Anyone up for a 'sort out myself / my house / my life for Christmas' thread?

[pleasenotmondayagain]

This has become something of an autumn tradition for me. You would think I'd learn from my mistakes, but no! Still, it worked, sort of, last year, so here I go again. Any company and encouragement welcome.

Never mind sorting out Christmas (although I intend to do that with my usual style and poncery chaotic approach) I need to sort out

(1) myself

I need to eat a healthier diet. It has been rubbish since the summer and my winter clothes are now tight.
I need to build some exercise into my week. I love the cold air and blue skies of autumn. Less the rain, but I can't have everything. Cycling to work would be a good start. Maybe even some C25K style running.
I need to go to the dentist, the optician, and the hairdresser.

(2) my house
I need to sort out the garden for winter. The view from my kitchen window is of dead bedding plants and soggy leaves. The shed door needs a lick of paint and the pots need to be put away.
I need a proper sort out and declutter. Targets are the loft, my (and the DCs) wardrobe, and the toybox-coffee table thing in the lounge that could contain pretty much anything and probably hasn't been opened all year.
DC2s room needs some paint. We took down some (baby) border / stickers a few weeks ago and the marks are annoying me.
I need to get a plumber in to look at a dodgy toilet. It is only a matter of time before I really regret not getting it fixed.

(3) my life
Paperwork is taking over my kitchen. Sort, file, or shred.
I need a system to deal with the avalanche of demands that the DCs school sends home in the run up to Christmas. Ditto clubs and their events. We're bound to miss something otherwise.
I'm becoming a real procrastinator and ditherer. I need to get a focus and be more efficient.

Anyone want to join me? I reckon with 8 weeks until Christmas, I should be able to fix those things that annoy me around the house, get on top of the domestic chaos, and shift 10 pounds in weight.

Had a really busy work week last week, so was working all weekend and from 7.30am-8.30pm yesterday. But day off today. Already been for a swim and jacuzzi with a friend. Going for a walk in a moment with another friend. Then going to sort out the kitchen cupboards and declutter all the old jars and spices etc.

Checking in at the start of week two.

House: made some progress last week.
Decluttering in DC bedroom (more to do maybe, but a good sort out at least)
Garden looks better after a weekend blitz. Leaves raked, pots emptied of dead summer plants, and I bought a few winter flowering plants to replace them.
Food cupboard sorted out, and I'm running down the contents of the freezer ready to defrost and clean.
This week I need to sort out the 'stuff' cupboard in the utility room. Full to bursting but I have no idea what is in there apart from stuff at the front that we use a lot.

Life:
Up to date now with school and club events until Christmas apart from the letters that arrive home along the lines of 'Dear parent, please could your child bring the following completely unattainable items tomorrow morning for some kind of festive craft thing.'
Loaded up a bag of paperwork that we really don't need - old bills and other stuff - which I need to shred.
Started to phone around folk that we need to come and fix some minor but irritating things in the house. Struggling to get things booked, but at least I've started.
Didn't finish the work project that I planned but the end is in sight.

Me:
Lots more exercise by walking and cycling to work / school etc. I actually enjoyed it most of the time, hurray!
Weight loss. Ummmm, total disaster there. I couldn't work it out - I thought I had done well last week, but it turns out that not only did I fail to lose any weight, I actually managed to GAIN weight!! . Then, when I discovered this on Monday morning, I ate way more than I needed or really wanted for breakfast which is not going to help. Last night I looked at myself in the mirror with a hard stare and a metaphorical kick up the rear. This week needs to be better. For all my belief that I had cut back on snacks and unhealthy food, I am clearly something of a mindless eater, which is probably the root of the weight gain in the first place.

Good luck everyone!

I have sorted out more clothes and a bag of coats.

3 more sackful of clothes and one sack of coats - gone.

I do need to start on the loft, which is not a task to be doing by oneself, so may put that off till the weekend when I have more hands available to help.

Me: been out on my bike doing errands this morning, so around 7-8 miles clocked up. Sardines for lunch too (good brain food)

House: finally took bags of textile recycling to the tip that have been cluttering up the hall. Picked up parcel from post office (DS trainers), posted birthday present, bought 2019 family calendar. Also paid DD's music lesson bill. Came home to find parcel of DS new clothes had been delivered so will have to unpack that later.

Am at conference for work tomorrow and Thurs (plus college Thurs evening) so will be two long days with not much chance for anything else.

Enjoying hearing about everyone's progress, nice to think of us all being productive

Oh, and am enjoying using Google Keep for my lists, feels good to tick things off. Plus I have some shared lists with DH to encourage him to take on some of this stuff.

