Back here, I mentioned that I’d set a goal of doing my dishes every morning while I made coffee. I also said that it takes 21 days to establish a habit. Some people say that SHE type people should make it 28 days.
It’s been slightly more than three weeks since I established that goal and with the exception of two days, I have followed through. Both days involved me getting out of the house much earlier than usual: when my mom was visiting and I had to have her in Bowling Green by 9 a.m. and the day I went to jury duty.
So, I’d say that I’m doing pretty well and it’s time to add a new goal to the mix. Looking around the disaster that is my house, I can see right away that paper is an issue I need to deal with - and this is one that’s going to require multiple steps. The first step is dealing with incoming mail. I have a tendency to sort through the mail, pull out what’s important and toss the rest on the closest flat surface. (Flat surfaces are evil things, sometimes.) Eventually, the important stuff somehow finds its way back to the junk mail and before I know it, they’re all hooking up, setting up housekeeping on my dining room table and multiplying.
This results in two major problems: a huge mess on my dining room table and bills that get forgotten about and go unpaid.
Having spent the bulk of last weekend paying bills, and realizing that things weren’t as bad as they seemed but not nearly as good as they could have been, it’s quite obvious that this is the Next Big Thing I Need to Work On.
So, my second goal is to separate the mail as soon as it arrives, and deal with the junk mail immediately. In keeping with the principles outlined in The Organizing Sourcebook, I need to make this as convenient as possible. My shredder is already conveniently located underneath the mail rack hanging on my wall. But not all junk mail needs to be shredded, and the nearest trash can is 15 steps away in another room. There’s a small wastebasket in my basement that I’m not currently using, which I’ll bring up today and place next to the shredder, thus simplifying my ability to eliminate the junk mail as it comes in the door.
There is one foreseeable problem with all of this, however. I’m not always home when the mail arrives, and therefore am not always the one to bring it in. So, I also have to get JM to leave it in one place. Given that he’s my son and has nature and nurture both working against him where organization is concerned, this will be a challenge. I think he can handle it, though. If not, he’ll just have to move. 
So, there you have it. My additional goal for the next 21 days. I think I’ll also check out Taming the Paper Tiger by Barbara Hemphill, because I don’t think I’ve ever read that one and I’m pretty sure I’ll need it for what’s next!
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