seems thats the last thing on my mind. I am so grateful to have found this site and to have some insight on how to de-clutter my mind first and then the rest will follow. Also on my list is to be able to be more of a think first then speak kind of person. The number 1 CHORE on my to do list is MY CLOSET and ALL the I might fit in to that one day clothes in there. Thanks so much for this oppurtunity to do this its going to be hard road for me but well worth the travel.
On my list? Put away the Christmas tree…. yep — it’s still up!
A couple things on my to do list for today: Change diapers, love my little baby, get into the Word, make my to do list, and (almost best of all) make a honey do list for my hubby!
As I am writing this comment, I am sitting in the foot doctors chair. I have a list of reminders that pop up on my phone everyday at noon & after reading today’s devotion, I realized I wax not anywhere on the list! My ankle was “sprained” 4 months ago & everyone & everything, to include my son’s graduation from boot camp, have come before caring for me. I have realized today that while I have multiple responsibilities, I cannot complete them if I have not taken care of myself! My lesson today is simple: take care of me so that I am able to care for others.
I need to figure out what to do with all my shoes!
Every time I enter the bedroom, I see the closet full of shoes and boxes of shoes. It’s overwhelming but I feel guilty and silly…..
The main thing on my list is to finish my daughter’s (she is a high school senior) FAFSA and Profile forms for college. This is my first year completing them and it can be overwhelming getting the data together. I cannot put it off much longer, but I have finally gotten almost all the documentation together this morning. What a relief it will be to have it finished! (then to continue looking for scholarships…)
I need to change the bed linens. I hate doing that!
Thank you for this 15 day challenge, this is something I would not have done without help and encouragement and yet it is something that I need so desprately to do! I thank and praise God that he is using your ministry to inspire and help so many frazzled ladies like me! Since I am currently unemployed one thing on my list is to apply for jobs.
Thank you again for this awesome opportunity!
I am so glad to be a part of this challenge. I’ve learned over the past several months of how much it helps me to have a reminder note of what I need to do. (Sad that I need that note
!!!) We all are so busy these days; someone said that it’s not as much time as it used to be. There are still 24 hours in a day, I think we just get so busy and take on too much sometimes. My favorite verse lately is Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God….”. When I start feeling stressed out, that always calms me. Bless you so much Glynnis for the tips and help. Sending you bug hugs!!
I think you really hit on something. I have a hard time sleeping because my mind is reminding me what I need to get done. (mind…put another load of laundry in washer, go back to sleep)
Top of the list…Planning baby shower where we (hosts) announce the sex of baby to parents. I want it to be perfect for them.
Thanks so much for your help and encouragement.
Thank you for this challenge! De-cluttering is something the Lord has been laying on my mind and heart for a while now. I’ve been plucking away at different hotspots, but sometimes feel overwhelmed! I appreciate how you have us starting the process in our minds
One thing on my list is to write a letter to a friend who I recently found out has turned back to the Lord. She was my maid of honor and closest friend in college, but we drifted far apart over the last years. It’s been 10 years since I’ve seen her or talked with her. I would love to reconnect after all this time.
Thank you for all that you have written that has spoken to my soul. Can’t go into details, but this food for the thought has come at just the right time…God is always right on cue isn’t he.
One BIGGIE for my list is reclaiming my house now that my son has returned to college. Never had a brother, but have 2 sons…can’t say I “get” the boy thing…the slob thing, but love them just the same so am willing to let go while they are home, but getting order back to the “empty nest” is high priority.
Love what your study has done for me thus far…I’ve shared it with everyone I know…thank you Glynnis!
Send out Christmas cards/ emails…. a little late!
take medicine…drives me crazy
I’ve even set a reminder on my phone.
Need to read with my daughter every day too.
I am giving myself permission to not feel guilty about choices I make and getting rid of stuff!
Glynnis,
Was I blessed to read your blog and realize that I’m not alone. It was so comforting to know that someone else understands and you expressed the feelings so well when you are living with a cluttered house. How true that you just feel tired, overwhelmed and confused. I’m excited to follow your blog and plan to take action to de-clutter.
One thing on my list: make chocolate chip cookies for my sons scouting campout this weekend.
My biggest project is preparing for my baby girl to arrive in a few weeks! From preparing for maternity leave and making sure we have enough diapers to helping my husband build a bookshelf for her nursery and taking time to breathe…life feels like one big to-do list! Your blog is definitely helping me take a deep breath and remember that I’m not Superwoman, but God is a Super God
I have got to get my bulldog’s bordatella vaccination, and pick up some things from our PO that i got “postage due” notices on – my least favorite types of mail!
I want to clear all of the clutter from my mind and my house so that I can sit down and play with my kids more! I want to be able to play without thinking about all the things I need to do. Thanks for the encouragement!
on the top of the list will be going through all the clothing in the laundry/mud room. myriad coats, boots , snowpants and off season clothes that seem to multiply on their own! i have begun and am going to try to turn some into cash as we begin a new journey on our own-not easy and all these things have baggage attached to them-even better reason to begin! thanks for the moral support on this-just what I needed now!
Thanks Glynnis for sharing your ideas. I look forward to the rest of the challenge, and applying it to my life.
Have tea with my mother in law.
Blessings.
Last fall, I wrote down all the positions I hold and that was eye-opening. Adding your suggestions could take a while. One thing I need to do is let my landlord know somethings that need to be fixed in the house. Things I cannot do.
Glynnis Thank you for giving us insight on decluttering our minds. One thing always on my mind is my aging father. He had a stroke several years ago and for the past year has been in a nursing home as he could not be cared for at home. He is in Massachusetts and I’m in Florida. I need to be able to see him more and spend time with him. Praying for insight on how to share with him as well as take care of my own responsibilities.
Glynnis, you weren’t joking when you said this is something painful! Just thinking about the list is overwhelming to me because I have way too much internal clutter going on in my mind. Growing sometimes hurts, but in the end the results are worth it. I am so thankful for you and this challenge. One item on my list is to replace the 35-year-old gold toilet in our half-bath….myself! God bless, Glynnis!
I am starting my list today , I know it will be full
I am loving the mental and spiritual aspect of getting organized. It never even occurred to me that there is a way to clear out mental clutter. I think that’s my biggest need and I didn’t even know it! Something on my list to do is to sign up my dog for a Down Dog class. She is overly exuberant!
You have “hit the nail head”. I am going to write “get dressed first” on my to-do-list!
I am so mind cluttered I stay in pjs for hours trying to get things done from yesterday so I can start on today’s projects! I have enjoyed your first three days. Thank you.
P.s. sometimes we need to be reminded that the Lord is in control.
WOW!! Love this…been so overwhelmed but on Sunday God totally replaced my feeling with his peace:) This could not have come at a better time, thank you for listening and obeying God for US!! Our bedroom is the “catch all” so my mother is taking the babies and I am tackling that project TODAY!!:)Thank you again!!
Wow….so many replys…good to know we have support in this endeavor and are not alone.
I am adding to my list to start tracking the food I eat on weight watchers. Got off track in November and need to restart.
Thanks!
Writing everything in my mind down has been a painful task. I have a lot of my plate and always seem to put everyone else’s needs before my own. When I have to write something like “USE THE RESTROOM” down on my to-do list, it is painfully obvious that I often forget myself and my health in the midst of doing for everyone else. I’m excited to hear what you say about multi-tasking tomorrow
I am so grateful that God led me to this site and beginnings of a clutter-free life style…I always feel so overwhelmed by the clutter and it makes me feel so very tired…Yesterday, I tackled the pantry closet and threw away 2 bags of stuff and made donations with what I could and now I don’t mind opening the pantry door…Instead of feeling overwhelmed by it all, now I know with God’s help and grace that I can de-clutter my mind and my house!
The first item on my list: to spend more time daily with our Heavenly Father!
Ann – you not only de-cluttered your mind and house, but you gave to others, as well. Thank you for that reminder to include brotherly kindness in our actions.
Repair teddy bears that I made for my sister and her grandson — been on the shelf for some time.
Dear Glynnis – BOUNCE BACK. Those words came to me as I thought about the 1 (o-n-e) thing from my To-Do List that I could share with you and the other commenters today “for fun.” Why did those words come to me? This happens often enough for me to know I will unpeel multiple meanings, like an onion, as I cherish this thought.
David Allen’s statement, “The big problem is that your mind keeps reminding you of things when you can’t do anything about them,” – - was a back-straightener for me. Your prayer statement, “Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me so much responsibility. It shows Your trust in me.” – - kept my posture right up there.
Now it occurs to me that lots of times, both groups and individuals in the Old and New Testaments are admonished to “rise” or “arise.” That’s a first step. Then daily life happens, and we find ourselves needing to rise again! With God’s help, that is what I can do. You know, one of God’s qualities that I am most grateful for and find so comforting, is a sense of humor. This morning, God admonished me not merely to rise, but to bounce! And if God requests it – I can do it! OK – I’m ready to continue making that loooooooong list – and moving forward!
I send loving support and joyful thoughts to all who have embarked on this de-cluttering journey. Whoever receives your book will use it well, I am sure.
I appreciate that you are getting to the root of the problem even though it won’t be easy! One thing on my list is to help my 15 year old daughter get driving practice In the rain.
Wow! Your prayer took me by surprise. I had never thought of Thanking Jesus for for all my responsibility. What a great shift in my thinking. One thing on my list are all the in finished home projects we’ve started. I see them and feel overwhelmed, but now I will start thanking Jesus for this great house to fix up!
Jill
I feel like I used to have a good grasp on an organizational plan. 3 kids and a stressful job later, my plans are out the window. I survive on post-it notes. On my to-do list today is to breath, pray, and realize it will all get done somehow.
I love to be clutter-free but I’m cursed by being a packrat-saver. Its so hard to get rid of things because “I might use that someday!” Some things I do use others I go through it and still keep it even if its been saved and unused way too long. My husband has definitely helped me sort through things but there are still tons of stuff we really don’t need and having them gone really does help clear my mind too.
I need to clear off and take down the card table (aka sewing/craft table) that has been set up in MY DINING ROOM for months…the pile of stuff/”projects” is getting absolutely embarrassing! Thanks for a chance to win and thanks for this helpful blog series:)
This challenge came along at just the right time.. I have know I had a “cluttered” mind for some time now. Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted every time I would try to find or organize something. Knowing that I am not alone, and realizing that I can call on the Power of a Mighty God to give me clarity is a revelation to me.
On my list is taking the “could be consigned” clothing to the thrift store. They have been bagged up and in the garage for over a month now, and haven’t found time to go to the (out of the way) consignment shop. It is time to let go!! and let GOD!!
On my list is to find a pad of paper with enough pages to declutter my mind! Then to make this To Do List. Thanks for your insight on this. I always try to organize my to do lists as I am making them and get overwhelmed. I promise to just write everything in one place and wait for your next steps! I am excited to go on this journey. I am sort of thankful you you cannot see my home clutter, my office clutter and my mind’s clutter, but am looking forward to telling you about my progress and living the clutter free life!
And passing it on to my 4 kids! Thank you so very much!
Hi Glynnis
I need to organize my prayer room. It is also my sewing and craft room and in the last year it has become the throw everything in room. I can’t even study in there anymore. It grieves me and I don’t know where to start. HELP!!!
KathyM in Illinois
Wow, I thought I must be the only one that felt this way. Thank you so much for helping me!!
The top thing on my to-do list is teaching my 9 year old to ride her new bike. The other stuff may just have to wait. Otherwise, she’ll be 18 and not able to ride a bike. lol
I am going to put on my list: make up baby’s crib…my 2nd baby boy is almost ready to start sleeping in his crib, and I’ve been putting that off since I don’t want him to grow up!!
I am enjoying this challenge. One thing I am going to put on my to do list is finish this 15 day challenge with joy and peace…. even if I think it will kill me!!
Blessings to you all!!!
Hi there. Loved the first posts and cant wait to continue! I’m adding weekly meal planning to my to do list!
Wow, I thought I must be the only one that felt this way. Thank you so much for helping me!! The top thing on my to-do list is teaching my 9 year old to ride her new bike. The other stuff may just have to wait. Otherwise, she’ll be 18 and not able to ride a bike. lol
Today I am going to clean out my daughters closet. Then when my children get home I will do whatever my son wants to do. Today he is 4! One random thing I need to do is get my husband’s electric toothbrush to work. He has had it for 3 years and never taken it out of the box. (it’s a fancy one so it has to be set up!) Thanks for challenging me.
Thank you so much for this message today! I was all prepared to tackle the “stuff” in my house, but hadn’t realized it was the “stuff” in my mind that needed handling first. I guess the first thing that needs to go on my list is to forgive my husband and the woman he is sleeping with. I’m sure that will remove a LOT of clutter from my mind. Step 2, get on with the rest of my life!!! Thanks again Glynnis, this challenge came at just the right time in my life. God truly does know what He is doing!!
Thank you so much for this inspiring series! My sister and I decided to do it together, we live 500 miles apart. So this is a great bonding experience for us. One thing on my to-do list is to get all the “baby stuff” out of the attic before I put the Christmas boxes in–in front of them like I have for the last 4 years! And to clear out the laundry room. There are things in there that I never use. Thank you again!
Thank you for your encouraging challenge. Fifteen months ago my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Today he is cancer-free and stronger than ever. God used the last year to work miracles both physically and spiritually. The worldly clutter – projects, papers, meals, clothes, schedules, keepsakes – that often overwelmed me as I managed our busy family of 5 was replaces with a time of healing and whispers from God as he led us through the wilderness. He reminded me to prioritize my efforts to build treasures in heaven and that if I regularly and passionately pursued Him first, He would give me the power of His Spirit to direct my path every minute of the day. Then He worked miracles…the Body of Christ showed up and blessed us in ways I cannot even enumerate, money showed up in supernatural ways to help pay medical bills, my children demonstrated maturity as they pitched in with household chores, and we had more intentional family time. I saw God’s promises ring true in more ways than I had ever imagined. I will no longer wake up and rush through my cluttery day. I will seek Him first, and He will direct my path. Thanks for allowing Him to use you to help put my efforts in order. I’m eager for your challenge!
Hi, I’m a recovering perfectionist, so I loved your comment about not worrying about organizing the list and how it might frustrate a perfectionist. It is very true. One item going on my list is to drill a hole in my floorboard so I can feed the antenna cable up to my new television:)
Glynnis,
Your blog is MUCH appreciated! I will be the one who will take 15 weeks to complete it. I don’t want to just gloss over the emails and add them to my “check-off list” telling myself, “Clear my mind, Lord.” Done. Nope. I REALLY want to declutter my mind & life. I want to renew my prayer life & trust with God. Thank you for following God’s direction and sharing what He has taught you with us! As for number 1 item on my list….clean out my car! Our crazy schedule has me in the car driving at least 25 miles a day…that’s on the short days
Longest? 87 miles. No joke. I REALLY need to declutter 
God Bless!
One odd thing – find my underwear!!!
First on my list will be sitting down & thinking–with 9 children I constantly feel the need to be in motion.. ):
So far I am so loving this! and am in such need of it! I am already starting my list and boy will be alot. It is a little overwhelming just thinking of all my responsibilities, but already feels better to write them down and know that it is okay if they are not in any kind of order. My family and I had a house fire a few years ago and lost everything and I remember trying to do the content list for insurance. It almost made my mind explode, but once I was done it felt so much better. One of the rather different things that I have to do daily is to: Let the chickens out every morning and put them up and gather eggs every evening. Thanks again for sharing your book with us in such a fun way!!
Play with my kids more. Really engage. As a single mom it’s hard to do it all but they are my priority!!
One thing I am putting on my list is to organize the laundry room. It has always been called a ‘junk room’ and I want to change that. There are cabinets and shelves and pelnty of spaces to use to make it nice and functional instead of just junky. I want people to be able to go in every room of the house instead of closing doors to hide what is behind them. Thanks so much for the encouraging words and prayers each day.
Marissa,
I really like what you said “I want people to be be able to go in every room of the house instead of closing doors to hide what is behind them”, as the rooms of our hearts should be also.
Thank you for your words!
We’re moving next month and plan to thin out our stuff as we pack so we’ll have less to move and hopefully start out more clutter free. This week I need to go through my 3 year old’s socks and find all those that no longer fit and get rid of them so we’re not struggling to find socks in the morning while we’re rushing out the door.
I am noting in my notebook that I am not everyone’s mother. I will continue to be loving and kind, but I cannot oversee the duties of everyone in my life. This is not their fault, but my own as I tend to want to mother everyone and worry about their issues and responsibilites. I will stop supervising the daily life of those in my life.
Wish me luck and say prayers on my behalf as I tend to be an overachiever and compulsive about giving my opinion. Someone has to tell me to mind my own business and that my way is not always the best and that person has to be me as those around me are to kind to do so.
I wish I had something exotic on my to do list. I do, however, have a procrastination item to get off of it – finish packing up Christmas decorations. It’s the 11th of January and I STILL have stuff to put away!! (I think the force feed the gecko comment is the most original EVER)…
I’m going to add throwing out my old, ragged t-shirts, no matter what memories might be attached to them. I find myself having a hard time getting rid of clothes for some reason. I have all sorts of shirts that are at least 10 years old and are ragged and full of holes, not even worth donating. They just take up space and keep me from having room for nicer new things.
Return the NCP scanner! I am beginning to get nasty emails because once I am home, I just can’t seem to remember to take that box to the car!!! But today is the day!
Believe or not I am putting on my to do list “remove the hornet’s nest from the outside of the garage”. LOL never a dull moment
Glynnis, Thanks for your prayer: “Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me so much responsibility. It shows Your trust in me. Help me to be a good steward of the assignments You have given me. Help clear the clutter in my mind as I work through this exercise. Bring things to mind that You want me to remember. It feels overwhelming to me right now, but I know with Your help, I can manage this. In Jesus name, Amen.” – it was “right on”.
I also read 1 Peter 4: 7 with new eyes recently: “…therefore be clear-minded and self-controlled SO THAT YOU CAN PRAY” …. not the other way around. The self-control part for me will be to be willing and satisfied to do “a little every day”. Thank you for this 15 day Clutter-Free Challenge. I look forward to the tangible (and intangible) results! God bless you and all the ladies at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Thank you for this series! Clutter is definitely weighing me down in many ways. One of the items on my list is to recycle the old large boxy computers, that have been sitting in the garage, once the hard drives are erased.
Thank you so much for encouraging me each day with your challenge. I look forward to reading your book! I really DID used to be organized but I somehow have always felt like I’m not organized enough. My husband and I have many things on our to-do list but with 18 year-old triplets getting ready to graduate and head off to 3 different colleges, our heads are spinning
The first item on my list is to have a family meeting and DELEGATE!
I can’t thank you enough for this clutter-free series. I am a saver and attach memories to items. On my to do list already containing God direction on everything i do for the day at work and at home; i am adding to take pictures of everything i don’t need but have a hard time letting go and putting them in an on-line album. I’ve been through a broken ankle and back surgery in the last 2 years and am still recovering. I am back at work where everyone thinks i’m organized. I need to reclaim my house for my family’s sake. Thank you again for God inspired direction you are giving us!
This is such a great challenge and for the first time I’m feeling excited about decluttering! So I’m thinking about my to-do list and I need to add blogging to it. In the back of my mind I keep thinking that I need to start doing that,but everything else gets in the way.
Organize my books on “Organization”–The 15 Minute Organizer, Sidetracked Home Executives, Five Five Days to an Organized Life, Organize Yourself, Is There Life After Housework, Sink Reflections, and many, many more!!
Would love to win your book. Sounds like a helpful book that I could learn much from. On my list is organizing all my books I no longer need, and passing them forward to bless someone else with maybe a bar of chocolate and an encouraging note. So if I win your book and after gleaning everything out of it I can, I will eventually pass it forward to bless someone else.
Wow! From the looks of the amount of comments here, many of us struggle with clutter. I love your idea of writing everything down. It’s something I’ve been feeling prompted to do, but it hadn’t made it to the ‘to do’ list yet.
As for one item to place on my list – start planning out my next book to write.
Thank you for this study Glynnis. What a blessing!
Blessings,
Jodie
I added write to our Compassion international kids more often. I do write some, but would love to increase frequency. It’s on the list!
Need to organize all the baby clothes my friends were kind enough to pass on for our daughter, there are several rubbermaids to sort, wash and put away along with packing up all my maternity clothes that are in her room to pass on to my newly pregnant friend
I have so many things I’ll need to put on my list, and reading all of these comments has reminded me of more that I need to do, too! The first thing on my list is to bring some order to my “craft room”. We moved in August, and that room has been where I’ve put anything and everything that I don’t know what to do with. I really want to make it into a room that I can actually use, not just a giant closet!
I plan to put on my To Do List..stop procrastinating!! I am the Queen of creative avoidance. I can find anything else to do besides what’s on my list.
I would love to win a copy of this book! I am supposed to teach our ladies class on Sunday in a few weeks and my topic is “Work-Life Balance”. I definitely want to include a section in our discussion on de-cluttering and I’m sure this book would have some wonderful insights.
As for my to-do list, I am adding “Clean out the toy box and donate the unused toys (of which there are many!!)”
Thanks Glynnis!
Thank you for the blessing of this blog. I am pretty organized in my home…but I’m so thankful for these first few Clutter-Free days of working on my mind. On my to-do list is to confirm the date at the party place for my twin girls 4th birthday. I think I am putting it off because I don’t really want to accept that they are going to be 4.
