Something is better than nothing (Trying to get organised)

[KantankrusMare]

Hi, first time poster here though have been a long time lurker and thats part of my problem.
I spend far too much time on here just scrolling and reading everyone elses problems.
Not quite sure what has all of a sudden changed to get me motivated but I have an urge to get organised. My house (3 bed semi) isnt cluttered or massively untidy but after returning from holiday a few weeks ago I have realised my wardrobes are chaotic. I have stuff over two wardrobes in two different bedrooms and two storage boxes for out of season stuff but everything is muddled. So thats my first job. Also have stuff in the loft amongst all the other crap that we put up there intending to have a huge car boot sale but it just hasnt happened this year.
I also have an allotment which to others eyes is probably one of the tidiest on the plot but there is loads I want to do before winter sets in. The shed is crammed and cobwebs everywhere so need to take everything out, get rid of stuff I no longer use and make it tidy.
I think my main problem with decluttering is I cant just bin things if I think they could be useful to someone else so tend to put things on vinted or plan car boot sales. I made a bit on vinted and it was enough to pay for a new pair of work shoes which I was pleased with.
I work two and a half days a week starting between half ten and half eleven so have time to do things in the morning but I waste time reading threads on here!

No more!

Ive decided even a small job done each day will give big results (if I can keep it up)
Hoping you lot can give some ideas on organising clothes to start with and then I plan to go through every single drawer and cupboard in the house.

Just had a count and I have 35 cookbooks!! OMG That is going to be a big job to sort.

Anyway....I wanted to start this thread to mainly keep myself motivated. This morning after I did my daily clicks on neobux and my short routine on swagbucks I switched the laptop off before i could get drawn into mumsnet world and got the dog ready for her walk. Walked to the allotment which takes me 15 mins there and 15 minutes back. Whilst there I planted 7 strawberry plants(runners) to fill gaps in the bed which I had tidied yesterday.
Then I came home and finished off the holiday ironing which has been sat looking at me since we got home nearly two weeks ago.
Two jobs done and now have to get ready for work.
Hope some of you will come along with good advise or hope Ive motivated others.

Sounds like you have a lot of catching up to do.
At least you know it, a good start.
You also know that MN for you, takes up too much of your time.
So sounds like you're off to a good start.

Just work every day on one project at a time.
Try to stay with one indoor project at a time; less mess and stress to look at.
Prioritise when you can; good weather, work on shed or plot.

Mostly indoors will bother you with less sunlight and holidays etc.
However you're not missing anything staying inside in the colder weather.

Clothes! Too many? Be brutally honest with size, colours, style, fashion, events.
(I have too many coats/boots!
Soon I will share with those who shop thriftily.

The hardest part of any job is getting started.
Once you do, it's easy to become obsessed with completing the task.
Which keeps you going. The rewards are obvious in tidiness & space well used

Keep your ambitions manageable.
Prioritise indoor de-cluttering this time of year.
Defer some (outside)projects, if weather, and daylight are important to work with.

Good to hear you're walking your dog, good for both of you to keep moving.
The more you move, the more you feel like things getting done.

Nice that you got enough money to buy new work shoes.
However, intending to do Vinted or car boot, will not get the job done.
Donate what you can, rather than putting off the process of Vinted and car boot especially,
Good luck, and yes, you have motivated to do same OP!

I’m excited to see your progress. I have no advice cos I am much the same!

So day off today and a few little bits of progress .First win was a pair of knickers that had broken elastic.....straight in the bin! My mobile hairdresser was arriving at 8.15 this morning for my regular root touch up. I had a few minutes spare before she arrived so off the laptop went and I quickly gathered all the empty toilet roll holders from the wicker basket in the bathroom, tore them up and put them in the recycling bucket along with veg peelings to take to allotment compost bin later.
Hair sorted, I gathered up pooch and compostable bits and walked to allotment.
Whilst there, I tidied bed two of strawberries. (I have four beds) Started bed number 3 but will finish that on next visit.
Then the shed of doom! I binned some stuff!! I had lots of old cd's that I was told you needed on an allotment to scare birds away from crops. Never used them in twenty years so out they went along with a triangular saw thing that my dad probably would have said would come in handy. It won't so it too went in the bin.
A contraption that is supposed to water tomatoes when you cant get everyday and Ive used once. Wasnt impressed with it so gone. A load of old plant labels tucked into the window grill.......why? Dont know so also gone.
At home I removed rest of summer stuff from wardrobe and actually sorted clothes into sections. Looks much tidier and just have jeans and trousers to sort but need to investigate hangers for jeans......must be a better system than I use.
Wardrobe would look much better if I had all the same hangers but can i justify buying new?
Ordered a new fitbit strap as mine is knackered. A new phone case as again the one Ive had for several years is also knackered.
I have had a handbag hung on my wardrobe door for well over a year that hasnt been used because although I love the bag, the strap is worn and frayed. Amazon do a good selection so ordered what looks like the right colour.
All this came to £40.00.....i had a voucher from shopandscan for £20 and snapmyeats for £10 so just had a tenner to pay Win Win.

