Saturday, April 23, 2011

Laundry: What I Learned...

It has been more than a week after I posted my first goal. And the laundry baskets are not emptied. However, I finally come to realize that I should not feel guilty or defeated. Here is what I learned, so far:


Have Realistic Expectation
Laundry really won't end. I mean what was I thinking that I could empty laundry baskets on a specific date? New things get put in every day, at different time. Unless I do my math so accurate that I could finish the last load while my toddler is napping and my boys are still in school with my husband at work; or, at night after everyone else went to bed; I cannot guarantee that no one put something inside while I'm at it. Besides, I always wait for a full load.


This is probably one of the major reasons that laundry is difficult for me. I like to put "finished" to laundry. So, I set myself up for disappointment and frustration. And this leads to my next point.


Celebrate
I need to celebrate what I already did! Well, maybe not rewards because I tend to forget there is more to be done after rewarding myself. But shouldn't I be glad (and upbeat, and encouraged) that I actually did 5 loads of laundry within those 2 days. I was only 2 more loads away from my goal on Sunday night. I should be happy instead of feeling failed (and discouraged, depressed!) Negative feelings does not help me with getting any more thing done. I need to savor the positive and move on.


Allow Time for "Other"
Things were going well when I posted the before pictures. I thought I could get the same amount done the following days. As it turns out, there were other things I needed to do (Hmm, I guess I am a one-thing-at-a-time kind of person, after all) Then, I was too exhausted to stay up late to do another load. In the following days, my toddler did not nap quite as well. And there were unexpected visit from out of town friends... etc etc etc. My point is, I need to learn to space out laundry to allow for other things to happen.


Still a Battle
At the end of the day, I need to admit: I procrastinated, I got distracted, I spent more time online than I should have and I allow myself to think "tomorrow, tomorrow I would do it" when I actually get a chance to do it today. 


Laundry or not, I still need to learn to work on things that does not have an imminent deadline, not to put it off until it is last minute, then ask why God does not help me when my toddler needs to be cuddled after nap-time and my son needs help with homework while I am not done preparing dinner.


Thank you


Thank you for those of you who came back and check if I posted even though you may not have commented. It must be hard to follow or care for a messy person who has problem getting things done and did not put a post up on days she said she would... Thank you for coming back after a week of silence. I do hope that this is just the beginning of my blogging life and you would witness transformation in progress.


Does anyone of you have a laundry routine that you could share? Comment away and help out a struggling woman.

7 comments:

  1. That laundry really never goes away, does it?
    My daughter likes to try on 3 outfits and then put them in the dirty pile!! I need to be on laundry patrol to make sure my kiddos wear their PJs several nights in a row... especially if they have had showers.
    Keep plugging along! I am happy if I get a load a day done! ;)

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  2. Agree on PJs. And they are definitely *not* changing into clean PJs on the day they didn't shower :D

    I have been trying to get into the a load a day routine for a year or so but I still end up doing several loads in every several days. More discipline is needed here!

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  3. I've been trying to do the load a day thing, too. One of my biggest laundry issues is getting the clean, folded clothes put away! I know some people like to try to do laundry all in one day, but I've never tried that.

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  4. I'm not sure any of us homemakers run with excited enthusiasm to do laundry. Totally understand your issue with it...

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  5. @ Elizabeth - I had been *trying* to do laundry a load (or 2) a day but I just say "I can do it tomorrow" to myself too much and ended up doing a few loads a day to catchup

    @ Emily - That's true. And I guess I probably make it harder than most too - I separate light color from dark color and I try to avoid using the dryer...

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  6. You're absolutely right! If you have more than one person living in your house laundry is a never ending chore. I use to make plans to do laundry on a certain day and try to get it all done in that day. When that didn't work I tried to do just one load of laundry a day and be happy about it. That didn't work so now I try to just go with the flow. When the kids have no clothes or hubby is out of underwear then I throw a load in the washer. Or when I just can't stand looking at the massive pile of clothes in my hamper, then I put another load in the washer. I find that we still all get to wear clean clothes everyday and I don't stress over getting it done nearly as much!

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    1. The funny thing is, I found myself doing laundry more easily when I am not stress over it. It is the stress and the overwhelming feeling that I procrastinate and see the pile goes up.

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