Physical obstacles in our daily path, former procrastinators, are like weights we lug around. They hinder progress and create chronic stress. To prepare dinner, do you shift papers to make counter space? To dress, do you dig through clothes you rarely wear? In the garage, do you step around bikes to reach the door?
We’re not talking now about cleaning out the whole kitchen, dresser, or garage. Just removing the stuff that is daily in the way.
Remove obstacles from your everyday path. Those things are often in our path because we’ve put off taking action.
Do these “grumbles” indicate you’re putting up with obstacles on a daily basis?
I wish it weren’t like this.
We don’t have enough space in this house.
I put that stack of boxes there until I could get to them.
It’s the kitchen, it goes in here.
How many times have I nearly fallen over this ___?
I don’t know where to put this.
This ought not to be here.
I need to find a better place for this.
It’s not me, it’s everybody else.
Simple examples: We keep the syrup on the front of the fridge shelf so my husband has easy access for morning coffee. (Yes, true.) That meant moving syrup every time I needed yogurt, at least twice daily. It slowed me down when I was moving quickly and often had a double handful. I transferred the yogurt to the other side of the shelf where it has its own front- of -shelf status. In this case, I moved the “target” item away from the obstacle. Easy.
Larger fridge items block smaller items from view, causing forgetfulness and waste. I corralled small stuff – pickle relish, short jellies, etc. – into a shoebox- shaped bin that’s easy to slide out. No more loss, searching, or space-blocking.
Our bread maker commanded a chunk of needed counter space. Now it sits on top of a file cabinet in the basement where it serves just as well and as often as it did in the kitchen.
Do scattered shoes block your doorway? Do seldom used coats clog the hall closet?
What obstacles are you putting up with that you could remove?
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