topic Re: Need mastermind help... in Home

Need mastermind help...

qualitygal — Wed, 15 May 2019 11:31:57 GMT

Well, I need some suggestions, in case you've been through this, how do you, stop a table from becomming a dumping or dropping ground in your home. I don't want to get crazy about it, but it's beginning to bother me probably more than it should. It is in the only area that it can go in this house and we use it to eat off of at holiday time. So I do need to keep it. In other words I need help, breaking this habit for both of us. Have you solved this in your home, if so, how?

Re: Need mastermind help...

SXMGirl — Wed, 15 May 2019 11:59:25 GMT

@qualitygal If this is a dining table that is only used for holidays, and you want to keep others from dumping everything on it, then keep the table set so that it is ready for you to sit down and eat. It doesn't need to be your good china, just needs to look nice, even if you just get a pretty but cheap set of dishes for that table during the rest of the year. I have a centerpeice and placemats on mine so that no one puts anything on it.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Eileen in Virginia — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:00:38 GMT

I don’t know, but we have the same problem. I’ll be eager to hear suggestions.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Hoovermom — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:14:42 GMT

How about a basket on the table to begin with. Once it is full, you have to put things away. Then decrease the size of the container on the table. Practice makes perfect.

Re: Need mastermind help...

nyc1 — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:19:40 GMT

That's where we drop off our mail and the Sunday papers. I would love to have it completely clean, but then the mail and papers would be elsewhere.

We do a regular review, toss, keep, recycle..... but since we rarely use that table, that is the spot for those things. I'd rather they were there than in my kitchen or elsewhere.

Re: Need mastermind help...

CAMOGIRL — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:40:04 GMT

Someone metioned using placements...

Well, I did the placemats... and you know, my husband still keeps putting stuff

on that table- but now there’s a small thing here, a small thing there - on the placemats!

I can’t win. I am like “hello???, issss there not anywhere else in this house to put this stuff???”.

Oh I am so buying a basket like someone said and see if that works!!

A basket is far better looking than small piles of whatever! Then again, my basket plan could backfire and he will still put his piles around the basket or put something stupid in the basket like his koozies or something!

I will try a basket though...

Re: Need mastermind help...

jlkz — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:46:20 GMT

Start with beautiful baskets: one designated “ Mail “, another “ DH- Save for Later “, another “ MY- Later”, another “ Recycle “ etc. Have them deep enough that they don’t present clutter to the eye as you pass by.

Once weekly or bi-weekly, empty them. Eventually, move the Mail one to where it makes more sense: His and Her smaller baskets on/near the work desk area.

The remaining table baskets could go under the table.

Another idea: Find a large Baker’s Rack that fits your style of furniture and fill with matching bins or baskets identified as to purpose. They could present as a solid “ wall “. Since the racks have lower shelves, you could move the bins to the lower shelf when company comes so you have additional serving or bar space.

Have a rule: if it is not in a bin or basket, it gets tossed or hidden elsewhere !

Keeping a table set will attract dust...a beautiful table cloth with a tall or large centerpiece will be easier to keep clean and clear of clutter.

Re: Need mastermind help...

qualitygal — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:48:39 GMT

I'm thinking a basket on the way to the basement, will be my best bet. I need to find a pretty one for the top of the stairs to downstairs. I did tell Mr. what I'm planning to do since when it got mentioned before was long forgotten. Like I don't forget or do it too, but....... LOL

Re: Need mastermind help...

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 15 May 2019 12:54:17 GMT

A very drastic temporary solution might be to "store" the table until your next holiday. No table, no where to put your "stuff". The habit might be broken by then.

I know, I know kind of a nutty idea. But hey!

Re: Need mastermind help...

qualitygal — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:01:02 GMT

@Imaoldhippie That thought crossed my mind, but size, weight, can't do, thanks.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:03:41 GMT

@qualitygal ............I thought about that being a large heavy dinning room table, but just threw out that idea. I have the same problem with my kitchen island, drives me nuts, but Im living with it.

Re: Need mastermind help...

queendiva — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:12:26 GMT

Is the dining table near your entry? Is the table used for other purposes, like a desk, project table,or is it's main function to collect stuff?

In every one of my homes, even when I was living with a husband and two sons, nothing was ever dropped on any dining tables. Just never allowed that habit. In many homes the DR table is one of the first things you see upon entry. That would drive me crazy!

First: if you are an offender, you must work on yourself to achieve the desired result.

I enter my home through the garage, so junk mail never enters my home. It goes directly into the recycling bin out there.

