Apr

4

Spring 2007 Organizational Challenge

April 4, 2007 |

spring07.jpg

I can’t tell you how glad I was to read this post and find out that I wasn’t too late to enroll in this challenge. I had taken all of my pictures yesterday but, as is becoming the norm, I was once again consumed by my husband’s medical problems.

I hadn’t planned on participating in the challenge until I read this post and more specifically this paragraph:

Look around your home and think about what areas/rooms are causing you stress. What areas immediately make you cringe when you see them. Which area/room has you so overwhelmed you simply close the door and walk away and avoid the space altogether? Do not feel bad about your space, that doesn’t matter now, the important thing is you are ready to make a change. How much better will you feel when you have gotten control over this area instead of it controlling you? This is the perfect opportunity to get.it.done!

The room in my home that fits this description perfectly is the playroom. It used to be my daycare room when I had my business. I closed my daycare 9 months ago. It is still littered with toys and the walls are still covered with preschool decorations. We have big plans for this room but we can’t start on those plans until this room is cleared out. It’s been 4 weeks since I was laid off from my job and I have yet to begin. I have a very bad habit of shutting down and becoming immobile when I feel overwhelmed.

We will be converting this one large space into 2 smaller rooms. We are going to add a bedroom and an office. I have been looking into work-at-home opportunities and when I find something I want a work space already established. We also have 4 children in 2 bedrooms. It wouldn’t be so bad if it was 2 in each room but we have one boy and three girls. 3 girls living together in one space does not make for a peaceful experience.

I decided to take pictures of the space, as embarrassing as it is, for accountability. I am ready to make a change, to get this room in shape for its next phase. I plan to:

  1. clean off the walls,
  2. sort through and donate or throw away most of the toys,
  3. repurpose the toy cabinets for storage - one in the new bedroom, one in the new office
  4. get rid of the couches
  5. move the chalkboard to the bedroom area,
  6. move the desk over to the opposite corner as this will be the office area

We may not have the bedroom walls framed in by the end of the challenge but in 30 days it will be ready to go.

Pictures are below…

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Comments

3 Comments so far

  1. Debi on April 4, 2007 10:47 am

    I’m so happy for you that you’re signing up! Don’t worry, you’re not the only embarrassed by those “before” shots! I totally understand what you mean about feeling immobile in the face of a big challenge. I get that way, too. Usually once I finally find a way to get over that initial bump, I’m good to go though (at least for a while). It looks like a beautiful room you’ve got to work with. I can see why you’d want another bedroom…just having our two boys share a bedroom is a real nightmare at times! Anyway, good luck to you on the challenge! I hope you’ll keep us updated!

  2. Amy on April 4, 2007 11:56 am

    I just posted mine today, too… and I STILL don’t have the pics taken to post. Oh well, one step at a time, right? Good luck on your challenge- I’m sure you’ll enjoy the “new” room when it’s done!

  3. Laura on April 9, 2007 1:19 am

    Hello, I’ve finally made it here! Good for you being ready to make a change and stepping up and doing something about it. I can read in your post how much you want to do this. Believe me I totally understand the overwhelmed feeling. Mine may not be with organizing but I definitely get that way in other areas! Besides the worse the before picture, the more opportunity for change and the more chance of winning. Look at it that way!!
    Please don’t hesitate to email me if you have any specific questions.
    Good luck and thanks so much for participating!

    Laura

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