TEN TENACIOUS MINUTES-- that, my dear,  is all you need...

     I have often felt that a huge stumbling block to accomplishing what we would like is time. Interestingly enough, this time issue can be completely inaccurate. In our minds, a task can be daunting because we feel it is going to take much longer than it actually will. For example: I have put off washing the dishes, cleaning out a drawer, folding laundry, reorganizing a closet or running an errand many times because of the fear of how long it will take. So the task or errand clutters up my to do list (mental or actual) for hours or even days or weeks--Don't worry it didn't take me weeks to do the dishes. Only to realize after accomplishing said errand/task that it took much less time than I had anticipated a.k.a. dreaded. In my book, HOMEMADE CHANGE: Money may not grow on trees, but it lives in your home- A guide on how to make money from home and declutter your life, I recommend starting your possibly enormous task with small, simple steps. In my experience, Ten Tenacious Minutes can lend big results.

What can be accomplished in Ten Tenacious Minutes?

     There are many tasks that fall within this time frame. I have listed a few examples below and have separated them into categories based on frequence of occurence. Feel free to apply these principles to the chores that linger on your list.

A) EVERYDAY Simple, frequently required chores:

Starting or switching the laundry: Lucky for us we don't have to actually wash the clothes anymore. All we have to do in this century is gather them, sort them, throw them in, add detergent and turn the machine on.

Doing the dishes: See laundry note above and know that the same rule applies here. With the exception of my cast iron skillets and a few other specialty items, it's a “throw in and go” type of situation. If your kitchen is organized efficiently, you can put up the dishes in Ten Tenacious Minutes with five minutes to spare. If your kitchen's current configuration will not allow you to put up a load of dishes in ten minutes, there is a problem with the set up. For help, read “Declutter One Cabinet/Closet/Room/Home at a Time” Email me at HomemadeChangeInfo@gmail.com for a FREE copy.

Cleaning the bathroom: NOTE- Ten minutes refers to maintenance cleaning. It will take you longer than ten minutes if you have put it off so long that you have hard soap scum and mildew. With that said, it will take you less than an hour and then you can do the ten minute wipe downs moving forward.

B) WEEKLY/MONTHLY Required less frequently than daily, but at least once a month:

Writing out your grocery list: If you do this you will spend less and get more. You will spend less money because you have a plan and are not just grabbing everything you see. You will choose healthier foods when Little Debbie and Dr Pepper aren't making the decisions for you in the store. You will also spend less time as you will no longer be wasting it figuring out what you need. Saving time when shopping allows more time for other activities.

Cleaning out the fridge/freezer: For health reasons alone, this is worth the ten minutes. However, it can also save you time in other instances of your life. Making the grocery list is easier if you can see what you have and what you need, putting away groceries is quicker if you have the space for new items, using containers to store leftovers (money saver) is more successful if said containers are not all being used in the freezer already or turning into science projects in the fridge due to fungal growth.

Washing the dog: Just do it. You and he/she will feel so much better and your house will stay cleaner longer. And trust me I know. One of my three dogs loathes baths, but I spend less time cleaning the house if they all stay relatively clean.

C) SELL Your items (and make more money for them) in Ten Tenacious Minutes:

Locating your items: As you are using your ten minutes to clean out a closet, throw any unwanted items that could still hold monetary value into a bin. Later you can sort them into different ways to make money from home and declutter. For more on this read, Homemade Change: MONEY may not grow on trees, but it LIVES IN YOUR HOME- A guide on how to make money from home and declutter your life.

Cleaning your items: You can improve their appearance with a quick wipe down. Because many of them will not have been frequently used, they will probably need to be dusted or scrubbed to look their best. This is very little effort for a little more reward.

Painting your items: Did you come across a brass fixture that could be updated easily by bringing the color into this decade? A can of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint can totally update an item in ten minutes. This is a bit more effort for considerably more reward.

D) Taking Ten Tenacious Minutes FOR YOURSELF This is the most important set of examples. You have to take care of you before you can take care of others. Taking care of you can be allowing more time for yourself by creating more time in your day. Saving time is creating opportunities for other activities.

Making dinner: Yes, I'm serious. You can make dinner in 10 minutes IF you prep one day a week such as Sunday. By prepping (cutting, sorting, mixing, possibly marinating) foods AHEAD of time you save yourself A LOT of time. If this sounds too daunting, cook larger portions in a slow cooker (HUGE time saver) and freeze it in separate containers. This morning, I pulled a container of homemade potato soup out of the freezer and allowed it to thaw throughout the day. Tonight it took me 10 minutes to warm up, plate (well in this case...bowl), garnish and serve.

Applying Make-up: This is a big one for me. Some days I feel I don't have the time to do this step that makes me feel better all day. In ten minutes, I can wash my face, use a little cover up, apply foundation/powder and/or bronzer/blush, curl my eyelashes and finish with mascara. Add some lip gloss and Voila! You don't wear “all that make up?” Great! It will take you even less time. Fresh and awake face instead of “ahhh I look scary” feeling all day. Your hurdle (issue, sticking point) may be fixing your hair. Look on Pintrest-- there is one creative “do” you CAN do that looks better than a rat's nest. My favorite is the sock bun; long haired beauties tired of the pony tail should google this NOW. Small price to pay for feeling better about yourself.

Working out: Don't believe me? Check out this 6 minute workout at www.fitinheels.com. The author, Katy, is fantastic and provides helpful workout tips through her blog as well. (Warning: Language on this blog is hilarious, but could be offensive and may not be suitable for all readers). This workout is not meant to be the ONLY one you do, but what a great way to get started in the new year! A less than ten minute work out is a great option for one of those tight schedule or “just don't feel like it” days.

BONUS: Organizing your closet. OK maybe not the whole thing. But what if you took just 10 minutes to go through your white blouses. Or if your closet looks like mine did in the beginning of this process, then consider your white short sleeve blouses. What if you moved on the next night to your blue shirts or long sleeve white? It may take you a week or two if you do it every day. My thought is once you start you will probably keep going and finishing your closet in a week or two is better than the 3-6 months or longer that you have been putting it on your list of things “to do”.

So take the next Ten Tenacious Minutes and accomplish a goal, errand or task. And use a sharpie to slash that sucker off your list.



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