Lunchtime rolled around quickly today.
I was feeling incredibly lazy in the kitchen and decided a smoothie for lunch would be simple, delicious and filling.
I made myself a banana protein smoothie by blending 1.5 bananas, vanilla protein powder, milk and vanilla Greek yogurt.
I also had two of Cathy’s maple pecan cookies that I received in the mail through The Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap.
She was awfully generous with the pecans in the cookies. Win!
Now let’s talk clutter!
If It Only Takes a Minute…
Certain books make me feel like I need to bust out a highlighter and a little notebook and jot down important takeaways so I don’t forget them once I finish reading.
The Happiness Project is one of those books.
Though I’ll be posting my full review on my blog on December 4, this book has motivated me in many ways and encouraged me to look closely at the sources of happiness and unhappiness in my life.
In the beginning of the book, the author focuses on boosting her energy and realizes that household disorder is a big energy drain in her life.
She sets out to tackle the clutter in her life and implemented a “one-minute rule” where she would not postpone any task that took her less than one minute.
Wash that dish.
File those documents.
Put away that jacket.
All of these tasks are quite menial yet when they pile up and create clutter they can start to weigh on us. It sounds so incredibly simplistic, but I started applying the one-minute rule to my life a couple of weeks ago and must admit it has had a pretty big impact on the overall organization in my life.
Instead of throwing my breakfast bowl into the sink to deal with later, I wash it when I’m done eating. Less than a minute! Instead of telling myself I’ll email an invoice to a freelance client later, I do now. Less than a minute!
Another method the author imposed for addressing clutter was the 10-minute evening clean up. Every night before bed, she took 10 minutes to do simple tidying and said it made her mornings feel more serene and pleasant. I haven’t done this myself, but I really like the idea, though I must say I’d probably have to do the 10-minute post-dinner tidy up since cleaning right before bed sounds pretty miserable to me.
Question of the Afternoon
- Does clutter or household disorder bother you or can you easily overlook it?
- How do you tackle the clutter in your life?
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I always have to wash all dishes before bed. It’s amazing how good that makes me feel 🙂
I read “The Happiness Project” last year and I LOVED it! I was so excited to see it appear on my favorite blog (yours!). I can’t wait to read the review, and am happy to see that others are reading it because of you. Very cool Julie! 🙂
I really feel like my week kicks off better when I have my laundry done, no clothes on the ground and the house picked up.
Omg that vanilla banana smoothie looks to die for!
I clear the common areas of the house once or twice a day (usually before I leave for work and after dinner) and do a thorough cleaning once a week. Clutter gets overwhelming quickly so I try to stay on top of the visable stuff. It’s the clutter that’s accumulating in the closets and basement storage areas that is starting to get to me!
If I won a BIC headband I would choose sparkly ones to make the little girls I teach dance to, they are obsessed with sparkly things! To see there faces light up in response to a sparkly headband would definitely make everyday a little but brighter 🙂
It’s so interesting that you posted this because I can certainly relate this to my own life. I end up staring at piles of stuff that have to be put away at the end of the night lately because I didn’t take just that minute to do it when I had the chance. Your post really helped me to put it in my head to do what I need to do throughout the day so I can be less stressed when I close up shop at night. Thank you for that.
This sounds like my kind of book.. Clutter in the home really gets to me. My fiance and I used to live with his best friend who was the most unorganized person I have ever met. It drove me insane and definitely took a toll on my mood, attitude, and anxiety. I wish clutter would not get to me the way it does, but if things are not in place, I get really anxious and upset!
You would probably like the Flylady… there is even a book. I love it.
Clutter used to drive me crazy and I would deal with anything needing to be dealt with ASAP. Now I have a toddler so I have learned that some clutter is just going to be part of life for a little while and to let go and honestly, the more I allow myself to let go, the happier I am! But I any clutter that I *can* control, I deal with it ASAP!
I recently wrote about The Happiness Project! It’s a great book!
Love this book. I read it this summer and love all her ideas. They are so simple yet things I didn’t necessarily do before. Enjoy the rest of the book.
I like the Minnie Sparkle bands. Would probably get it in orange and gunmetal!!
We practice to the one touch it rule in this house. It works to keep the house neat and clean. Anything that comes into the house, mail, shoes, gloves, etc. Must be put away at once. Keeps our house neat and tidy.
The minute rule has actually changed my life. I don’t comment much (although I read fairly often!), but seriously I have to comment on this. Just do those quick tasks! It’s so much easier than letting things pile up!!
I would love the sparkly blue headband! Thanks:)
Can we just talk about the fact that your smoothies look like vanilla milk shakes?!? OMG you are brilliant woman!
Clutter makes me crazy! I probably go overboard the other direction!
That smoothie looks delicious. I’ve been meaning to read The Happiness Project; it sounds like something I could benefit from, too. I’m pretty good about clutter. My husband and I wash dishes right away after cooking and we’re pretty good about putting things away or just tidying up before bed. What I need to tackle is the attic and closets. I’m living in my parents’ old house, so they left a lot of stuff behind, and we just piled our junk on top of it. Ick! That will take discipline and time.
I just discovered your blog and love it! I love your attitude on food and fitness (and knowing I’m not alone in “tasting” PB out of the jar)!
I’m someone who likes to do stuff as I go- my partner on the other hand leaves it around to do later..or for someone else to do haha!
This sounds like a book that I need to read and would love. And Clutter stresses me out for me sure!! .
Random question, what is your take on bananas being healthy? I add a medium banana each day to my morning smoothie and I’ve had a doctor and a friend of mine both tell me that bananas aren’t good for you because they’re high in sugar. I can see their point if all you eat are bananas, but I think it’s a good choice when it comes to choosing a fruit.
