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Original poster

'One project a day' thread

975 replies

BlueLobelia · 18/04/2021 12:51

... many years ago when i was first on MN I started (or maybe just actively participated in, cannot quite recall) a one (house) project a day. It made the most profound difference to my home. The project could be time consuming or not. It could take seconds, minutes or hours. I recall things like changing the lightbulb and lampshade in a hallway table lamp for example as a single day project. One day i also threw away holey and raggedy cushion covers and bought news ones. Little things, that really mattered.

If anyone is interested I wish to start another thread.

Today, as my one project a day, I cleared out my dehydrated and weed-ridden window boxes (2 of them). I put new compost in them and planted them with lobelia (obviously!); red geraniums and some dianthus. I am happy looking out (and in!) my front windows now. :)

OP posts:
SimplyGrateful · 26/04/2021 19:23

2020nymph - the self care task was OP's idea. I read the "Defeated by my fatness" thread and felt that much of what was said on there applied to me. However, I have tried all the diets etc and I need to try something else, starting with looking after myself better. I am finding myself being inspired by this thread, so this might work for me.

Self care for me includes spiritual (not of the religious type) self care too.

TheHoneyBadger · 26/04/2021 19:33

Thanks breathmiller. It’s way better today than yesterday and hopefully even better tomorrow. Managed to hobble to, around and from work.

I’m giving blood tomorrow for my latest excuse. I only part achieved today’s task. Hard to clear the clean laundry pile when I’m constantly adding to it with my washing backlog.

It may be a daily chipping away at it and hopefully ahead of myself by the weekend.

Tomorrow I’m going to keep chipping away at the laundry and try and tidy and clean downstairs.

LlamaGiles · 26/04/2021 19:43

Not much time today but did buy my daughter's birthday present so that was quite a nice chore

Teatreat · 26/04/2021 20:27

I have a drink bottle that takes 2l water. I fill it every morning then use it throughout the day, but including a couple of cups of tea's worth in the kettle. I don't always finish it (some usually ends up in the cat's bowl) but it does keep me aware of my fluid intake.
Next self care project is to get into a regular evening routine of laying out my clothes and having everything I need to take with me in the morning in a bag with my keys (so I a) don't lose my keys and b) I can't go without my keys and therefore I won't forget the bag.
When I do it (it's sporadic at min) it makes a difference to my sleep as I'm subconsciously more relaxed, and a smoother start to my day.

Sparklynewname · 26/04/2021 20:52

DH has put a coat of white paint on in the downstairs loo.
I have cleaned all the downstairs windows and cleaned the bathroom.
Some of the bulbs I planted last week are poking through. And one of my petunias has been eaten by slugs 😬

farfromthenoise · 26/04/2021 21:22

Joining the fence painting collective. Did a chunk today but won’t have time tomorrow. So a five minute task I’ve set for Tuesday is to nice all the winter hats abs scarves upstairs.

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 26/04/2021 22:15

I cleaned the bathroom.

TenCornMaidens · 26/04/2021 22:39

Today I managed to take the sodding bags to the charity shop. And put air in my tires. V pleased and smug now.

ImFree2doasiwant · 27/04/2021 00:03

I've done well with the decluttering again today, and gave done one if the garden jobs. Things ud like to achieve this week:
Sew cushion 1
Sew cushion 2
Defrost the freezer
Weed front Garden
Clean car.

This seems a LOT.

DownUdderer · 27/04/2021 05:28

I sorted my books! Tomorrow I want to mop in my sunroom.

DownUdderer · 27/04/2021 05:32

This is a very motivating thread! Thanks everyone for posting!

Tara336 · 27/04/2021 06:49

Today I will clean out the microwave, the cutlery drawer and clean the windows on the front of the house inside and out. For self care I’m going to do my online exercise class and look for an online yoga class.

porridgeface · 27/04/2021 08:33

Oohhh love this thread.

Today I'm going to finish a birthday present I'm halfway through making and swap the winter coats/ hats/ shoes for the summer ones.

For self care I'm going to dye my hair, hopefully the last time I have to do it myself as I finally have a hairdresser appointment in June :0)

Breathmiller · 27/04/2021 10:11

Not sure yet what my house thing will be apart from my TOMM schedule.

