Survey #289—Full Response from Carol
| Pronouns | She/her |
|---|---|
| Describe a day on which you were busy, but you still felt as if you didn’t accomplish what mattered most. | I took a shower, made breakfast, then washed last night’s and this morning’s dishes. I went to the grocery store then went out to eat lunch. I came home and put up groceries and washed clothes, then dried and folded and hung up laundry. Supper is dealt with eventually, and I save the dishes for the next day (sometimes). My coffee table is stacked up - I have a box in my bedroom where I cleared the last coffee table stack before an unscheduled grandchildren visitation for the weekend. (Which is something I look forward to). The things that matter most to me are God and other people. I feel like I don’t get enough quality time with either. |
| What challenges keep you from getting things done? | Turning my back on social media, husband and dog interference, mostly. Imagining how big a chore looks to be and what kind of toll it will put on me as I work my way through it. Arthritis in my crooked fingers and it’s difficult to grip things firm enough. Lack of muscular strength. I can breathe well, but my body has to be reminded from time to time to stop moving for awhile to re-saturate. After the end of a day of mild work and forgetting that I’m old, it dawns on me to wonder if what I did during the day will put me in the hospital that night (and if we have a doctor there or not if I have to go). These are all constant challenges. |
| Describe a project on which you struggled to start—or to finish. | I struggle with gathering non-essential things to box up and put into storage. We are getting close to retirement and will have to buy and move into a house and set it up with our belongings. We have a house provided by my husband’s employment and don’t have a home yet. He is not willing to leave this job yet and is getting just over the hump of middle age at 67. (The goal is 120). |
| What tools for managing your activities (calendar, task manager, etc.) are the most or least helpful to you? | I can never locate what I need to get things done except for keys, truck, boxes, and hands. Maybe if I can find my lists and keep them in one uncluttered spot, I can use them. Your programs are inspiring and give me support not to give up entirely. You are not a rigid taskmaster and just doing a tiny space one at a time is ok. It makes the big load less overwhelming for me and it really feels good to look at that spot and realize I was able and finally did that. |
| Please complete the following statement: “I never seem to have enough time for _____.” | Cleaning walls and baseboard. All the other needs are so needful, I never do the walls until the webs take over. |
| Our guest for the January 13 webcast is Karen Baker, a productivity consultant and professional organizer. What question would you like us to ask Karen during the live webcast? | For an easily distracted homemaker, is there a way that is best to accomplish a few neglected duties? Do you have a good idea for hiding embarrassing clutter, such as medical equipment and medication things from visitors, or is it ok to leave those things out in the open? |
| Here’s your chance to ask Gayle and Ed any question you’re curious about. It need not be related to this survey’s topic(s). If we think that your question—and our answer—might be useful or instructive to The Clutter Fairy Weekly audience, we’ll share them in an upcoming episode. | Are your homes neatly put together? (Giggling). I don’t think real people can live like that unless they have a lot of fear. Haha! I don’t visit people, so I’m not aware unless their homes are videoed on purpose to show a cute subject. |
| Future topics | How damaging is it for a person’s reputation to live in a cluttered, not dirty, place? Does it matter? |
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