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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:
TheHoneyBadger · 03/05/2021 08:32

Today is the gym then a mountain of marking.

As pitiful as it sounds house wise I’m going to write a list today of what needs doing and break it into small achievable chunks so I can pick and do at least one a day going forward.

I’ve avoided doing this out of fear of how long it would be and then not doing it. At work I’m all lists, notes in planners, marking planned out in my diary etc but home is chaos.

drspouse · 03/05/2021 08:59

I didn't do anything organisational yesterday, today I'm going to have a root around in the basement for things to get rid of.

grumpypug · 03/05/2021 11:01

Today I'm going to sew the hole in my bra to stop the underwire popping out and remove the beaver badges from DSs beaver jumper. I'll make a start sewing them onto his blanket in the next few days.

CharityDingle · 03/05/2021 11:17

Today, going to make a start on sorting paperwork that is piling up. Hope to have lots to recycle, so satisfying.

TenCornMaidens · 03/05/2021 11:20

I tidied up my dressing table and chucked a few bits.

RainedOn · 03/05/2021 11:21

Also love this.

Mine is clean fridge.

CharityDingle · 03/05/2021 11:22

@TheHoneyBadger

Today is the gym then a mountain of marking.

As pitiful as it sounds house wise I’m going to write a list today of what needs doing and break it into small achievable chunks so I can pick and do at least one a day going forward.

I’ve avoided doing this out of fear of how long it would be and then not doing it. At work I’m all lists, notes in planners, marking planned out in my diary etc but home is chaos.

In relation to lists, I have done the same here recently. Jotted down everything. Some stuff is not stuff I can do, e.g, get blinds replaced.

But, by getting stuff down on paper/ screen, I feel a bit less stressed. I'm going to plug on with the bits I can do, and then prioritise the bigger work that I need others to do, and decide what can I afford and so on.

As it was, things kept popping into my head, and being unable to get tradespeople, because of lockdown, I was getting a bit stuck and stressed.

This thread is great.

TheHoneyBadger · 03/05/2021 11:36

That’s the theory Charity! Hope it works for me.

DeathMetalMum · 03/05/2021 11:47

Have had a bit of a lapse. Busy week last week, however I picked up a new piece of furniture for dd's room so I had to give it a good clean on Saturday.

I also found some threadworms (boak) so have deep cleaned almost everywhere else yesterday and today so I'm counting that as my 'project'. Feel like I'm running a launderette with the amount of washing.

Dp has put a couple of things into the loft so another thing done.

This week we have a big project, finish painting the kitchen, daily tasks will be mostly around getting that done.

mamabear715 · 03/05/2021 12:00

I usually have a strong 'work ethic' that won't let me relax until I've achieved something in my day!
However the last few days, I've looked after ME. Just had my second jab and thankfully no awful side effects this time, bit tired though. The main thing is mum's dementia. No, not caring for her, that would be a privilege, she doesn't want my sister & I around for her appointments, only her 'partner'. (She doesn't live with him, but they have been friends a long time, 30 yrs plus.)
We've been slapped in the face so many times..

Today, I shall fill & turn on the dishwasher. That's enough for now!

DownUdderer · 03/05/2021 12:26

I've got a number of cardboard boxes that need to be recycled, every time I get on top of the boxes in my house more arrive. I need to flatten them and store them in the garage.

picturesandpickles · 03/05/2021 13:25

Drafted a job application so that'll do for me today!

mogloveseggs · 03/05/2021 13:49

Today's job is sort the fridge and put the shopping away.

RainedOn · 03/05/2021 13:51

@mamabear715

I usually have a strong 'work ethic' that won't let me relax until I've achieved something in my day! However the last few days, I've looked after ME. Just had my second jab and thankfully no awful side effects this time, bit tired though. The main thing is mum's dementia. No, not caring for her, that would be a privilege, she doesn't want my sister & I around for her appointments, only her 'partner'. (She doesn't live with him, but they have been friends a long time, 30 yrs plus.) We've been slapped in the face so many times.. Today, I shall fill & turn on the dishwasher. That's enough for now!
Flowers. This stuff is draining and can sap any motivation.
Original poster
BlueLobelia · 03/05/2021 14:13

Today I rehomed 10 of our fishpond fish to our neighbour's pond. Ours are breeding at an insane rate.

I am now about to do a school project with DS1 (who is reluctant.)

OP posts:
Sparklynewname · 03/05/2021 14:59

I have been to the tip and got rid of 8 bags of rubbish and a door.
DH has painted the futility room (currently finishing 2nd coat) and we have put on the sliding door kit bits and checked it fits. Later on we will hang the door and put the cupboard back up so I can refill it. We need to fit the pelmet above the door kit but will glue blocks to the wall and then fit the pelmet to it in the evenings through the week.

TheHoneyBadger · 03/05/2021 15:43

What does one do in a futility room? Grin I suspect I'm living in one.

mamabear715 · 03/05/2021 16:29

RainedOn - thank you so much.. xx

Sparklynewname · 03/05/2021 16:37

@TheHoneyBadger, some people call it a utility room. But I struggle to keep up so ours is the futility room 😂

mamakoukla · 03/05/2021 16:38

Bills sorted :) some of the banking tidied away and the rest will be broken into smaller tasks.

I’d like to streamline all of my digital files into a common storage space. I have organised one folder, and tomorrow I will do another. Going to get all of these unloved tasks done! And then I can do some more fun ones like patching a wall and painting it

mamakoukla · 03/05/2021 16:46

Starting a loaf of bread. Simply love the smell of freshly baked bread, the family likes the results so it’s an all-round win. Grey skies with promises of rain, so this will help cheer me up

ShinyHatStand · 03/05/2021 16:49

Halfway through cleaning and sorting the kitchen cupboards

I might now start a specialist shop selling only mini marshmallows and semolina 😂

BetterKateThanNever · 03/05/2021 17:22

Love this thread!

Today was gym day and I dropped off a load of charity shop bits on the way. Also did my food shop and picked up some paint for the kitchen.

This afternoon I've done some batch cooking for a busy week ahead.

spagbog5 · 03/05/2021 17:28

Today I’ve
Sorted washing
Changed beds
Cleaned bathroom
Sorted dd school uniform
Hoovered
Made pasta salad for dinner
Sorted birthday cards and gifts for 3 family members birthdays this week and wrapped gifts as necessary
I’m loving this thread - we’ve never been so organised

drspouse · 03/05/2021 17:32

Sorted out some stuff for the charity shop. And the bin. DH wants to use the drawers I was going to sell, saves me a job. I think I'll wait till I've sorted a few more toys to do some eBaying.