Next, I deal with mail as it enters the house- open it immediately at the kitchen table. I have a drawer, basket or bin dedicated to bills and mail. Bills, etc, go right in the basket so nothing is lost before it's time to pay the bills (2x's/month) Keys and wallets also need a dedicated home that's not on that table. Same with bags, hats, gloves and misc.

The stuff should be gone through at the same time daily. I suggest right before dinner as there is motivation to do it before sitting down to eat.

I also found that having a basket on the stairs is very helpful. Many items that get dumped on the dining table probably have a home upstairs in the bedroom or bath. Get in the habit of never going upstairs empty handed, a hint I learned from a dearly departed coworker when I was first married and it has stuck.

Finally, no TV or bed each evening for everyone until that table is cleared! Keep the remote until everyone has done it. On a daily basis this is a chore that takes minutes.

Right now it is just a bad habit that needs to be broken in the next 30 days.

Re: Need mastermind help...

GCR18 — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:13:12 GMT

Is there a home for the things put on the table? Create a home for them.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Jasmine19 — Wed, 15 May 2019 13:33:36 GMT

Divorce worked for me.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Lilysmom — Wed, 15 May 2019 14:18:29 GMT

@qualitygal , there is a runner with decor pieces on my DR table. Nothing else. I let the week’s Receipts collect in one spot on the counter and keep or toss once a week. When mail comes in, I divide it and deal with it, recycle, garbage whatever. I give my husband a pile and it if it is not gone in a day or so, I either hand it to him or put it in his closet. He knows me well enough to deal with it. I hate clutter.

Don’t place anything on the DR table. If someone else does, pick it up and make them deal with it. Persistence matters. Soon enough people will get the message.

Good luck! Not easy to break habits. LM

Re: Need mastermind help...

shoptilyadropagain — Wed, 15 May 2019 14:36:07 GMT

Good luck! It seems there is always a place in your home that is the "collection" spot. I'm so OCD about clutter that it's a non-issue for me. I'm very good at going through everything as soon as it's received and opening the mail, throwing it away/put it in recycling/shredding it and putting the monthly bills and other things in their own designated spots.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Fressa — Wed, 15 May 2019 14:52:29 GMT

I'm a big fan of baskets. I put one on the buffet for the daily mail. I have smaller ones to hold the charges, ear plugs, etc. I purchased a decorative multi wall hook for the car keeys and dog leashes. This worked for me. It's stuff and if it's in a contained area it doesn't annoy me. Here's my tip: find the size basket to fit the items that are essential (mail, keys, etc.) If you have a larger basket it tends to be a catch all just like the table. My husband has a tendency to see a basket and fill it up with "stuff". Drive sme nuts. That's how I came up with the method that I'm now have. I did place a larger basket in the family room where he can just put "stuff. About once a season I have him search thru there and throw out or put away whatever is in there. Works for us I think the hardest step is finding the "center" location. You may have to try a couple of spots before you find the one that will work and get everyone on board.

Re: Need mastermind help...

DenS — Wed, 15 May 2019 15:29:50 GMT

Big issue at my house too. The piles of stuff, not mine, grow to the point I can barely set the table for dinner. Once he hears "company is coming" the stuff gets moved. Then most is back after they leave. Life is too short to make a huge fuss. I do make little fusses when it gets out of control.

Re: Need mastermind help...

Regal Bee — Wed, 15 May 2019 15:30:30 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
Well, I need some suggestions, in case you've been through this, how do you, stop a table from becomming a dumping or dropping ground in your home. I don't want to get crazy about it, but it's beginning to bother me probably more than it should. It is in the only area that it can go in this house and we use it to eat off of at holiday time. So I do need to keep it. In other words I need help, breaking this habit for both of us. Have you solved this in your home, if so, how?

@qualitygal I am a neat nut so no, I do not have this problem but can easily understand how it would bother you.

First, everyone in your home needs to want to stop this habit or it won't work. A suggestion would be to place a centerpiece on the table that takes up quite a bit of space...just to start with. Then I would place a round dish, about the size of a dinner plate, on the table. This would be for things to be dropped in for a short period. This helps everyone to take this new process in steps.

Then remove the plate when a period of time passes. It will take time to get everyone into this new habit.

Good luck.

Re: Need mastermind help...

riley1 — Wed, 15 May 2019 15:38:02 GMT

First, what kind of "stuff" is going on the table? Mail, keys? Put a hook by the door and hang the keys there. Recycling never comes in my home. There is a recycling can where it gets deposited.

Do you have a glass table or wood table? I have a glass table so nothing ever, ever gets put on it. If you have a table cloth on a wood table, remove it this way nothing can be put on it to scratch it.

Other than that my suggestion is find a home for the stuff or toss it.