Household Chores – an Attempt at a Scheduling Plan

November 15, 2018November 15, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

I am not a huge fan of housework. I can come up with many ideas what I’d rather do. Even sitting and looking out of the window sounds more fascinating than swinging a feather duster. However I have to admit that I also don’t like to living in a pig stall so I have to suck it up and get to work. For a while we had some cleaning support. It didn’t work out as I was not willing to pay for services I am not satisfied with and prices were constantly raised. Every once in a while though I hire someone because we have too much on our schedule or I just want to treat myself.

For quite some time now I was wondering if a scheduled plan will help. Here is my attempt in gathering all the household chores in one place. Also I have included all the things that easily get forgotten in every day hassle.

Daily

Wipe kitchen counters and unload dishwasher while making coffee
Start dishwasher at night
spent 15 minutes to clean up clutter throughout apartment to make it look tidy (fold blankets on couch, put away mail, etc.)

Weekly

Mondays: vacuum floors (or let little robot do it) & water plants
During phone calls: dust, fold laundry
Fridays: clean bathroom & wash all towels, deep clean kitchen, clean all mirrors and glass doors

Monthly

1st: Decalcify the water filter & electric kettle
15th: change bedsheets
mop floors

Quarterly

Feb/May/Aug/Nov Cleaning program for washing machine
Feb/May/Aug/Nov Cleaning program for dish washer

Biannually

Wash bedding when changing winter/summer bedding
Apr/Oct clean windows

Annually

January: clean kitchen cupboards
November: Vacuum the couch

Now I just have to find the energy to implement it. And I probably forgot about a dozen important things – or maybe it’s a work in progress. Please share what and how often you do things. I could really use some insights on how to do it the “right way” and also sent all the motivation please.

Happy housewifeing,

Tobia

The Fear of a Blank Space

November 8, 2018November 1, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Hey There,

This post is a bit embarrassing but lets get real here. If you follow this blog from the beginning you know that one of my earlier posts were about getting a craft room. That was in 2013. That was 4 years ago. I do have the room – it is not at all done and the way I wish it would be. I think I fear the blank space and it’s possibilities.

When I got this room I was so hyper-ecxcited about all the possibilities that I think I got overwhelmed. I had this perfect vision of an organized craft lab, spent hours on Pinterest pinning to my board “Hooray! Getting a craft room…” but then just couldn’t decide. I think I got stuck in this status quo ever since.

I did manage to get the furniture figured out but I still have no color on the wall or the reading nook I dream of. Knowing ~~my messy self~~ my hunters-gatheres mentality when it comes to craft supplies I really wanted to only move stuff into the cabinets once I had figured out a system. Problem is, the system is only half existing but the stuff exists. Outside the cabinets – on the floor, on the sideboard, on the desk while some cabinets are still empty. As you can imagine it does create some problems… Not only since I started working from home in March 2017.

Earlier this year – someone I follow online – got her home office re-organized. I think it was one or two months or so in total for the make-over. And I remember I was in awe that she just went and did and taking time out of her day to do so. I remember I also was wondering how much money & time was going in that office as it really looked so good. And then a few months later I learnt she is moving to an office and doesn’t need her home office anymore. For me that would be such a waste of resource and time. And still I am somewhat struggling because what is really better? Living in an unfinished space because being scared of making the wrong decision of maybe not liking my decision in a few months? Or just doing it and enjoying it as long as possible even if it is only for a few months. I mean who is judging me or holding me back if I change it again?

I sense it is not really about getting something physically done here. Something else is going on. Maybe it is about investing in myself, allowing myself to have a happy place, giving creativity a room…

Does anyone else experience this? How do you or did you handle it?

Or maybe it is because I lost the ability to know what I really want and need. Or maybe I never really learnt that. Most people would probably have a party with having an entire room to create from scratch for me it is just overwhelming. And while Mr. 🖤 is consistently offering help – and he’s brilliant in interiors – I equally consistently pass it up. I need to figure this out myself and I need to find out what is going on.

So while I work my way towards my 2018 resolution in baby steps – but baby steps it’s all it needs, right – send advice, encouragement and tips my way please.

Happy day to you,

Tobia

The Fascination of Fire

November 7, 2018 - Tobia 4 Comments

Hello hello,

while I am typing away this evening I have a fire burning. Not a real one – unfortunately. A digital one on my TV but it crackles and flickers like the real thing. I even believe the room has warmth to it and everything feels much more cozy. Fire is just fascinating in that way, isn’t it? I could follow the dance of the flames forever. It is meditative. It is calming. It is peaceful.

