Take TenTM-Improve your life ten minutes at a time!
“The key to success whether you are trying to lose weight, break a bad habit or save money on your grocery bill is to consistently apply small changes over time.”
p. 27 Save More, Clip Less
One way I incorporate this principle of small changes over time is to choose a weekly project to work on ten minutes a day. Knowing it’s only ten minutes helps me to get started–even if the project seems overwhelming at first. Working on the goal daily helps me to develop discipline (hate the word, love the effects!).
Last week’s project was to get the suitcase unpacked–sad I know, but I am terrible about procrastinating and living out of the suitcase for weeks after a trip. Here is the photographic evidence that I actually unpacked:
This week I’ll be spending ten minutes a day on this disaster:
Would you like to join me in a ten minute a day project this week?
Choose an area you want to change or a project you have procrastinated on starting. When you decide what your Take TenTM project will be, you can leave a comment on this post to let us know what you’re planning–the more the merrier!
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I just got married in January and we have a big stack of papers to sort through and organize. Insurance, passports, titles, etc. Everytime I look at it I think “I don’t have time enough today to get all of that organized”, so I just keep looking at it everyday. I have to move the stack to the bed when I need jewelry because it sits on top of my jewelry armoir. 10 minutes a day sounds great!
By the way, I just found your blog through Pinterest and love all of your ideas. Always looking for ways to save money. I’m about to make my own laundry detergent from a recipe I found on Pinterest!
Did you see my post here about DIY detergent: https://thepeacefulmom.com/2012/02/15/diy-laundry-detergent-update/ ? I am definitely using the Fels Naptha soap next time instead of Zote and probably adding a little fragrance. Let me know how you like the recipe you use.
Thanks for the link! This is the recipe that I have bought the ingredients for: http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/02/make-it-homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-1/
My twin sister made it last month (without the essential oil and separating into 10 1-gallon jugs). She says it smells great and is going to last her a really long time.
Just started following your Pinterest boards too! I also wanted to say that I appreciate your efforts in letting others know how you provide for your gluten-free child. I’m a registered dietitian and it is hard to counsel on that – especially for families who eat out all of the time. Luckily I counsel geriatrics and don’t deal with Celiac disease too much.
Thanks Juli!
I love Jenae’s blog, but I hadn’t seen her detergent recipe. I’ll have to check it out. Thanks!
Last week I attacked the leftover savers. I had lids with no boxes, boxes with no lids, and WAY more than I ever use. It may have taken 15 minutes instead of 10, but it was worth it. Even my teen granddaughter smiled when she found a box and a lid without fuss and fury!
Those plastic containers get out of hand so easily!
I’m going to work on my kitchen “bar/counter” that ends up being a dumping ground for anything and everything. It’s so annoying!
As you can see from the photo Stephanie, we have a dumping ground too!
I need to orgnize some curriculum & have been putting off – usually just because I’m tired at the end of the day. But this gives me a manageable goal each day until it’s ready! Thank you!!
You are very welcome Amy!
I am hoping this will work for me this week. I have coupon inserts from September that I need to go through and sort. 10 minute a day should get me caught up (crossing my fingers)
That’s a great project for ten minutes a day Sheila. Good luck!
We received an old desk through freecycle last fall and I have yet to organize my hall closet contents and the boys’ room closet contents which both contain tid bits if office junk to go into the desk. because there are so many little components to making the dek functional (i.e. I have to clean this box to get to A,B,C and then organize that shelf in order to find, D, E & F) that I keep putting it off. I unintentionally spend a small chunk of time, maybe 20 minnutes, cleaning off the clutter that has accumulated on the non-functioning desk and that felt good. So now I’m sure 10 minutes a day will feel great too!
That sounds like the perfect ten minute a day project Stefani. 🙂
Our old “office”. We have moved the computer out (now that the kids are getting online I want the computer in a central area). But the room has become a dumping ground for other things….there is so much it’s overwhelming! 10 minutes sounds like a manageable time for it though!
though it will have to wait until Wednesday when the window people are done installing our new windows-some are old with lead paint and I and the kids have to vacate the house during the install.
That doesn’t sound like much fun Heather, but I know you will be glad to be rid of the lead paint.
I will just be happy with windows that will open 🙂 they are so old we have sealed many shut! 🙂
🙂