Thank you so much.Glynnis, for this series. I have read several books in my quest to become more organized but rarely followed through to become truly “decluttered”. Taking it step by step each day seems much better and I love that each day has a prayer. One of the items on my list will be decluttering the basement, which has become a large junk drawer for my family!
Really …..another thing to do today…..make a list? : ) Ok, I am sticking with this clutter free thing, so I will start writing my list. One thing on it is to get to my weekly reading for a new bible/book study on Saturday mornings (What happens when women walk in Faith). I am putting my faith in this process and going for it! Thank you Glynnis! I love the uncluttering of my mind already!!
This clutter free series will be a great way to help me and help others. I have so many that I know that can use this info too. I am going to do it myself first then lead them (gently) to the site so they can do it later.
Now to get to my list. At first I was thinking, “A list How helpful will that be???” But then I began to read on to the items that should go on the list. I realize that the list will be more than just a reminder of a job to do. It will be a book of accomplishment when this series is over!!! I am going to highlight all the jobs completed so that at a glance I will be able to see how far I have come in the transformation!!
Thanks for the brilliant idea and thanks for allowing me to take pleasure in a completed task
One of the many things that will be on my list is to take my wedding dress (from August 2010, with a stain on the front) to the cleaners. I’m scared that the stain has been in for so long that it won’t come out.
I also need to take my dress to the cleaners. My wedding was in 2003!
I began praying on Monday that this would help me simplify my life. I have felt so helpless against the “clutter” in my life. God is already working through this blog to help me through this.
One thing one my to do list is to finally put those stacks of pictures into photo albums.
Hi Glynnis…here are a few things that will go on my list: Finish my novel, complete the organization of my office, give away or throw away the shoes and clothes that no longer fit or are past saving, wash and begin to use my new kitchen products, and thoroughly vacuum my house. God bless you!
David Allen confirms what I’ve been saying for years–I have a lot of stuff going into my brain and not enough going out! I remember the days when I was young and carefree and my “to do” list was completely checked off at the end of every day. I’ve been beating myself up for years wondering why I can’t do it now. Today I’m going to take about 15 lists I have stuck everywhere, consolidate them into my notebook, tear up those 15 pieces of paper and throw them away. I feel better already
Thank you for today’s post – this should be interesting! I got this verse in my inbox today, I thought it went well with your prayer: “When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Psalm 118:5-6
Thank you so much for this. This challenge came to me from a friend on a day that I had already decided to clean out one file drawer, so I took it as a sign that it was time to start the all-consuming clutter sweep of the house (and brain)! I am excited to use this challenge to help me understand why I have so much trouble letting go of things. One thing on my to-do list is to pare down the school and art work my son has done and get the really good stuff put in a rightful spot. This is hard because it is emotional. But it deserves a better home than piled up in bins. So off I go to work on the “master list”. Thanks again!
To BE STILL and enjoy my family more!!
Thanks so much. De-clutter process has been painful. First on my immediate list…put away Christmas decorations.
Thanks Glynnis, from sunny Jamaica! This clutter free challenge is GREAT! One thing i added to my loooong list of things to do is to fill a prescription for my husband that he ran out of yesterday. Look forward to this journey with you and bless you for sharing.
Scrapbook–several “books” on my “list” of things to do–but first, I want to do a “family ” book–going back to when married in 1985!!!! Yikes!! I CAN DO IT!!!!
One thing I am putting on my “to do” list is trying to narrow down the number of jobs I am currently doing. For several years, I worked from home and very nice salary. I grew tired of the corporate world demands and resigned from my job. However, since that time, I have been working at so many part-time jobs that I am overwhelmed and exhausted. I don’t earn anywhere near what I did when I was making a “salary” and I have struggled so much in trying to justify my value in this area that I have completely cluttered this area of my life! You have shown me that I really need to open my mind to God to help me “declutter” this area of my life and not try to do so many jobs….Putting it down on paper will definitely help me find direction and “declutter” this area. Thanks for your direction and thanks to God for guidance.
Glynnis, I am so thankful for these first few days of the clutter challenge. You have been articulating the thoughts and processes of my own mind – and I can’t tell you how comforting that is… I am NOT insane. WHew….. One thing on my list is to menu plan… not a lofty goal – just something that must be done.
Thank you so much for this teaching! What a wonderful way to start the new year! We are hoping to permanently add 4 miracles to our household and are frequently overwhelmed with their stuff! I need to declutter every area of our home and most importantly our garage! Blessings
I so need this challenge. I’m feeling quite overwhelmed with all the clutter. One of the things on my to-do list is getting rid of books that I have read.
Thank you so much for addressing the clutter of the mind. I have so much trouble just making decisions! I don’t feel that I can trust myself to make good decisions…what if I make a mistake? I’ve also always been an all or nothing person in a lot of ways. This makes being organized that much harder. And when I want to fix something, 15 other things come to mind and I get confused. I know the Bible says confusion does not come from God, so this must be a ploy of the enemy to keep me going in circles and being completely ineffective. As for my list, one of the more random things on it is to make an appointment with the vet to have our newly-adopted 10 year old dog’s teeth cleaned. Again, thank you and God bless you.
This pegged me to a “T” I will be adding to start running… soon!
Thanks for helping me de-clutter! On my list………….Have a Garage Sale!!
I have never been one to really follow through with things like this, and other programs, books, etc. I have just recently been able to get email on my phone so i was able to subscribe to the study. So far i have to say i am loving it!!!! I have already began my list. I am a wife, mother of 3, and a full time Nurse to 330 students! So needless to say my “free” time is very limited. We just bought a new house, we have been renting for the past 3 years after moving to a new city. I just thought that now would be a great time to “GET ORGANIZED!!!” The first thing i added to my list was HELP. Now this may be an odd thing to put at the top of the list, but this is my new acronym to help me with something that i have been working on with my 3 boys. H-ugs and kisses, E-encourgment, L-isten more intently, P-raise more!!! When i came up with this, i was trying to come up with a word that was a very common word that i said or heard a lot and help me, help us, can i help you, all came to mind. So part of my New Year “Rememberance” was to be more HELPful with my boys. Anyway thanks for the advice and challenges so far, and i am very much looking forward to more!! have a blessed day in the LORD! Proverbs 3:5-6
Thank you for this devotional. The first thing on my list is to write a “Thank you” to some friends who had us over for dinner on 12/29. I just don’t remember to do it when I have a minute.
I am putting on my list the following:
A special family dinner at once a week.
I cook dinner for my family most nights, but this usually means throwing something together at the last minute from whatever’s on hand. I intend to cook a special dinner—even including dessert— once a week. It’s nice to have that on my “to-do” list. I certainly manage to do it for friends having a baby, or grieving, but yet very seldom do I put that same thought and care into my own family’s dinner.
I have joined this “Clutter Free” journey to help get me motivated in organizing and de-cluttering my home in particular my garage. I have items/paperwork from 20 years ago that have not been sorted or thrown out. My garage is a reflection of a season of my life that was very difficult for me. I was pregnant with my second child and I finally decided to ask my husband to leave (he was an alcoholic/physical abuser). Fast forward 20 years (my daughter is 20 today, Praise God!) and I still have not gone through all of the boxes. I have attempted several times but it becomes overwhelming so I only get a little bit done. This de-cluttering project entails more than cleaning my garage, it means allowing the Lord to cleanse my heart and heal me from the pain of this season of my life. I believe that is why it has taken me so long. Don’t get me wrong I am blessed beyond measure; I re-committed my life to Christ 5 years ago I have a wonderful husband and four beautiful children and most importantly my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ lives in my heart. My goal is to take a few bites at a time; however, this journey has opened my mind to focus on praying before I start and allowing the Lord to guide me through the process. The clutter/mess in the garage is a reflection of the clutter/mess in my heart that I must start wokring on. Thank you for your inspiration and words of wisdome!
Today’s post was much needed but scary for the queen of sticky notes. I have lists everywhere. On top changing out toilets the top of my list is going to be take a few minutes before projects to just breathe.
I think the top of my to-do list needs to be “count my blessings!” I tend to forget that way too often in the busy-ness of every day life!
Wasn’t this timely. Your message is divine as I lay here on my couch battling a stomach virus. I just reflected on how out of control and messy things seem in my life. I also wondered when I got this way. The first thing on my list is to find time for a trip to the Dr. I’m concerned with others needs and deprive myself many times of just simply being healthy. Thank you for your inspiration.
Right On! When my to-do-list stays in my mind it is like an out of control ping pong ball bouncing around from one thing to another without a focused path. Once I actually write down each item whether in an organized format or not the list is no where near as overwhelming or as lengthy as my mind alone had percieved it. I am then better able to organize my action plan more efficiently. At the top of my list today is to begin cleaning out my storage shed that is filled to the point of overflowing. I am afraid to open the door. I will fill one trash can each week until completely cleaned out. If I am able to do more I will but by committing to one can per week I am keeping my commitment to success simple and not overwhelming. I am reminded of my mother’s wise advice – If I haven’t seen it, used it or missed it in the past 3 years (that’s how long things have accumulated in my shed) then I probably don’t need it and it’s time to go!”
So much to put on the list! First things first – I have a job interview tonight, so my mother-in-law is coming over to babysit… Have to get the house cleaned up a bit before then and get my outift ready for the interview!
Hi There!
My sister Julie~who you know~recommended that I do this 15 day challenge, as I called her in tears, lamenting how overwhelmed I was putting away Christmas stuff!
I am kicking off my new year by starting the Daniel fast with a GIANT dose of cleansing the clutter from my body, mind and spirit! Praise God for the challenge!
This is so timely. I’m trying to develop a marketing plan for my self-published book and am soooooooooooooooo overwhelmed with everything I must do. It’s a one-woman show and one woman can do only so much.
One task for today… Put the Christmas tree in the storage building.
I’m putting on my list to do: unsubscribe to all the unimportant e-mail lists that I am on!
Well, now I can check off… Figure out how to leave a comment…
from my list!
I still have, …Figure out how to work with Facebook…on there!
I am slow at technology! Yugg.
The first thing on my list: to start my list!
OK, I also have a room we jokingly call the “hoarder” room. It’s got to go! Thank you for this study.
THANK YOU for that blessing this morning. One thing I’m going to put on my list is to work on my scrap books for my children. Oh I guess I should mention my oldest is 29 and expecting their first baby (first grandbaby) in June, my next oldest son is 26 and getting ready to go to New Zealand next summer for his intership. This is where he is going for his mission field and he is also in seminary. My next son is 24 and a newlywed. And then my beautiful daughter is 15 and taking drivers Ed. I have homeschooled all 4 through high school. But this is still going on the list.
Thank You
You are such a blessing Glynnis
Love and prayers Geri
Glynnis, Thank you. One list makes sense. I currently have 3 to-do lists: home, work and long range goals. One task on my home list is to take down the Christmas tree, cause it’s still up.
Thanks for your insight today. When I signed up for your posts, I never even thought that my mind would be the first item needing to be decluttered! Just thinking about transferring it all from inside my head down onto paper already gives me relief! Thank you!
Thank you for your message today. I find that more and more I spin my wheels because while I am doing one thing, 15 other things pop into my mind that also need doing. I end up confused and overwhelmed and end up getting nothing done. I am going to sit down and make my list so that I can quit thinking about them all the time no matter how long ( judging from all the things that keep popping into my head, it could be a very, very long list!). The first thing I am going to put on my list is to get rid of the box of clutter I cleaned off my desk – it has been sitting in the floor next to the desk for at least 6 months now. I think I can safely get rid of it now! Thanks!
Thanks for helping me with my clutter!!
I need to organize my closets, garage, get my house more “functional”.
JP
I need to upload and print out pictures from the last 5 years of my childrens lives.
Take lesson plans/teaching material home in case we get this snowstorm they are talking about
Going on my list today is working on fundraising for son’s senior trip. Alot to be done in very little time.
Thank you for the encouragement, I am a list maker already but sometimes I forget and then I really forget.
The first thing on my list is to re-read this again tonight after the kids are in bed, and my mind is actually in a state where I can begin to fathom decluttering it!
I am caught up with dishes and laundry, so I want to keep it that way. The best way for that to happen for me is to finish what I start. Lots of interruptions, including going to the bus stop 3 times a day, but being where I am is what is important. Thank you for the encouragement.
to put decorations containers from the last wedding up in the attic of the church. I’m removing them from my husbands’ office, he is the pastor there. We have decluttered his office already, now putting those things away for him to have a clean and calm place to study.
Scary as it is, I need to find a Driver’s Ed school for our 15 yr. old daughter and get her signed up. Having another driver in the house will help us all!
Thanks for this series!
Thank you so very much for this series. Living clutter-free is something I have to constantly work on. It is a challenge everyday. I have to throw junk mail away instead of putting it in a pile. I have to say no to the kids meal toys that collect and so on. For this reason I am PRINTING OUT THIS SERIES. My plan is to look at it each January and continue to live clutter-free.
I have already started my list. (It reached the second page in the first sitting.) One unique item on my list is to increase the $15 my pastor gave me. I have 3 months to invest it according to my ability before I return it. This is his way of illustrating the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25 during our stewardship month
I can not express how much I appreciate this. Thank you again.
I am adding “put extra toilet paper in both bathrooms” to my list! This is something I always wish I had done when it’s a little to late!
Thank you for the prayers to say. I of course was gung ho on diving in head first, but never dreamed we would actually be working on my head first
!!! Haha
For my list today I want to share writing a cookbook and doing cooking classes as my top reason for being ready to organize my life better…
I don’t really know how I got on your list but feel very confident it was by God’s choice.
Thank you for giving us a chance to win your book.
Thank you for this post! I plan to implement this “list making” ASAP! My main goal right now is to get back to living on our budget. I took and even led a church group thru Dave Ramsey’s FPU course and have strayed from it, and need the help to get back on it BIG TIME! I am so far enjoying your posts! Thank you for this!
After being a singe mom for several years and living over a 1 car garage, I learned to not have much clutter in the physical sense. My greatest challenge is mind clutter. I’m looking forward to getting help in this area. I want to be able to wake up and go to bed with my goals being God first, family second, church third and work fourth. With all the mind clutter, the priorities get jumbled most days and I end up being frustrated because someone has been slighted and that person is usually God.
I am loving where you are starting with this Clutter-free challenge. I have done them before, but never started with my mind, or asked God to help. What a revelation!
On my to-do: plan my baby’s 1st birthday celebration!
One thing I need to do that I’ve needed to do for the past 10 years is organize my Christmas letters. Every year I send a Christmas letter and every year I save one that I’ve written. I even have a notebook to put them in, but need to get organized and get them in there! I have 18 years of letters and have had the special notebook for 10 years. I think it’s time.
daily quiet time with God, reading the Bible and praying
This post has made me realize that at least some of my procrastination is due to not wanting to grasp the big picture of everything that needs to be done. I live by: “That doesn’t have to be done until the week of the board meeting so I’ll work on something else.” But knowing that it still has to be done sits in my mind and robs my peace. Writing these all down will definitely be painful for me, by I am committed to this challenge so I’m going to do my best. One thing that is going on my list is the minutes for the last school board meeting. Thank you for organizing this challenge, it was just what I needed!
Last year when my husband was working out of town for 4 months, I had a to-do list. It was a big one, as I was the only one home to do anything. I kept myself very busy so as not to miss him so much. I got alot done, but I’m still trying to get organized and get rid of STUFF that clutters our lives and home. God got me through those tough months and I know He’s still trying to help …… but I’m a saver for that rainy day when I’ll need it person. So today I’ll restart my list and I’m adding : clean the chicken coop and give the girls fresh cedar shavings! LOL
This morning at 6:30 I helped my 7 year old study for his AR test – he is reading the Bernstein Bears – Bad Dreams and helped him study for his patriotic and symbols test. They are learning A LOT in 1st grade these days.
Yesterday I helped my 6 year old build his Star Wars LEGO ship..before he got on the bus at 7:20. I guess that could go on my list too! lol
That list is nowhere near as full as it used to be! Thank God! However, I face my own challenges, recently disabled, with my children (20′s) and babysitting my grandchildren, and finding time for me to be doing things I enjoy….(first I need to figure outwhat those things are now!) So, first two things on my list will be:
What things do I enjoy doing for me, that I haven’t done in years?
What new things would I like to make time for?
Thanks to you for this challenge, and the encouragement!
I must check that Excedrin our cabinet! Sams club called and said
we may have purchased some that is no good!
My husband has been telling me to make a list for months/years now. Think I’ll put on my list to listen to my husband’s ideas more. Thanks, I love this so far!
Most random on my to do list(s)…replace the toilet paper roll holder in master bathroom. It has been hanging on one side for a whole year. I am the handyman at our house, work 40 hours, drive 2 hours and day and mommy to a very busy 3 year old who wants to know where I bought everything…lol. I have ADD and have not had meds in over a year bc we are trying to conceive….pick me, pick me!
Thank you for these wonderful emails I am receiving! I already feel so much better about my clutter and have hope to de-clutter my life! I am a Thirty-One Gifts Independent Director and I have a team of over 100 women that I help with their home based businesses and help them achieve their dreams and goals. One thing on my list is to write some notes of celebration and encouragement to at least two of them each day!
Oh, to be able to walk thru just one room and not see clutter!! Today I choose to finish up organizing my office…I did have one at one time…
Oh my gosh. I am loving this! I keep looking for things that will help me get organized. What an epiphany when Glynnis suggested declutter the mind. I feel better and more peaceful already. I have those mundane things to do, like laundry, bills, dishes, etc.
Thank you for this series. It comes at a perfect time for me. I’ve taken on a huge reorg/declutter project in my home. It is so massive for me that I am becoming overwhelmed. Reading your posts and others comments makes me feel not so alone. As I go through things I keep having these ideas of things I can do. I need to start writing them down as you suggested because I keep forgetting as soon as I am off to another area. One of the things I want to do is redo my address book. It has become so clutter that it is difficult to find anything in it.
So sorry, the post didn’t id me.
Your series is truly changing my life. It has been a long time since I have felt such conviction yet do much peace. I was brought to tears at lunch. On another thought I will be adding run a marathon to my list. This is something I want to do for myself, but I always find something or someone who needs my time more.
I am really enjoying this! I am a Minister of Youth and Families with oh so much to do in my office, in my congregation, in my home, with my family, and for myself! Everything over the past 3 days has been so very true for me! You are definitely stepping on my toes, so to speak. On my list at the top I am putting “Be still and know that I am God” to help me remember where the focus truly should be. Thank you for this and I look forward to the next 12 days! God bless you!
Thanks for your optimisum and easy to do steps! As a mom of 3 little boys I’m always cleaning up their things and not taking time for the things that are cluttering “my” life. I have “plan summer get away” on my list
The one thing I am adding to my “to do” list is to actually open the box of things from my parents house. When I got married 30 years ago, I moved the box from my parents house to our farm house, but never looked inside it. When we sold the farm and moved to town 4 years later, I once again moved the box, but never looked inside. That box is still sitting in my basement. My guess is if I haven’t needed any thing in there for the last 30 years, I probably will be able to just get rid of it.
Oh, this de-cluttering thing is GREAT!!!! I recently got a smartphone, and have been able to enter all of my “to-do”‘s into a family planner, as well as all of the to-do’s of my family (that I need to keep track of) and it’s been a HUGE load off my mind to have it all there. I love the whole idea that de-cluttering starts in the mind, and am looking forward to putting my to-do list in a better place, meaning NOT letting it take a higher priority than my walk with God!
My most inmportant task to add to my TO-DO-LIST is daily prayer time and reading the word. I now see that the clutter in my mind keeps me from seeking God. I start to read, but then remember all the other tasks I have to do and find myself wakling away from God to try to keep up with house work. I then start to clean and realize how it will never all get done and end up watching tv or spending time online. Every day, at the end of the day, I feel failure as I realize everything I have not done and how I SHOULD have spent my day. It makes me start the next day with feelings of failure and it is really keeps me from doing what God wants me to be doing!
I started my TO DO list this morning. Thank you for this reminder and now maybe I can start to get some sleep
My lost includes the infamous kids toys
I need to do the “everything” to-do list, then break it down. I am forever making lists and losing them. I think I will look for ONE place to put the list and work from there. Thanks for the ideas, and for the encouragement.
Wish I could read all the posts. Each one has something to offer, but they are many. I am excited to be on the journey with all the women. Working with others daily will make getting organized more achievable.
One thing for my list to move from my head is” establishing definite steps of how I will research information about my dad’s involvement in a particular area of community life.” It occurred to me that a sister, yeas after contributed to this area as well and now I have some strong interest in the same area. I think carrying out the research and documenting the information may lead to an interesting book. Don’t want to lose the opportunity.
Thanks for the motivation.
I am planning on organizing my basement/sewing area which is the last big dreaded area to organize so that way I can focus on my schooling and my kids and husband will hopefully be able to find things while I am in nursing school. I am excited to clear out my mind, I have started my list and I cannot believe how many things are rolling out of the end of my pen. I think my brain is finally glad to be rid of it!! :0) Hopefully this will help me to study easier and better able to retain the information that I will need for school
I think I need to plant a forest of trees to replace all the paper I’ve been holding onto just in case I need it in the future. I am halfway through a large rolloing garbage bin after clearning out four files. This may take longer then I expected.
Yesterday’s post on being clutter free really spoke to me. It felt as if you had known me for a long time. Everything you said was my life even down to the shoes that don’t fit, haven’t fit and won’t fit! Today’s post is the same. My entire life, I have never been able just to sit still and do nothing. I have to be reading, sewing, knitting, anything! I know I need to be still and quiet and listen to God. I can’t hear him if I am always busy! So at the top of my list I’m putting to sit quietly for at least 10 minutes daily (and that won’t be easy for me!) and listen to God.
