This post is part of my 12 Mini Goals Challenge.
Small daily habits can make a big difference over the course of a few weeks, months, or even longer. In 2016, I am going to focus on a new habit or mini goal every month. In January, I focused on Daily Movement or Exercise. In February, I focused on cutting down on evening snacking. In March, my goal was 30 days of pilates.
My April Mini Goal: Clear kitchen counters every night.
My goals in January, February, and March all dealt with healthy living, so now I will move to a goal within the home.
I have always been particular about not having dirty dishes to deal with in the morning. My dishes are either clean and put away or in the dishwasher when I go to bed each night. My sink is empty and I don’t have to start my morning cleaning up a mess from the night before. This has become such a habit for me that I don’t even think about it.
The kitchen counter is another story. I love the look of a clear, clean counter, but often allow clutter to accumulate on the counter. (The kitchen counter is not the only surface that has this problem in my home!) In April, I want to go to bed each night with an almost clear kitchen counter. I would love to clear it off enough that I could add a small plant or two. I want to wake up in the morning to a welcoming, clutter-free kitchen. How about this look? Or this look?
I will give myself the first couple days of April to clear the counters and figure out the bare minimum of what should be kept on them. This will probably also include some rearranging of my cupboards. I will follow some of the steps that Victoria laid out in her post about kitchen counter organization – with a focus more on clearing and not as much cleaning. I don’t have grime to scrub, but I sure have the clutter.
I did order the kit from the picture below as motivation to keep my counters clear. I figure the fresh, new spring scents will motivate me to keep the counters clear. You can get all 4 items below for FREE from Grove Collaborative (formerly ePantry) from Tuesday, March 29 – Sunday, April 3. Read this older post to find out how Grove Collaborative works. {Update} While the offer above is over, you can still get a free Mrs. Meyers hand soap, dish soap, cleaning spray, and walnut scrubber sponges Grove Collaborative.
Your April Mini Goal: Go to bed with a clear kitchen counter OR find a different cleanup task to complete each evening.
If you want to join me, print off the April Challenge Tracker. The April calendar leaves room for additional notes each day. I added more room on my March tracker and ended up tracking multiple goals on the calendar. It’s nice to have them written down all in one place. Feel free to just place an X on the day when you complete your cleanup task if you prefer.
Let me know if you decide to join!
I would love to have you join the 12 Mini Goals Challenge. Sign up for my mailing list if you want to be e-mailed the challenge each month. If we get to a month where the goal doesn’t fit into your life, you can always tweak it to be a mini goal that works for you.
You will receive free updates, morning motivation, printables, blog post highlights, and occasional deals sent your way. Frequency?? Just a few times per month.
P.Jeanne says
Great mini goal!! I’m a neat freak so I always make sure to pick up before I got to bed and it makes such a BIG difference in the morning :-) How are you doing with the pilates?
Emily says
I am starting with the kitchen counters, but I would love to do more of a whole house pickup before bed too. We will see. :) Do you do your whole house? Or just the kitchen?
I am enjoying the pilates challenge. I am a few days behind as I don’t always get the pilates workout in on a day that I do my cardio. I will just catch up on the missed workouts in April though. How about you?
P.Jeanne says
That’s great! I pick up my whole house, but I keep it pretty tidy throughout the day so it’s not too much ;) my son’s room, now that’s another story lol! I’m caught up on the pilates, but I don’t do cardio so I can handle keeping it up daily. Are you going to join the sisterhood?
Emily says
I have considered it, but I may wait on it for now. You?
P. Jeanne says
Yep! I joined a week or so ago :) I figure for $9 a month you can’t go wrong!
Jennifer says
Waking up to a clean kitchen sets the tone for my day. I love this mini goal! Thanks for linking through Modest Mom.
Desirae Rasmussen says
Great idea. Although I would probably focus on our living room. With 4 kids… it is always a mess.
Emily says
Yeah…I really should have chosen the living room, but I tend to push that one off. ;)
Corinne@ thetravelernest.com says
Love this! Signed up to have the mini goal challenge sent to me! I’ve been trying to have the kitchen cleaned before bed every night and this is the perfect way to keep me on track :)
Emily says
Thanks for joining! I hope you find it helpful to X it off on the printable.
Meghan says
I should think about joining. Clear kitchen counters make SUCH a different in my mental state. I need to go clean mine now. I’m not going to join because I’m going back to work next Monday and don’t know what I’ll be facing with managing it all, but I’m going to put it in the back of my mind to keep everything straightened up and to start with the counters.
Stacy says
I love to wake up to a clean kitchen…but it is such a challenge to keep our counter clean. When the kids spill into the kitchen from the mudroom, all their school papers end up there. And when my husband comes in, his wallet and the mail end up there. I try to find homes for everything, but we’re always afraid something will get lost!
Abbie says
I love the idea of mini-goals in general. Feels less overwhelming. I tend to go hard and then feel like it is all too much. You’ve inspired me today!
Emily says
Yes, it’s much less overwhelming to set mini-goals or to break bigger goals down into smaller pieces.
Jess @ Room Service Required says
What a great habit to develop. Having a clean kitchen when I wake up in the morning, somehow makes the morning feel less stressful. Love it!
