Do you ever look at someone else's life and think “How come I don’t live like that?”, “Why is her house always so clean?”, “Why don’t I have that decorative eye?”
I think like that sometimes. Especially when I want to redecorate, which my husband will tell you is a lot. Its not even necessarily redecorating but more of moving the furniture around. I just cant seem to have the same layout for too long. It drives me crazy.
But when I see another moms home, and I mean in real life, I sometimes think, why don't I have that eye for really sleek, clean aesthetic. Why is my space like a kid came in and just threw shit on the wall? Why is there no theme or neutral color?
My spaces are colorful and bright. They are messy and lived in. They display so many unfinished projects and glitter that will never be removed.
Why is this mess, my life?
I think having ADHD is partly the reason. But I also think that part of it is because my brain is constantly in creative mode. I am always thinking of a new project, or a new hobby to start or add to. I am also in active mode.
Sometimes I feel like I thrive on chaos.
Maybe I am just used to it.
I am not sure what the right answer is but I will say that as much as it may look like a cluttered disaster to others, I know where everything is.
I also know that the next best idea is just waiting to be worked on!
Check out my book: "Choose Happy"
As I wrap up June, I like to think about what I want out of this year. Every time a new month comes, I get that fresh burst of energy with the thought of starting over new and fresh. I make my list of goals and listen to motivational speakers. I get geared up and ready to go. I am consistent for maybe three really good days and then I falter. Anyone else?
Of course I don’t mean to or even want to, but something about consistency and me don’t blend. This is when I need to look at all the ways I have previously tried to be consistent, stay on top of my goals, and then throw out those ideas. Because guess what? They didn’t work. So why would I continue to do those things? Even if it is not the operation itself but maybe how I go about it that needs to change, either way, reflecting is an excellent way to figure out what you can do better and perhaps even let go of.
I have recently discovered that checklists are my jam and keep me on task and productive. It seems so simple, right? But sometimes, we just need something simple in our lives to be more productive. I have tried three different methods so far, and I think I have finally settled on one.
The first thing I tried was an app called “My Routine.” Don’t get me wrong—I loved this app, and if you are willing to pay for it, you may love it too. But right now, I wasn’t willing to pay until I found out if checklists were even my thing.
Then I tried Trello. I love Trello because you can do so many things with it, and it can be a great organizational tool. However, whenever I made checklists, I couldn’t find a way to uncheck all of the boxes for the next day's restart, and therefore it became too task-oriented for me.
Then comes the ole tried-and-true Google Keep. I have used the Google Keep app for many years now, and I must say I use this app almost every day. This particular app makes it extremely easy to make checklists and uncheck all items simultaneously. Bingo! I’m sold! Most of us like simple features, right?
I have made several checklists and I have been sticking to them. Throughout my day I go in and check things off as I go and then before bed at night, I uncheck all the boxes in preparation for the next day. Ah! Nice and simple!
So far, the checklists have been a game-changer. They keep me on task and are a great way to get me back on track when I find myself scrolling instead of doing something I need to get done. Checklists can be used for unlimited things as well. Packing, grocery shopping, parties, daily tasks, work tasks, cleaning, etc. If you are a visual person like me, try it out. It may be the game-changer you have been looking for!