The first and main thing going on my list is laundry! My house is overrun with clean and dirty laundry!
I need to do the research to switch insurance companies.
someone else posted this idea this week and I have already written it down to complete. did it years ago, as well, and found it very helpful. I have 11 children…adopted a sibling group of 7 2 years ago and my brain is struggling from overload. Will adding and then decluttering all my old to-do list
) Will make a huge difference in my home!!
hugs,
Holly
Oh, how I needed this! Thank you for helping me find a way to get started organizing my home…and life! My husband and I get so discouraged by all we need to do that we end up doing nothing! We get exhausted just thinking about all that needs to be done that we sit down to rest! I did feel a little (a lot) of anxiety about all I am responsible for doing, but I like having the list. One of the “categories” on my list has to do with caring for my aging parents. One of the things on my to-do list pertaining to them is to help remind my father, who has Alzheimer’s or some type of dementia-doctors aren’t quite sure, to take his medicines everyday. And I also have to help them make and get to doctors’ appointments.
I forgot to put my information in before pushing, “Post Comment”! So I’ll put it with this comment!
I need to organize pictures!! Thank you for your words of wisdom!!
I am so grateful to be participating in this endeavor. I have been taking to heart all of the tips mentioned so far and am amazed at how true they are. I am in need of making several doctors appointments that I keep forgetting/putting off but will add these to my list.
One thing, among many on my list will be: Throw out expired food.
I find it interesting that you are starting this de-clutter exercise with our minds. I resonate so much with what you have said so far, and if nothing else, find it comforting that I am not the only one who struggles with feeling overwhelmed and not knowing where to start.
I appreciate the spiritual aspect as well. Blessings to you Glynnis!
Thanks, Glynnis, for helping so many of us through this de-cluttering process! I’m anxious to “slim down” and walk through life much lighter (and with more joy)! My husband has read David Allen’s book and talked to me about it, of course. But I didn’t have tome to read it or make all those lists! Now, a few years later, I’m still struggling with the same old clutter, along with some new clutter mixed in. Lots of to-dos to do, but one thing is to finish the Christmas cards and put them away, along with the card table that’s been my project station and has been up for over a month!
When I read this, my first thought was oh geez, I don’t have time to do that. That is too much. I already have a list and I can only tackle a week at a time. I can’t think that far ahead.’ As I read on, I began to relax a little and begin to soften. Thanks Glynnis for helping me. I am adding making a will to my list. It is a very important project my husband and I have put off for too long.
The first thing on my list will be to go see a movie “alone”. I have been dreading this task given by one of my elders because I lack the confidence and comfort of being alone. I am always wrapped up in something to avoid loneliness. I was given the challenge to go to the movies alone and press through. It has been about 3 months and nothing yet!
A change is gonna come_________
I am one of those perfectionists mentioned in today’s post that will spend so much time trying to figure out how to organize the to-do list that it will never actually happen. Perfectionists often become procrastinators because they are too afraid they won’t be able to acheive the perfection they seek, so they never try. I’m going to ask God for his peace and guidance today, so I can make this simple to do list, and begin attacking it!
Hi!
I have a co-worker that was recently diagnosed with Cancer. I for some reason cannot bring myself to send her a simple thinking of you card. I don’t even know what to say. That will be my first thing on my To-Do list.
I had a co worker recently diagnosed with cancer as well. I struggled with what to say in a card too, Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; was what I wrote and she later told me that she re read my note and focused on that verse, every morning. I pray you find the words to comfort your co worker.
I had breast and uterine cancers. Send the card. Say “I have no words except ‘I am praying for you’” And, as Kelle says, add a verse that is meaningful to you.
Kelle…don’t forget to add verse 6, too…’in ALL your ways ackowlegde HIM, and He shall direct your paths’ I consider these verses a ‘team’
I’m a homeschool mom, so I need to get back to homeschooling. I wanted to be decluttered and organized first, but can’t wait that long! I’m really enjoying your blogs as I’ve realized the main clutter is in my mind. Thanks for your help! I would love to win your book!
Blessings
It’s interesting how a “cloud” of things to do can do to you! Sometimes the fear of not getting things done makes me resent the things that I use to love to do…
omg! this is really awesome it inspires me to want to be clutter free, as i start making the list i feel like im removing a burden out of my shoulders, and is only the beginning jejeje. One thing im writing down in my list its to plan a family vacation for the summer since my daughter was born and now 5 years old we want to do it and something always comes up and we have to postpone the planning.
Im really excited of what this is going to help me.
May God keep Blessing you!
I am so excited for this challenge! My bedroom is screaming for it! Why I can keep the rest of the house clean/organized and my bedroom continually suffers.. still a mystery to me. Hopefully this mystery will be solved soon enough.
Putting my 21month old son’s newborn-12m clothing into the shed to wait for baby #2. This NEEDS to get done!
I should add that my heart and mind are screaming for this challenge too!
Excited for the Victory that Jesus has already had in this!
One of the many things on my list is to do my daughter’s wedding scrapbook. She was married in May of this year and for her birthday in June I told her I’d make a scrapbook of the wedding. I haven’t even been able to move it on to a current to do list too much to do.
after you see what i post you will so understand why i really do need to do this. the first thing on my list is put the Christmas stuff away. i did get it all into the dining room and half is boxed up. urgh
Itks so nice to know I’m not alone. Two things for my list: get top flight netting up over the chicken yard and build a stand for the bearded dragon tank! I have a lot more weird things to do, God has blessed me with an odd life!
Take the time to play the piano. Thank you for your words of encouragement.
And I thought I was the only one who always felt anxious about all the things I couldn’t manage to do! While completing one task, I’m busy thinking (somewhat guiltily) of what else I really should be doing simultaneously. Thanks for today’s post. Your list idea sounds like a really freeing way to settle your mind.
At the top of my “To do list” is carving out individual time for my three children each evening prior to bedtime. As a mom of 3 (…our youngest 2 children are new to our family through adoption), I work full time and am also very active in my church. It’s been very challenging to learn how to juggle my new lifestyle…and still have hair on my head. Thanks for all of your insites through this challenge. I appreciate all of your had work and for sharing it with us!!
My most frustrating one is I have to walk in place for 30 minutes. This is my workout because of health issues and I find it highly frustrating and boring. but I gotta do it.
I would love to clean out the garage. I literally feel the stress of its clutter when I pull in there. I know it would set me free.
I have two pages already… I’m so glad you are doing this, soooo very thankful!!! One thing on my list is learn to bake bread… I also want to write at least 1 blog a month, because I’d like to write a book someday. Gotta start somewhere! And don’t despise those small beginnings!
just a note to thank you for your timely, God breathed inspiration in the form of this challenge to become clutter free. I have been reading the book The Rewards of Simplicity by Pam and Chuck D. Pierce – words written there are being confirmed by your devotional posts, and reconfirmed as I dig deeper into God’s word. I desperately need help to clear ALL if the clutter in my life. I am drowning in clutter of my mind, home, and relationships. It paralyses me. I truley am seeking God’s guidance and strengh for the task ahead of me. As for your wise cousel, today I will begin to get all the clutter that has been swirling around in my mind onto paper. I thank God for your obedience to reach out an touch those whom He leads to your ministry.
Blessings,
Karen
I need to finish editing my husband’s downloadable music game pack and figure out how to sell it online. I’ve been working on this for over a year and just can’t get past the block of how to do it. Can’t afford to pay anyone, and hubby’s not very technical, so….it’s up to me. I actually go through cycles and make lists fairly often. It’s the follow-through that gets me every time.
I start spring semester of college next week so on my list is: prepare for the first day/week/month of classes. I’ve had this instructor before and she sometimes gives a pop quiz the first day to see what you remember from last semester. Last time I didn’t pass it but this time I’m believing I’ll pass with flying colors! School & all it entails tends to overwhelm me. Well… on to list-making & studying!
Thanks for this…. it helps me a lot to just get started!
A blessed day it is: Finding peace from your inspiration through His anointing! Such a Gift you have given all of us who are reading. THank you so very much!
My task: RE-cleaning the newly cleaned carpet from mysterious dog pee from “house-trained” dogs… Hmmmm…
The first thing on my to do list will be to take a BATH!!! Not that I don’t bathe, but I would love more than a quick shower!! Thanks for all you do! You are awesome!!
Oh my!! We are into Day 3?? This declutter was so meant for me. Dealing with the mind first. Hmmm. My husband gave me me a new dining room table for our anniversary. The old one was a yard sale table from his parents 24 years ago. I cried giving it away to Habitat. On the way home, my husband said let it be a memory. He can let go and I am the keeper. Any way, the thing I need is to get rid of a lot of books so I can move a bookcase out of the dining room so I can put the new leaf in my new table! Sounds easy, but it isn’t. I have gone thru one time and need to really be aggressive this time around.
Thank you so much for your posts.
Thank you!!! I need this so much. On my list is to “stay in the moment”. I really have trouble with that.
- one thing I must get done today is cut out 36 white circles for the two year old class i teach
During the week before I read the devotional you wrote and immediately signed up for your Clutter Free blog, I had the revelation that my issue wasn’t about getting organized, but about being clutter free. Obviously God was wanting me to hear my problem is clutter. Not just with home projects, but life in general. I believe I’ll add to my to do list to stop and ask God for his guidance on handling every situation in my life before I try to handle it on my own. Thanks for the tips. I’m ready to get clutter free.
I need to plan our church’s mainly music programme for the first quarter of the year, organise the team meeting, find all the music and burn a CD and write a proposal to the church board for a portable data projector.
I also have to figure out a way of getting my husband to remember to pick up his sandals from the middle of the lounge floor before he goes to bed at night!
or at least find a way to persaude my 3 year old not to follow Daddy’s example…
Glynnis, thanks so much for sharing what God has taught you about bringing order to our (His) world. I am definately with you for the 15 day challenge! One thing on my list is to find a way to organize my sons’ gazillion legos. And then teach him how to keep them organized!
I am totally overwhelmed at the thought of listing EVERYTHING I need to get done. I may need a notebook for each area! The thought of decluttering all areas of my life leaves me in tears, but I know that with God’s help I can accomplish this monumental task. One thing on my list of things to do is to help my 11-year old get his science fair project started.
Thank you for this clutter-free challenge, Glynnis! I think your approach will do more to help me than any other decluttering system or book I’ve tried or read. I have felt powerless to truly conquer the clutter and KEEP it that way.
One thing that will go on my list is to take down my Christmas trees and stockings and pack it all away. My husband passed away 16 months ago, my father 12 months ago. It was hard for me to do any decorating this year, but I did it. Now it’s hard for me to take it down, because it does make the house cheerier.
Thank you for this series. I have been struggeling with juggeling my home, work and childrens lifes! This is a blessing to me. I have ADD and I don’t know where to begin with all my “clutter”, so, I don’t! or I start and then get overwhelemed because it is too much, or I don’t have the money to buy the Items for organizing my home, it’s a round and round cycle.
The one thing I am putting on my list is to go through my kitchen cabinets one by one, and get rid of everything I have not used in 6 months! Maybe then I can open them without something falling out on my head!!!!!
God Bless
There was a plastic container avalanche at our house yesterday!!!
Lol….I’m not alone!!!!! Thanks for making me laugh
I added ‘give the girls in the store a trailer backing demo, so they know how hard it is to put an RV on certain campsites’ .
Thank you, Glynnis, for these helpful & practical tips!
On my list, quit reading all of the other comments and get writing my list!
hmm, how about wash the diapers- now! : )
Throw out the very dead poinsettias that are no longer making us feel “in the Christmas spirit”.
I throw my poinsettas out even before they die. Just seems easier that way.
The first thing on my list is “daily time with God”, which may seem ho-hum to a lot of people, but that is the one thing that gets pushed to the bottom of my list every day and then a lot of days doesn’t even happen. This exercise will so help me declutter my mind so that I can have daily time with God, and, by the way, thank you for saying (for the perfectionist, like me) not to try to organize the list, but to just make the list! I needed that! Thank you so much for all your recommendations so far.
My number one priority is to down-size my craft supplies. I rarely use any of it because I can’t find anything when I need it. Thank you for this challenge and the reminder to pray about the small decisions too.
Spend some time teaching my daughter about lists and organization….after I write my list of course!
I need to fix the fence in the backyard. One board is hanging off and it needs to be repaired before it completely comes off. That will be first on my list!
I’m really looking forward to working through this process with you. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!
Plan my son’s 1st birthday party!
I’ve read Getting Things Done and loved what it did for me. I’ve gotten away from some of the things it taught, so I want to read it again. I need to put some tasks on my list regarding worksheets I need to create for my daughter – I’m her teacher, too.
Your clutter-free challenge could not have come at a better time for me – thank you so much! We are a missionary family and will be transitioning back to the US for a year in June, so the overwhelming task of de-cluttering our house so someone else can live in it while we’re gone is the top priority in my life right now (along with all the other daily tasks of being a homemaker and mother of 3!). One item on my to-do list is for the kids and me to finish writing our thank you notes from Christmas and the kids’ birthdays (all 3 born within the first 4 days of January!).
Thank you for doing this series!
One item… Sort “big bowl” (I have a huge ceremaic bowl on my kitchen counter that has become out family catch all spot… I contains all the brick-a-brack of life… It needs to be emptied as it is starting to overflow!)
I would love to win this book bcs it’s on my TO READ list on Pinterest now! One thing on my list is getting my daughter a head board. She just has a bed on rails and I want to pretty up her room. Thank you for the chance!
Make flight reservations for a spring break trip to Orlando!
I JUST WANT TO ONCE & FOR ALL GET THE CLUTTER OUT OF MY HOUSE!
Sew the eyes on the dinosaur.
I NEED to clean out my sock drawer badly and quit stuffing socks in and pushing the drawer closed..I’ve cleaned all the drawers but that ONE silly drawer! haha
The first thing on my To Do list is to make one! I get so discouraged when I look around my house and see all this stuff. That’s all it is – stuff. God has placed on my heart that I need to clean up and get rid of the stuff that has not filled my craving for Him, which He alone can do. I’m done making excuses why or how things are gonna get cleaned up.
Well Glynnis, you’ve added one more thing to my to-do list. My first entry will be “1. Make a to-do list.” My next entry will be “2. Read Glynnis’ book after I win it on her blog site.”
I need to finish writing my family’s Christmas letter and get our Christmas cards out! (yes, it’s Jan 11th!)
People appreciate our family “Christmas” card when it arrives in March. I’m less stressed to send them out and they have more time to read a nice letter between the bills.
I’m finding it fascinating the direction that this is taking. One thing for my To Do list is plan our spring break, which is an important time that this working mom gets to spend a full week with my boys.
Go to the piano showroom and select an upgrade for our grand piano.
First of all get a daily journal to write my to do list, afterwards make my To Do List, and then daily I need to input my shores in my Blackberry with reminer of the important tasks!!
I will share with you the thing on my list I feel most guilty about. I haven’t figured out my children’s spelling program for this year, and we were going to begin in November. I need to watch a instructional video, give them placement tests, and begin. I have admitted to very few people that we haven’t done ANY spelling yet this year!!!
First, I’m really looking forward to what this challenge will do for me and our home. Need to write thank you notes to the kid in AWANA class for their Christmas gifts to me
Clean my dresser drawers
First I just want to say thank God for this challenge. I told my husband that we will be clutter free this year! I absolutely cannot go on like this, not just with mail on the dresser & unwanted clothes in the closets, but cluttered minds that deter sleep at night!
Right now, my number one clutter free goal is to de-clutter my mind so I can think straight enough to de-clutter everything else! Thanks again for an awesome thing you’re doing! God bless!
On my to-do list: Figure out how to, and get, stains out of my toddlers clothes!
This is going on my list today: print pictures off from my camera so I can actually hold them in my hand! It has been 2 years since I did that!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. This is so timely for me. I have said it several times recently, ” I used to be So Organized???” Great title! I hope I win it.
I will add to my list to do the tax forms – ugh! Not that I will forget, but like you said, to get it out of my brain.
I am enjoying the info in the 15 day challenge!
Thanks again~
I find that using a Steno-Pad works for me better than a spiral notebook to make my to-do list handier. Now if I can just find my Steno-Pad I will check my list and get busy!
Most days I am overwhelmed with just keeping the house functioning. I have four children ages 5, 3, and 2 year old twins. We have a continuous mountain of laundry, dishes, cleaning up toys, messes under the table from meals, and keeping the twins out of EVERYTHING. Working a full-time job doesn’t help either. I plan to make my list tonight. My mind is whilring with everything I plan to put on it! I want to get my “clutter” under control so that I can enjoy time with my children! They are growing too fast!
Truly, God bless you, NIcole. I have a 5 yo, 4 yo, 3 yo and 19-month-old… and almost ready to push out the fifth one next month (well, *I’m* ready… but clearly she’s not budging yet). God’s got a sense of humor, I’ll tell ya, all these kids coming back to back, but I’m like you- I don’t want to miss too much because they’ll only be willing to kiss and hug me freely but for so long before… it’s not “cool” anymore- especially for those boys. We’ll make it out of this pit together- in Jesus’ name!!!!
I cannot even begin to wrap my brain around this assignment!! I had started keeping a pad of paper and pen next to my bed to write down thoughts that were keeping me awake at night. I keep my to-do list with me during devotions b/c I hate getting distracted trying to figure out how I’m gonna remember what I just remembered! It’s like living with an angry step-mother and 2 ugly step-sisters! Only I’m NOT Cinderella!!! Help!!!!
Today, I’m getting a long-overdue haircut and try to relax during it!
Day Three of Clutter Free – and I am smiling. I have see that my clutter at work and home is because my mind has been so cluttered. Done a lot of praying the last couple of days for God to remove all the clutter from my mind. Already took care of the number one thing on my list today! Called the doctor’s office and made an appointment for annual blood work, mammogram, etc. Started on my second task but had to stop and take care of other things. I need this study so much! Thank you for taking time to do this!
Thank you, Glynnis. Amen to it all! On my list is to keep track of my ‘cycle’ so I will be prepared to clap my hand over my mouth when ridiculous swings of emotion make me want to say something unkind or downright evil.
Glynnis I cannot tell you how perfect your timing of starting this devotional session was for me. I am up to my eyeballs in projects and clutter. I started clearing out last fall but still sooooo much to do. Today’s idea of making a list is something I tend to do but not to the extent you are asking. I think this will be very helpful to put everything down so I can see what all there is to do in one place. I am a quilter and so I am going to make a list of all the quilting projects that are to be finished and to be started even on my list. Thank you so much for your time and effort into writing this devotional. I live in Canada near Toronto and have ordered your book but it will not be in until the end of the month. It seems that their supplier is out of stock!!
I am such an organizer. But sometimes I feel that I over do it w throwing away and reorganizing things that it takes away from my time w my kids. On my to do list I have put to make sure every day I devote my time to my kids no matter how crazy and chaotic my schedule and house work gets. Thank u for this awesome challenge!
I start painting, and changing floors of the entire house, and changing color on the cabinets in my kitchen all by my-self, + 2 boys, + full time school perusing my master degree, + my full time job, + my extra family, + church, + meeting from church, + figuring out how to get the right man for me, + 1,000,000,0000 more. I think this is the best way to start re-arranging my life!
So the first thing that I am going to put in my “to do list” is Follow the clutter free till the end. I will be amaze if I follow it till the end!
Thanks Glynnis for this great idea!
One thing on my list that I’m not looking forward to is explaining “Santa” to my 10 year old son. Hoping that I can do it in such a way that the love and magic Santa represents isn’t lost to him.
Thank you so much for this Clutter-Free Challenge. Today’s post echoed exactly what plays in my head all the time–it’s like you eavesdropped and typed it out for me–and everyone else–to read. And the prayer brought me to tears (in a good way; that means my heart is exposed).
Thanks again, and God bless you and all my fellow de-clutter-ers!!
Oh how just the thought of making this list causes me anxiety. There’s so much stuff that needs to be done and you are right it is CONSTANTLY floating around in my head weighing me down. One major thing that will go on my list is to do more craft projects with my 4 year old; I feel so guilty about not doing this as I spend so much time homeschooling my 10 year old I feel I don’t give my preschooler enough of me! Wishing there was more of me to go around. Thanks for doing this clutter-free challenge…I greatly need it!
I am overwhelmed most everyday and will be even more so in the next few weeks. I’m 36 with 2 children and a husband and decided to go to college. My next classes start Monday. I feel so blessed that God led me to your site and am enjoying your insight on clutter. One thing I need to get done in the next few days that may sound strange to everyone is….I need to get my wolf brushed out. Yes, I own a wolf, she is a hybrid 25% Husky and 75% Timber Wolf with a little mixture of Arctic Wolf. She is amazing,shy and beautiful but she doesn’t love the guys as much so I need to make time to brush her. She’s very girly and will enjoy this immensely. Thank you for helping me get these things out of my mind because I need all the room in there I can get.
I love the mind opening Devotionals on clutter freeing our mind so we can de-clutter our homes. I plan on adding to my list, making a list for supplies needed to pack for a mission trip to Haiti. Lots of organization needed for that alone.
Amen!
Oh so many things will be on that list! I would like to get framed photos of mine and my husbands grandparents and great grandparents. I think a wedding photo of each would be great!
when I first read your comment, I thought you meant you wanted to frame a photo of your list
I’m not even done yet and this is such an eye-opener. I’ve been trying to keep all this in the forefront of my mind? No wonder I always feel rushed.