I always liked fall and spring season when my dad had to prune the trees and we had a big bonfire in the garden. It burnt all day and we would put potatoes in the ashes to eat later in the day. Sometimes my mom would make bread we would twist around sticks and bake in the flames. Of course it all got burnt but we didn’t know about cancer and such. Unfortunately I also didn’t know about s’mores. At a later age we would sit around the fire and talk the night away with friends or sing songs and stick bread was exchanged to beer. But the memories are equally fun. When visiting my parents now and we are bbq-ing sooner rather then later there is a fire burning.

Fire seems to be connected to being cozy and happy. Fire is safe. Fire doesn’t scare me.
There is a hotel here in Europe that as a (digital) fire burning when you enter your room. I love it. I remember a city trip to Vienna were we ended up spending lots of time in a the hotel room because it was just so comfy and we were just so exhausted after a stressful year looking at the fire. Now you would assume it was a awful vacation with us being in Vienna and not seeing much but it wasn’t. I believe fire was art of the reason.

However essential fire is I do not think I could start a fire myself if I ever needed to. I mean I don’t smoke so I never have any matches or lighter with me. If I end up at an deserted island that’s it. Anyone else be the first to go raw vegan? Up for a speed-survival-training? There are 3 ways to start a fire:

Friction: basically having to sticks and rubbing them at each other until they burn. This is supposed to be the easiest way to start a fire. (Good luck to us!) Other ways here would be drilling a stick into wood or sawing with a stick on wood. all the same process of friction.
Lightbeaming: if you run around with a magnifying glass or a curved mirror you can focus the light and start a fire. I guess if you wear glasses this could work. This article explains how to use this technique with ice and condoms.
Sparking: make a spark to start a fire. To do so you would need a flint and steel. If you don’t have flint you could use quartzite (whatever that is). This option seems to be the worst in my opinion.

How about we just enjoy the fire and not think about it’s lifesaving features tonight. I will stare into the flames for a bit more, let my thoughts drift by and then take a little walk in bogland to see who else was blogging tonights.

Happy evening,

Tobia

Networking – It’s all about the mindset

November 5, 2018November 12, 2018 - Tobia 10 Comments

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The past weekend I have been to my 3rd BLOGST conference and my 5th blogger event. People who have met me there would probably not describe me as shy or insecure. They would probably also not believe that I ~~hate~~ despise networking. But all those things apply. But then I realized one thing the past couple of days about networking – it’s all about the mindset.

What do I mean by that?

Well there are two strategies really:
1. Book your ticket so very last minute that you are not able to drive yourself crazy with anxiety.
2. Prepare yourself.

When I go to a blogging event I usually put a lot of preparation into it. Other people plan their outfits (well I do that too but that is the last item on the list) I plan everything else. It makes me feel I am in control and then I can relax. When I am relaxed, I am myself and then I can get the most out of it and actually enjoy and guess what – network.

So of course I could just go ahead and say “well why go through all the trouble and buy a ticket to go if I could just hide behind a screen and write a comment every now and then”. Because it’s nice to see real people!

Here are things I do to feel prepared:

I usually go through the attendees list very carefully and try to follow most the people Instagram so I already have the feeling I know them. It just lowers the inhibition threshold. And no please don’t tell me I am stalking. If I feel a connection I will comment and like but nothing forced, nothing to draw attention.
The blogs I find interesting I start following in my feedreader and I make the effort on commenting too – if I have something to say.
I create a twitter list with all attendees. Also very helpful while being at the conference because you can just follow and don’t miss a tweet. Also good to re-read after the sessions.
Then I usually start blogging a tiny bit more beforehand. Makes me feel a more legit being there.
When blogging I usually also realize all the kinks my blog has so it always gets a tiny facelift – win-win.
I book the hotel as soon as I buy the ticket. I can usually cancel the hotel easily when there is a better deal for the conference hotel but I am already set in case not. If possible I would always opt for the conference hotel to meet as many fellow bloggers if possible.
Also I plan enough time for arriving at the conference and some me-time. This way I have enough time to relax before it gets hectic and loud. This trip I had 2 hours to visit the Cologne Cathedral.

Those things are all fine in preparation but then conference day comes around and you still have to show up. There have been times when I felt so out of place. At one conference I felt so lost at the get-together that I actually sneaked out and left after an hour because I felt so lonely. Instead I sat in my room and read. At the same time I was a bit annoyed with myself because I spent money on being there. So for the past three hours I sat here sipping tea thinking what did make this years experience so much different. Why I was so much more positive and why I wasn’t scared. While I believe I am a bit more at ease with myself I also think I developed some tiny little ideas for easier networking. Maybe they help you too.

