Weighing the Pros and Cons of Carpet

I received a lot of feedback on my last post. So today, I'll answer some of those questions and expand a little. 
First, I purposely included a few tasks in the pictures of things I have on my lists. Some of those that I did not talk about were "duolingo" and "elevate". Both are apps on my phone. Duolingo is available as an app and a website. It is a way to learn a little bit of a language everyday. It takes about 5-10 minutes and it is simple and fun. My 3 oldest children have been doing this all summer and when school started, I decided I wanted to keep going. And they wanted the same. It is now just part of our day and is on my list and theirs. I let me children choose between the two languages that our extended family speak, which has been fun for them to help each other and I still know what is going on. 

The other app listed is called "elevate". It is just an app I found awhile ago when I felt my brain was going to mush. It is memory and mind testing and it only takes a few minutes a day as well. Both of these apps need consistent, daily action, which is why I gave them their own task to help me remember. I have only recently added things like this into my routine and schedule.

Which leads me to my next point: 

Consider what you are truly signing up for when making decisions. 
Because these apps are things that are not necessary, but instead helping me achieve personal goals, I first vetted them for a few days and then made a choice to add them to my task lists, or to just play on them as I remembered. Once I decided I wanted to make a habit, it was an easy add and they are starting to become habits. 

But you can use this same vetting process for anything you add into your life.
I used to only vacuum once a week. I did not feel that it needed it more and if it did, most of the time, that was just too bad because I do not care for vacuuming. So once a week I would force myself to vacuum and then check it off and be done for the next week. 
Until we got new carpet. About 4 years ago we were picking out new carpet for only our upstairs living areas and bedrooms. While talking to the salesperson about the pros and cons, she mentioned that between the two carpets we were interested in, one needed to be vacuumed twice a week for the longest life of the carpet. That got my attention because I knew that I liked to vacuum once a week. After talking it through and weighing the price and the style and the maintenance required, we got the carpet that needed vacuuming twice a week. So I added that extra step to my weekly chores, because I really do want that carpet to last. And on weeks when I just do not want to vacuum again (because that still happens) I either save it for a chore for a child who needs some correcting or push through and vacuum. Because I made that choice. In a carpet store. 4 years ago. And I really do want that carpet to last just a little longer. 

So, before you add new things to your plate, truly weigh what you want long term. And know that sometimes you can easily change your mind and delete the app and other times you will dramatically shorten the life of your carpet if you do not push through.