Reset to Zero

All this chatter about minimalism and de-crapifying may be leading you to say, "K.  I did that. All my crap's thrown out.  Livin' in a box.  Now what."  Today we will talk about de-cluttering your brain and resetting to zero.   

I saw a cartoon once with two panels:  one had a mom getting ready for bed.  She set the coffee maker, put the cat out, signed permission slips and placed them tidily in backpacks, laid out her clothes for the morning, took off her make up, and finally fell into bed.   In the other panel, the dad put himself in the bed.  Done.  

I realize the gender bias there, but it does seem to be pretty accurate. And of course, all this takes place AFTER the bedtime kid circus and its many encores. This is just the mom duty call sheet.  Today, I want to ask you to Reset to Zero.

Reset to Zero isn't MY construct.  I read about it on a post from exilelifestyle.com and I loved it.  The basic idea is this:  once a day, or maybe once a week you "reset to zero".  This includes several ideas.  Your email inbox to with NO messages. I know.  You're saying "Wha??  How???" Place them in appropriate folders if you cannot address the issue right now.  Make a category and move that message over.  Boom.  You're at zero.  

Another idea, of which I am very fond, is the nighttime routine to reset to zero.  For me this includes no dishes in the sink.  The dishwasher is set to run overnight, and the clean dishes from today are all in their respective drawers and shelves.   I set out cereal bowls, spoons and boxes for the morning repast.  The coffee maker is loaded, and my cup is waiting for the magical liquid breath of life to be deposited at the press of a button.  

I put away the clean laundry so no annoying wrinkled up balls of cotton and spandex are taunting me.  The dogs are in their crates, and food and water rest in their bowls ready for the morning.  My "mommy desk" is cleared of bills and receipts, and paperwork has a home in the file cabinet, my purse, or kids' backpacks.  

Lastly, I tidy my bathroom counter after my evening's ablutions.  No errant jewelry or moisturizers abound.  Everything in a drawer or its cubby.  I keep my reading glasses and a book next to my bed, phone on the charger (college boy is away so I need constant contact!), and set the alarm.  Reset.  

I don't watch TV after resetting.  Hubby not a huge fan of the TV in the bedroom at all, so I try to keep that off after my nighttime binge of House of Cards.  As the exilelifestyle.com guy says, this is sort of a minimalism one-off.  You don't have to throw anything away or do without to reset to zero, but it is a nice way to close your day and clear your head.   

I highly recommend you give it a whirl.  I realize it takes some pre-planning and effort.  I also realize your housemates may not be totally on board with 9 pm dish-doing.  Your mornings will be calmer and your nights likely more restful, knowing you're reset and cleaned up. Who doesn't want more calm and more rest?

Happy End of February, and let me know how your reset to zero is going! 
I love to hear your comments and stories.  Contact me at cowtownminimalist@gmail.com