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Original poster

What's the most dramatic change that happened to your life after tidying/ decluttering?

28 replies

TidyMama · 16/09/2023 07:49

Hello,

I would love to hear about how your life was dramatically transformed after a deep tidying/ decluttering.

I am fundamentally an organised/ tidy person but you wouldn't know if you saw my house right now. And I feel such a big burden. All the time. My house hasn't gone back to being as tidy/ organised and uncluttered as it used to be before last year when we had some works done to the house. It's always on my mind but for some reason I haven't succeeded yet in tackling the whole house. This is making me stressed and nervous all the time and is literally stopping me from working on any intellectual project. There is absolutely no area in the whole house where I can say it is totally as it should be.

That said I am totally committed to doing this and I will, God willing, start soon. This is the only way forward to start living and progressing normally for me. I would love to hear about the changes that occurred after you did such an undertaking, for inspiration.

OP posts:
Mumsanetta · 16/09/2023 08:06

I hired a professional organiser to audit my
house and then used the Minimalista book for style inspiration. Decluttering has replaced the stress and anxiety you mentioned with peace and serenity when I walk into my house. I have also realised that I have a beautiful house and enough space for my current stage of life. Go ahead and do it!

Original poster
TidyMama · 16/09/2023 08:13

@Mumsanetta wow, that's awesome! Peace and serenity! Exactly what is lacking in my house right now. Could you please expand on how the audit was carried out and the whole process?

OP posts:
witmum · 16/09/2023 08:21

I am 'on a journey'. It's not perfect but I am trying.

I have saved time and money as things are in the right place and I am not buying duplicates.

I feel like I am now set up for the life I am living now. For my wardrobe to living room.

The Declutter Hub podcast and Facebook group is inspirational. Declutter Dollies on instagram gives me a good kick up the arse!

Adelaide66 · 16/09/2023 08:34

More pertinent, which item have you dramatically missed and rue the day you decluttered it from your life.

Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius · 16/09/2023 08:39

Would you try the minimalists challenge? I found it really good - really gets you in the habit and (crucially!) you realise what a pain in the hole getting rid of stuff is, so you think v hard about letting stuff into your house in the first place unless you love it.
start with 1 item on day one that you have to get out of the house by the end of the day. 2 items on day 2. 3 items on day 3…. Etc etc. starts getting v tricky when you are in the twenties! Good luck!

Original poster
TidyMama · 16/09/2023 09:14

Thanks everyone! I miss the rush of happiness I used to feel when tackling a bothersome area and seeing the dramatic results. Today is the day, I am pushing myself to do some tidying with the kids help but I haven't started feeling the energy yet. So I am still pushing myself and will continue pushing until that point.

@Adelaide66 I personally have never missed any item that I tidied away to the point of rueing the day. Would you care to talk about it?

OP posts:
witmum · 16/09/2023 10:11

Today is the day. Well done.

You are welcome to report back here if it gives you the motivation.

As it is the 16th of the month do you have 16 items you could get rid of?

CharSiu · 16/09/2023 10:53

Trying here as well, long hours at work and a horrendous commute meant I just let stuff slide. Now retired and so far five car boots got rid of four to the charity shop and one to the tip. The charity wrote to us asking if we would like our gift aid back and they had raised almost £300, we did not claim it back. I can find things more easily. The house never looked cluttered but all the cupboards and loft were heaving.

Unionizedy · 16/09/2023 11:09

Three words: Swedish death clean. It’s a very positive thing for us Swedes.

Really makes you look at everything with new eyes and gives you the strength to get rid of things you don’t need or no longer actually use, if you’re honest… for example, half a wardrobe of clothes that no longer fit. Aspirational kitchen prep stuff you never did get around to putting into regular use.

My mental health has improved immensely, I feel lighter and sleep better, and never once miss the stuff I got rid of… I got rid of nearly 50% of all I owned.

All went to charity and it made me feel really good someone will be loving and putting to good use all the things I had been wasting, allowing to gather dust and take up space.

I treated myself to a beautiful simple peace of jewellery to reward myself for being so doggedly ruthless going about the job. Can you similarly promise yourself a treat you like and will look forward to having at the end?

