• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Simply Being Mum

Simply Being Mum

Family Life Simply Done

  • Home
  • About
  • Other Stuff
  • Contact

Don’t Walk By

July 8, 2014 by SimplyBeingMum

Every so often the voice inside my head will replay the same few words over and over.

This month it’s repeating:

‘Don’t walk by’

Fortunately I’ve started hearing it when the lil’-ole-procrastination-devil (nicely attired in ruby-red from head to toe) encourages me to stroll on past the laundry basket rather than grab the handles and carry it downstairs to the utility room.

devil

With most chores I find it really tempting to walk on by.

Or to delay the inevitable and ‘go do something less boring instead’.

(Thank you ‘Why Don’t You’ for many happy memories (the inspiration behind the above quote). Click on this link for a real trip down memory lane for us 70’s and 80’s Brit Kids – even the BBC globe is a treat! and I knew every word to the public information film off by heart).

But the chores have to be done. And to do them immediately means that not only is it a job ticked off the list, it’s also a weight of the mind.

(here’s how I’ve simplified my laundry routine to make it less of a chore!)

A little strategy I’ve employed, to keep clutter at bay, is whenever I walk past something, if it’s not in its correct place I pick it up and walk it there. Now I know this is not the most efficient use of time – but it’s certainly effective in getting the misplaced item re-homed and not forgotten about.

When you are compiling a list of things that you will get around to in your mind then your mind becomes cluttered too. The more cluttered your mind is with what you have to do, the less clear it is as to what you should do next. It can create inertia, and frustration.

And while we are on the subject of the mind (I’m feeling very philosophical since last Thursdays post) the three word saying of ‘Don’t walk by’ relates to mental clutter also.

Not dealing with something? Don’t walk by. Meet it head on. In fact, why not walk on right through it? Quicker and more effective than circumnavigating. And then it’s done and in the past.

“If you’re going through hell, keep going” – Winston Churchill

And doing laundry is definitely my idea of hell.

What’s yours?

Filed Under: Decluttering, Productivity, Simple Cleaning Tips Tagged: Decluttering, getting chores done, getting things done, overcoming procrastination, simple laundry routine

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. swissrose says

    July 9, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    I loooved Why Don’t You LOL and drove my kids mad quoting that whole long title to them when they were younger 😉
    And I must wryly agree about Don’t Walk By – my reluctance to make that dentist’s appointment for weeks has today left me with a broken tooth and an emergency appointment that is upsetting everybody’s organisation. Duh.

    Reply
  2. swissrose says

    July 9, 2014 at 6:03 pm

    I loooved Why Don’t You LOL and drove my kids mad quoting that whole long title to them when they were younger 😉
    And I must wryly agree about Don’t Walk By – my reluctance to make that dentist’s appointment for weeks has today left me with a broken tooth and an emergency appointment that is upsetting everybody’s organisation. Duh.

    Reply
  3. WilliamB says

    July 11, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    I wish my roommate understood better about physical items creating disturbing mental clutter. His perspective is more if it’s out of sight (frex, basement) it’s out of mind.

    Reply
  4. WilliamB says

    July 11, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    I wish my roommate understood better about physical items creating disturbing mental clutter. His perspective is more if it’s out of sight (frex, basement) it’s out of mind.

    Reply
  5. Jo H. says

    July 18, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    I love that Churchill quote and can really use it right now! Eye surgery plus restrictions due to same, plus scalded hand due partly to same … but I know I have to just keep going. Thanks for that, Jo. As for “don’t walk by”, that is something else I need to remember for when things are back to normal.

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 18, 2014 at 6:17 pm

      Sorry to hear things are tough Jo – keep going as Churchill says!

      Reply
  6. Jo H. says

    July 18, 2014 at 6:16 pm

    I love that Churchill quote and can really use it right now! Eye surgery plus restrictions due to same, plus scalded hand due partly to same … but I know I have to just keep going. Thanks for that, Jo. As for “don’t walk by”, that is something else I need to remember for when things are back to normal.

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      July 18, 2014 at 6:17 pm

      Sorry to hear things are tough Jo – keep going as Churchill says!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to SimplyBeingMum – one mother’s personal website documenting the journey toward a family life simply done.Here you will find a collection of recipes, ideas, musings and philosophies related to families who feel a pull toward a more conscious, mindful and simpler way of life.

You don’t have to homeschool or bake your own bread daily to hang out here. At whatever stage of your journey, you are on, you are very welcome. I personally still have a long way left down my own path and find that by blogging about it, it helps to keep me on track.

Please stay a while, have a meander around, see what takes your interest, and do join in the discussion.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 595 other subscribers

Recent Articles

  • Let’s talk fairytales and cake
  • Simple Indian Butter Chicken and Naan Bread Recipe
  • That Was Then, This Is Now
  • Tips For Reducing Air Pollution Outdoors
  • Reading a bookWhat Will You Do For 1 Day?
  • The Most Wasteful Time Of The Year
  • Old School Food Waste Friday
  • Spicy Butternut Squash One Pot Recipe
  • Slow Cooker Five Bean Vegetarian Chilli Recipe
  • Apple, Fig and Pumpkin Cheesy Crumble Recipe

Topics

Copyright © 2023 · Simply Being Mum. All Rights Reserved. Contact | Design by Pixelloop.