If you’ve hung around here for awhile, you know I love a project. I don’t know what it is but I think it’s that I like something with clearly-defined rules, and a very clear start and end date.
Aside from my annual goals (which I’ll review end of March as I checked at the beginning of the month, and nothing could be crossed off yet ;)), #rest22in2022, I am also doing what I call Project Upgrade this year.
Really, it’s Project Upgrade, Fix or Declutter. Let me explain.
I’m an under buyer with most things in life so I will use things until they’re completely done. I do declutter regularly as I am very partial to the one in, one out rule, but I very rarely upgrade things just because. And I’ve been thinking that I need to do that; I don’t have to be the only one to use up things.
It all started with a facecloth. I went to Cape Town on the 30 November last year and forgot my facecloth at home. The hotel provided me with the softest facecloth ever that is now my “travel facecloth”. After I’d used this facecloth for 3 days, my current one suddenly felt too rough and I started pondering.
If this exists in one area of my life, where else is it happening?
So I made a quick list and decided to adopt it as my house/ personal project for the year.
Declutter
These are for things need to go but I’m still hanging onto them. Why? (gym pants and gym t-shirts)
Fix
Some things really just need a quick google, a couple of phone calls and arranging a date for the service provider to come and do their magic. E.g. the pool cover that needs replacing, there are some chairs that I’ve wanted reupholstered, and so on. They’re all “fine” but “fine” is not delightful and they can all stand to delight me again.
Upgrade
I batch-cook almost every week but I only have one very big pot, one saucepan the same diameter and a medium pot. I’ve wanted another big pot for months. Why don’t I just go buy it?! I think because it feels like there are so many options and everything comes in sets and I don’t want a set. If you can recommend a good big pot, go ahead – I’m listening!
My plan is to tackle 2 – 3 of these little projects every month, seasonally where possible (pool and windows in autumn once the rains stop).
So far so good. January’s three projects were done successfully and this month, we’ve had an electrician out to sort out the plug points in the lounge, I’ve decluttered and bought nice new kitchen cloths and after visiting 2 – 3 shops, I finally found new gym shoes yesterday.
Of course, I fully expect to have to move things around and delete some because this house is 45 years old and things constantly need fixing or upgrading. But I definitely want to sort out all my personal upgrades.
What do you think? Would a project upgrade, fix or declutter work for you or your home?
I do this every so often. I take it one room at a time and then just get it done. I am a seasoned batch cooker. I had a set of pots and one day I replaced them with six pots that are perfect. I then added one really big one that can cook large amounts. AMC tends to be pricey, but they are really worth the money and you can add to a set without buying it all at once. So my 7 pots plus pressure cooker and non stick pancake pan, takes care of all my cooking needs. On the batch cooking, a set of good metal casserole pans are perfect to go in the oven and then the freezer. They don’t break as easily as glass and it means you don’t have all your good casserole dishes in the freezer.