And I appreciate Glynnis telling us not to categorize them just yet- that allowed me to just release so much! And there’s more to come, I’m sure…
What a great exercise.
I am not a list maker- (b/c I don’t have time! Ha!) but am willing to let Glynnis stretch me.
#1 on my list- kiss my boys hello everytime I see them and kiss them goodbye when we part.
I definitely need to weed through all the toys in the house after all the new Christmas items have taken over!
Remember to p * *. I drink lots of water, herbal tea and my morning tankard of coffee. I get so busy and overwhelmed and then – oh no!!!! I am doing the kindergarten potty dance and trying gracefully run to the ladies’ loo! Thank you Glynnis for your willingness to teach. Love you!
I need to create a household notebook of some sort. I have about three different half finished versions of chore routines, goals, and other things that need to be consolidated into one place. I’ve experimented with too many methods; time to pick one and stick with it. Talk about mental clutter- my desk surface looks like my brain!
Too add to my pervious post (see what I mean about mental clutter?!) I have been working on the portion of Hebrews 12:1 that deals specifically with “let us throw off everything that hinders…”. That is as much in my mind as in my habits and my clutter.
Glynnis,
It’s funny, the first thing I placed on my list is …
Make up the beds! It is now 1:56 PM and the beds have not been made up!
In my mind this is important but in my world it is fine point.
I wake-up with very early each morning with my head in the Word of GOD because HE deserves ‘First Fruits’ and because I so need HIS guidance to get through the day with a mind and heart that exalts HIM. Then, caring for my teens( both have Autism).
I take care of their needs during the day and many of my own at night ( when I could be sleeping).
Their needs take up a large percentage of my inner resources. No complaints, just sharing:-) I have huge GOD sized responsibilities, dreams and goals! If I am chosen as the winner of your book, please send it as a gift to another lady taking this bible study because I just purchased a copy for myself ( today ) through Amazon.com God bless you for doing this study I was not even planning on being here but GOD insisted and we all know HE has powerful means to see that HIS Will be done:-)
On my list- tackle the metastatic piles on my desk and countertop!
This challenge is such a blessing to me. I started my list 10 min ago and already have 3 pages! I love how you asked us to keep on writing and don’t worry about organizing items into categories. It is really freeing. My one “odd thing” on my list that I didn’t realize was bugging me so much is finding an eyeliner that lasts more than a few hours and doesn’t clump up in the corner of my eyes. I already look tired enough, don’t need smearing eyeliner too! LOL
Love it!
Try Mary Kay
I just went to look at the name of my eye liner and it is REVLON COLORSTAY. It doesn’t smudge or run -even if you sweat or cry-and it lasts ALL DAY!!! While I went into my make-up basket-I knew it was LONG OVERDUE TO BE CLEANED OUT! I actually FOUGHT WITH MYSELF BACK AND FORTH TO CLEAN IT OUT! My conscience WON!!! So… THANK YOU-and I hope you give the eye-liner a try-and love it as much as I do!!! I’ve tried MANY-and it was the ONLY ONE THAT WORKED FOR ME!!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For the post of course! Hoping I can send my thanks tomorrow for that book of yours! On my list…paint my seven year old daughter’s bedroom. (I think I’m going to pass on the zebra stripes she suggested!)
We THINK that we will be moving coast to coast in 2 to 3 months. Just thinking of starting the packing process is beginning to worry me. We just moved less than 2 years ago and downsized quite a bit then, so it’s not terrible. But I’m not organized by nature so keeping track of all that needs to be done is my biggest stress. One of the items on my list is to begin the “Moving Checklist”.
You had me LOL at this line: ” Allen goes on to explain that the first step to finding a solution is to get everything out of your mind and store it somewhere safe. Not the “safe” place you stored an important document at home, and now can’t find. But somewhere close at hand.”
You have no idea how many times I have lost something by putting it in a “safe” place – - – - Just had to share how much it tickled me to know someone else can relate!
Anyway, going on my list today is to write the “Christmas Letter Blog Post’ I write each year and send the link to our family and friends! I totally get that we are 1/3 of the way into January – but better late than never, right?
God bless you and thank you for this series!
I am going to put learning about all the different things I can do with my camera and learning photo shop on my list. I feel overwhelmed trying to learn all of it, so I dont, and just keep my camera on “auto”. =(
I am so excited about getting organized like I used to be, its scarey!(cuz usually that means it won’t happen) But I will not Give Up Easily so I am taking this info in & giving it ALL I CAN. The 1 thing I will list probably Daily is to “Be Happy”.That may not seem hard for most people but it is something I have to constantly remember to show to others as well as myself. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy to be Alive but Now after our accident, I am a New Person on a slow process!
Glad I found your website and blog. Yes, there is a part of me that thinks I should be doing something all the time. I didn’t realize why or that others suffered, too, but I see some hope. I’m middle aged, work full time, live alone, and am very weary. Even when I try to relax, my mind is working overtime thinking about everything I should be doing other than resting. So, I can’t even rest which only adds to the weariness. I look forward to learning how to de-clutter my mind. Hopefully, that will lead to motivation and stamina to de-clutter my house which is beyond overwhelming. So, I will start making that list.
I was my husband’s bookkeeper for years and did a really good job at keeping records and receipts organized throughout the year. When he retired I didn’t need to do that anymore and now I have to go back and cleanup! 2010 receipts are still in the file cabinet, 2011 are in one folder propped beside my computer. I would say the biggest to do project I have is to get all these little pieces of life on paper organized!
God, I am listening! It seems lately that God has been telling me I need to write things down more. Now I know what to do with the 2nd spiral notebook, start my list! I started keeping a journal last Friday where I record my prayer requests, God sightings, and my thoughts as to what I believe God is saying to me. It has made a huge difference to have something in writing to go back and look at when I want to remember what seemed to be so important at the time but my mind can’t seem to recall now. It has also helped me to see where God is repeatedly telling me the same thing just in a different way. It will eventually knock you up side the head! LOL! This is a wonderful step, Glynnis, even though it seems daunting.
So first on my list is Stop Procrastinating and Listen to God!!! I am also starting the Made to Crave online Bible study next week and I have heard it said that part of our weight problem can come from living a cluttered life. I am praying that doing these 2 studies at the same time will help me to focus more on God and less on stuff! Here’s to Living Clutter-Free!!!
Organize my hallway closet!
whoops, forgot to leave my email address in case I win.
Thanks so much for this information! I have been following your blog for so long, I feel like we are close friends.First on my list is to donate all “baby” items and free my attic.
I have to order some pictures to go in the beautiful picture frame sitting in my bedroom floor (that has now been there for over a year)!
on my to-do list: Call a contractor to fix half of the den ceiling after an upstairs plumbing problem. Overwhelms me because I just had a new kitchen ceiling and I know what a mess it’s gonna make. And who do you call? see my point?
Thanks for your message today, makes perfect sense to get it out of my head on to the paper!!
As the list grows I begin to feel a sense of guilt that I can never accomplish all that I feel I need to to each day. Your message is an awesome reminder that I have to ask God to tell me what is important to accomplish for the day and to leave the rest for another time…that He will help me get through the process and that the list will never be “done” persay because with each day I will need to add too it for new and upcoming events. I am comforted by the knowledge that I am not alone. That we all have a huge mental to-do list and with these tools that you will present and by God’s grace, I will find rest in knowing I have done what God wants me to do today. One unexpected item on my list is to install new weather stripping around all my exterior doors
Jana
I really need to start writing my book about the blessings we received during the illness and subsequent death of my youngest child, Brayden. God has placed this book in my heart and I need to just write it all down, to offer hope and encouragement to others walking a similar path. With God all things are possible and He can turn our heartaches into triumph.
My Dear Friend~ My Heart goes out to you with deepest sympathy~Nothing must be more painful than the loss of a child. I will NEVER claim to know the very deep pain you must feel in your hearts and the emptiness in your lives~ but as you said, ” God can turn your heartaches into triumph”. Praise God for the time you had with your PRECIOUS ANGEL, BRAYDEN~and for the wonderful people God surrounded you with during his illness. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE FAMILY OF GOD ! GOD BLESS YOU…IN CHRISTIAN LOVE <
I really need to clean out my deep freeze , list everything inside, to help me organize my meal planning better . I CAN DO ALL THINGS THRU CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME !!!!!!!! Can you tell I DREAD doing this ????
Perfectionism gets in the way every time. If I can’t do it the right way, no point in starting, right? It seems there is always a step that needs to come before the one I want to do.
On my to-do list, I need to move everything away from the walls downstairs so an electrician can [finally] run electricity through the lower half of the house. Guh. What has taken me so long?
Thanks for the brain dump task. Fill out kindergarten round up papers.
I hate to admit it, but I REALLY need to finish mailing out my Christmas presents! Hopefully I’ll do better next year
I’m SO excited for this challenge – and I’m even more excited to get to the practical things! Like the giant to-do list. =) I’m actually a step ahead on this one – I have a whole composition notebook (you know – the small-ish black/white ones?) that I’ve taken to writing notes/lists in…we call it my brain. =) Today I have make blueberry muffins (for dinner) with the kiddos. They know it’s on the list and they can’t wait to get started!
I feel a sense of relief knowing I’m at least reading about doing something, and discovering that I am actually not the *only one*. I’m hoping I can actually move from thinking about creating a to do list, and DO a to do list. Need to head to our local Woollies and buy a journal just for my de-clutter to do list. Uhm.. do I need to put that on a scrap of paper somewhere first…..?
Thanking God for Gynnis and her wisdom and advice on decluttering my mind. ‘Tee hee’ as I am sitting here this moment concentrating on my to do list notebook the phone rings. It’s husband ‘hi honey’, whatcha doing? I tell him, ‘oh, well can you come to Lowes, I have locked myself out of my truck’! Guess what’s next on my agenda!
Besides the typical decluttering process~cleaning~filing~throwing away~donating…etc…I have decided that it is really time to start taking care of myself! One embarrassing thing that REALLY BOTHERS ME IS MY DISGUSTING, CRACKED, REALLY YUCKY, IN DESPARATE NEED OF A PEDICURE…FEET!!! I never have the money to be able to afford to get one done~and it drives me CRAZY!!! With Springtime coming~ I’m always so embarrassed about my feet~ when everybody elses look so nice~ with toenails polished and feet so pretty~ I try to hide mine! That’s kind of hard when you are hot and want to wear sandals~ so if anybody has any good ideas on how to HELP me MAKE MY HORRIBLE LOOKING FEET LOOK PRETTY ~ I would really APPRECIATE IT!!! That’s one thing I would really like to be able to PUT ON MY LIST and CROSS IT OFF!!!
Oh…where to start? I loved today’s post about the clutter in our minds….that is DEFINITELY my problem, and I have tried time and time again to regain control of the clutter in our house, only to fail and feel less and less motivated. Thank you for this challenge! It’s great to hear of so many in the same boat, and also to get the motivation and tools to move forward. I have SO many items on my list….I guess the one that has been nagging me (and sort of embarrassing to admit) is to FINALLY sort, gift, sell or donate all of my son’s baby items. (Clothes, shoes, crib bedding, baby carrier, etc. etc……) He is 5 1/2 and I have yet to part with any of it…..so ridiculous, and time to get it out of here!
Today’s post was great – I actually was sitting down at nap time to make a list of everything swirling through my brain that I’d like to get done before I read your blog.
One of the things going on my list is – set up a bimonthly reminder for backing up computer documents onto external hard drive. Random, I know, but it just came to me now and I better capture it before I forget!
I always thought I was an organized person until I had kids. I’m adding to make baby food to my list.
thank you for taking time to walk day by day through this process….I’m excited to be doing it and am finding a bit more freedom with each passing day…..on thing for my *list* is to find the addresses, then address and send….the rest of my Christmas cards. =P
Thank you for this Clutter-Free challenge! It is hard to select just one thing to post…but, something different is my need to arrange to get power of attorney for our daughter while she is studying abroad (she will be gone on Tax Filing Day!).
One of the things on my “To Do List” is going thru my inbox. At this point I have 8055 e-mails that I haven’t read or deleted. Maybe I need to unsubscribe to a lot of things! Thank you for addressing the emotional and spiritual part of de-cluttering. I believe that is the most important point!
Oh, my! I thought I was the only one who was that far behind! Actually~ I am further behind than that!
I had many surgeries, and it just put me behind~ plus I get migraine headaches, so, very often, I don’t look at it for many days, then I just get frustrated and I only read and delete a days worth! It is so OVERWHELMING! SO…WE ARE NOT ALONE!!! Your friend in CLUTTER!!! 
I am working harder to be a better manager of my e-mails…..both work & personal. I’d love to win this book!
I need to schedule a mammogram but I keep forgetting to do it. Thanks for the Challenge for Day 3.
On the list: (1) Leave Glynnis a comment (2) Find where to leave Glynnis a comment (3) Find how to leave Glynnis a comment (4) Learn how to work the internet!
Looking forward to hearing what happens while we multitask!!! On my to do list…P90x
Catch up on kids’ photo books, one unit of French lessons per week, work on daughter’s Christmas stocking!
I need to make an appt for a Bone Density Test. I hope it isn’t painful.
It’s not painful at all. I just had one. It’s just basically an x-ray on a super-comfy table (at least my dr.’s was) – with your clothes ON!
The one thing on my list is cleaning out my china cabinet..my goal is to declutter areas in my home before school starts up again for me..thanks so much for this challenge!
I’m trying to get my stuff organized before school starts for me too. I don’t know why I think I can accomplish a semester worth of projects I’ve been putting off into my 2 week break, but it always happens this way…
Combine to-do lists
Well, I got a start on my list:
1. Make To Do List
2. Accomplish one thing on my list
3. Reward myself with a nap!
Got # 1 and #2 done, now on to #3!
I have been an organizational hoarder for years! If you can use it to organize or read about it to help you learn how to organize, I have it. I am going to go through my books and donate the ones that I have read to my local library. This is just one of the thousands of things on my list!!
Dear Glynnis,
I wish to express such heartfelt gratitude for this Clutter-Free Challenge! Just these past few days have helped me immensely! I moved in with my mother-in-love <3 when my husband deployed to Iraq and since he's been home we have been staying with her while he looks for work. It's so awkward and stressful to stuff all of our belongings (my husband, mine and our little girls, 3 years old and 9 months) into someone else's house (all 4 of us share a small room). I get so overwhelmed sometimes and anxious~ to the point where I feel like a horrible mother and even consider letting someone else raise my children because I can't get a grasp on things…but thanks to your blog I now know that it is the Enemy's plot to get to me and make me feel less than what God desires in my life and from me. These past 4 blogs in the clutter-free catagory have really changed my life and have set me free! I look so forward to the rest of this challenge and greet it with open arms! Thank you Glynnis, from the bottom to the very top of my heart!!
Love in Christ,
Jennifer Konie
jenkonie@yahoo.com
p.s. thank you for the facebook add
p.p.s. i need to let go and let God!!
I already feel mentally free-er in just 3 days! My list is already 4 pages long, I’m sure more will be added over the next few days. Today, I am finally washing all four kids car seat covers and car seats and reinstalling them into the car. This always takes a period of time we can be home to do wash and dry cycle and not have to drive anywhere. Thanks for your guidance in de-cluttering my life, what a God send!
When I made my “personal” list – the first thing that came to mind was, “finish college,” which surprised me. After being out of school for 20 years, I either need to finish it or release myself of that nagging to-do forever.
I am going to start using my calendar….for longer than a week!
I can’t wait to check my email each day to see what the day’s mission is! Thank you SO much for helping me clear the clutter in my mind & spirit, not just in my house! I’m adding “Keep up to date on homeschooling” to my master list.
Laundry! Lots and lots of laundry!
Make those phone calls I need to make daily for my home-based business.
I need to find a skunk charm for Mo’s bracelet. Well, not so much a skunk as a badger with a skinny head and no logo, so …a skunk.
Thanks for doing this challenge, Glynnis. I’m so glad you didn’t decide to go with the stale idea of more bins, boxes, and my personal favorite: hang a bookshelf horizontally on your apartment wall to give yourself more places to put stuff. Yay!
I agree that my mind is the problem- or at least how distracted and unfocused it is when I start a de-clutter project. So glad to be shown the biblical road mad to stop the un-focus!
Glynnis, thank you for sharing these wonderful tips w/ us. One item on my “to-do” list is to get several writing samples pulled together for a writers conference in May.
Sandy
I promised to help make a “story” album of my parent’s life and it feels a little overwhelming to co-ordinate at this point.
On my list today: get my daughter’s curtains re-made and hung…18 months after switching rooms with her brother :-O
Marinate some chicken for dinner!
I’m beginning this life-decluttering adventure in a very cold house right now. The first thing on my To Do List: get a new heat pump!
Thanks for a great post and series, Glynnis. I have a to-do list but after reading your article, I know that I need to make a much more complete list so that I can stop worrying about things I may forget.
I’m currently in transition and one important item that will go on my list is to get much more organized with respect to my job search by using some tools I know are available. Another item that will be on my list is to start making regular time for exercise.
With a full-time job, a husband, and a set of 8 year old twins, there is always something to remember. I use the calendar on my phone for appointments but the every day “to do’s” must go out of my brain and on paper. There’s just not enough room in there for everything! An example of what goes down on my paper includes making dr.’s appointments, hair appointments, things to look up online, anything I know I will forget. I would LOVE to win a book! I hope you pick me!
On my list will be cleaning out the storage unit we have been renting. I want to get rid of it so I can put that monthly charge towards paying bills.
On my list I’m putting finish the painting I started over a year ago
I love the line about not organizing the list yet “Actually trying to organize it now might hinder you if you are a perfectionist. You might not leave yourself enough room in a certain category and then you’ll be frustrated.” That should have my picture beside it!
I have clothes for “Garments of Praise” give away at a neighboring church. Of course my list of clothes has to be perfect before I can take them there. Just sayin’
One thing I really must do is – clean out my kitchen cabinets and even my dining room china closet. I really have a small kitchen, with a small amount of space, and over the years my kitchen items keeps adding up. I need to clean house on my cooking tools and all! Simplify it all so that I only keep what I will use. (P.s. I still have to put a few Christmas things away!)
I need to restock my First Aid kit.
I thought that older my kids got the easier things would be….WRONG!!!! They just get busier. I am a big list maker and then end up with so many lists that I am actually confused. I have enjoyed the challenge so far and am looking forward to the rest of the tips coming my way. One thing on my list is to pick up eggs for the hubby’s breakfast in the morning.
One thing I will put on my “new” things to do list is finish painting the kitchen table chairs!
One item I am putting on the list is kids’ baths. With 4 kids that are 4 and under I get overwhelmed keeping up with many things including bath time!
Thank you for doing this challenge! I am mom to 8. I have boxes of fabric I have gotten though the years. I am wanting to empty my garage of several boxes! I manage to keep the living area cleared most of the time, but want the closets, and garage cleared!
Wow! How do you speak so clearly exactly what I am feeling? There are so many times that instead of enjoying the moment, I am thinking (somewhere in the back of my mind) of other things I should be doing. You words have really shed some light on what I am feeling. I must admit that I still have my doubts as to whether I will actually be able to make strides with getting more organized…I have tried many times. But then again, I have never approached it from a mental and spiritual standpoint before. I am learning that a key factor as to whether I succeed is my faith that
God is helping me through this. Thank you so much for this ministry. Oh…and one thing on my to-do list is to clean my shower…one of my absolute least favorite things.
Buy pull ups for my potty training 2 year old!
Complete the paperwork for new birth certificates for my newly adopted daughters.
I am a single mom of an eleven year old, as well as a foster mom and I am in the process of adopting a fifteen month old and a two and a half year old. I work for the schools as well a run a photography business out of my home, I am truly having to learn what it is to become organized and need all the help I can get! One thing in my list is to buy your book if I do not win it!
I have just discovered Proverbs 31 Ministries this last week, and I am glad I did. I have read many books on how to get organized and get rid of clutter. I have never had anyone tell me to start by getting the clutter out of my mind. What a novel thought! Maybe if I get it out of my mind I can find the way to get it out of my physical space as well. : )
On my list – build a closet in my bedroom. It is really hard to relax in there while looking at all my stuff stacked and/or hung on the wall beside my bed.
One thing on my list will be to find a place for new baby gear, which will force me to organize other areas of my house. I’m having my 4th baby sometime next week and the amount of “baby clutter” is already driving me crazy! But I know it’s from the blessing of another baby, so it’s easier to bear.
I am going to actually get portraits hung up and out of the envelopes they’ve been in for months! They are too precious!
Decide when to crack and pick some black walnuts. It’s a long & tedious process,but worth it!
Oh my. I think I may have to purchase a spiral bound notebook to write out my list. The big item on my list is to go declutter my home office and the small room next to it that I’ve taken over as a storage room.
Thanks for your help in this challenging area! One of my “To Do’s” is to write down the plans for a polymer clay class I want to teach.
I’m really enjoying this challenge! I need to clean out and organize my digital photos!
I would LOVE a copy of your book! THEN I can put it on my list!
I started my list several days ago after reading one of your past posts…..I’ve labeled it “Lori’s Mind Dump” and the first page is categorized SELF, which I USUALLY put dead LAST on my to-do list, or not at all. One thing on my SELF list that many might find “strange” is: Drink at least one 16-oz. glass of water per day. For many, this might be a “no-brainer” but I know how good water IS for me…….I just NEVER think to drink it. I switch from coffee to Diet soda around mid-day, or I just don’t drink anything! So far, it’s working…………….THANKS Glynnis!
