Declutering / no buying in the new year for hoarders

[MedwayMumoffour]

I have been good most of 2016. I have had CBT for hoarding and had quite good progress on clearing out.

After shopping for Christmas I can feel it all creeping back in. I'm determined to not be in such a state by next Christmas. I'm going to try to buy only shoes and school uniform for the kids in 2017 and throw out at least one thing every day. I know that sounds quite a small target but hopefully I can do better, I don't want to set unrealistic goals and give up.

There's so much to sort out, it's going to be tricky.

[anahata]

Here to offer some support, I'm in a very similar boat myself.

[lljkk]

ooh, can I sidle in? I am a reformed hoarder... not in-need-of-CBT-level, but still, have had to work hard to temper my instincts.

I have plans to get rid of lots of stuff, but can't seem to quite get around to it, have to wait for other things to finish, etc.

One thing I found out today: bag it all up but don't take to charity shop until middle next week, because their drivers are still on holidays so charity shops are running out of storage space with all flood of donations they get from now until mid January.

[MedwayMumoffour]

I did the day 1 throw out one thing, day two throw out two things etc for a whole month last year but that got hard past day 15. I am aiming to set 15-20 minutes a day just to declutter one area at a time. That also worked well before.

Been looking a new sofas today so I'd need to clear my piles in the living room ( only have one pile but lots of toys scattered around).

I'm not a documentary worthy hoarder, on good days I can pass as just a bit cluttered. I asked for therapy because it's getting worse and worse. In ten years I could be on a documentary I think.