How I focus on the To-Do List

1/19/2023. I feel like the character, Carrie Bradshaw, in her small New York apartment because I am writing from my upstairs bedroom, which, is about the size of NYC's apartments. The downstairs is a disaster zone. We are replacing the carpet with tile because we are going to start using the fireplace (it's a fire code thing). The flooring guys were here most of the week but should be done by tomorrow.

I escaped the clutter and noise by working in our woods (stacking logs for future wood burning) and painting a cabinet in my salon that I have been putting off for months. After this, I am going down to the basement to clean and organize, another project on my 2023 To-Do List.

I never get tired of crossing things off my list or adding things, for that matter! I love projects and to-dos, some things more than others. I don't particularly like cleaning and organizing my bathroom cabinets, but I love opening them and seeing there is a place for everything, and I am not holding on to anything I will never use. Decluttering is my runner's high.

I still have areas to do, like my filing cabinet and kitchen cupboards. In fact, I should put them on my list while I am thinking of it-haha

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If you’ve been feeling scattered or overwhelmed, I highly recommend creating a simple to-do list. It doesn’t have to be fancy—just a running note on your phone or a piece of paper taped to the fridge. There’s something incredibly motivating about seeing tasks laid out clearly and the satisfaction that comes with checking them off one by one. To-do lists help you stay focused, reduce mental clutter, and give you a sense of accomplishment—even for the small things. Whether it's organizing a drawer, calling a friend, or starting a big project, writing it down makes it real. And more importantly, it reminds you that progress is progress, no matter how small.

Here is a photo later taken of the final result of both the floor and wood-burning fireplace.