Haven't followed up from my first post last week so here goes

Still not drinking enough water.
Started on the dining room rearrangement - DVD have been sorted, now need to be sold on FB.
DH has been brilliant at weekend, he has built the 2 radiator covers and secured them to the wall. So that can be removed off the list. Yay!
Not sold anything clothes on FB yet.
Kitchen cupboards - not done anything yet.
Paperwork - continuing to shred. Near the end of the pile.
3rd bedroom - not done anything yet.
Loft - sorted through 1 bag of clothes. Half going to charity, and the other half going to be sold on FB (old dresses I don't fit into anymore). Not much but it's a start.
Bath panel not bought, toilet not fixed.
New blinds not sorted yet.
1 present bought for my mum. Nothing else yet.
Conservatory slowly being tidied before it is cleaned.

Need to add to the list as I've had my smear test letter come through so I need to book it at some point. I think I have another job I need to add but I can't remember what it is. Also realised I never added sort garden out onto the list. Again DH has been amazing and tidied it all up.

I'm behind atm as I have a job interview this week so I've been prepping for that along with juggling a toddler.

Can i join this thread? Back later.

I'm late to posting but have been following, am I allowed just hop in?

House plan starts Mon, getting bathroom re done now and it's in chaos so not attempting until I have the place back/access to upstairs during the day.

Have upped the water and vitamins and doing the Courtney Love diet, meaning I've cut out cheese. It's worrying how much it's helped, take away pizza, cheese on toast, DSs mini triangles, macaroni cheese, feta....Yeah.

I think I'm sorted for presents/cards etc. Going to write some this evening since I got the Christmas stamps😁

I’ve not been brilliant but started on the kitchen cupboards today. So much out of date food. Pretty disgusting really. Our food waste bin is now full. Looks nice and tidy and I still have the two lower shelves to do - mostly baking equipment etc.

Diet not going too well. I start the day well but then it slips. And I haven’t been for a walk since Wednesday so zero exercise. I’m going to do a self list and make sure I tick stuff off.

I need to get back to doing daily lists of everything really. Self stuff. Day to day stuff. Admin stuff. And move stuff from the huuuugggeee to do list so I gradually get round to stuff.

Off to book chiropractor apt!

It’s been a good week so far!
Me: made hair appointment, ordered and collected enough of my prescriptions to last until Christmas, started half heartedly exercising

House: Took 2 big bags of stuff to the charity shop and finally got round to painting and redecorating our entry was porch

Christmas: arranged dates to visit family, booked to take kids to see santa, and have started buying and wrapping presents

Me: good diet intentions still ticking along and have been sleeping really well this week.

My house: sorted out one of our cupboards of doom. Have to keep sneaking a peek at how lovely and organised it is!

My life: need to pin dh down today for a decision on dd3 Christmas present and then I think the wrapping can begin!

Oooo I've just noticed this thread! Can I jump in?

I have already marked on my kitchen calendar that November is my "GET SHIT DONE month" I want to get my house decluttered and given a proper clean. I also want to lost 1/2 stone before the festivities begin. As part of this, I am doing No Drink November.

Started last weekend by emptying out the cupboard upstairs where the boiler lives. We've finally gotten round to organising a new one and it's being installed this Saturday! Yay! Finally, proper hot water that doesn't cut out halfway through your shower Two car-loads of junk emptied out of there.

Cleared out the big unit in the utility room. Found some stuff that's been there since before we moved in a brand new pack of elf-shaped jelly moulds and a toy military helicopter.

Monday: cleaned all the windows inside and cleaned the oven (that was a marathon and a half!)
Tuesday: wiped down all the kitchen units, front sides and tops. Cleaned skirting boards, kick boards and radiator.
Wednesday: cleaned all the hallway skirting boards, the radiators and gave all the doors a wipe down.

Me: plenty of water this week and have lost 2lbs

Well done Luki! You have achieved loads!

Still sorting kitchen here. My big pantry cupboard looks really good! Rest of kitchen is a mess as there is stuff everywhere. But I’m getting there.

About to sort through baking supplies. I hardly ever bake. Found little cup cake paper cases that I think are about 16 years old.

Today’s plan - finish kitchen cupboards. Sort stuff for a tip run and a charity shop run. Change ds’s bed and strip spare bed. Do an hour of ironing. Sort ds’s passport photos - he is now 17and I have all of his passport photos from his first which was taken when he was two weeks old. I’m going to get them all put into a frame in order.

Drink more water. Stop eating crap at night. No wine.

Right, I need to motivate myself. I have an afternoon off work.

