30 Minute House Work Out

I've decided I have to start Spring cleaning and weeding out of all our stuff. Frankly, there is too much to do in my house and I become overwhelmed and can't begin. My father just sold his house in New Hampshire after 47 years of living and accumulating things. He didn't have space to store items that we didn't want to throw out - boxes of photos (loose), photo albums, framed pictures of family, extra wine glasses, plates, casseroles. You get the picture. They are now in my house.

I already have my own collection of "things" from my move to Burlington four years ago. The list is kind of the same... I have photos stored in our attic. Now they have companion boxes from my father's house.

How do I get started? Most days I just move the items around on the floor as if that was organizing. I throw away a couple of loose pieces of paper. I organize the wine glasses by height but they are sitting on the dining room table. Neither of these activities results in less stuff. And half the time I sit down and look through the albums and reminisce. Today I found my grandmother's family Bible and written inside were the names of my great grandparents! I knew my great grandmother was named Margaret but there was her full maiden name (McBrien) and my great grandfather's name! But, you get the picture. Not much work is being done.

Do any of you recall the 30 Minute Workout television show? It was designed for the busy person... procrastinator.. non-exercise enthusiast so that in a short time they could get a work out in.

Meet the 30 Minute House Workout! This is what I did today:
1. Set the alarm on my phone to 30 minutes. Put phone in back pocket.
2. Pick a space: Today is the attic, 5 x 5 feet space. That's it.
3. Items in space: coats, suitcases, quilts and some ominous looking purple plastic storage containers.
4. Coats are sorted by ones we haven't worn in two years. Throw them down the stairs and bag later.
5. Quilts have been kept around for staging other houses. Nope, down the stairs too.
6. Suitcases get sorted. We need the one from LL Bean with the wheels and two small ones. The rest are gone. Carried, not thrown down the stairs.
7. Purple bins.... Full of stuffed animals from our children who now have children of their own. Easter is this Sunday. The stuffed animals are going to be hidden around the house or put in a pile for distribution. The rest are going to Good Will.
8. Collect the clothes and suitcases and put in the car. I must not just rearrange to another interior space.
9. On the way to the car, grab other coats that are hanging up and add to the pile. Open the bin where we keep hats and mittens. Anything that is not matched goes. Add stuffed animals to the car on Monday.
10. Ding, ding, ding. 30 Minute Workout is over!

There is so much to be done and I get so overwhelmed by the enormity of the project. But I can handle 30 minutes. And by walking up and down stairs, I might even burn a few calories too!