Just hope I can keep up the motivation.

All bits arrived from Amazon and happy with all especially the phone case! My old case had gone baggy and I was constantly worrying that I would lose my bank cards. The new one has a magnetic fold over bit for the cards which is brilliant for me and even a little zipped part to carry a note for an emergency.

Been at work so not much decluttering today........but did get a highchair returned to lady that lent me it from work for my grand daughter who is now old enough to sit on a booster seat at the table.

Walked pooch to the allotment this morning before work and finished off bed number 3 of the strawberry beds. Cant do bed 4 for a few weeks as I still have runners planted up in pots and need to make sure they are well routed before detaching them. I sell these in the spring and it pays for my seeds and compost making any thing I grow at allotment free food.

Hoping to make a start on shed tomorrow afternnon.

Just realised it seems I am chatting away to myself here LOL but will keep posting as it is giving me motivation.

I am reading, you’re not chatting to yourself. I like reading about people’s decluttering progress. I am hoping it motivates me!

It sounds like you are doing very well and I like reading about your allotment adventures.
i find with clothes that doing one type at a time helps me, eg all coats, all jeans etc rather than a drawer at a time as then you can choose what you want to keep from everything of that type.
i would recommend the Marie Kondo book or Netflix series as motivational and with some good decluttering and tidying ideas.

Thankyou @distractdistract and @Calypsocuckoo for letting me know Im not just wittering on to myself.
Went back to the gym yesterday morning after a couple of weeks break. Did a combat class followed by a relaxing yoga class. First time back is always the hardest.
Then in the afternoon I made a start on the shed of doom though ive been looking on youtube at others shed clearing activities and realised mine wasnt that bad to start with!
Anyhow I have got half of it sorted. Pulled everything out, swept, tidied and dodged the hundreds of spiders that popped up every time I moved something. I dont actually mind the spiders as long as they dont get on me so let them just scurry to a safe nook and cranny. What did frighten the life out of me was a huge bang on the perspex roof!! It was only an apple falling off the huge apple tree that has branches overhanging the roof of the shed but frightened me to death!
I have lots of hooks and drawers and workbenches in my shed along with a little sink and a camping stove for hot water and a drink, so everything really has a place. broke the couple of hours up by going down the lane to my dads friends plot and dad made me a coffee. Although we are joint tenants on my plot he spends most of his time at his mates allotment helping him with the building of sheds, greenhouses and laying slabs. I cant complain as when we took our plot on six years ago, it was just an overgrown mess. Dad helped me move everything from my old plot and together we rebuilt shed, greenhouse and gradually covered the plot with raised beds. My dad is very practical and good at building stuff but once that is done he loses interest so its me that does all the sowing, harvesting and never ending weeding but I love it. My husband is also practical and now Dad is helping his mate more, my husband comes occasionally and will help me with practical stuff and the odd bit of weeding and watering.
Got another free day today so will go and finish off shed. Going to a friends tonight for a catch up with old colleagues and a chinese so something to look forward to.
Coming on here to say what Ive done is really motivating as if I havent done anything, I have nothing to write so feeling its really cathartic.

It sounds your shed clearing is going well. I park under an oak tree and the acorns bang rather loudly on the roof which always makes me jump so an apple would be loud I think.
you are doing well outside but what about in the house? I have sorted some clothes and sold on Vinted, next job is to tidy the wardrobe but I was in a grump today and needed to get out so I went out Christmas shopping instead !
I have loads of bags of clothes in the loft to sort but can’t face them yet.

@KantankrusMare , have you seen the Housekeeping section? You should join one of the Decluttering threads, you'll be right at home

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/housekeeping

I’m reading and getting inspired. Well done 👏.
I get the one task a day thing. Trying to do too much is daunting.
There was a post on here a few weeks ago about pottering.
Sometimes I set a timer for 15 minutes, and just potter from small job to another small job.

Oh dear.......horrible when you are in a grump. Luckily for me it doesnt send me on a spending spree and Im not mad on christmas tjhough having a two and a half year old granddaughter will cheer things up this year.

Ive been to the lottie and got the shed of doom finished!! Looks so tidy and fresh. It was the one thing that I really needed to get done before the weather turns. Also got my Blueberry bed weeded and made a start on asparagus bed. Really feeling on top of allotment now........still bits of weeding to do but thats never ending Im afraid.
You are right about me not getting on with much at home yet. My next jobs are sorting my jeans and getting some new ones ordered then I have two drawers under the bed in box room that need sorting. One holds all my allotment clothes and the other my gym clothes with a load of old recipe books left by an old aunt. Will flick through them but think they can be disposed of.

Well done on your sales on vinted!!