Today, I will start by seeking God’s peace. My mind is cluttered with not only the “mess” of my home and responsibilities, but also with the burden of my husband’s health and the thought that his cancer could be back. With five kids under 10, I feel so overwhelmed. His grace is the only thing that will help me muddle through each day lately.
Today, I will start by seeking God’s peace. My mind is cluttered with not only the “mess” of my home and responsibilities, but also with the burden of my husband’s health and the thought that his cancer could be back. With five kids under 10, I feel so overwhelmed. His grace is the only thing that will help me muddle through each day lately. So I’ll start with a prayer and time in His Word.
Put flooring in the treehouse
One big thing on my list is to schedule a date with my 9 year old son!
. It’s been too long.
I am so glad that I stumbled upon your site. Of course, I know it was by Divine Aptt. I have been putting off doing my taxes from last year, and so that is something I need to put on the list and tackle. Thank you.
I love the approach you’re taking with this…it makes so much sense! The thing most weighing on the constant “to do list” in my mind is – clean out my closets!
Cleaning up my condo is first on my list, because I’ve never been able to have people over in the three years I’ve lived there. Also, I must finish painting my kitchen (in progress since March 2009). My clutter has even spread to my mom’s storage building. I have boxes and boxes of elementary teaching items that I’m “saving” for when I ever get another teaching job. I do not know when/if that day is coming, so I need to unload quite a bit of it. Of course, I also have to stop shopping at Goodwill two and three times a week, picking up more “stuff” that doesn’t have a home or a place. Long range goal on my list is to fix up our finances and our home so that we can adopt a child. God hasn’t given my husband and me children of our own, and it’s on my heart to become a foster/adoptive parent. The clutter is in the way, financially, physically, emotionally.
You have NO idea how much I needed this post today!! I’m a week away from delivering baby #4 and I’m feeling very overwhelmed and stressed. I even thought about not reading this post because I didn’t have time too! Thank you! This is what I needed. I feel like the book would be a huge benefit for me!
One weird project that keeps coming to my mind is cleaning the chicken house. (We live on a small farm.)
Day 3 is me exactly. I am a multi tasker and always have a ‘To Do’ list but I wake at 2 am regularly and don’t know why, but generally with a feeling of anxiety (which I thought was over nothing).
In my garage I have possessions (clutter) left by my daughter who moved to Australia, STUFF from my married daughter and my grandchildren. My parents died recently and I have some of their stuff too which needs organising. Plus all my own things which I no longer want.
I am continually saying to myself “Bite the bullet” and I have been slowly clearing it one task at a time, and placing items on Trade Me (NZ version of EBay) and loading the “Give Away Table” at church.
I have been inspired by today’s ‘Clutter free Challenge’. Thank you.
First thing on my long term list is:
Redecorate Kid’s Bedroom!
Thank you Glynnis.
So happy about this challenge!!! I’m a mom of 3 small children and always running behind! I tend to manage chaos most days and often end up feeling very defeated. I can’t wait to see how God leads and changes me through this challenge. The first thing on my list is to start my day with quiet prayer time by getting out of bed before my family gets up. This is something I’ve always wanted to do, but I let our morning rush get in the way.
Thank you for this challenge! Seems like I need a little “pressure” in order to make myself do this kind of thing. I’m pregnant with my 4th child and really need to get all things decluttered! On my to do list…post on Glynnis’ website so I can win a copy of her book
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Also, clean out the basement!
I am excited to see what we do with this list we prepare. Thinking of making such a list does have me feeling quite overwhelmed. I am one of those whose mind is always going with a body in motion to follow. I f I were to pick one thing that will be on my list it will be to work on my sons wedding invitations.
Thanks Glynnis for taking the time from your day to do this project
I have been staring at this room (yes the one I am sitting in as I type this) which is supposed to be an office but has become a storage area for everything and ANYTHING. As I enter and/or walk by it everyday I feel the Lord prompting me to start getting it organized. Each day I do a little, yet I just keep getting distracted or adding more to the piles. It’s becoming a REAL burden and I know once it’s all organized and clean then I will feel a weight lifted off of me. I am taking a break from blog hopping for a little bit until it’s DONE!
Just have been overwhelmed by the flood of redponsibilties of raising four children. Your words are speaking to my heart and reminding me from Whom to seek peace and to clear my.mind. so four children……my list is long! Off to pick them up from school!
Thanks Glynnis for giving me a starting place. Looking at what needs to be done has always overwhelmed me, but now I feel I have a plan. One thing that is on my list is starting to work on a retreat for the women in my church.
Glynnis – I visited your web site because your Proverbs 31 contributions have been the ones that most frequently move, impact, and speak to me right where I am. The transparency and sincerity of your writing clearly communicates your genuine deisre to encourage women through Christ. Your writing style is also VERY similar to the way I think and process information so God has used you SO MANY TIMES in my life. Thank you for being obedient to His calling for you and sharing your heart, mind, and soul with us.
One item on my infinite list is to take a “daily inventory” every evening.
The purpose of this “inventory” is to evaluate my personal character by examining my thoughts, actions, and words. I write down things I did well, things I need to pray about & improve, things I need to change or release, actions that may require asking or giving forgivenes (including myself). Doing this provides a clearer perspective on the truth about the day’s events instead of relying on my emotions to define my truth.
Thank you for the prayer, effort, and time you have put into this. I have your book & I’m ready to follow you slowly step by step – instead of trying to do it all perfectly in a week!
I got a prescription for new glasses almost a year ago. My list of things to do will include filling that prescription.
I LOVE the to do list brainstorming! I will start this tonight~hopefully it will ease my mind of the mental to -do list that seems to rarely get checked off.
Is it OK to include on my to-do list my to-do list? I’m soooooo looking forward to clearing the clutter!!
Sort through roughly 70 yrs. of photos that my mom brought over for me to organize for her~
i am definitely benefiting from this clutter-free challenge already. i would love to be more organized and have a clean house but at the moment my house looks “lived in” and a little too lived in at that. unlike many of you it is primarily my stuff that is strewn about and not necessarily my husband or child, although they leave their fair share too. i’m pretty sure it boils down to having too much stuff and not knowing where to begin in terms of getting rid of some (ok, a lot) of things that we don’t use. i am forever creating to-do lists but there are always more things on it than anyone can accomplish in a day and then the next day i have to create another list. what an ingenious idea to create a notebook with to-do lists! no more recreating the same list day after day! among many other things on my list: prepare a care package for my brother who was just deployed over seas, start training for a marathon, and plan my son’s first birthday party…
Wow, I needed to hear this today. I’m such a procrastinator I’m afraid I’ll never get that list finished, much less started. I will put down to finish my upstairs room that I started painting about 2-3 years ago. Yes, years–luckily it’s a “junk” room that I store my seasonal decorations and some crafting stuff.
Excellent!
I am going to downliad my brain and put it ona flash drive ( my notebook). Then make appointments, buy groceries, and fill in the calendar!
Wow! I was surprised to see how many people are following this. It is such a blessing to know that I am not alone in this.
One thing that is on my to-do-list is go through my clothes and get rid of what doesn’t fit.
I am loving this clutter-free challenge. One thing on my to do list is to finish the bathroom remodel we started before my daughter was born almost 5 years ago.
I am so thankful to have found your website at this perfect time! I would love a copy of your book and am putting “cleaning off my kitchen countertops” on my to-do list!
This is so exciting!
Great inspiration for the new year!
My project right now is getting the scratches off my hardwood floors and furniture! So as I move room to room, I have a bag of walnuts and some rags and it’s becoming part of my ‘new year’ cleaning routine!
I am starting a list of all the things I need to do to get ready for my trip to Israel! It will include a page on what I need to do before I leave the house, what I need to bring with me (for me). Another will be a list of what I need to bring to my son and his family who are living there. That should relieve all the clutter that is running rampent in my brain right now. Any randoms thoughts about the trip will be written down as soon as I thik of them. I can already feel the relief of clutter!! Awwwww
I already feel a little more encouraged after reading today’s blog: Day 3-Dealing with Mental Overload. I have several ‘to do’ lists. One is for the household chores, one is for my daily chores, one is for vacation planning, etc. So, the suggestion to put all in one spiral notebook was really welcomed. I am putting this in one place, instead of in several places. ( Right now I have a list in the laundry room for things we need to accomplish in the house and yard, one by my desk where I do much of the household and daily items and one in my craft room-where I have vacation planning/crafts for birthdays and holiday planning) . Already I feel less panicky. The first thing on the list is to plan the weekly menu and write down the grocery list. Thanks
I am in a state of overwhelmed – too much to do and emotionally drained from spending time with my sister who lost her battle with breast cancer last week. I am putting me on my list – to take care of myself so that I can accomplish things on my list!
Beth, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Sorry for your loss!
Thank you so much Glynnis for sharing what God has taught you about de-cluttering our lives! I am a very disorganized & indecisive perfectionist (if there is such a thing)!!
I never make a “to-do list” because it is so overwhelming! There is so much I WANT to do and so much I NEED to do that I know if I put it on a list and I do not get everything done quickly it will drive me crazy….so it all just keeps floating around in my head. If I can’t get it done right away or get it done just right (to my standards)…then I just don’t do it. I am going to try to make a list but I know everything I think of, I will be asking myself…should I put this on the list or not? If I put this on my list, is it really something I will be able to accomplish or is it just wishful thinking or dreaming (meaning if it’s something I would LIKE to do…but just do not have the ability then it will drive me crazy that it is on my list!) One thing I am going to try to get accomplished is….declutter my pantry, or maybe my closet or all those plastic containers that fall out of my kitcen cabinet….oh where do I start?? Oh yeah…my to do list! 
Get out the garbage can and start dumping. You can do it! It will feel fabulous! Don’t think too much. Just do it!
hmmm… clear off my desk is number 1!!
Thanks so much for this series! It’s been such a blessing and encouragement to me, and it just started! Already God has shown me things I need to change about how I think about organizing and decluttering.
One thing on my list is organize my bags; I’m talking purses, diaper bags, totes, you name it!
Study for, register, and take the GRE.
Thanks so much for this information. It is exactly what I need right now. My first goal is to turn my backroom into a room I can be proud of, instead of always having to shut the door when we have company.
Thank you so much for your comments and suggestions! I have begun this process over and over again and somehow always let it get out of control again. Between family, work, going to school, projects and trying to have a little fun, I sometimes find myself so overwhelmed that I can’t do anything. I have to stop, clean my house, clean up my desk, clean out my purse and briefcase before I can do any tasks that I have before me. So once again I am adding my office, briefcase and photo projects to the list! Purse and house are done already.
I am looking forward to completing this journey with you.
My list includes ordering the furniture a decorator helped me pick out 4 months ago, and finish some of the other ‘change and update’ items on the list. I think because I’ve never done something like that I felt I didn’t deserve it.
My list also includes putting away the Christmas things I’ve taken to the basement, but not really put away. Then for school there is the list to compile of students who are in need of tutoring and getting ready for state assessments! Need I say more, the list goes on and on. It does feel like I am purging my mind!
I can’t wait to start writing my list and move forward getting my life organized again with God in the forefront. One of the thing on my list… bi weekly field training with my dog on a consistent basis.
One thing on my list is to enjoy living in the MOMent of motherhood. I have 2 little boys (almost 2 and almost 6) and I want to enjoy every minute I have with them….I don’t want to regret a thing when they are older. I want to be able to say “I wouldn’t have changed a thing…..). Thanks for this Cluter-Free challenge.
Thank you for this, I admit I am very overwhelmed just thinking about starting this massive list, but what a help this is! My first thing that needs to be done is to decide on a van before my baby boy is born next month!!!
I love to-do lists. My problem is after I finish listing everything – I’m back to being overwhelmed with the amount I have to do. I guess the first thing on my list should be – take some deep breaths and repeat the mantra “you can do this”. After the deep breaths and mantra, I’m going to call an old friend I haven’t talked to in a while and be reminded about what’s really important. Great post Glynnis!
Glynnis,
I love the emails you send. They show me how to get my life organized and see what is most important to me. As a 23 year old woman, it’s important that I get my life organized now, especially because I live on my own and pay my own bills. One of the things I put on my list is to log into Facebook and post a comment daily on our drama ministry’s page. I was appointed to lead the Facebook page and to post comments daily which can include bible verses, what God has spoken to me about and other insights.
Wow, that list will be pretty long, but I can do it. One of the things will be on the list is to TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAX, LET IT GO WHEN IN A FRUSTRATING SITUATION. I can not control everything, and that is a good thing.
just need to be responsible for my own actions.
I think my to do list is going to take me a few days to get down. I can’t wait! One of the things on my list is to get rid of one of the safety deposit boxes (it’s empty.)
OK – making this list of all the little things that stay bouncing around in my head that I need “to do” does seem very daunting…oh, boy. But, I’m gonna give it a try. It will take me a few days like you stated…these “littles” pop in my brain constantly. One of them would be to stop in at our church and finish painting the second coat on the trim in the nursery we remodeled last year! With two toddlers it’s been a long project, but it stays in the back of my mind, kinda just looms there.
Thanks for following through with what the Lord has put on your heart to share with us. I’m one of those who feels like I look organized on the outside, but on the inside it’s mostly chaos and thoughts of the way I wish things were going on a daily basis. Gonna work hard on this! and pray A LOT! 
I’m excited about making a master list. I think I’ll sit down now with a cup of tea and work on that! One thing on my list is to spend 2 1/2 hours a week (travel time included) with a group of very young moms (I’m a grandmom) and lead them in a book discussion about loving their children. I love it.
Wow that makes so much sense, thank you Glynnis! I actually can go to bed tired and feel like I cannot shut off my brain. Then I find myself saying a prayer asking the Lord to remind me of whatever it was I needed to remember to do the next day. I am starting my list today and it will take more than one page, one of the things that will be on my list is putting together a puzzle – which I’ve wanted to do for a long time!
So far your teachings seem to be written just for me! Thank you is not enough! I will put on my list to organize my children’s school papers into the folders we made for each of them.
boy do I need this! My oldest is 11 and my photos are in desperate need of organization!
I have so much clutter to deal with and every time I try to get started some new crisis hits the fan. I purpose to start each day asking the Lord what my priorities should be for the day and then following His direction. Starting my list is putting the waterbed back together. I need to declutter the girls toys in their rooms, reduce clothing and toys in the basement, wipe down most items in the house that still have pesticides on them from bed bug spray last year, repair damage done from a leaky roof now that it has been tarped until spring. And that is just the short list.
At the top of my list is to check in at least one blog a day (or check out blogs for dummies) until I get used to this blog thing.
What do you know, I did it!
Thing one done. My next thing will be to start a prayer Journal.
What a great prayer!
It has been three peaceful days for me as I read your email each morning at my desk when I get to the office… Thank you!
Thank you for this suggestion. Imagine one list, a very long list, but one. My biggest challeng to decluttering – my husbands closet of stuff to sell on ebay. A lot of it has been there for a few years but now it’s got to go – we are planning to start the adoption prosess (again!) and that sweet child whoever she/he/they may be will need some room. So I will start sorting through the mess, lay it out and maybe even get the pictures take to help get these things moving.
I will be praying for all you ladies and your clutter free challenges as well
C
There are so many things……I don’t know where to begin! I read a few of the other replies and saw where one person wants to finish her 11 yr old’s baby book. If it makes you feel any better, my boys are 20 and 23 and I don’t have their’s done either! Tops on my list has got to be getting my home office organized. I closed a business almost a year ago and have not comleted all the purging and filing I need to do! I am praying for God’s peace as I attempt to tackle this!
I made sure I wrote down the different studies I do online. I am doing this one, and the Made to Crave one next week, plus I read the Proverbs31.org devotion every day. Just staying on task while I’m on the computer can overwhlem me.
This post really hit home. I walk around with a muddled, cloudy brain with way too much on my mind. Going to try this technique! Thank you for sharing it.
One thing on my list will be to paint the walls in my bedroom. We moved into our house over three years ago, and I’m still waking up to a color I don’t like every morning!
Thanks, Glynnnis. I’m really enjoying these posts : )
Glynnis: Thank you for being an encourager of God’s word. I’m enjoying this challenge so far.
I have to get into my daughter’s closet & re-organize. Her toys & clothes are taking over.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this idea – it explains so much about why I can’t seem to keep all the plates spinning and remember everything I need to do. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Thank you for this blog and help to an overwhelmed woman! I love this idea and I need it because I moved a son from a college apartment after 2 1/2 years to a smaller apt and inherited all his extra stuff which has been added to my bulging accumulation of stuff from 31 years in the same house. Do I need help with clutter!! I plan to begin the giveaway pile first.
On the top of my list today is to “organize my home-based office” … everything has melted together in stacks — bills, magazines, coupons, calendars, to-do lists, projects, papers, papers and more papers!!!! HELP!
Just 1….update my checkbook
I need to send my Christmast cards. Okay, maybe not the whole list now that January is half gone, but at least to the family and close friends who actually want to see the kids’ growth during last year. Then on to the kitchen counters, which my 6-year-old pronounced as “messy” just 2 days ago upon her return from her dad’s oh-so-neat new home with his new wife. Ugh!!! At least kids are honest, even though it can be painful.
I lovvvee this idea…coming from an organizer…..and perfectionist…i can’t wait to get this “notebook” started..b.ecause for me…i know i i will fill lots and lots of pages….so my first thing on my list now is to start my BIG list….the notebook of to dos..thanks i can’t wait
I am amazed at how much more brain power I have when I write it down and “forget” about it. I refused to try to keep all that stuff in my head!!
It truly is a blessing to have come across this de-clutter challenge. Several years ago the Lord put it on my heart to begin this process but I am so slow. But Our Lord is merciful and good, He is truly using you Glynnis as His instrument to help His people let go of unnecessary stuff! Today’s blog was very helpful, I have started my Master List and I’m so excited and hopeful that this is the year that I will finally do as the Lord has asked me to. So many special things I want to do for others but often I find myself stealing time from many necessary tasks in order to get something special done for someone. I have 8 godchildren whom I love dearly and pray for each day. I would like to set time aside to do special things for and with each one of them. Also, when my doorbell rings I don’t want my first thought to be “Oh what a mess this place is! I can’t let anyone see this place!” Instead I want to be able to open that door and welcome whoever it is into my clutter free home where I can focus on them and not on my clutter. May God bless this beautiful work that the Lord has chosen you to do! Thank you so much!!!
My to do list starts with create recipes to use up left-overs and the bottoms of the condiment jars in the fridge.
I want to spend some time on my hobbies. I love making cards and doing all sorts of crafts, but with my to-do list so long, it seems I can’t afford the time for it. I want to find time to do some things I enjoy. I hope that writing everything down will help me on my way!
The number of comments you’re getting shows you are clearly striking a nerve. And my immediate thought was, “How does she know me???” I didn’t even have to make a list to feel the panic. There is definitely too much on my mind. Looking forward to peace. Thanks!
On my list…Schedule my first colonoscopy! Oh what joy!!!
….I just cancelled my 1st colonoscopy because the doctor and insurance people can’t decide what I will have to pay. I will pray for this uncomfortable needed checkup to go smoother for you!
I am enjoying your challenge. Thanks for doing this! I will add “Scotch-Gard the sectional” to my list. My dog can’t help but wipe her face all over the cushions and it’s driving me crazy! May God use you to bless others, and help us in decluttering our minds. I often pray the Lord would give me clarity in my thoughts. I am thankful and encouraged to know I am not the only one who struggles in this area.
On my to-do list is to make the baby book/photo album for the “baby” that is about to be 1yr old in a few weeks! That is a multi-task project-pick the photos, print the photos, get an album, label the photos, put them in an album…Wonder if I should list each of those tasks separately on the ‘to do list”?
I’ve decided to make my list in my Prayer Journal so it will be a permanent record.
One of the first things I am putting on my list is to make decisions about what to pack for my honeymoon in 4 weeks!
Thank you for doing this clutter challenge. Your approach has inspired me!! I have prayed several small prayers today for increased focus and help to determine what is really important. As for my to do list….a new seal for the garage door. It has only been leaking 9 years….but it is on my list now.
Thanks again!!
Wow! Love reading everyones ideas and am SO happy to know that I’m not the only person walking around in a funk. I really get what you’re saying about our minds being so cluttered and probably the reason we let it dictate the rest of our lives. Steals our creativity as you said. There are too many things to list, but I do believe that once they are put on paper, they may actually not be that bad or too large to tackle. It’s the constant ruminating over them in your head that leads you to believe it’s just too much. We’ve lived in our home over 23 years and there are probably things that should have been done way back when…now, it’s time to move on and just either do them or just forget about them, since it’s evident it really wasn’t that big of a deal! We’re still here and the kids seemed to have turned out ok without them. (Like those fussy little window pane things that go in your windows or staining the end of the window sill trim….I’m over it!) Thanks for all your eye opening thoughts!
Ah, making a list will be the thing I will do first!
I want to thank you so much for putting this together. I have been trying to get more order back into my life and God has been so good putting people and resources like this in my path to achieve that goal. One of the things on my list will be to have a dedicated day each week to make jewelry for the homeless. I usually make necklaces and then when I got out with my church to hand out clothes and food, I bring jewelry I’ve made with me. To see their faces light up when they pick out a necklace is priceless. God is so good!!!!
I may be a bit different from most that have posted so far in that I’m single with no kids, but the clutter is overwhelming. My sister and 3-yr old nephew also live with me, so that definitely adds to it, but I’ve never been an organized person. This challenge came at just the right time, as I’ve just rid myself of some commitments and I am re-evaluating a lot of things in life. I’ve also started de-cluttering in hopes of moving and renting out my house. Great to know I’m not alone in this though! And my list is crazy! (I’m a procrastinator too).
A few things on my list: Hang a kitchen cabinet door that fell and needs new screws, take some shoes to get new heels, and research renting out a house/becoming a landlord.
At work I am organized so I can accomplish what is expected of me and can put out fires pretty quickly as they arise, but at home it is another story completely! My husband and I have our youngest daughter, with her two daughters living in our small home. With a 7 year and 2 year old, the place stays cluttered and I can not see know end to it. I know it should not depress me, but it does. Most of the time, I just throw my hands up and say, “What is the use?” This is not the right example to set for my grandchildren. You are a God send at this time, especially your post today!
I’m going to clean off my dining room table, we haven’t been able to eat out there for a few months. I am loving the study already!
Thanks so much for your clutter free challenge! An item from my to do list- I have to put together a scrapbook project for grandma who is turning 100 years of age in February! She lives in Poland, and the mayor of her town throws a party for anyone who turns 100. I wish I could go….but instead I will send her this album full of pictures of her and tell her how much I love her and what she means to me.
This idea is fantastic. I have so many responsibilities, hobbies, goals, dreams, as well as getting ready for school and looking for a job. I usually end up making many different lists for each topic. But my cat likes to knock things around and I usually end up losing something. I have a small-ish notebook that I can use for this that I will be able to carry around with ease.
One thing I will be putting on my list is ideas for a vacation my family will be taking this summer. I can go ahead and list what to take and any other preparations needed that come to mind. This way, I won’t be scrambling at the last minute and overly tired to the point where I won’t be able to relax. Again, THANK YOU!
Another great post, Glynnis! Thanks.
One thing for my to-do list … buy a notebook to write the to-do list in!
Planning and sticking to an exercise plan. When I do it I have more energy and a better frame of mind. Also, clearing out my mind and writing it all down is much needed. Having a go-to verse is #1.
One of the things I want to do is go through all the cards I have and only keep the special ones. (I have kept pretty much every card anyone has ever given to me. It’s a LOT). Wonder if I can recycle them somehow?
Thank you for the inspiration!
Sandi
Try group homes who do projects with them or if you know someone who scrapbooks or is in to cardmaking – they would love to have them to use in making “new” cards.
This does feel overwhelming! I will start my list with develop a two week meal plan.
Thank you for doing this blog! I can’t wait to get home each day to read it and apply it. I’m glad to see that I’m not alone in this mess! I’ve hidden in the clutter for many years thinking all my friends had it together and I just couldn’t do it. I thought something was wrong with me because I used to be able to manage it all and then I couldn’t. My list will definitely take several pages, but one thing that will be close to the top will be to go shopping for me. My husband travels and I spend all of my spare time doing for my children and others. It has been a long time since I have spent time or money on myself and my wardrobe shows it. I also want to plan a family vacation. It has been more than 6 years since we have taken a vacation. I am very excited to be taking this journey with you. It has already brought me closer to God and I feel better already!
I just smiled and nodded my head enthusiastically as I read today’s post. I often tell people that with everything I try to remember and all that I have to do, I feel like my my brain resembles one of those tumbling lottery ping-pong ball cylinders that appear on T.V. Even though I can “see” one thing that I need to do, as the day (hour or minute) advances, the one or two things soon disappear amid the multitude of other thoughts churning through my mind; consequently, I rarely get things completed and the same things may remain on my “list” for years. One of the things I need to get accomplished within the next year is to begin to have my home re-tuckpointed.
I’ve been working in this list all day. Evertime I tell myself something I need to do I write on the list. That happened a lot while reading all the comments.
I need to get our bed fixes so the mattress isn’t sitting on the floor. My husband and I could really sleep better if our bed was better.
It made so much sense when I read your instructions to write down my responsibilities to clear my mind. The first thing for my list is to find a family doctor for my adult son with ASD.
I would really love to eat at our dining table! It always seems to have “stuff” on it. It’s been clear a few times this year when we were expecting company. Most of the time it has “something” on it, almost always something that really doesn’t belong there.
Here’s whats going on my list. To change the furnace filters!
Making a plan for morning bible time and exercise. I like to do both first thing in the morning, but either end up doing one or the other. Also, creating a simple prayer journal. I have them in my head, but when I go to write them down my mind starts racing and I give up.
Thank you for helping me free my mind of clutter.
Can’t wait to get started on my list! Before I even read today’s “challenge”, I started going through multiple to do lists and combining them into one. I am going to start a brand new spiral notebook for my list and I will be adding the task: “clean ceiling fan and vacuum stairs underneath afterward”.
We are considering a move, so my “to do” list will be full of home cleaning and organizing.
Thank you for noting that we not get distracted trying to organize our to do list! That makes the task much easier, and its nice to have permission to just make a list. One thing on my list I was able to get done today was to settle the “punch” delemma which I don’t even have the energy to describe. Now I will focus on the snack I plan to serve for the book club meeting at my house Friday morning. Maybe I’ll get to that after picking up my son, making dinner, cleaning up, monitoring homework, and carpooling to swim practice! Laura
Write down everything?? Really?? A total brain dump?? That sounds overwhelming, but I’m relieved that I can take several days to do this. Now, to keep up with the list…
I wondered why my house was so dusty and then I remembered that I haven’t cleaned my AC filters in months. Hmmm…out of sight, out of mind, but not out of guilt!
One of the many things going on “the list” – baby books for my children – they are 8,6,4 & 1! It will be fun to look back though!
I have actually cut back my work week from 4 days to 2. One reason was so I could have more time at home to get the house work things done and cleaning out that I need to do. i can keep things straightened up and clean rom dirt but its the storage, shelves, closets and boxes ( the unseen) that overwhelms me. I get over involved when I really clean out so it either stays in those places or I get into it over my head with every room torn apart! Then I found your site and I’m ready to start. I actually started a to do list a few months ago, Now where did I put it? So I will start with making a NEW to do list and put it by my cumputer or in my kitchen where I will see it to do it! Thanks for the encouragement.
Wow you are helping my mind and reading it, my to do list was swirling in my brain and the perfectionist was saying how do I organise this so it fits altogether and I can add.
SO on my list will be cleaning out that scrambled tupperware and hoping a mouse isnt in there to greet me
I am determined to have my house and my mind clutter free!! Thank you so much for this blog and clutter free challenge!! One of the items on my “to – do” list is go through all the recipes I have collected and organize them.
mercy that was a long way to the bottom lol loving this clutetr free challenge, for teh month of Jan thats’ what we’re doing decluttering, tossing, organizing, hope I get it all done cause Feb is my fall back in love with my house month lol, paint , sew decorate etc. I have way tooo many list, think there may even be list of list here there lol!
Helen
Wow Glynnis, it makes the process seem easier when someone’s walking through it with you……thank you and thank God!!!!! I’d already started my list last week….(God must have spoken!!!)….and it was the hardest thing! I had to give myself permission and I truly didn’t know where to start! I’ve a variety of things on my “to do’s”…..washing, cooking a lovely meal for my family tonight, right through to sewing binding on a quilt I’ve been working on for 18 months so it works its way out of the ‘unfinished’ pile…..baby steps! :O)
I used to think that when the kids were grown, I would get all the back logged things done. Not yet, so going to try with all you others.
love this challenge! always thought i was organized, but now my family gets most of my attention and the piles don’t take care of themselves. i often feel hostage to the clutter and feel ashamed of myself that i can’t process all the “stuff” in my life. my list will include asking for the Lord’s help in this and determination not to lose focus. in addition i need to stay home more in order to really tackle it all!!
Wow!! 3 days and I already feel as though I can get things done. Thank you so much. I have lots to put on my list, as do many other people. I am going to start with my basement. I have a room dedicated to all my teaching “stuff” I gathered through 10 years of teaching. I have not been in a classroom teaching for the past 8 and am not sure if I will go back into teaching. Time to let go of the clutter that is keeping my mind spinning and my basement a mess. Thanks for giving me the insight on how to let go.
I need to organize pretty much everything! Paper clutter is my worst offense. That and clothes. If I don’t see it, I forget I have it. I still have boxes piled up in my home office from when we moved in August of 2011. Most days I just shut down and leave so I don’t have to look at it. The only thing I seem to be able to do faithfully lately is exercise. Thank you for your help and guidance in the Lord.
I can’t believe my job title is Project Manager, but I never even thought to treat my life as a project! At work, I keep all sorts of lists: issues, tasks, goals, follow-up reminders. At home, I’ve always just had the one daily To Do list that always seems too long to do in a day but never long enough to capture everything I need to do. I’m so excited about getting all the list items out of my head and onto paper. The first on: sew up the hole in my jeans before it gets too big.
Loving this decluttering of my mind:). I am writing on my list to bathe the dog – something that never seems to get done – poor puppy:(
My number one priority is to get rid of all my piles of papers. Some are out in the open, some under beds, some in drawers, some behind furniture, some in cabinets…almost every room in the house has some of my piles of papers. It has gotten out of control!
One thing on my to do list….leave a comment on your msg board in hopes of winning free book.
One task done!!!!!
Dealing with mental overload….that explains why I run in circles and seem to get nothing but so much done in a day. I have to admit it did take me all afternoon to read the blog because I started taking notes, then I looked up the book, then I started my list for home, then work, then I panicked. After all that I twanted thank you for the panic attack! I can pray about it and leave it in God’s hands to help me sort through the chaos.
Actually putting my pictures in albums. Or writing for the first time in my four year olds baby book. Oh the things that will go on that list. My first thing might be to make a list! Haha! Thanks for telling me not to organize it because I know I’d waste so much time trying to figure out the “perfect” way to do it that I probably wouldn’t get around to doing it.
One thing on my to-do list – make an appt for an annual physical exam. Thanks, for this information, Glynnis. I appreciate your help in getting things organized.
The first item I am placing on the to do list is to work on making a to do list! Actually, I do make lists, they always seem too long, but it is very satisfying to be able to check off things that are accomplished.
One item on my list is to be kind to myself by taking time for the things I enjoy! My husband, mom, friends and even my naturopath have been telling me I need to do this for quite some time. I suppose it’s time to stop procrastinating and jump onboard!
One of the many things on my list is STILL trying to upack the perimeter of my bedroom after having to downsize a 2nd time after my divorce. My small bedroom now contains, bookshelves and office material, (of course no office in my “small” two bedroom apartment I share with my 18 year old son
), wrapping and gift items along with bedroom things….not much room! I have no closets except for our bedroom closets so I have definitley been learning to organize and can never receive too much help in that area! Thank you for this challange! 
You were right, it is a bit scary, my list will be quite long, but I’m in it to win this time. One thing on my list has been to organize my office; recently I’ve just shut the door so I don’t see it :-/ Thank you Glynnis for this opportunity to learn from you.
I need to take time to experiment with different mold/mildew removing solutions for my walk-in shower. I have tried EVERYTHING and would really like to get to the bottom of this issue. I don’t like using lots of harsh chemicals, so I’m hoping to find a “natural” solution.
Oh my…I had to take deep breaths through the post….I think that’s a sign of how overwhelmed I am. I am so excited to do this challenge with you! Not for the only think to de-clutter my home, but my mind…to help not feel so overwhelmed with my husband and kids, which i’m learning not only effects me, but them as well, and that makes me feel even more overwhelmed. It’s like a vicous circle! Thank you so much for the blessing of this challenge! I think one thing I’m looking forward to is being able to eventually enjoy my time again in my home and with my family…not just panicking about how much I’ve got to do and constantly saying “where did I put that paper…I know I just had it”?! :0
I had been praying for something to help me with my clutter when I receive a copy of your blog from a friend. This is definately an answered prayer. I have not thought of declutttering in this way previously. It makes sense until we can declutter our minds we will continue cluttering our lives. I believe this is really going to help. One thing on my long to do list is getting rid of the shoes in my closet that hurt my feet!
After begining to write my list I found myself re-reading what I was suppose to write….my list kept getting longer and I felt overwhelmed. This is wayyyyy too stressful….lol…but there is this peace of God that reminds me that its Okay to keep writing. So I wrote – Back Facial – on my list. I have breakouts on my back – and they seem to increase when I am stressed. So now -I am asking God to please not let this 2 sided Steno pad list stress me out because I am still writing…..LOL
Some things on my to do list:
update my blog
exercise
These are things I need to do and often put off doing because of all the other things on my to do list!
My list will be very long and may take an entire spiral notebook or two! One thing will be to find the floor of an extra bedroom.. it’s in there somewhere!
I need to make my son and daughter-in-laws wedding quilt. They’ve been married 5 1/2 years now. I’m looking forward to getting it all down on paper. I’m glad it doesn’t have to be organized because with my perfectionism it wouldn’t get done for fear it wasn’t done right.
Thank you for taking us on this journey and showing us the steps. One of the things I need to do is organize the top of my dresser!
My List:
1)Organize my office
2) Help my mother stick with this Decluttering series b/c I think the clutter in her house has broken her spirit. What’s in it for me as well is I won’t have such an overwhelming mess to sort through when my parents have passed. I worry NOW, almost on a daily basis what I’m going to do with everything and I feel my energy is being zapped because of it. She lives in the house she grew up in and is despertely hanging on to “things” in place of memories. I feel so sad for her.
Great exercise. I have so many lists-they get lost and aren’t so inclusive. I so think this is going to help! I will include my projects and charity lists; the things that feed my soul. On my list is to polish my short story to submit for publication, to get my 2 newly adopted dogs certified for pet therapy so they can go with my older dog on visits and to make as many prayer shawls as I can for Hospice, calling on my neighbor friends
What a rough day i had today! I finally made it to the blog page. Your beautiful prayer made me cry. I still have Christmas decorations to put away. So that will be on my list when I start it. Just need to take a deep breath and maybe a good cry. =)
I’m so blessed by your posts! I would like to proactively schedule oil changes, nursery shifts and dr. appt’s…so that’s on my to-do list.
This describes me perfectly. On my. List are writing thank you notes and hemming pants.
I am starting my list. I am ashamed to say first on my list is take down the rest of the Christmas decorations. I am a teacher, mother of two teenagers and a 19 month old, and suffer from perfectionism to the point that I would rather hide everything than deal with it… I am enjoying the posts and learning a lot! Thanks!
Thank you for your help!
One thing on my list is to brush my two kitties and two dogs each day!
I can’t imagine how long my list is going to be. But when I get organized, I hope to have time to sit on the porch with a glass of sweet tea and a good book. That may even go on my list.
I really have so much in my life that I want to organize, I wouldn’t even want to begin to try to list them all. I’m one of those people that if I can’t get it ALL done in the allotted time I have (which with 4 kids isn’t much) I’d rather not start- so I often don’t.
I’m a stay @ home mom, as well as a Pastor’s wife, and we are adding a addition onto the parsonage that has been going on for FOUR MONTHS!! So I feel overwhelmed A LOT of the time. This has been good for me. My main project is getting the closets organized for my family of six!
I’d also like to add that to my list…Make more time for my Pastor husband- just for us, no kids!
Hi decluttering….it is awesome find this blog God bless you My first thing is planning my trip to USA and try to get a chance to hear you speak ….and the other thing that i really need is make a to =do list in my spiral book Thanks for the challenge even though i receive at midnight but i just read it next day so actually i am a day behind…but it keeps me running towards the goal Blessings from Australia
I am a big list maker but often can’t find my list! I like the idea of getting it all out of my head and onto paper. I often don’t sleep well and have finally realized that it is my anxious thoughts about what needs to get done that often keeps me awake. You have no idea how often I pray Phil. 4:6,7.
My biggest challenge in the next few weeks is combining two households without keeping too much stuff! Only God can get me through this one!
Hmmm……well now the MOST overwhelming chore on my list is to make this all encompassing list!! You don’t know how that stresses me out just thinking about it. I think I’ll put off doing that until tomorrow. LOL!
I so agree with you that stuff – mental or physical – eats your energy from the inside out. Thank you for your wonderful insight and guidance. Truthfully, I am starting my list tonight :0)
Glynnis, thanks so much for the inspiration–this is really a new way of thinking about organization. I’ve spent a long time feeling overwhelmed and guilty, and I’m ready to let go of it! One thing on my list will be to spend time with my husband and sons every day, because that is a priority for me.
The most personal item on my list is to get my eyebrows waxed and hair colored! It’s amazing how much better I feel when I spend a few moments taking care of me….and it’s amazing how long I put off the tasks because they seem to steal time from everything else that needs to get done!
The first thing that is going on my list is to clean my winter coat which I just spilled chocolate milkshake all over because I was trying to carry too many things in the house at one time! If I had only made that extra trip to the car!
Hi Glynnis,
Where to begin…my husband lost his job April 2010 and I lost my job May 2010. He was offered a job just yesterday and accepted the job today. I am still unemployed. You would think that I would have my home in order, but no, it is worse now then it was when we lost our jobs! This study makes so much sense and I’m finally feeling hopeful. I am grateful for your insight and knowledge. Thank You!!!
I have added making a Pantry Content list by expiration date to my ever growing list.
One thing I am adding to my list is finish writing the video script that has to be shown at a luncheon for 900 featuring Former First Lady Barbara Bush. It’s in less than two weeks!
With GOD’S help I would like to visit and help out in any way my aging parents which just celebrated their 60th wedding Anniversay! I want to set aside a few hours each week to spend time with them, they are only about 1/2 hour away from my home and to me they are the most special people in the world. They are both in fragile health and I do Thank the LORD everyday for them. I am a single, full time working parent of two college students that live at home so time is precious but so are my parents!
Grace & Peace to you all and Thank You Glynnis so much for helping me on my journey to de-cluttering!
I’m going to make a scrapbook celebrating my grandson’s first year of life as a gift to my son and daughter-in-law and present it to them on my grandson’s 1st birthday … in 2 months! … I better get busy printing all the pictures and gathering my thoughts of how I will arrange the many pages that celebrate this precious little ones’ life! That is just one of many projects I have going on at the moment and will add to my list today. Thanks for doing this, Glynnis! We all need you!
You asked for random, right?!?
I have these silly big bones that stick out from my big toes. Apparently they’re called bunions, & some say I could need surgery on them – ugh. From what I understand you’re in a cast for months, & can’t even drive at first. This just doesn’t sound appealing to me, how will I ever get through my to do list?? But discomfort in my winter boots is no fun either. So – onto the list it goes….for “future projects”: research a Dr. (podiatrist) & see if bunion surgery is in my future :- )
Thank you for leading us on this clutter-free journey : – )
Among the millions of things that I have to do, read a book for fun to my kids tonight is one that I am fighting to keep a priority but it is easy to get distracted. It seems like so many times I get overwhelmed with the long to-do list that I push the things that matter the most off to the side (like devotion/ prayer time and spending quality time with my husband and quickly growing children). I don’t want to look back one day and regret the time I spent stressing about the clutter when I should have been enjoying their childhood.
Enjoying know there are so many more people just like me! First on the list–take down Christmas tree. Second, frame some stitchery that has been finished forever but just needs framing. Then on to decluttering and organizing all those pictures.
I am always amazed at GODs sweet and perfect timing. My husband and I had just sat down with our kids about a week ago to put on paper, not resolutions, but tasks we wanted to get done. Not necesarily this year but things we simply wanted to work on. One of them was simplifying life by decluttering. I am a paper piler and this is a hard thing because we do live in a small house with little built in storage. So we get creative. Your DeClutter Challenge came at the perfect time. Now we are reading through it together as a family! Thank you Glynnis, thank you GOD!
I always feel so cluttered mentally and physically after Christmas. What a blessing to have this focus on living clutter-free at the beginning of the year! As I am an itinerant teacher for the deaf, my car is almost as bad as my house.
The one thing I want to write in my master list is changing the air filters in my home. It is mundane but necessary to keep the heat pump working!
Praise God and thank you again, Glynnis!
For my list: sew up the hole in one of my son’s bean bags.
Please add me to your daily email. I tried to do it the other day but didn’t receive the first few emails. Thanks!
One thing on my list is to find a notebook to write my list on. Next is to consolidate my to do lists at work. Instead of cleaning up one and getting rid of it, work is so busy that I just create another list and put it on top of my old list for fear that I might forget to transfer something. It is a vicious cycle!
Thank you Glynnis!
I had put off starting the challenge because it was buried in my email. My friend Kym and I are doing it together. Cleaned out the car today and my closet this weekend. not perfect but a good start. Yes, the key is getting rid of the stuff, which I am not so great at.
to-do list: remember to order the food for my doctor’s group presentation at the end of the month.
I have used a big spiral legal pad for my to-do lists when I had to let go of the Franklin planner which gave me anxiety- unfortunately, the legal pad is under a pile, as are usually my organizing books, which makes me laugh when I find them at the bottom of the pile!
Exponentially I have too much stuff and have reached maximum capacity!
We also have an antiques shop, so everything that is “too much” in our business and at my parent’s home has a value- That’s just a completely separate issue. (yes, we have storage)
I will add schedule down time to my list. “the list” scares me!!!
Your first three days have described me exactly! I’m so glad to be participating and I am excited about making my list of responsibilities. One thing on my list will be to plant the tulip bulbs!
Thank you for helping us with this. It’s overwhelming!! One of the To Do’s on my list is to unpack the office, we’ve lived in the house 2 yrs and have just worked around boxes and supplies because it was too much for my husband or me to do. It’s never been dusted or vacuumed. Awful!!
Wow, what a list of individuals working through this issue. Fantastic!
One thing that will be going on my list is to hand-write a letter a week to someone I know. Thanks for leading this group.
Great, Sherri! My mom was the queen of the postal service for all the mail she sent – to adults, kids, family, friends, people she heard about that she wanted to simply send a word of comfort or encouragement. One thing everyone I have met who knew my mom remembers about her is some card or letter she sent them! On my list, is to be sure to write a thank you card to anyone who does something for me or generously gives me something I need or a gift.
Hi Glynnis, thank you for the Clutter Free Series, Day 2 and 3 describes exactly how I feel the minute I step into the office, I get so disheartened when I look at piles of work. I’ve given up on lists long ago because I get discouraged when I see it grow and nothing gets crossed out. The one thing on my list today is to get a comprehensive to-do list from the various responsibilities of my life started!
I really need to take down my Christmas tree!!!
I love list! I have several
On my list is to organize papers on our desk.
I am going to have a To Do list ready for my family of things that I may have to do BUT they they could do for me, Too often they say what can I do? I am at a loss for an idea or far too busy with something to be able to spare brain cells for an intelligent answer. Thanks for the nudge!
I am so happy I found this website! you are helping so much already! I look forward to reading your post each day! I am in so much need of help! I have never been that organized but now with 3 kids and a full time job it is impossible! I believe with your help and allowing God to guide me, I can change my habits! I know my list will be overwhelming because it will consist of many, many, many pages! I need so much guidance it is scary! lol I am definitly a lister and sometimes I even forget to look at my list! I am ADD to the extreme! The first thing on my most recent to do list is…send lunch money to school for the kids! My poor kids are learning a bad habit thnking they actully can cahrge their lunch because every month they have a balance because I forget to send the money! I just hope they will keep feeding my kids!lol Thank you again for this wonderful information! it is very nice to read all the other posts and realize I am not the only person with a CRAZY life!!!
I love this 15 day challenge and i look forward each morning to get on your page to read the each days challenge. This is something i for sure have been adding to my do list each night. One thing i will add today to my to do list is shop for a baby shower gift i need for Saturday. . I love attending baby showers but i always leave the gift shopping ytil last minute and end up buying something i would not really like but because of rushing i just get it. I want my gift to be meaningful to mom-to-be and for baby. So i need to go shopping early.
Thanks for this 15 day challenge, it’s been a blessing..
Hi Glynnis, I total feel like you did. I can’t seem to sit down and just do nothing. Haven’t been able to for years. I feel like there is so much to do I can’t enjoy a minute to myself. I dumped my recipe box on the floor at least two years ago. I haven’t taken the time to re-organize it. My daughter bought me a new recipe box and cards and told me I need to get it done. YES I DO:)
Day 3 and enjoying the study!
So, I am a little overwhelmed at the thought of actually seeing in list form all of the things I have to do. But I am really looking forward to getting a break from the balancing act of trying to keep it all in my head. Two of the things on my to do list is to make a meal plan incorporating more healthy recipes and finding healthy recipes that the whole family will actually eat.
This made me realize this is something that I struggle with a lot, I am glad a friend directed me to this blog. On my list is to put away the Christmas decorations.
A dear friend sent your blog link and I decided to take the clutter free challenge. I retired last June, bought a nice house and have lots of time to declutter and maintain my home. I live alone so my time is almost all mine. You are right about clearing the mental clutter…..mind over matter is easier said than done. I manage to keep the house presentable, but have stalled on cleaning and organizing the garage and storage room. Worse than that is filing important papers and keeping on track with finances. So I look forward to an EXTREME makeover….from the inside out. Thank you! I am eager to read and follow through with each day of the challenge!
One thing I did a couple years ago in November when Christmas was upon us was to add my “to do Christmas list” to my prayer journal…so after the holiday was over and I realized how much was accomplished…well …it had a different meaning to me…I think I’ll do another to do list to cover the next three months and give a big Thank You!!! come April. Right now I need to get back to your blog and see what i missed on day 1 & 2. Thank you!
Glynnis, Thank you for this clutter-free challenge. I would love a copy of your book. A major thing on my “to do list” but what I would want to postpone indefinitely is making an apptmt. for a colonscopy…ugh! Necessary but not looking forward to it.
Once I de-clutter my house, one of the most important things I would like to complete is a home inventory of our possessions to keep for insurance purposes. I have never done this because of all the “stuff” that I knew was in the way.Looking forward to this challenge helping me get kick started!
Glynnis,
This makes so much sense! I am so blessed by this challenge. I have just added a graduate school to-do list to my other lists. I am feeling so overwhelmed!
Thank you!
I WILL make an appointment for my yealy mammogram this year! Part of taking care of others is making sure I am taking care of myself. As much as I love lists, I sometimes feel like I make them to see the tasks, but know I’ll never accomplish them all! It’s defeating. I can’t wait to make a list and know I can accomplish realistically everything. Thanks, Glynnis!
Wait a task this will be. Definitely going to take more than 15 days to do this challenge, but I agree that starting with the mind is probably the best way to approach this, and a way I would not have considered before.
As for my one thing off of my to do list, I need to research online to find a new home church. I feel like I am being told that it is time for me to move on from my old church. Can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of your book, I can see that I have a lot to learn from it.
I will go get social security numbers for my 2 newly adopted children!
I wanted to be more organized & tension free and always like to have a (at-least) fairly cleaned home when friends or relatives visit us. But i failed in keeping my resolutions, failed to do things in my to-do lists, and at-last, i just stopped writing to-do.
When i see your clutter-free challenge, i really thanked God for giving me such a wonderful encouragement & challenge since i desperately need one like this
.
I really loved the three posts and most of the things matched my criteria, and i feel some one is directly dealing with me for my problems.
Today, after reading the post, i thought i should throw off everything from my mind that itching me for months , and should give a new start to everything through God’s grace. That’s my new goal in my to-do list.
Thanks for starting this challenge. I like it very much.
I am adding to my to-do list the job of going through my large tee-shirt drawer, actually, I see that I have two drawers of tee-shirts, and separating out the too large, too small, too ugly to wear, and putting them in the donate pile or in the rag bag pile. I will stick with the ones I enjoy wearing.
Thank you for all your ideas
I really need to clean out my unmentionables drawer!
I would like to organize all my scrap-booking papers/stickers etc etc into one place so I can see at a glance what I have.
I need this… I am such a pack-rat!
Making the List is the Easy Part…I do that All the Time– It is accomplishing what is on the list,now that is the Hard Part. We built a new house this past year…my Husband and I are doing the interior ourselves. So, Finishing our New House is a biggy on my List,along with getting rid of the Clutter. Thanks Glynnis,May God Bless this Clutter Challenge!
thank you so much for putting on this challange. I have so much on my mind all the time. on my list is changing my 2 boys’ play room into a baby room for the baby to come in aug.
I need to create a budget.
If I don’t write something down, I forget it needs to be done! Ha! So I have lists all over the place. Sometimes if I do something that wasn’t on my list, I write it down just so that I can cross it off and feel like I accomplished something.
A random thing on my list: upload my Christmas photos!
I need to mop my kitchen floor, clean out a few drawers, and finish my grandson’s rag quilt. I appreciate this “Clutter-free challenge!” Thanks!
I heard this quote on K Love this am.
“A realistic approach to life often leads down a path to metiocrity.”
God, in my journey to organization, may I not forget the extroidinary plans that you have for my life! As I organize and de-clutter both my mind and life, help me to fill the empty spaces with Your Magnificent Plans for my life!
I need to remember to pack my sock monkey for my conference in March.
my goal right now is to come up with a creative/fun “septer” for our crowning of our skls PTO valentines staff king & queen;)
I need to put away Christmas wrapping paper, bows, etc, mop my floor, clean out drawers and shelves in the closet. Thanks for the motivation!
I need to take down my Christmas tree!!!
I am right there with you. We could leave them up until Febuary and hang hearts on it. LOL
I am writing on my list to sit down each day and enjoy my children. Read them a book or just listen they are growing so fast.
I am writing on my list to sit down each day and enjoy my children. Read them a book or just listen they are growing so fast.
*** I wrote this and forgot to add my name..lol***
I’d love one of your books. I would definitely pass it around. I would have to say that one of the random things and unusual things I’d put on my list tonight would be the task God has given me to be the volunteer coordinator of a care point in Ethiopia. We have over 130 children there and He has shown his grace and power as He guided myself and other volunteers with me to get all of them sponsored. Now, we have the daunting task of getting uniforms, shoes, more textbooks, more health check ups, and the list goes on. However, I have seen God’s miracles at work before at our care point and I’ll see it again! Organizing these lists is very challenging for me and very important. I’m also a wife, mother and teacher. Life is busy so things get forgotten.
Thanks for the assistance.
My one random thing is teach my kids to skate. I want to do it soon too!
One thing on my list is to finish a baby quilt for a baby shower.
Ahhh, there are so many things I have on my list I feel like a crazy woman just sifting through to find one. Um, the biggest is to finish organizing the papers in our guest bedroom soon to be the nursery! I’ll feel much better knowing Baby’s room is ready for his upcoming arrival.
I wrote The List (sounds easy ~ but it wasn’t). When I saw what I had wrote, the words seemed to JUMP out at me, ‘Return call to Doctor’s office’ (I loathe making calls, so I procrastinate). I found the number and made the call, the news was all good! and it felt great to conquer even one of the many calls that feel like *clutter* to me when I fall behind.
I find that to de-clutter my home I put things in closets until there isn’t anymore room. I have several closets that need to be cleaned out! They will definitely be on my list.
Hi Glynnis,
You’re website is wonderful, with so many applicable topics and resources.
On my to do list – take in travel insurance forms for parents this week
I have so much on my list because I want to be superwoman, mom, wife and christian. I’m not doing well at any of it. I am trying to remember to always seek God first even with the smalles task. Top of my list is spending 30 mins a day with my wonderful kids and including Bible time with them.
God Bless!
my list is going to be long!! BUt, decluttering my bedroom and cleaning and painting it!! that’s 3 isn’t it? see, I can’t write ONE sentence with ONE thing! there’s so much!! =)
My list is very long! One thing I have added is to scrapbook my wedding and honeymoon. It’s been almost 3 years and the pictures aren’t even all printed!
This tip really hit home. There have been so many times something popped in my head that I couldn’t do at that moment. One thing I am putting on my list is to clean out my basement. I have wanted to clean it out & finish it to make a game room for a few years!
This blog has come to me just in time! This is something I really need. On my list to do is sort and organize my coupons in a system.
I absolutely believe that I have to get rid of the clutter in my mind before I can get rid of the clutter in my house!
What a blessing this challenge is! I honestly thought I was losing my mind! I have been a reasonably organized person all my life but somehow things just got overwhelming the last several years. Thank you for addressing the “clutter” in our minds ~ the neverending thoughts and “to do” racing thru my head have interrupted every aspect of my life and left me feeling anxious and discouraged. My big thing is to stick to my 30 minute devotional time each day and NOT think about what else needs to be done ~ Jesus deserves so much more from me and He has been getting my frantic, hurried prayers so I can “move on” to the next thing.
So thankful for your perspective, Glynnis. Being a full-time mom and full-time employee has left me in a state of *beyond* cluttered! (My list is just getting started–vacuuming and dusting are repeat entries!)
Boy…do I feel overwhelmed already! I just read the homework for today and I may have to go and buy a pack of paper for my list….I feel like I do everything that needs to be done for the entire family.
I am really looking forward to see where this journey can take me:)
Thank you for this challenge. I’m going to share it with a group of my friends tomorrow. As far as my list, one thing I want to accomplish before the end of summer is to create at least 20 small notes of encouragement to give to my boys on random days.
Aleshia
I’m really going to enjoy this challenge. Thanks so much for sharing. All of our “important” papers from 2011 are in piles and I have to go through them.
LOL First thing on my list (which is still in my head, even though it is already 8:19 pm) is to FIND MY MIND!!! I have been learning a lot about leadership and the first step being character and integrity with yourself before having it with others. De-cluttering both my mind, schedule, home and relationships are the BIG headings on my list with much smaller things like: sort thru all of our boy clothing bins to give away unnecessary items; clean out our office/spare room so that it can be functional; spend more time reading and instructional play time with our boys; work on being less reactionary with our boys (taking my own often given advice of “JUST RELAX!”; work on the BIG to-do things (per EAT THAT FROG book) and try to handle the to-do things when I think about them so I don’t get distracted and feel so overwhelmed
It, I mean, I am a work in progress and am VERY thankful that I am God’s work in progress, too. Faithful is He 
One of my random tasks is keeping the dog’s water dish filled… with 3 other people living in my home… why does this task fall on me? Because I’m the only one that seems to notice when it’s empty!
What an eye opener! I have started my list and it is so long already. As I went through theday, more things would pop up in my brain. One of my to dos is to mail in the form for my sons birth certificate! He just turned 6 months old! LOL
Thank you for this challenge! I didn’t realize how cluttered my mind was until I started working on this HUGE to-do list! One of the things on my to-do list is “reply to Glynnis’ email post”. Guess I can cross that off my list now! Looking forward to tomorrow’s email!
A good idea, to do a master list and clean the clutter from our minds.
One thing on my list is to do my bible study homework, and work on a quilt
for a friend.
So glad I’m not the only one! Started the thankyou list!
Pack for scrapbooking retreat… I thought I had the whole week and now I only have one day left.
Oh my goodness! I laughed at this post because it is exactly how my brain functions. I usually remember things either while I am in the shower or getting ready for bed. Not the best times to take care of things. Then, I laughed because, at first, the thought of creating such a ginormous list overwhelmed me because I was thinking of how I should “organize” it or what I should write on. I am certain, that sleep will be great for many of us in the coming days as we empty our busy minds onto paper! Thank you, Glynnis!
Love your de-cluttering series. I broke my arm severely and that’s all I’ve been doing is thinking and wanting to de-clutter my house. Before I broke my arm I was creating a scrapbook/office room….its still not complete. I want to finish this project.
I’m starting my own online tutoring business at elcat4u.org so my main goals right now is to develop my business with all the business startup essentials.
Great already!! Going to clean out those closets! Just like you said no more “Maybe I will wear it next year after i lose those last 5lbs”…..or “______ gave this to me and while i can’t really use it, I can’t get rid of it”……..So looking forward to this challenge!!!
on my list-scrub the pan that burned the dumplings while I was on the computer!
I almost got ahead of you with a place to put all my lots together!! Love your help. Decluttering my mind now….
Were do I start? this is overwhelming and seems impossible. But I will give a try!
Thank you for the encouragement.
I’ve started David Allen’s book 2 or 3 times, but never finished it. I like his idea of getting everything out of my head and on to paper. But, that’s an overwhelming task itself. One of the items on my list is to paint the bathrooms in my house.
It is so wonderful how God directs us to something we need to see just when we need it. So grateful to find your blog! Overwhelmed is my middle name! Sometimes makes me want to crawl in a hole somewhere. Anyway, I’m feeling so encouraged already by your posts, can’t wait to read them each day. My “To Do” list item….one of sooo many: read your book!! Ps. Love the idea of writing everything down. I know my brain works overtime thinking about all the to do’s. I’ve become so forgetful! Thanks, Glynnis!
Deep clean the Elmo potty.
My most important “to do” is transition planning and guardianship for my special-needs daughter. That in and of itself is daunting, not to mention all the other fifty million things that need to be done successfully!
I’m trying to transition our playroom to more of a shared space as the kids are getting older – a bigger table for homework and projects, more craft storage space, but still room for loads of Legos and cars. Ugh!
Love the tips! Things that are on my to do list consist of all the regular stuff house cleaning,and other things that I’ve keep procrasting about such as sending out cards to remember birthdays and anniversaries (not that I have ever done that), stuff my son in his baby dedication outfit because I forgot to take a picture two months ago, pass out school pictures from the last three years (it is still in the same envelope) Thanks for your blog. It is helping me a lot
Thank you for this challenge! I had a true A-Ha moment when you spoke about Satan’s role in our confusion, feelings of defeat and lies about ourselves. Though I find Satan lurking in most parts of our modern lives in some way or another and can therefore arm myself, I never placed him in this part of my life- and that is probably why I have struggled for years with organization and clutter. Thank you- I am armed and ready to take him on!
On my list- Find all my china I still haven’t used since I was married 8 years ago.
Make hair appointments. And be kind to myself.
@ Monica – Be Kind to yourself – I love it! We can’t be kind to others if we aren’t kind to ourselves. I recently lost my uncle and my dad – one week apart and a dear friend told me the same thing.
I too consider it a God thing that I came across this site just as the challenge was starting. I can so identify with the idea of mind clutter being my main issue with getting rid of physical clutter (and making decisions). I just added so many things to my list (and keep reading through others’ ideas and adding more), but my number one thing to do is to take time in the mornings for myself and God before the day starts (then to help my son do the same, and hopefully get our days off to a better start than they have been lately). (And then get a budget going again, research curriculum for next year, find my floors…)
I think instead of a spiral notebook , I might need a three ring binder! I have 3 small children and teach kindergarten throughout the day. It seems my house and family pay the price. On my “to do” list, I will write to make more time for my family. I will also add
Thank you so much for this series. I’m hoping to get my life back in order. One thing on my list is to get this year’s licenses for my dogs.
When my friend gave me a preview of today’s message I was really skeptical. My to-do lists are sooooo long I was convinced it would be discouraging to see it all written out. But after reading the whole post, I’m a lot more optimistic and excited about it.
Random thing from my “want to-do” list: Ziplining.
Random thing from my “have to-do” list: Throw away the dozen or so boxes that haven’t been opened since we moved two and a half years ago.
I think instead of a spiral notebook , I might need a three ring binder! I have 3 small children and teach kindergarten throughout the day. It seems my house and family pay the price. On my “to do” list, I will write to make more time for my family. I will also add cleaning out items from under my bed. That is usually my hiding spot. I don’t even know what’s under there!
I just cleaned out under my bed because we got a new one . I found plastic storage bins and a lot of dust .
Thanks for your Christian perspective on organizing. I love it. One item on my list is to research gas-free lawn mowers.
Wow! I started writing my list and the more I wrote the more things came to my head – gesh! One of the things on my list is to call my adopted Aunt – who is now 109 years old. We met about a year ago and Aunt Sula is amazing. Such a sweet soul. She is blind, but her memory is unbelievable. Aunt Sula I owe you a call.
You have challenged me. As a mother of four (ages 7,8,10,11), 3rd teacher, deacon’s wife, and Sunday School teacher of a college/ singles class . . I’m lacking organization. I use to be so organized. I’m ready to get back to that point. Our ladies at church are having a craft day. I haven’t work on a craft in years, so long ago that my two youngest don’t have a baby scrapbook. I’m ready to be organized so I can sit down and enjoy working on a craft and not feel guilty for procastinating on something else. Looking forward to tomorrow’s challenge.
The list has me a little overwhelmed. It is now on my to do list, I have a feeling it will take one or two days. One of the things that will be on my list, and has to do with both employment and home, find an ECE class that will work for my employment and also work toward my bachelors!
I put down plastic wrapping my windows to keep the cold out. I’ve been meaning to get around to it for weeks as we’re well into winter but writing it down really helped!
I used to be somewhat organized. It seems some areas are better than others. But since menopause it seems harder to keep “everything” organized. I am trying to figure out if electronic devices help or hinder. Anyway, the one thing I need to do is clean out closets and do something with my regular photos and electronic photos .
On my list is “put tape on Abby’s grocery boxes”. My 2 year old got a shopping cart with flimsy cardboard food boxes for Christmas. I’m hoping the addition of packing tape to the ends will help them last longer than a couple of months. I think of this item every time I walk passed her shopping cart – which is a lot since I am a stay-at-home mom!
I have to take as much out of the living room as I can so we can paint.
I started my list today before I read this blog entry.
But, I’m already remembering so much more I need to add to it. It’s overwhelming, but I’m hoping this process will help me get a handle on things.
One thing on my list……Closets!
I’ve done lists like this before and it hasn’t stuck, but that was at a time when I truely did not have God in my life. So I think it is a good time for me to try this again!!! As for something that is on that list……I am staring at a desk in which the ‘stuff’ is piled up to just below the computer screen so I REALLY REALLY need to organize this, it stresses me out every time I sit down at the computer. I actually think I avoid coming to the computer for the fact that I have to stare at this and I just don’t even know when or how to begin…..but I am very hopeful this series will be my answer, along with GOD
My mind is definitely overwhelmed before I get started & then I never get started! You sure are hitting home for me. Thank you for this gift you have given me! One item on my to do list is to finish and purchase the photo books I started on shutterfly. My daughter is 2 and all her pictures since birth are either on my computer or started in a photo book. I would really like to complete some of the books!
thank you so much for doing this…i have been praying for wisdom in these areas!! one thing on my list is to pick a way to lose weight/exercise.
The first thing I think of each day is to find the letter my daugter’s 4th/5th grade teacher wrote to her to open on her 21st birthday. She turns 21 in 52 days. I knew where this letter was until her senior year in high school. But now I can’t find it. It is something she’s been waiting to open for so many years! Please say a prayer that God would lead me to where it is resting. Thank you.
Strange but true that “Buy a unicycle” is one thing on my list. I learned to ride when I was young but haven’t had one since I was a teenager. I’ve often thought what a kick my kids would get out of seeing their 43 year old mom ride a unicycle. I also loved having that little trick up my sleeve when talent shows rolled around and wanted to pass it on to at least one of my kids. I have only thought about this a handful of times in my adult life and always felt a bit stressed or sad that it will probably never happen as that is WAY down the list. The thought of putting it on the list was a relief and made me happy. There is something freeing about that…can’t wait to better understand how and why that is!
What a HAPPY thing to put on your list! I love it. Drop everything and go online and find yourself a unicycle! Laundry, dishes, clean closets will always be needing to be done and redone — but wow, get that unicycle!
Had to do a 3 in 1 today to get caught up on the Challenge. I started my do to list today. At the top of my list is pick the dead stuff off the live plants. I do think they will look better after this little task. And thank you Glynnis for adding a prayer to your daily entries. I sometimes feel so overwhelmed how to even pray for this very subject of de-cluttering!
I actually like lists. To write all this out is a little scary but part of me likes seeing it then I can get busy, one step at a time. One thing that I have been going to do for over a year now is to make a framed photo memory collage. My husband made me 3 different styles of “frames within frames” (not sure exactly what they’re called) you can purchase them at scrapbooking stores, and I really want to finish at least one!
The one thing i am going to put on my list is find time to sit down and figure out what to put on my list!!! I hope i have enough paper to complete my list. i have been trying to get uncluttered for years and am a big PROCASTINATOR!!! So, I guess i a good place to start is to stop procrastinating!!! thaks for the encouragement of decuttering my brain first!
I thought I used to be organized, but as time swirls, I feel I can’t keep up. I now have 3 young boys under the age of 5. I am a Youth Pastor’s wife and try to be as involved in our Church and ministry as much as possible.
I too wish I had more time for finishing projects such as photo books of my boys. These usually become late-night projects after the kids are in bed.
I enjoy spending time with my husband and that is my main priority as a wife. So my one item from my “to do” list is spending time snuggling on the couch with my hubby, maybe watching a movie or a sports game.
Looking forward to working through this process on living “Clutter-free”.
Thank you!
I just sat down to finally read your post for today. I’m actually looking forward to writing down my list! Just the idea of doing it makes me feel relief! So as soon as I’m done writing this post, and putting my two year old to bed, I’m going to start on my list. One thing I will be adding to my list is to sort through my two wrapping paper boxes (one Christmas, one birthday) so that everything fits in them in an orderly fashion.
So enjoying this Challenge so far. Thanks to God for putting it on your heart to do; and thank you for doing this. It’s the topic that I’ve been dealing with for months now – owning four businesses is getting to me.
One thing on my list is to pick up my daughter’s steer grooming chute…..
The first thing on my list is planning Girls Mission Camp for my area! This is my first year as director and it has taken over my thoughts! This could not have come at a better time! Thank you so very much!!!
The first thing on my list is to schedule a haircut – I desperately need one!
One thing I am putting on my “to do” list is to scan 3 LARGE boxes of important papers that I have accumulated over the past 30 years and organize them into electronic files. I will then shred the originals. I plan to scan and shred new documents on a monthly basis to avoid the clutter that comes with saving paper documents.
Thank you so much for sharing this de-clutter blog! It is an answer to prayers. On my list is to call the pediatric optometrist so my 4 yr. old can get a second vision test.
My mind is so overloaded, I am excited and a bit scared to try to get it all out on paper! I can’t even seem to think of any one thing among the thousands! Oh my! Truly clean my kitchen floor, scrubbing grout type cleaning!
Need the oil changed in the car…
I have addressed cards from previous and current year that were not mailed….don’t know if it’s a birthday. get-well, thinking of you or some holiday card, but I thought that I should put a stamp on them and send them on their way….
I need to take my Christmas tree down! It’s time!
My to-do list in Cozi (online calendar & shoppping lists too) is a mile long, but it feels great to have it all written down somewhere! Thanks for the inspiration you have shared so far- I look forward to tomorrow’s post! My favorite to do so far- create a ‘school’ scapbook for my kids – 4 pages per year: school picture, pictures of their choosen activities, report cards and badges, sample of art or work. One album that is easy to add to each year, and set aside the idea that I can possible scrapbook every event in their lives!
Well it is almost 10pm and I just sat down to read today’s post. I have been really overwhelmed this week and feeling like a failure because I haven’t gotten much done. I am at the point of renting a roll off container. Anyway, I am really excited to get started on this list. I did an organization course years ago that encouraged a nightly recap of the day and the ever continuing to do list so that the mind would be clear when your head hit the pillow. I like your idea because this is on an even bigger scale!
One of the things on my list is to change the ink cartridges in my printer because it has all of a sudden decided that after using this brand for the past 5 years that these are not the correct cartridges. Could it be the evil one trying to keep me from printing out these posts to keep me from getting to a place where God wants me to be? Possible! Anyway, thank you for sharing these blessings with us.
God bless you!
Kim D.
Thank you for inspiring my daughter & I to do this challenge somewhat together even though we live in different states. I would like to put on my to do list… take time for self each week such as bubble bath, doing nails myself, or just doing nothing for a few minutes!
I NEED a book desperately!!! I am overwhelmed at work & at home!!!! I am a school nurse and have 4 schools and pre-k. My work & the whole house suffers with my clutter, even the cat & dog!!! One item on my to do list is to get my christmas decorations put away….LOL…I still have one tree to take down upstairs and wreaths on 2 windows!!! It is usually at least March before everything is put away, back into the attic. And, frankly, it has been June before it was completed! I am excited to get less-cluttered over the next 15 days!!!!! Thanks for the study & guidance!!! I feel better already just reading your lessons every night while the house is quiet & I can concentrate!!!!
I have made my list…boy is it long. I really want to clean up/clean out my kitchen…I have a “thing” for kitchen gadgets…also need to paint the cabinets! Blessings to you! Smiles…Robin
I feel very blessed to have happened upon this challenge at this time in my life. One of the first things on my list will be to read up on the information about a new oral medication for MS and decide if I am going to try it. My list is going to be so long!!!
I am happy my friend (Candi) told me about this site. One thing on my list is to remove the popcorn from the ceiling going down to the basement. I like the put it all down on paper idea. Will be reading tomorrow. Thanks and Happy Wednesday!!
This challenge started on a very busy week for me. I haven’t had much more time to just read your daily post then to do this challenge for today! I hope to get the list done by the end of this 15 day challenge!
PICK ME PLEEEEAAASSSEEE!!!!!!!!!! Yes I’m begging! I really want this book!
One of the MANY things on my list is to take back the toilet we so need, got for Christmas but it is the wrong size for our old odd shaped house and hope that I can find one that does fit. :/ It is quite the task.
Thanks for this declutter challenge. Going to get a piece of paper and just start writing down “to dos” as I go along. One thing on my list — finish my daughter’s baby book. She’s 3 now! Better late than never, huh?!!
many blessings, Sydney
Thank you for writing about the spiritual battle with organization/clutter/chaos, etc. I am so very enjoying this challenge and the way you have helped me check out the condition of my heart and mind FIRST! How I appreciate it and hope to get your book to cement it all in.
One of my projects is to be finished buying Lightning McQueen pull ups. To move on to big boy undies with Lightning McQueen instead. Then we’d have 4/5 kiddos out of diapers. Almost there!
Blessings to you….
This challenge is wonderful! I am a scrapbooker and have several album projects started that need to be completed.
Thank you SO much for this challenge! I was not raised to remember to ask the Lord for the small things, only the big ones….and i have struggled with being a perfectionist since my middle school years which was about 24 years ago! I’m not married with children and as a matter of fact, i just learned that i am a perfectionist. I never believed it before because i always thought that mean my home would be organized, not messy! LOL Anyway, i’m glad to have this challenge to teach me to go to God with my requests and to also praise Him for all that I have. One thing on my to do list is to get some hand sewing necessities done (buttons, my son’s favorite stuffed animal, etc….).
God bless, Carrie
Thank you for the wonderful suggestions and insight. At almost 53 years old, I find myself single empty-nester, back to being “poor college student” living in tiny apartment and trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up! I am finding that my disorganization is causing me stress with classes – meeting deadlines, losing information and trying to find TEXTBOOKS, as well as dealing with the typical aging process of “What did I come into this room for????” Keeping all the to-dos in my mind along with things like Anatomy and Physiology is wearing me out, AND thinning my hair! I will start list immediately…soon as I remember where I put that spiral notebook.
I hope it’s alright for guys to join in here since I am one of that persuasion… I started a project a couple of weeks ago to get the fence stained. As most of my projects do, this has evolved into fixing the parts of the fence that are falling apart, trimming the landscaping that is next to the fence and cleaning up the pile of scrap wood that was laying close to one side of the fence.
My ultimate goal is to get the garage organized enough that we can actually park at least one of our cars in there!
I’m enjoying the newsletter even though I sometimes feel the need to skip over portions that seem to be “for women only”.
You keep on comin’ back here, Gary… ’cause this isn’t a “women’s only” problem, now is it? God bless you for sticking your neck out there and signing on. We’ll all get through this issue together in Jesus’ name!
You are welcome here, Gary. I’m really glad you joined us.
I have a list but I keep my “no-brainers” in my head. I need to put them on my master to-do list, like get the part to fix the ‘check engine light’ If I write it down maybe it will actually get done. I need to put your prayer at the top of my list. Thank you!
This is fun!
I can’t wait to see how great my house is going to look once it (and my mind) is de-cluttered!
I got a new slide-scanner for Christmas and have tons of slides going back 60 years when my parents first got married and all throughout my siblings’ and my childhoods; that’s at the top of my to-do list. Well, that and make a wider path from the dining room to the living room…
Oh, that is so SPECIAL!!!! I wish I had slides like that- what a blessing. I do have some pretty rare pictures (my great-great-grandmother holding me as a baby… my son’s great-great-grandmother holding *him* as a baby, etc…), but nothing as sweet as seeing your family’s life progress from 60 years’ ago ’til now. Make that your true reward at the end of finding that wide path! LOL
Wow! Just what I have been talking about lately – I have too many things to do and to remember.
I have to remember every day when I get it my car to keep track of the mileage.
I just loved your comment, “Not the “safe” place you stored an important document at home, and now can’t find.” It has been a long-standing joke with my kids that when I can’t find something (which happens far too often), it is in a “special place” that I’ll be sure to remember but somehow rarely do.
Anne, I’d love to hear the story of how popcorn came to be on your ceiling
Thanks so much, Glynnis, for sharing your experiences and ideas.
Thanks for this challenge!!! It is 11:26 pm and I just got a chance to read today’s post and leave a comment–it was a busy but wonderful day with my grandson–Noah. One thing that I will put on my list is ME!!! I heard Suze Orman say that you should give as much to yourself as you give to others. I wonder what my life will be like if I do this? Thanks again for the challenge and for all that you are sharing with us. What a great way to begin the new year.
We moved 2 times in the last year- My children’s books and there are a lot!! of them were quickly put on the shelves in the bookcases. I want to organize them by topic/author as I had them before moving.
This is a great challenge! Thanks!!!
I was more organized when I had 3 toddlers at home. Now that my kids are grown and I’m a working woman I can’t seem to keep the house clean. Mostly because I have a hard time discarding good items. I used to love to sew, make crafts, etc.. but now there is just no time for those things. I only have my weekends and most of that is spend in cleaning the house. I put things aside to put up later and later never comes.
One of the things on my to-do list is put away the Christmas presents we received then room by room try to go through and part with some things. I totally understand “overwhelmed and depressed”. Seems like there is so much that needs to be done I don’t know where to start. Help!
Your assignment to write everything down sounds a bit daunting…but here are a few things I’ve been procrastinating. Clean the carpets, repaint my scratched stair railing, pooper scoop after my mastiff, sort through the kids’ toys and go exercise. It may take awhile to write a complete list… Thanks for focusing on decluttering!
Will begin my list first thing Thursday morning, and will probably being with 1) reading the Word and 2) learning how to knit beautiful beaded scarves to bless random (and not-so-random) ladies with in my life. Did I mention, though, that I don’t know how to knit yet, AND that reading the Word daily is a challenge for me? LOL But, so is this. Thanks, Glynnis… I’m nervous, ’cause I’ve tried a lot of methods to pull me outta this- but I must say, this *is* different. Who’da thunk? Ask Your Maker for help!!! ROTFLMBO Makes soooooo much sense. Why didn’t I do it before?
The one thing on my list is I want to write my dad a letter of appreciation. His diagnosis of colon cancer has made our strai Ed relationship more of a priority for me.
I am super excited to be finally decluttering my house and my life. Thank you for providing this study!!
What made the “LIST”: replacing all the exterior Windows in my house.
Funny! I never thought I was EVER organized, til I thought back long enough and remembered years ago when the kids where tiny and I knew where everything was. My husband could ask, “Hunny, have you seen my whatchamacallit?”, and I’d could direct him to it from the back of the house. Day 3 rang true to me for sure. After writting out a half-mass to-do-list the #1 priority is to arrange and assign gaurdians for our 4 children…..Seriously! You’ think that one would be clear enough without the list. Thx Glynnis
Glynnis thank you so much for this challenge, and for an opportunity to win your book! I’m looking forward to making this huge list you’ve challenged us to make. I know it will feel great to cross things off as I complete them. I think the first thing on my list will be to buy a pretty journal to write the lists in.
As I sit here nearing a new day, still pondering over page 10 of my to do list I & wondering how I will even come close to getting even half of them done, I realized that though I am perfectly made in his image I am humanly flawed & not perfect so I don’t have to do it all…on that note, I will complete my list with #267: Let Go & Let God!! What a revelation!!!
See, Glynnis? Someone’s gettin’ freed up already! God bless you, Dawna… and you too, Glynnis, for laboring over this to get us up and outta the hole we’ve been stuck in for far too long… I pray to be in Dawna’s shoes soon!
Wow. I love your position on this challenge. 267 items can be challenging. I will not complain about my 150 and will keep adding to the list. I pray that you can work through each item smoothly and with grace.
Glynnis thank you for this great challenge and opportunity to get your book. I always giggle when I sign up for things that I think will help me find a solution to a challenge and God shows me something so much more than I expected. He is truly able to do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine!!!!!!!
I started on the list and it is LONG. You were right I feel better already. I had not considered this physiologic component of a cluttered mind in the past and it makes sense.
One of the fun things I want to get done is an informal family portrait. I have great neighbor that is a photographer and is willing to take them. I just need to organize clothes and pick a place and a time. That’s all!!!!!!!!!!
I’m plugging away here. Just finished my first run-thru of my list and it’s one page (so far), with 3 columns, and barely legible in purple ink. That probably means something!
One thing on my list is… to find my marathon training schedule notes. Wow, LOL!
Wow. This devotion really hit home today. I truly appreciate my sister introducing me to this challenge. While reading day 3, I was able to recognize that I was in the process of having a mental overload. After I prayed about it, I listened to Luke 4 and Ask God to lead me through this process. I was able to fall a sleep and now I am up DE-cluttering my mind of all the things that need to be done, starting with making prayer time a priority and the list goes on… I can’t wait to see the outcome of this challenge. I am truly enjoying the process.
Thank you for helping us become better individuals!
Tani
I feel like I should always be doing something. I can’t just rest in the evenings like my husband does and it makes me so jealous!! One thing on my To do list: compile a “care package” for my struggling friend
Kayleen
One list item says: make a list of crafts to make
LOVE the title of your book!! I, too, “used to be so organized” until my youngest daughter became sick seven years ago with an incurable, degenerative auto-immune disease. Then two years ago my oldest daughter needed major surgery and had some pretty major complications to go with it. I’ve been in a downward spiral and have been battling depression for a very long time now, and I’m ready to be free!!! Never occurred to me so much of the problem was in my own mind. :/ I refuse to let Satan continue to win this battle in my home.
Thank you for the insight and inspiration! First thing on my list- clean my bedroom.
I was beginning to wonder if I had become A.D.D., because I have found myself flitting from one project to another, but this concept explains it so well. For several years I’ve kept a pad of post-it notes on the bathroom counter, so that as I was getting ready for bed, I could list everything that I had to do. I found that it was easier to go to sleep, knowing I wouldn’t forget those tasks because they were on the list.
One thing on my to-do list is to see the Grand Canyon someday. However, I have a LOT of very mundane tasks to complete in the interim.
This so makes sense. . I’ve been doing that for years. . jumping from one task to another as my mind thought of it, usually leaving most tasks undone! Thanks for sharing! One thing on my to-do list: organize my bills and budget in a 12 month accordian file so I don’t lose a bill or fail to pay ever again!!!
This so makes sense. . I’ve been doing that for years. . jumping from one task to another as my mind thought of it, usually leaving most tasks undone! Thanks for sharing! One thing on my to-do list: organize my bills and budget in a 12 month accordian file so I don’t lose a bill or fail to pay ever again!!!
Okay…just starting to read these and panic mode has started….1st thing on my list is DON’T Panic! 2nd thing is get off the computer and start the list! ahhhhh!
I forgot to add my e-mail…it’s on this comment…yep…brain has stopped working. I need to get to bed. goodnight.
My first to-do is I need to forwad these e-mails to my mom, she is going to do the challenge with me. oh and DO NOT PANIC!
My first-to-do is to make my list you are requesting. This should be interesting.
I’m a great one for keeping everything in my brain but as I entered my forties two years ago, I found that I can’t keep up with things like I used to. Your message today reminded me to do what I know I should do: make a list. One of the things on my list will be to tackle receipts and bills to get things ready for taxes.
I will file this idea in my brain for a few days, my “to do” list is still too big in my head, no time to sit and write it all down. Wow, it’s getting crowded in there!!
I am probably too late because something was added to my list and I thought I would come back to this before bed. But then the children felt like they didn’t get enough to eat for dinner (roasted chicken) that they needed Wendy’s Frosty’s at 9:15 pm. Anyway, something that got added to MY list that really is on my daughter’s list is that I am the “hygiene police”. I have to be present for the teeth and face washing. She is almost 14. Does this never end?
I am so thankful that you are giving us this wonderful opportunity. I HAVE to go to the nursing home to visit my mom and step-mom more often. It seems like that shouldn’t be that hard to work into my life but it is.
Blessings,
I have been so blessed even with a short few days, I didn’t get to read day 3 until day 4. But excitingly I got a lot of decluttering done at work yesterday! yeah! the most exciting thing I want to share is that on Sunday God spoke to me at church after a certain scripture was read and my prayer to him was to shake off all the clutter in my mind and life without realizing that on Monday this would begin. I had sighned up to recieve the emails but my “cluttered mind did not remember. I am so blessed I know with God’s help I can suceed at this. thank you glynis. my llist …one thing is to find a place for all of those books I have bought that haven’t been read yet and the bookshelves are too full. Jesus Bless You ALL Oh the scripture is Hebrews 12: 25-29
I know the giveaway’s over but I still wanted to comment because I am so thankful that you are doing this series! I struggle with clutter, disorganization, and way too much on my plate. I love that you start with aligning our thoughts with God rather than simply saying you’ll solve our clutter problems in three easy steps, yadda, yadda, yadda. I also like the idea of the brain dump. It’s something I’ve tried to implement before by keeping a small notebook in my purse and writing things down as soon as I think of them. I’m still trying to train myself to do it consistently, though…
Oh, one sort of odd thing I have on my list: buy hay. I don’t live on a farm or anything like that. I have dogs that spend a lot of time outside and we insulate their dog house with hay. They’ve tamped down all the hay from previous years and we have to buy more for this winter. (Although “winter” here in So Cal has been in the 70s and 80s lately
Thank you again for the wonderful posts. I look forward to them every morning when I open my mail.
This post is a day late, but I still wanted to say something. I have been overwhelmed for years and even just barely, in my opinion, functional. The thought of making a “To Do” list just added to my stress. I had the negative thoughts of one more thing telling me what I need to do. I waited and started reading all of the comments the next day and became motivated to do it. I now understand that writing it down helps to clear my mind and I am thankful in attempting this task. Thank you to Glynnis and to everyone who has commented. I may procrastinate, but at least I am now making progress.
After making my list I cant believe how much is on my plate. the only thing I can think about now is how unfair it is that I alone have all this responsibility and to figure out how to delegate some of this list to my family.
I’m a list maker so this post was great for me…..one of the first things on my BIG list is going to be to make a to-do list for this weekend because my husband is going to be out of town and I have the opportunity to get so much done around the house!
Apparently there are 2 Danielle’s posting so I will try to differentiate my name here. I am overwhelmed by the participation on this site. I hope to catch up with days 1-5 over the weekend. My to do list is already done! I had been adding to it lately as a way to get back in control. I do use an online list however, and once we get to sorting our list by type I would recommend everyone look into this to see if it would work for them. Its available online, and from any computer or smartphone. You can add and remove from any list wherever you are!! The list has satisfying check boxes next to each item, which can be printed if you prefer the hard copy in front of you. Started using it for a shopping list and now use it for EVERYTHING!
http://tadalist.com/
One big item from my list which I will bring up here because I’m afriad it won’t happen is to find my camcorder and dump the 4 tapes of video I got from my dad in December to my computer.
Wow! I thought I was the only one who felt like that. For years, as far back as I can’t even remember, I have felt like “there’s something I need to do”! I never feel finished! I am so glad you posted this because I really didn’t know other people felt like this. I’ve told a few people and they just didn’t get it. I am so looking forward to reading what more you have to say. Thanks so much for sharing. Thank you!!