Ah, a new year. A fresh start. A do over, if you’d like. How exciting the prospect of a new year is.
2019 is going to be the year to declutter and get organized because we have all heard of the fantastic positive benefits of decluttering and organizing. Volumes have been written in books, articles, blogs, posts, pins, tweets.
And we are going to start where it matters most and has one of the biggest impacts - the kitchen.
Kitchen - Dishes and Countertops
For the remainder of this week (now through Sunday), focus on doing all the dishes each evening. If you have a dishwasher, load it up after supper and unload it the next morning if time permits or before supper the next day. Handwash what doesn't fit or cannot go in the dishwasher. Be diligent about doing this every evening.
Clear off the countertops each evening as well. Find a proper home for all the food/snacks, gadgets/electronics/appliances and anything else that doesn't belong.
“Determination over motivation. ”
For me, I strategically load up the dishwasher with as many dishes will possibly fit and still get properly washed. If Mr. Wonderful or I have started loading the dishwasher then have all the supper dishes to put in, I’m not afraid to rearrange and then probably rearrange some more to maximize efficiency. Read: I’m lazy and don’t want to wash by hand 1) greasy dishes or 2) a large number of dishes. I want to get all the grimiest, greasiest dishes in the dishwasher so I either have nothing to hand wash or I have something quick and easy to hand wash.
Once I load up the dishwasher and start that, I put away anything that does not belong on the countertops and wash them down. I do have two appliances that stay out on my countertops year round. My Kitchenaid mixer which is a beast and that thing isn’t going anywhere! And my Kuerig coffee machine. Again, it’s big and sits on my countertop directly above the cabinet where I keep my mugs, coffee, teas, and cocoa.
In addition to these two appliances that stay out, I do have a canister set and a few decor pieces in addition to a clock.
I’ve found that by doing the dishes each night and clearing off the counters, it makes for both a great evening and a better morning. And I need more of that. How about you?
So for this week, your challenge/goal to be determined to do is dishes/countertops. This will be the start of a new, positive habit and part of a PM routine. Setting up a system and developing a habit will reduce stress, overwhelm, anxiety, discouragement, _______ (fill in the blank).
Let me know how you feel after doing this!