OP, you are doing so well! I know I need to break things down into tiny steps to get started on the big jobs (like sorting clothes). From my working life, I used to decide every morning on my top 3 priorities for the day, and keep them in mind when I got interrupted or distracted, and still use that method. I also love a list, and ticking things off! Are you a lister too?

I need to be doing what you are doing!! I desperately need to declutter.

Well done OP! I don't need to declutter as such, but to really organise things and put things away. You inspired me to go and get a start on my wardrobe, so I can actually find clothes I want to wear! 😁

So not a lot to report as I work a 9 hour day in a busy restaurant on a Sunday which doesnt leave me much energy for anything else on Sundays and yesterday, I had my granddaughter most of the day. I love having her but its tiring keeping a little person entertained all day when they have the attention span of about two minutes😨
When she had gone though and OH was cooking tea (yes I know I am very lucky!) I did the little bit of ironing that needed doing and while putting it away, I attacked the allotment clothes drawer. Ive probably got enough old jeans in there to last me the rest of my life but they are now at least tidy and I turfed out a few tops that will never get worn again.
Another bit of clutter I seem to be getting on top of is emails. I often have to have a splurge clear out of 100s at a time like a lot of us I guess so I have got into the habit each morning of deleting as many as I can which keeps on top of it and I am going to unsubscribe for one site daily which should cut down on amount of mails I get in first place.
I do love a list @ICouldHaveCheckedFirst but tend to do lists just for general errands if I have a lot to get through but the satisfaction of crossing stuff off is immense!
@JellyBabiesmunch join in.....something is better than nothing!

@HeardInstinct pleased I have given a bit of inspiration.

I agree about unsubcribing from email lists OP - it really cuts down the email clutter.

@KantankrusMare
For hanging jeans and trousers, I use children’s hangers. Got cheap velvet style ones from Home Bargains. Then they don’t slip or hang wonky like on full size ones.
And thanks for the inspiration. I’m working through a job a day list too!

I have just done my wardrobes. It took a while!

I got a double hanging rail to give me a bit of space to work. Seven a few would have been more helpful, but I managed with one.

I just started at one one of a wardrobe and put each item into a pile/hung on the rail;

Keep it - I like it and it fits and it is in good condition
Keep it but packed away - nostalgia clothes in one bag, too-big-but-might-need-them-one-day in another bag
Donate it - don’t like it and it is in good condition
Recycle it - not good condition

Then I organised them in to categories on the rail/in cupboard just emptied - shorts / trousers / vest tops / t shirts / long sleeve tops / blouses / jackets / leggings / jeans / trousers / jumpers etc etc etc.

It is a long hard slog, but I like the inside of my wardrobes now!

Personally I just donate rather than Vinted or car boot because I want them out of the house on my schedule not someone else’s.

I totally agree! Children’s hangers for jeans and trousers as there’s less width for them to slide about!

@HappyAsASandboy Hey well done! sounds like you had a thorough sort out!
I managed to sort through my gym clothes drawer and binned the old recipe books but they werent binned for long. My 30 year old daughter is a bit OCD with recycling and reusing old stuff. She moaned she had never even seen these old books and would like to look through them so out they came again. 🙄Actually , one of the books called "What if its catching?" has gone for £20 on amazon. Its an old 1930's book so need to investigate that one.
Gave the box room a good clean, even moving the bed......where does the dust come from? Took all books off bookshelf and cleaned shelves as well. Even the lamp shade was covered in dust! How slovenly am I?
Unsubscribed from a few more emails and deleted a couple of apps. The apps are WeWard and Macadam. I had visions of earning a bit extra for all the walking I do but after using both for several months, I realise its going to take me a year to be able to cash out and I keep forgetting to do my daily upload so just not worth doing. Freed up a bit of space on phone anyway.

At work today and then sister in law is coming to stay for the night tomorrow so decluttering will have to take a back seat till next week. Pleased with what Ive achieved so far though.

Yesterday, after our weekly class, the weather was downright miserable!
OH had been saying about a corner in the kitchen that had a little damp patch and needed a repaint. Simple job you would think.
I have an alcove in my kitchen where the rangemaster cooker is in the middle. Around the three sides we have rails with hooks and containers that house all our main pans, cooking utensils and various herbs, spices and things like red wine vinegar, worcestershire sauce etc.
Cant remember the last time this area was cleaned so we took everything down so OH could paint.
OMG!! The grease! I washed everything, checked spices for dates and threw some out along with a pair of nutcrackers. Who cracks nuts any more?
Area is now sparkling and clean. (Though the hob and oven is a job for another day) I had a spare few minutes whilst paint was drying and able to put everything back in its place so also cleaned out the cupboard under the sink. Not sure how this space gets so grubby.

Well done that sounds like good progress. I have had a bit of a declutter in my kitchen to make some more space on the kitchen counters. I have also tidied out a large and inaccessible cupboard of baking equipment to make it a bit easier to use.
no progress on the loft but the kitchen looks better….one thing at a time.