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 16/09/2023 11:28

I'm able to regularly save now because I no longer buy little bits and pieces. It adds up quickly.

OhamIreally · 16/09/2023 18:02

I have to be in the right frame of mind to declutter. I've recently decluttered two large bookcases in my living room. They were absolutely stuffed with books. To me I find the idea of throwing away books almost sacrilegious but some were so old and yellowed there was nothing else for it. Lonely Planet books for places I'd been to and loved it was so hard to get rid of them but I accepted I would never need them again.

So three bin bags of books were thrown. A further two bags were taken to the charity shop. I got rid of all the weird bits and bobs. I cleaned and painted the bookcases.

I did all this when my daughter was at her dad's. It was really hard work. They look beautiful and it goes me so much pleasure to look at them now whereas before they stressed me out and reproached me.

It's also pleasing that I've achieved this transformation for the price of half a tin of paint (and a lot of elbow grease).

YukoandHiro · 16/09/2023 18:15

When you're having works done it's so hard. Are they still ongoing?

Do you have young kids? It's really hard to stay on top of the stuff they acquire too (eg I've become extremely ruthless about chucking party bag contents in the bin 2 days after the party unless they're playing with it constantly)

I'm also in the middle of a couple of years of renovations (on and off) and it makes it tricky... but when we're closer to being done I'm going to try to go at it one room at a time starting from top (our bedroom) to bottom (where all the toys are/kitchen action is so the hardest)

Original poster
TidyMama · 17/09/2023 10:45

witmum · 16/09/2023 10:11

Today is the day. Well done.

You are welcome to report back here if it gives you the motivation.

As it is the 16th of the month do you have 16 items you could get rid of?

Thanks @witmum for the motivation! What my house needs right now is reorganisation/ tidying as I used to regularly konmari before last year's works. Yesterday was a good day as I tackled some bothersome areas and I am happy with the progress I did. Still a lot to do but feeling the motivation coming back. Thanks a lot for your help!

OP posts:
Original poster
TidyMama · 17/09/2023 10:58

CharSiu · 16/09/2023 10:53

Trying here as well, long hours at work and a horrendous commute meant I just let stuff slide. Now retired and so far five car boots got rid of four to the charity shop and one to the tip. The charity wrote to us asking if we would like our gift aid back and they had raised almost £300, we did not claim it back. I can find things more easily. The house never looked cluttered but all the cupboards and loft were heaving.

I feel your relief @CharSiu! Keep up the good work!

OP posts:
Original poster
TidyMama · 17/09/2023 11:05

Unionizedy · 16/09/2023 11:09

Three words: Swedish death clean. It’s a very positive thing for us Swedes.

Really makes you look at everything with new eyes and gives you the strength to get rid of things you don’t need or no longer actually use, if you’re honest… for example, half a wardrobe of clothes that no longer fit. Aspirational kitchen prep stuff you never did get around to putting into regular use.

My mental health has improved immensely, I feel lighter and sleep better, and never once miss the stuff I got rid of… I got rid of nearly 50% of all I owned.

All went to charity and it made me feel really good someone will be loving and putting to good use all the things I had been wasting, allowing to gather dust and take up space.

I treated myself to a beautiful simple peace of jewellery to reward myself for being so doggedly ruthless going about the job. Can you similarly promise yourself a treat you like and will look forward to having at the end?

@Unionizedy Well done you! 50% is impressive. I am familiar with the swedish death clean and it is indeed a very efficient method. Before last year's works I used to regularly declutter. It's only in the last year that things got messier but I started yesterday and I am satisfied about the progress made. Thanks for the motivation!

OP posts:
Original poster
TidyMama · 17/09/2023 11:06

OneRingToRuleThemAll · 16/09/2023 11:28

I'm able to regularly save now because I no longer buy little bits and pieces. It adds up quickly.

@OneRingToRuleThemAll that's motivation indeed! Thank you.

OP posts:
Original poster
TidyMama · 17/09/2023 11:09

OhamIreally · 16/09/2023 18:02

I have to be in the right frame of mind to declutter. I've recently decluttered two large bookcases in my living room. They were absolutely stuffed with books. To me I find the idea of throwing away books almost sacrilegious but some were so old and yellowed there was nothing else for it. Lonely Planet books for places I'd been to and loved it was so hard to get rid of them but I accepted I would never need them again.