Networking life hacks to break the ice:

I wrote Bine | waseigenes that I was too scared to talk to her at The HIVE 2013. Telling her that before the conference this time, I knew I had to say hello to not waste another 5 years (also it would have been so embarrassing…). It was so very nice to actually say hello in person. And it wasn’t awkward at all.
I reached out beforehand to Silja | creatipster and asked if we wanted to have dinner again after the conference. Doing so I prevented the awkward feeling of not knowing where to go and who to turn to in the in-between hours.
In the conference Facebook Group were a couple of people talking about going to dinner the night before the conference. I only new two of them from the previous conference and not that good. However I reached out asking if they had a spot left for me. So I was able to see Birgit | relativjung and Bettina | alltagsfeierin again. And met so many other girls like Evelyn.
I got up a tiny bit earlier on conference days and just sat in the lobby to see who was also staying in my hotel. A good way to join a group of people and walk to the conference together. I met Kathrin | innenlebendesign again and got to know Anja | schminktante.
When I got to the conference and stood in line for registration I turned around and talked to the person behind me. This is how I met Nicole | golden freckles. Sometimes it is so easy. Then I just followed her to where she wanted to sit and met her friends Dominique | ohnemehr and Marlene | wiediedietrich.
The next day I did the same thing when I was in the line for coffee and got to talk to Kerstin | minipresents. And for lunch I had a conversation with Daniel | gintonicforbreakfast. Sometimes it is just so easy and not at all hard. Really.
When the conference is over more days then one I never sit at the same seat. Instead I mix it up. So I sat next to Lisa | chiliblueten.
I mentioned where I am from when talking to someone. People who walk by may stop and integrate in the conversation. This is how I met Ani | konfettiregen_berlin and Anja | La Bavarese.
After a speaker is done with a session and I really enjoyed the talk, laughed or learned something I make the effort to walk up and tell them. I am always scared put they just delivered a speech to 200 people so I can do it to one person. This way I was able to talk to Bianca | starkmitworten, Nina | juramama If I don’t catch them because they are surrounded by a huge crowed (and I can not muster up the courage I will at least write a message through instagram: Jules | herz.und.blut)
And then there are the lovely people I know already Filiz | filizity, Julia | deichdeern, Katha | katastrophal and who I try to catch and have a chat with.
Also it is nice to reach out to people who you missed at the conference. I did so with Sandra | dasfreuleinbackt and Nina | pinspiration.

I hope those ideas help you and you have the possibility to find likeminded people around you where you can share your ideas and passions with. I am so grateful for Clara | tastesheriff and Ricarda | 23qm Stil for creating the Blogst Community and the spirit that it always sparks within me.

Wishing you all a wonderful motivation week,

Tobia

Disclaimer: This post contains links to other Blogs. Due to current (German) law this needs to be labelled advertising. Furthermore I have linked a few of my older articles because I believe you might enjoy them.

Random Facts I found fascinating

November 2, 2018November 1, 2018 - Tobia 2 Comments

Hello and good morning,

every once in a while I come across random facts that I find fascinating. It’s usually just a tiny bit of information in an article or a conversation, a fragment of a news report or a byline in a song lyric. But for some reason it keeps coming back to me. So I figured I’ll put it on this blog so I can revisit and maybe someone of you also finds it interesting and we can talk about it.

“Epidemiologist David Bradley found that his great-grandfather’s entire life took place “in a square of only 40 kilometers.” His grandfather’s lifetime track was about 400 square kilometers; his father’s was about 4,000 square kilometers, and his own extended all over the world, for a 40,000-kilometer square.” While the entire article is mainly talking about friendship I found this piece particular interesting. How privileged are we to see so much of the world, experience so many things and learn so much. But at the same time I believe our mind can’t catch up with the overload on information and doesn’t know how to cope. Might there be a correlation between this fact and increase of mental illness, stress induced diseases and such? Just a thought.
So it doesn’t come as a surprise that Great Britain has a ministry for loneliness.
It is believed that loneliness is a more severe health risk than smoking. I find this rather interesting that Britain is actually acknowledging the modern challenges with creating new ministries and stepping away from rather conventional ones. However it feels like the news coverage is taking it not that serious. What do you think about it.
Trend scientists Adjiedj Bakas predicts that 47% of today’s job profession disappear within the next 20 years and will be taken over by robots and machines. (source: Flow 13)
Isn’t that crazy? I mean 50% of us are not able to work in the jobs we were trained in. Actually I already experienced that myself. When I did my training in advertising 15 years ago online marketing and internet wasn’t even part of the curriculum. I didn’t have one class covering that! The challenges we face today are so enormous. I wonder what 200 years from now kids learn in school about this time. Will it be as game changing as the Industrial Revolution? So interesting.
On a totally different not: Why are there seagulls when there is no ocean?
Seriously. Think about it. You drive through open fields and wide landscapes and then suddenly there are seagulls. Or in a huge city with no big water fronts, harbor or such and then seagulls. It just is weird for me.

Now leave a random piece of info that will blow my mind. Or let me know what you think about the points here. Love to here your thoughts.

Happy day,