I was just telling my son today…about clutter just getting in the way…I think if we di spend 10 min every night it would make a huge difference in our mornings!!!
I too follow the after dinner clean up rule. I have a messy dog, messier child, and an even messier husband and a dirty house gives me anxiety. I try to do 10 minute clean ups a couple times during the day. After dinner I do dishes, put away the load if laundry of the day (doing 1 load a day really helps), put everything where it belongs, then take off my bra and relax 🙂
Clutter makes me crazy. Everything must have a home and should be in thier home. But with a new baby, I’m realizing it’s a fine line between needing things organized and clean and being OK with things not perfect. I have a hard time not being stressed if I can’t put things away right away, but I’m working on it!
I need to read this book! Thanks!
I definitely need to read that book! I love the idea of the 1 minute rule. It makes so much sense and I can see how it would help immensely with the clutter. (Although, my problem is getting the other four people in my house to follow the rule, too…somehow I can’t see my 2 and 3 year-olds understanding the 1 minute rule and I spend most of my time cleaning up their messes!)
Some nights I spend 10 minutes cleaning up before bed, however, and that one does make a big difference in the craziness of a typical morning around my house. It saves me a little time in getting everyone dressed, fed and out the door if I’m not also having to load dishes in the dishwasher and pick up clutter, etc.
Okay, off to clean now before heading to bed! 🙂
i like to do my 10 minutes in the morning if feels good to come home after work and not feel like you have to get right to work cleaning up. it allows me a little down time after work.
I did pack quite a few pecans in those cookies 😉
And about clutter… oohh boy. It drives me crazy. I’ve always lived in small apartments, so if I don’t keep it at bay, it gets overwhelming. The BF and I have been in our new apartment for 6 months, and every day I make the effort to sweep the little bit of dust/cat hair off of the floor, because I know if I don’t, it’ll just get worse and worse. Same with cleaning the stove/kitchen counter tops; a little bit every day is better than having to take a WHOLE day to do massive damage control.
I love that one-minute rule; I think I’ll start trying that too!
I am horrible with paper clutter! I keep ticket stubs, cards (with personal written messages), programs from date nights with my husband, and it just piles up. What do people do with the sentimental paper clutter?? Any ideas?
My sister recently read the Happiness Project and told me about the one minute rule. It does sound like a great way to keep things in order rather than letting everything pile up so that you have to deal with a big mess. That book is definitely on my “to read” list.
I cannot stand clutter! I’ve been doing the 10-minute pick up before bed and I will say, it really does help start my day off on the right foot when I wake up to a clean apartment. Otherwise, when I wake up to clutter (ie: dirty dishes in the sink, pillows smooshed somewhere on the couch, etc…) I’m frazzled and the rest of my day is frazzled.
The one minute rule sounds similar to Zen Habits “Get Things Done”… I love both concepts! Do the small things as they come up instead of procrastinating and it won’t seem so overwhelming. 🙂
I am usually stay on top of messes like the dishes, but I have the worst time keeping up with the mail! It’s always in big messy stacks. I’ll have to try to read this book– good suggestion!
This sounds like a book for me! Having just had my 2nd child this summer, life has been a bit of disarray. I just implemented a daily “to do” list to help me stay on track and get certain tasks done. But the 10 min clean up and 1 minute rule are both something I’m going to try.
Hi Julie! Love your blog! Quick maybe weird question…Do you have any secrets to keeping your work-out clothes smelling fresh? Any fav detergents? I have some great work-out clothes that I “save” rather than wear so I don’t get them stinky!
Thanks!
I really, really like the Big Bling Aqua BIC. It would match my new trainers!
I need to read this book. I work 9 hour days and my husband works 12 hr shift. There are days we are too tired to do much more than dinner, baths, and homework with the kids (although they seem to have no problem destroying any order in the house)
I’ve been trying to follow that same advice! Loved this book. Every time I see myself thinking “I don’t feel like doing x, y, or z” I try to snap out of it, realize it will only take a minute or two, and just get it done!
I love that tip! I’ve tried to do this more in my everyday life. Before I leave for work I’ll do the quick 1-minute pick up so that when I come home from work exhausted and pressed for time to get to the gym, I won’t feel overwhelmed by a mess.
Yum, I Love the frozen banana smoothies, now I crave one, even though its cold here in Boston!
My husband seems to live by these rules. He cannot stand clutter and he cleans up soo fast! (although, sometimes we cannot find where he may have relocated items, but we eventually do!)
I also like the 10 min clean before bed. I cannot stand waking up to dishes in the sink, if I do, I tend to do them before work, and I could use that time instead to get a few workout moves in, or get on the road to work sooner!
I would love the 13.1 or 26.0 Bic Band if I had accomplished either of those, but I haven’t so it would feel like cheating. It would have to be the Skinny Solid Calypso Blue band because it matches my shoes.
I am not good with clutter. It makes me nervous, I have a panic attack, and freak out. Especially stores with stuff everywhere! Walmart, michaels crafts, no thanks!!!!
maybe i need to read this book. clutter is my downfall.
I am easily distracted by clutter, so I keep things pretty neat. Dishes are done quickly, clothes put away, etc. If I wait for later, it is just a bigger project and seems worse than doing a little bit each time.
I love this post! Thanks so much for sharing. I can’t wait to find more time to participate in your book club again (hopefully this month!), and I really want to read The Happiness Project. But this small tip is SUCH a great idea! I tried it today, and it was refreshing–but I also noticed how much I normally say, “Eh, I’ll put it away later.”
So thanks again!!!
I love this idea. I really want to read this book. It seems like it is always those little things that weigh you down the most. You ignore them and they build up and and become such a burden, affecting all other parts of like. I am going to start applying this today!