Annie says
All the YES! I hate having a dirty kitchen but will admit that I am not good about cleaning it up so I’m totally joining you on this adventure!
Emily says
I am happy you are joining me! I hope you enjoy your clean kitchen in the morning. :)
Kim says
I’m in for this challenge! I want to wake up with a clean counter and a fresh start each day. I need to reorganize first!
Emily says
Yes, reorganization definitely helps. I spent the first few days of April doing that. Let me know how it works for you.
Christine says
I really like this challenge! I love to wake up to a clean kitchen in the morning but sometimes it just doesn’t happen depending on how the night before goes.
Tineke says
Love these mini challenges! Think I am going one step back and doing your January mini challenge first… Still have some post-pregnancy kilo´s to deal with :S
Carly says
Hi, I’m your neighbour at Kelly Balarie’s today. This is good advice. I like the idea of setting mini goals each month. It’s a good way to break things down into manageable chunks and feel you’re achieving something.
Ruthie Gray says
Wow I just got completely absorbed in this whole post PLUS some of the links you provided!
1. LOVE both the pinterest kitchen looks. Hydrangeas next to a mint green Kitchen aid – ahhhh….
2. Your friend’s little counter challenge had me all fired up to go do that tomorrow! I have lots of counter space, but sadly, it’s slowly been taken over.
3. I’m still on your 30 day cleaning calendar. I did day one….hzzzzzzz…
4. HOWEVER – today, I de-cluttered my bedroom dresser top which ever so desperately needed it!
So, there’s something! I’m moving slowly, but surely, girlfriend!
Emily says
I’m happy you liked it, Ruthie!
I agree about the kitchen looks! I would love to be at the point that I can enjoy fresh flowers on my counter. Without being surrounded by papers and junk, of course.
Jill says
This is great! I think it makes such a difference in the mornings to have a tidy kitchen!
Brit Strawbridge says
Awe I love everything about this! I don’t have a dishwasher so this is a major struggle for me but I try my darndest & this will help! I also LOVE the Grove Website & products…I just wished they shipped to Canada. But great post! Loved it!
Emily says
It would be much harder to keep the sink clear without a dishwasher!
Bummer that they don’t ship to Canada. :(
Valerie Sisco says
Hi Emily,
I’m your neighbor at Holley’s today and I love this! I’m a clean freak too but somehow find a stack of books on my counter that keeps growing and doesn’t seem to bother me! I’ve gathered them all in a basket and tried to assess what I really need to be there. I also love how you choose one reachable goal to achieve each month — great idea!
Jen @lifewrangling says
I am trying to teach my family the importance of doing a quick tidy up before bed each night. With a daughter in love with crafts and a son whose shoes and clothes seem to fall off all over the house, it’s a bit of a challenge. http://www.lifewrangling.com
Michele Morin says
Good one! I can’t abide clutter on my counters! Time to start spring cleaning!
Michelle says
You will be the kitchen counter queen for many! Like you stated, it can become something you don’t even think about doing, you just do it. The key, everything needs a home. Including that little piece of paper hanging around, trash or put it in its place. Organization comes second nature for many of us “clean freaks” (myself included) but equally hard for many to get it to the point of maintenance. For me, I am a daily picker upper.
Emily says
Oh yes…everything needs a home. I struggle with the little papers and such that my 4 year old likes to keep around! She remembers EVERYTHING that I throw away. :)
Deanndra Serrano says
YES!! I will be joining you on this mini challenge! Except I will focus on clearing the dirty dishes 😖 Great mini goal and motivation!
Christina Rambo says
There is something about an orderly kitchen. Even if the house is an explosion of toys, If the kitchen is neat, I can handle it.
Emily says
Yes. I am not even attempting the toys right now. :) But if my kitchen and bathrooms are clean, I’m doing OK.
Maria Baer says
I love this mini-goal. When I married my husband this past summer, the first week I was at his house the counters were the first to get organized. I cannot stand a cluttered counter and there was stuff all over the place. lol. When he saw the actual counters surface he couldn’t believe it. lol.
Julie S. says
Great mini goal! I need to remember to clean the counters more often. I don’t know about daily though hehe.
K Ann Guinn says
I love your mini goals, and have participated in all of them (mostly successfully, I might add), up until this month.
I’m joining you a little late, and will need a few days also to establish some new organization (despite previous efforts at cleaning and organizing and a decent amount of storage in my kitchen, I still have too much stuff sitting out!). This is the ONE THING that has driven me crazy for years…..so it’s a process to overcome it, but gradually we’re taking steps, so hopefully this month will seal the deal (even if not perfectly). There needs to be a system and assigned places for things and everyone needs to be on board. :)
Thanks for your encouragement to better ourselves. I enjoyed the 30 Days Pilates challenge last month that I even joined the Sisterhood! Great program, and looking forward to continuing to grow in different areas with you. :)
Suzanna @ One Hoolie Mama says
I absolutely need to take on this mini-goal. It would make my mornings so much more peaceful if I took the 15 minutes to clean out the sink and clear off the counters each night! Thanks again for linking up with Gratitude & Goals.