But for my self care, I put my phone upstairs to charge in my attic space last night at 8.30. It's also my yoga space. I read a book last night on my kindle (not a work book, a book book) and then used my fitbit as an alarm. I woke up before my alarm after the best night sleep in ages then went upstairs to practice my meditation and yoga.
I then left my phone up there while i showered and did the school run.
Then when I came home I thought I'll get it to sit and have my porridge. But i didn't. And I have achieved so much already this morning because I wasn't constant drawn to my phone.

Sausage and red cabbage casserole is made for dinner. House tidy, washing on. Bathroom cleaned. And it's only 10am. Time for seat and put my feet up and enjoy my phone for a bit then I'm going to put it away again.

The amount of times when I was cooking that I thought about checking my phone was nuts. If it had been beside me I would have taken so much longer to get things done.
So, my project is to be in a different room from my phone more often.

I'm going to tidy the bedrooms soon so I might pick a drawer and clear it out.

TenCornMaidens · 27/04/2021 10:27

This morning I have managed to chuck out some dead house plants and trim some others. I also want to refill the bird feeders. I have many many other spring cleaning-type jobs to do (Hall cupboard, under the sink) but mustn't knacker myself out. Watching Emily Norris on YouTube is always motivating but then I overdo it. Confused

Divineswirls · 27/04/2021 11:30

I'm leaving my new obsession with patio cleaning - I washed with soda crystals then again with diluted bleach - much cleaner now and will leave well alone. The rain later this week will any residue.

Should weed the front garden really and Hoover, sigh, probably won't but am doing some laundry but that's normal stuff.

Fnib · 27/04/2021 11:38

I cleaned my door handles and light switches this morning.

Original poster
BlueLobelia · 27/04/2021 11:49

@Fnib

I cleaned my door handles and light switches this morning.
Oh! Inspired.
OP posts:
indy2please · 27/04/2021 11:59

Great idea.

I need to drop 4 bags of stuff to charity

Get renewal quotes for home and contents insurance

Re

WingingItSince1973 · 27/04/2021 12:21

@Breathmiller that's such a good idea. I can get so distracted by my phone with WhatsApp groups, Facebook posts etc that I easily waste time when I could be doing other things. Will be doing the same today xxx

Equimum · 27/04/2021 12:22

Not exactly a whole job, but I have scrubbed the front of our house in preparation for a repaint. It didn’t actually take that long, but I have been putting it off for ages. On the next nice day, I will wire brush the loose paint, then on the next, I’ll start painting.

This approach really is helping get things done. Breaking them down really helps. I am so often overwhelmed by what needs doing, that I do nothing. Although I still fee Inn bit achieving much on a day-to-day basis, overall achievements are really adding up.
Thanks OP.

Breathmiller · 27/04/2021 12:44

[quote WingingItSince1973]@Breathmiller that's such a good idea. I can get so distracted by my phone with WhatsApp groups, Facebook posts etc that I easily waste time when I could be doing other things. Will be doing the same today xxx[/quote]
It really sucks time away doesn't it?
I took Facebook off my phone a year ago. Haven't missed it one bit. I do still go on my laptop now and again, twice a week maybe? And I need it for my business but I don't sit and scroll on my phone anymore. It is honestly so freeing.
I have on the other hand spent much more time on mumsnet Grin but I feel I have made a lot of that useful stuff. Like this thread for instance. But I do still need to stop the scrolling on here or at least limit it a bit.

Breathmiller · 27/04/2021 12:45

Ive hoovered the whole house, even up into my attic which tends to get negelcted. Inspired by a PP I'm going to get a cloth and scrub some marks on the stair carpet and the bedroom.

Fnib · 27/04/2021 13:24

I love the approach of one extra little job each day. There are the usual household tasks but I really enjoy finding a little something that will stay done, if only for a short while. Ie I really ought to replace the net curtain in my front window.
Today I have located my proper (solid) tape measure and I will measure up.
And that is a good enough start. I could order online but we have a small curtain shop locally and I've decided I'll support them. So that's tomorrow's mission.

Breathmiller · 27/04/2021 13:28

Yes fnib i like the little and often approach that this thread encourages. I have done quite a bit some days but it's only because I have the intention of only needing to do one small job a day. So it doesn't feel so overwhelming.

And yes, now that the TOMM thing has helped me get on top of the every day tasks then I loke this idea of one extra task. Something that won't need done for a while yet. It's amazing how it all adds up.

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