Cleaning and Crocheting in 15 Minute
By Veronica Smith – 19 CommentsHaving read all your responses to my Frightened of My Craft Room post, I have had yet another change in the way I do things here.
First of all – what is the 15 minute thing? That is cleaning anything for 15 minutes, it’s that simple! I randomly go to an area of my house that needs cleaning (that’s everywhere so not hard to find somewhere) and then armed with my trusty kitchen timer I start my cleaning. I set it for 15 minutes and just do whatever I can in that 15 minute time span. If it is not finished then it’s ‘who cares’ and then go to another area or do another 15 in that spot. It is funny as it has turned into almost a game trying to see how much I get done in that time span. Things are picking up here. I must confess that my poor craft room is still suffering from a) not enough 15 minute blocks mostly because I am still daunted by it and b) the fact that I am not sure if there is enough 15 minute blocks to ever get it done.
What’s this got to do with crocheting? Well. I have a lot of unfinished crochet things, they range from afghans to scarfs, toys and towels. When I sit down to do a certain crochet item that I actually WANT to do I first pick up one I don’t want to do and work on it for 15 minutes before I am allowed to do the ‘fun’ one. This has proved to be most successful. Firstly my unfinished stuff is being slowly worked on but secondly, once I pick it up I usually do more than the 15 minutes.
Who new that 15 minutes and a $2 kitchen timer could make such a difference to my house, crocheting and attitude.
Thanks to all of you who suggested it.
Dang, I should get a cool looking 15 min timer for my youngest and see if I can make getting tasks done more fun. Cleaning his room, homework, other chores…
Thank you for this very inspiring post.
Yeah, that’s a good idea to work on something else you dont want to before doing your fun crochet project. I do that to sometimes.
Sounds like I need to buy a timer!!
Love this post!!
thanks for the great idea! time to crochet!! 🙂
This is a great idea! I think I’ll start trying it too! 🙂
Love the 15 minute idea. !5 minutes on a lot of my UFO’s would change their status and make me a lot happier! Thanks for the tip!
Ooooh I like this idea! And I really like someone else’s comment about trying it with her son. I’m wondering if it would work on husbands as well …. 😉
Back in the 70’s I practiced this. I do have a small house and it gets wrecked fast, which leads to sitting and staring at the mess. By following the 15 minute rule, I was able to completely clean my house in 2 hours flat! I don’t mean I washed all the windows or anything, but after I got the rest done I had time to wash windows. The beauty of it is that you can wash a window a day or windows in one room within the alotted time.
This is a great idea. You know, I’ve always looked at areas and rooms in my home as a big picture and then I become overwhelmed with the amount of things I need to do. So, I keep putting it off. With this great 15 min. idea, I know I can tackle small areas at a time. It’s what I needed to hear simply because when I take on a job, I usually don’t stop until I’m finished and frazzled and that is why I keep putting things off cause i don’t want to spend all that time working around a room until I’m finished. I know that soon, with this 15 min. idea it will all be done and at the same time I’ll also be practicing the “cleanup as you go” method to maintain what I’ve done. Thank you Rachel for your great ideas.
I have been doing this type of thing for a long, long time. I also find that if I am “stuck” by something that I don’t understand in a pattern, I put it aside, and in a day or two, it comes to me, and I can once again pick it up and go on with success! Great Blog!
I’ve been cleaning up my craft room in similar fashion, going in there now and then and picking up a few things, then sending out things to others who might like to finish them off. 🙂 I HAVE to get everything out of it as it is needed as an actual bedroom. 🙂
I’ve used a timer to get my girls moving when they were little and now one daughter uses it to get her kids moving. Lots better than nagging for what seems like for ever. And it makes thing more fun for Grandma too 😉
Thanks for great idea! My stove timer will be getting a workout.
Like Cate, I found that the timer is a good substitute for nagging. Works well with children.
Love it! I am going to put it to work in my office. I can hardly find the office, let alone set it to rights
Thanks
hmmmm…I think I need to invest in a fun timer. And then use it! I’ll have to set the timer for each room in my house before I can crochet. Maybe I’d have a halfway decent looking house 🙂
I LOVE this idea. I’ve used it in the past, but I forget easily. Time to TiMe myself again hehehe
I do a task jar and pull something out but I like the 15 min idea too. I love that you tackle a project you’ve put aside. Alas, don’t throw heavy objects at me, I don’t have any UFOs. I finish before I start something else. I keep simple projects like bookmarks handy or in the car for those precious few odd moments (needless to say, I have only about a dozen comleted) but that’s 12 I wouldn’t have had. I’m about ready to retire so I’m sure I’ll have more UFOs many of which could go unfinished. I’ll keep your 15 min idea handy. Thanks for the great tips.
My Grandmother used to tell me “Do what you dread the most first, then you can look forward to the rest of your day.”
I use that a lot and find it very helpful in everything from laundry, gardening or even my yearly trip to the “lady-parts” doctor (I always ask for the first appointment of the day).
I had never thought about applying it to my crocheting until reading this post, so if you’ll excuse me, I have some things to work on. *Now where did I put my timer*
I have a magnetic timer I got from Flylady. I always know where it is because it sticks to the refrigerator. It is true, you can do ANYTHING in 15 minute intervals