5 by Friday

[startsmart]

I've been kicking around this idea in my head and decided to go ahead and post it. While it could fall under the decluttering/organizing topic I think it's adaptable to posters who are not involved there.

The basic premise is to Find, Fix, Fling or Finish 5 Things by this Friday. The idea originated from another declutter board which is, frankly, a train wreck. But the goal is to find projects in your home, life or business that need to just be done and commit to getting 5 of them done each week. If you can tackle one thing per day then by the end of the year you could have 250 things off your to do list.

I'll kick it off with my 5 things (some big, some small):
1. Remove the rest of the caulk around the tub and re-caulk the seam
2. Add snow fence to the raised garden bed to protect from cats/dogs*
3. Add my new lighting instructions to the users manual
4. Shred the entire box "to be shredded" in the office
5. Caulk the top of the door frame of the door leading to the garage

*if it stops raining!

What 5 things can you do by Friday?

[whoisjohngalt]

Are you going to do this every week?  I am just seeing this now, but would love to do it next week.

The decluttering thread is moving too fast for me and a lot of the things I need to do are not really decluttering kind of things.

This would be perfect!

[seriousthistime]

I'm in, starting next week.

[Saving4Norway]

My 5 by Friday:

1. Correct tests - Section 1

2. Correct tests - Section 2

3. Correct tests - Section 3

4. Sew March's quilt of the month block

5. Sew April's quilt of the month block

Yuck - I haven't been in the mood to do any of these. Now I have to.

Start - when I get these done, can I earn a dancing banana from you?

ETA - Woah!! This is my 1000th post!!

[startsmart]

yep, thinking of updating this every week because I have SO MANY things to do around here! It doesn't matter if it's small or large, but I just came back from visiting some relatives whose house is a mess and I couldn't help but think "just do one thing a day" and decided this would be fun to try.

lol Norway, I think 1000 posts deserves a banana:

[greeniis10]

I really like this idea, too, because it's not limited to only money-related to-dos, or fitness/diet or decluttering, etc.  It can be those things or anything else, big or small!  I'm going to try to remember this thread.  Thank you!

[3catslady]

I'd like to join this but my projects are too big to finish in just one day after watching the grandkids and going to work.  Even if I have the day off, I wouldn't be able to get a project done.  I am working on a dishcloth set for sale.  That includes 3 pieces and it takes more than one day to finish one piece.  I do want to get a set done a week until the yarn is all gone.  I think I have enough yarn for 15 more sets and 16 to 20 individual cloths.  That will keep me busy for the next 3 to 6 months.  I also want to go through the tubs and get rid of more clothes, towels, and kitchen stuff, and bed linen that I have too much of.  I saw on another thread that someone is doing a 33/3 project which is 33 pieces of apparel for 3 months and changing them out every 3 months.  That is just 132 pieces for the whole year.  That would take me down from 24 tubs to just 4-5 tubs.  That would be a great help.  Maybe I could do one tub and one set a week.  I will have to give this a lot of thought but I think I could do it.  I also have photos to put in my album so that would be another thing to do. 
This is why I don't get anything done.  I see everything I have to do and it makes me tired so I don't get anything done.  I also have my housework to do and everything else in the house and my desk looks like a land of paper.  I guess we will see what I get done this month.

For the week starting April 6th:
1. dishcloth.
2. hot pad.
3. place mat.
4. 1 tub of clothes.
5. pictures.

[startsmart]

Awesome! You don't have to have 5 this week either, it's more of a motivation thing so if there's just one task you want to accomplish by Friday add it in

For me I have yet to get to the caulking because I'm in the midst of painting! But the rain has stopped so I can work on protecting my flower beds (the littlest dog gets in and then all the dirt comes OUT).

3cats - are you going to start selling your yarn dishcloths? I love the ones you sent me a few years back!

[3catslady]

start:  yes, I am thinking about it.   I have about 40 sets done so far and they are just sitting in a box in the other room.  I have been tempted to go to one of the Church's yard sale sites.  They want $15 for a table and I can set up and sell them but I haven't got the guts to do it.  I have this fear that I will not sell any of them because I want too much for them.  I want to sell them for $15 for the set and $3 for a cloth.  I also have some coasters but just a few.  I have enough skeins to make another 15 sets.  It takes around 3-4 skeins to make a set and I have been paying from $1.50 to $7.99 for a skein.  Each skein is about 1.5 oz to 7 oz. So I am not really making that much on a set, maybe $2 to $3.  Even at $15 that is just enough to cover most of the yarn, not much for my time.

[Deleted]

At first I didn't think this thread would apply to me because I'm VERY active on the decluttering thread. But I'm in too, especially since frankly my house is as decluttered as it's going to get for a LONG while (thanks to the decluttering thread!).

This is also the perfect place to track my marking. The gals on the decluttering thread are absolutely wonderful about me tracking it there, but I know it doesn't really belong there. 

So here is my list for this Friday. I KNOW I will not make it (we have guests from CA arriving for 10 days early on Fri) but hopefully I will do at least some of it.

DH and I haven't yet discussed if we are both going to the airport to pick them up or not. If he goes alone, I may be able to get it all done. If I go with him, I know I won't. But that's OK too, as long as I get some of it done.

- call dentist for an appt 
- call cardiologist for an appt 
- call DD's dentist for an appt 
- mark 60 vocab quizzes
- mark 2nd speeches

[Deleted]

For Norway!  One dancing banana = 200 posts!

[megaptera]

Apr 2, 2014 12:35:22 GMT -5 startsmart said:

but I just came back from visiting some relatives whose house is a mess...

Ugh. This is my house at the moment.

I'm in, starting next week!

Edit: Just realized I went from New Member ---> Initiate Member. 50 Posts must be one of the magic numbers.

[mizbear]

I have 5 for the rest of the week:

1. Haircut

2. Groceries

3. Homework - IP

4. Work on internship stuff - IP

5. Redo all of my accounting notes - IP

[startsmart]

mid-week update:

1. Remove the rest of the caulk around the tub and re-caulk the seam
2. Add snow fence to the raised garden bed to protect from cats/dogs
3. Add my new lighting instructions to the users manual
4. Shred the entire box "to be shredded" in the office
5. Caulk the top of the door frame of the door leading to the garage

I got started on the shredding before my machine overheated. Just a handful of papers left to go. It finally stopped raining so I'll attempt the garden bed projects tomorrow.

While it's rained I've been busy indoors painting the living room and dining room. Hope to finish that by Friday so I can get started decorating

[mizbear]

Start- I like this idea of the "5 by" list. It shows that I am still making progress on goals without the uber-list that is often on the declutter thread.

Thank you!

[KaraBoo]

I'm in too! This is definitely more my speed right now. I appreciate the decluttering thread, but I'm doing more small projects than decluttering right now.

My list for next week:
1. Pay bills
2. Finish putting photos in album
3. Clean dinning room
4. Water house plants
5. Scan all documents (I was caught up, now I'm back to being a few weeks behind).

This is going to be a little difficult for me as I have a week long conference to attend for work. I'll be home every night, but I know I won't feel like doing anything after sitting in a class all week.

[Deleted]

Update:

- call dentist for an appt
- call cardiologist for an appt
- call DD's dentist for an appt
- mark 2nd speeches
- mark 60 vocab quizzes

Made all the doc appts, but didn't do all the marking

[Saving4Norway]

Debt - thank you for making an appt with the Cardiologist!

[Deleted]

Awww

[Deleted]

Fri is over here now. I did not do the marking I wanted to do but at least I made all the doc appts.

This is my list for next Fri. I need to do Nos 1 + 2 by Mon before my next set of papers come in, and because I promised my student.  

- mark 60 vocab quizzes Sat
- C reference letter Sun
- put donation bags into the donation bin Sun
- deposit checks Sun
- mark 18 papers coming in next week (I don't think I won't make this goal)  

DH's best friend's son and his GF arrived this morning for 10 days. We love them but 10 days is a long time. I'm in the process of working out how much time I can spend with them and still get most of my work done.

I need to keep up with laundry too.  

[mizbear]

Well, I have started on my internship stuff, but until I talk to an advisor, I am treading water there.

I ended up redoing my redone accounting notes because some set something in the middle of them.

And I have no idea why I put homework on there because I will never be done all that- although all of the assignments due by Friday got done...

This week's 5:

1. All homework due by Friday

2. Mom to car wash

3. Pick up Mom from oil change and take her to port flush

4. Go over Mom's budget with her

5. Go through papers (trying to make this an everyday thing)

[seriousthistime]

I've decided to do a modified list of 5 by the weekend, and 5 by Friday.

Many small things are on the list for the weekend.

1. Visit my DIL's craft booth which she's set up at a craft fair.
2. Finish freelance work assignment.
3. Finish baby blanket (baby was born this week).
4. Go grocery shopping.
5. Resolve a prescription issue with the pharmacy.

ETA on Saturday, 3 out of 5 things done.

ETA on Monday morning, 4 out of 5 things done.  Finishing the baby blanket gets put on my 5 by Friday list.

[megaptera]

Maybe I can get some of these done this weekend....

1. Clean off that counter top. (You know the one; it's where all the mail and kiddos' school papers accumulate and multiply.)

2. Clean/dust/vacuum the living/dining room. (I guess they're the "formal" living and dining areas, but I'm not formal, so they're rarely used. Yet, messes still accumulate there. )

3. Finish at least one of my knitting projects.

4. Catch up on filing paperwork.

5. Wash towels. (Shouldn't this be at least a weekly thing? )

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!

[Deleted]

Update
- mark 60 vocab quizzes Sat
- C reference letter Sun
- put donation bags into the donation bin Sun
- deposit checks Sun
- mark 18 papers coming in next week (I don't think I won't make this goal)

I did everything but the papers, they will start coming in tomorrow. That (and keeping up with laundry) is my only other goal.

Oops ... DH's birthday is this week so I have to plan / cook dinner and get DH a gift. So there goes Wed, which means I won't get much or any marking done that day. 

[startsmart]

Working on next week's list with a bit of carryover. We had to replace my water heater yesterday and that took most of the afternoon. Today I'm in recovery mode with a tweaked back.

1. Remove the rest of the caulk around the tub and re-caulk the seam
2. Add snow fence to the raised garden bed to protect from cats/dogs
3. Measure the tupperware cabinet to add a second shelf
4. Steam clean the carpet in the living room
5. Finish painting the new picture frame for my canvas

[Saving4Norway]

FINAL UPDATE (Sunday Evening)

My 5 by Friday:

1. Correct tests - Section 1

2. Correct tests - Section 2

3. Correct tests - Section 3

4. Sew March's quilt of the month block

5. Sew April's quilt of the month block

Yep, that's correct. Not a single item done. Damn. I'm so disgusted with myself for ditching my correcting. The first thing in the morning tomorrow I have a team meeting where we have to compare our results. Self-sabotaging behavior on my part. I hate that about myself.

[sealy]

1. Clean my sewing room
2. Clean kitchen.
3. Schedules.
4. Clean my room. 
5. Put together my bed.

[acemom]

Apr 5, 2014 18:57:41 GMT -5 megaptera said:

Maybe I can get some of these done this weekend....

1. Clean off that counter top. (You know the one; it's where all the mail and kiddos' school papers accumulate and multiply.)

2. Clean/dust/vacuum the living/dining room. (I guess they're the "formal" living and dining areas, but I'm not formal, so they're rarely used. Yet, messes still accumulate there. )

3. Finish at least one of my knitting projects.

4. Catch up on filing paperwork.

5. Wash towels. (Shouldn't this be at least a weekly thing? )

Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one with THAT countertop!  Thanks for that

I'd like to join in on this.  I have lots of things to do and can make great lists, but then get overwhelmed with the number of things on said list...  So 5 things for the week is totally doable.  

1.  Make OB yearly appointment
2.  Make some sort of organization for my desk at work.  No one here can understand how I can find things on my desk.  I call it organized chaos!
3.  Work on my budget for the rest of April and set May's budget up.
4.  Get my 10,000 steps in each day.
5.  I'll join megaptera and clean off that countertop...  

Happy Monday all!

[seriousthistime]

5 by Friday:

1.  Finish the baby blanket  done Monday night
2.  Straighten my office  [partially done]
3.  Change out my bedding  done Thursday night
4.  Laundry (wash, dry, fold and put away or hang up*) done Friday night
5.  Make two healthy meals with plenty of leftovers [made one healthy meal with plenty of leftovers]

* This is my weak point.  No problem washing and drying my laundry.  Folding and putting it away or hanging it up sometimes does not get done, and then I'm digging through a basket of clean, wrinkled clothes to find some underwear.  And I have to tumble some of my clothes to get the wrinkles out before I can fold or hang them.  How ridiculous is that?!  It's the same with the dishwasher.  No problem running it, but I go to great lengths to avoid emptying it.  Since it's just me, running the dishwasher is a once-a-week event.

"They" say that it takes 21 days of doing something consistently for it to become a habit.  I'm working on a new habit now.  My bedroom is at the opposite end of the house from my laundry room.  I have a nice wicker 3-compartment laundry basket in the laundry room.  Instead of piling up my dirty laundry on my closet floor, starting today I am taking my dirty clothes to the laundry room and putting them in the wicker basket.

ETA:  I get three full credits and two partial credits.  I hope to be doing the other two half chores this weekend.  

 

 

[Martivir]

I'm in.

1. Make the Dr. Who deck box. For DH's Magic the Gathering cards.
2. Clear off end table by my spot on the couch
3. Clear off kitchen table.
4. Make two doll slings
5. Clean oven