One of the things I love most about our house is the semi-open concept. Each space is clearly defined but without doors. So, our formal dining room-turned playroom is open to the living room and dining area. I can see and hear the girls playing while I’m in the kitchen. It’s great. Until the clutter seeps out into the rest of the space. (Which it always does.)
I read a blog post once about organizing a playroom into four separate bins for each season. You pack up everything each quarter and then put the “new” toys out to keep the playroom tidy and fresh. I loved the idea of this but the project itself seemed daunting. Once it was done, I’m sure it’s a great system but I wasn’t willing to spend days on end simplifying.
My current organization system is longterm. When Elle is in kindergarten in a few years, I’ll do a gigantic purge and we’ll start from there. In the meantime, we have crafts for 5-year-olds alongside infant toys mixed up in a gigantic hand-me-down kitchen. The thing is, when we have friends with kids of other ages, all the toys are eventually played with.
It’s such a reminder that what works well for one person may not be the right fit for me. And that is great! There are areas in our life that I am a stickler about and these nonnegotiables must seem like a lot of work to others who just don’t need structure in that particular area of their own lives. We all have these things that work well or don’t; areas that we must keep neat but let other things get messy.
I was talking with my MOPS group about picking One Word to define a year. For me, it’s been helpful and such an amazing thing to look back on over the years. I love seeing the thread of God’s faithfulness defined in each word. For Frank, setting SMART goals is how he best functions. Without a measurable time limit, his goals turn into dreams that turn into unaccomplished wishes. We all function differently.
As I read articles about starting the new year well, about simplifying or adding or changing things, I remember to learn from the experiences of others without trying to replicate them exactly for myself. I’m all about refreshing old routines but I’m also learning to know myself well and trust what works best for me.
What works best for you? Are you a goals person or a one-word person? What’s that one area that you have to have clean and neat or else everything else seems chaotic?
Linked with Five Minute Friday, a time to write without editing. Today’s prompt is “simplify.”
Annie Rim 
Annie, I wish we could all be more accepting of the differences in each other. You state it quite simply: what works for you might not work for me. And that is okay. It really is. I wonder if we’d all be a little nicer if we could accept that simple truth.
Right? I wonder how many bigger arguments and policies would change if we just remembered that our way is not the only way…
Right!? We all are different and function differently. That’s so important. I’m in the 7 spot this week.
Such a simple but difficult thing to remember!
Thanks for this reminder- I am not a word of the year person and it often makes me feel like I’m doing something “wrong”. Lol. But really- what works for you may not work for me. I have to remind myself of this more often. Thanks! #8 at FMF today…
Yes! You do you!! While I like my one word, if I didn’t couple it with practical goals, nothing would get accomplished. So there’s that, too… 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I’m as strange mixture: I use the one word to remind me of and propel me towards my goals. At home, I like to keep most things tidy and in order BUT I hardly make my bed consistently and any area where I’m in the midst of a project stays messy until I’m finished. At work, I make sure my desk is neat and in order before I leave so I can be greeted to a fresh start every day. I know, weird, but it works…for the most part.
I always left my desk neat and tidy!! There’s something about coming to work with a clean space. Which is puzzling why I can transfer that to my desk at home… 😉
Such a great post, Annie. And so spot on. What works for one person will not work for everyone. It seems like part of what we need is to know ourselves, what helps us to thrive in the seasons we walk through. I do best with not a lot of clutter, but my life doesn’t allow for a clutter-free home. So, I’m learning to adapt and ignore. At least for a time. 🙂
I love reading of your discoveries and how intentional you are in your relationships. 🙂
Have a great weekend, friend!
I have such a hard time not comparing my own season with those others are in. Learning to remember that God has placed me here, now, in this moment and he wants me to thrive in it. xo
Good job with this, Annie.
‘Want to’ is becoming a luxury in my life; all dominated now by ‘have to’. Does that make sense?
Yes, it’s all about adaptation. We all have different methods of simplifying. I am obsessed with the kitchen. I cannot handle my dishes stacking up in the sink and the counters sticky. I also detest clutter-a little bit is ok but when things sit for a long time out of place, I get wonky.
Haha! I’m similar. I cannot go to bed if the dishes aren’t done! But, I can let the playroom clutter get out of control until I just cannot handle it. I guess it’s all about knowing and recognizing our limits!