First stuff first.

"Have nothing in your [life] that you do not believe to be beautiful or know to be useful"

I'm trying to shape how living life in a clutter-free way would look for me. My life is too full of stuff. This 93 sq.m house is too small for our accumulated stuff. We still have boxes from moving back here two years ago. How is that necessary stuff?

My life is also too empty of stuff. I often spend half the day on the computer and let the kids watch TV. I don't agree with that. We have an income that almost covers food, childcare and bills. This is crap. I'm struggling inside, screaming quietly to myself, feeling like I'm living on a very noisy building site, with my ears ringing constantly and no chance to get away from it.

I feel that I need to simplify life. I have a lovely little family; two boys of 4 and nearly-2, and a sweet MOTH who is about as overwhelmed as I am. This is a good start. A core of valuable things. I also love my work. I'm a nurse in palliative care, and it's partly that which is driving my frustration at this cluttered life. When you get to the point of no return, you only have time and energy enough for the important stuff.
People talk about their kids, their holiday memories, their gardens. Things that have brought richness to their life. Sometimes people talk about their job; what they loved about it, what they brought out of it into their real life.

Things I do know:
I need to spend less time doing nothing at all on the computer.
I need to spend more time learning about who my boys are really
I can - somehow - manage on 3 childcare days. Unless I work full time nights, then I need all 4.
I need to consider carefully why I feel I need takeaway at least once a week.
I need to go to bed. It's after 2am. Night shift throws your body clock out in inconvenient ways.

The areas I feel I need change in are:

• physical clutter - house and me.
  
• becoming more self sufficient
• building relationships with people who already matter
• better stewardship of my time
• more considered use of resources.
  

One thing from each category seems like a good start.

When I wake up, I'm going to start.

I'm going to spend 15 minutes getting rid of extraneous crap from my bedroom. I'll discuss a garage sale with the MOTH.
I'll go to a playground with G and R. One with no coffee shop. I can't promise I won't read.
I'll clear the pantry and do a stocktake.
I'll plant out some of the lettuce and broccoli seedlings, and use the box to plant new stuff in.
I'll do all of this before I use the computer.

Today. But first, sleep.