So three bin bags of books were thrown. A further two bags were taken to the charity shop. I got rid of all the weird bits and bobs. I cleaned and painted the bookcases.

I did all this when my daughter was at her dad's. It was really hard work. They look beautiful and it goes me so much pleasure to look at them now whereas before they stressed me out and reproached me.

It's also pleasing that I've achieved this transformation for the price of half a tin of paint (and a lot of elbow grease).

@OhamIreally wow, really lovely to hear and I feel your satisfaction at a job well done. Thanks for the motivation!

OP posts:
pompomdaisy · 17/09/2023 11:12

I don't even understand the thread. Why would something dramatic happen after decluttering?

Original poster
TidyMama · 17/09/2023 11:18

YukoandHiro · 16/09/2023 18:15

When you're having works done it's so hard. Are they still ongoing?

Do you have young kids? It's really hard to stay on top of the stuff they acquire too (eg I've become extremely ruthless about chucking party bag contents in the bin 2 days after the party unless they're playing with it constantly)

I'm also in the middle of a couple of years of renovations (on and off) and it makes it tricky... but when we're closer to being done I'm going to try to go at it one room at a time starting from top (our bedroom) to bottom (where all the toys are/kitchen action is so the hardest)

@YukoandHiro No the works were done last year for a week or so, but we had to move everything as all floors were being changed and the house never went back to how tidy it was before the works. And yes I have 2 primary school children which doesn't make things easy!
Good luck for the renovations; I feel for you. I would never be able to live with long-term works at home.
Thanks for the motivation!

OP posts:
Likeafurchin · 17/09/2023 11:24

pompomdaisy · 17/09/2023 11:12

I don't even understand the thread. Why would something dramatic happen after decluttering?

I think a lot of people fund it mentally invigorating to declutter. Getting rid of clutter allows you the mental space to do great things! I find it hard to declutter as dh doesn't want to let go of anything.

Tittyfilarious81 · 17/09/2023 11:36

A couple of weeks ago I completely cleared out my wardrobe of all the clothes I'd been keeping because I might fit back into them again some day and I cannot tell you how much better I felt when they were gone. Since they have been gone I feel great because I know everything in there will fit me 😊

pompomdaisy · 17/09/2023 12:17

@Likeafurchin I may try it then. I actually find it overwhelming to even start. It may have to be a pre Christmas thing.

UnconventionalLife · 17/09/2023 12:57

We're on a decluttering mission here too!
A couple of weeks ago I cleaned out our bedroom & took 8 black sacks of stuff out - 3 were clothes & shoes that we donated to charity & the rest was ancient stuff - old underwear stuffed into drawers, old bedding from the back of thr cupboards, old cosmetics etc. I was shocked that there was so much to be honest.

My current mission is the (f)utility room. Again it's a total mess & the dumping ground of the whole house. Dh is desperate for piling stuff up out there.

On Friday we deep cleaned the fridge. Today I'll do the freezer half. And start on the storage there.

I feel an incredible sense of relief when it's done. I feel like I'm failing at life when things get messy

I sleep better & feel peaceful & a sense of pride in the home we've created when things are clean & tidy & in their rightful place.

You can do it OP! And you'll feel great once you start making progress.

I have found it easiest to do one room at a time. We have redecorated the whole house room by room since last summer. Only the utility to do & then actually decorate our room last.

Milksheikha · 17/09/2023 19:30

If I sort and bag things they have to go immediately or I start needing them again or if husband or kids see , they need them.
Today I stuffed 4 old suitcases with my unwanted bags, clothes and shoes and had them picked up by a charity.

Kids were out of the house and husband is away but the dog went into a state because he saw the cases and thought I was going away.
I'm so pleased with myself.

Original poster
TidyMama · 18/09/2023 09:17

@pompomdaisy what @Likeafurchin said exactly. Just try it for yourself. I would suggest you tackle a small area like a drawer for eg that has been nagging you for some time. Try to focus only on that area and push yourself even if you feel overwhelmed at first. Keep pushing until you finish it and see if you feel anything then. I can't describe the feeling of extreme relief and satisfaction after doing something like that.

OP posts: