One of those places where \u201cthe big declutter\u201d made a huge impact was my kitchen. I had to do my kitchen in layers. I divided it up into areas to work on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I watched YouTube videos for inspiration while I would tackle one section of the kitchen at a time. My favorite is Dawn from The Minimal Mom<\/a>. Her videos are practical, encouraging, and engaging. I was cleaning out a drawer of utensils when I watched this video <\/a>and saw my counters in a new way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A few days later I read in Marie Kondo\u2019s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/a> and was inspired by her definition of kitchen counters. It was completely different than what most friends and family were doing in their kitchens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMany people leave everyday staples like oil and salt within easy reach, but all too often that can lead to a whole mess of items that end up greasy and make a kitchen look sloppy, even if it has just been cleaned. \u201c<\/em>A counter is for preparing food, not for storing things,<\/em><\/strong>\u201d Kondo writes in her 2014 book. \u201cShelves and cupboards are usually designed to store seasonings and spices, so put them away where they belong.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n from: <\/em><\/strong>Yes, You Should Marie Kondo Your Kitchen \u2014 Here\u2019s How<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n And then in her Netflix show <\/a>she showed the families how to make changes and stick with them. I was hooked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n These experts got me thinking about how I organize my counters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c<\/em>A counter is for preparing food, not for storing things.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d – Marie Kondo<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The questions flooded in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I knew clearing that clutter off my kitchen counters was the next big change I needed to make in my home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have more counter space in this house than we did in our other house. So I incorrectly thought that I could waste space with stuff and it wouldn\u2019t be a big deal. I was wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After I had decluttered the space, I realized then how important that was. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I finally had a blank slate. <\/strong>The clear counters made space for messy afternoon snacks, cookies with the kids, homemade dinners, and fun science experiments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the reasons I did not enjoy cooking was simply all the stuff that had accumulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I could make anything, I had to clear off the work space. It took double the energy to get the kitchen ready to make dinner<\/em> as it did to actually make the food<\/em>. No wonder I avoided cooking!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thus began my more consistent evening routine of clearing the counters and doing the dishes. I saw a dramatic jump in my kitchen productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But here are a few things I am learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00bb Having clear counters is a constant battle of daily cleaning.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I still would rather crash on the couch than stand at the sink after a long day and do the dishes. In the afternoon, it is so much easier to pile whatever I am holding on the counter to deal with \u201clater\u201d. If I don\u2019t pay attention, containers, appliances, and unnecessary stuff finds its way to the counters.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u00bb I must choose to be kind to my future self.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I can choose to be kind to future April who walks into the kitchen tomorrow morning. She will be half awake, doubting if getting out of bed is a good idea. She will want to make a cup of tea and stare into the abyss. She will not want to see rows of containers, dirty dishes, and clutter piled on the counters.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u00bb There is so much beauty in consistency.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Thankfully I realized that the thought pattern I had created in my 20s was not helping me. Basic household tasks need to be done whether or not I \u201cfeel like it\u201d. We can choose to continue with what should be done, no matter our emotions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u00bb Mess and disorder are a part of life.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Maintenance and upkeep are a fact of life. Everything \u2013 everything \u2013 tends toward disorder if left untouched and unmanaged. If we accept that and build in times for maintenance and upkeep of our homes, our systems, and our family, we\u2019ll find more fulfillment and satisfaction in the work we do. If you\u2019ve been discouraged with the continual upkeep required, just know that the problem is not necessarily you or your system; the problem is entropy and it\u2019s just a fact of life.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n from \u201c<\/em>52 Ways to Organize Your Attitude<\/a>\u201d By <\/em>Mystie Winkler \u2013 she is amazing!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This concept of clear counters has become a useful tool in my homemaking. To be honest, I do not plan to become a minimalist. But, I do want to have less stuff and more space to do things with my family.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n I want my kitchen to be a place where people can gather, make messes, set out trays of food, and not be overwhelmed by clutter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reflection Questions: I would love to hear your thoughts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank you for reading. This post is public so feel free to share it. \ud83d\ude01 Share<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cover Photo by Kam Idris<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" How changing my habits with my cluttered kitchen counters made me more productive and gave me clarity. My dad was a professional chef, he taught me all about kitchen efficiency. I learned about cooking tools, ways to prep your station, how to chop fruits and vegetables, and how to batch together tasks to get food prep done quickly.… <\/p>\n\n
\n\n\n\nI saw my kitchen with a fresh perspective.<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\n\n\n\nAm I always good at this? Umm.. no.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When I walk into my kitchen in the morning I want to see a clean blank slate for whatever the day holds. <\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What do your kitchen counters look like right now?<\/strong>
What small changes can you make tonight to clear the clutter?<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\ud83e\uddfdsoapy hands high five!! \u2013 April<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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