I will clear out all the kitchen cupboards: spice, dry goods, snacks , tea & coffee and medicine shelves, the cupboard of weird-vagely-kitcheny-stuff-we-used-once-ten-years-ago and the fridge. If I have any energy left over I might even tackle the drawers.

Thanks Peridot1
Good luck OneStepMoreFun My kitchen cupboards are on my to-do list too. Might attempt to tackle them on Sunday.

Tonight is just going to be a general all-over tidy, polish and hoover. So I can sit on my arse tomorrow after work and do nothing

Well I didn't manage to get them all done but I have done about half of them. Filled a charity bag and a bin bag. Best find - a bag of Cadbury chocolate animals dated 2012, hidden behind a juicer.

The juicer went to charity.

Juicers are a pita - too much cleaning out.

Nothing sorted out in the house, and quite a lot of wine consumed last night at conference.

But just got in from college where I learnt some new things in Photoshop. Just drinking more water before I head off to bed (have been focusing on early nights this week)

Back again, and copying and pasting my initial post to see how I’ve got on:

Me

• lose 8lb (this will bring me to my normal weight range - albeit at heavier end) NO PROGRESS - BUT HAVE STARTED NO BOOZE NOVEMBER SO HOPEFULLY THAT SHOULD HELP
• opticians / new glasses NO PROGRESS

House

• change radiators NO PROGRESS
• photos in frames - currently none on walls and we have a 7 month old! FRAMES BOUGHT AND ON WALL - JUST NEED PHOTOS
• rearrange cupboards (stolen from above but a great one) NO PROGRESS
• start organised mum method

Life CLEANER CAME YESTERDAY - Does that count?

• sort photos on laptop NO PROGRESS
• wills / life insurance LIFE INSURANCE SORTED
• reduce mindless phone scrolling

Given that it was quite a modest list i’m a bit disappointed!! Inspired by this thread, i’m going to full on tackle the kitchen cupboards today!

Just need to remind myself how much better I feel when I’m eating sensibly. Well done all!

Checking in for the start of week #3

Me: Healthier lifestyle certainly with more exercise and less sugary snacking. Weight loss only one pound, but that's at least in the right direction this week. I've done a better job at looking after myself this week. Polished nails, been smoothing off rough skin on heels, keeping hands moisturised

Home: Progress with project kitchen. Cleaned the inside of the windows after we had the outsides done and I realised that the muck was on the inside. Accepted a quote for some minor work on the house and have someone else coming tomorrow to quote for the bigger job. Blitzed laundry and ironing at the weekend. Cleaned sofa cushion covers.

Life: Paperwork now better under control. One pile, upstairs, instead of five different piles all over the house. Gettings DCs to take their school bags and homework books upstairs when they get home rather than abandoning stuff here there and everywhere and then losing it.

Current project is to get clothes sorted for either Ebay or charity shop. I've never had much luck selling on Ebay.
This week: sort out the garage. Our car goes in the garage over the holiday period so that we can let visitors park on the driveway rather than half a mile up the road. Also sort out the spare bedroom / office. It needs to be ready for Christmas guests but is pretty cluttered at the moment and could do with a 'deep clean.'

Good luck this week everyone. I'm with you on the sensible eating hoggy. I know I'm trying to lose weight, but I actually feel better already, even if I've not lost much, because I'm eating better things.

Can’t say I’ve achieved lots!

Kitchen cupboards sorted though. DH decided to help. Pretty happy with it.

Diet and exercise not so good. Cutting down on wine not so good either. Sigh.

And tomorrow (today really I suppose) I fly to Australia for three weeks. So I’ve been concentrating on getting organised for that. Had a pedicure and got my waxing done.

I have a pile of stuff for charity in the hall so I need to put that somewhere before I go. Otherwise I just need to change my bed so I come back to a nice fresh bed and pack! Oh and do a washing instruction sheet for DH for when I’m away. He’s pretty good but has asked for instructions!

I will be exercising more when I’m away. And eating relatively healthy but there will also be meals out and lots of wine!

Then I come back to full on Christmas prep mode.

Last week was a very busy one for me so very little progress on house. I didn’t have time to stay on top of the basics and it just wouldn’t stay tidy. Ive decided to concentrate this week on storage spaces. I’m hoping that the hall will be tidier if coats and bags can fit under the stairs. The kitchen might be tidied if the utility room wasn’t a disaster. The bedrooms might work better if the wardrobes were decluttered etc so that’s going to me my focus

I managed to book in a couple of sessions with the physio which has already made a difference to my back. Although today is supposed to be a “take it easy and slow day” so I can’t do too much in the house. I’ve booked colour for my hair. Now I have to sort the dentist. Dreading that. Even calling up to make an appointment is filling me with dread. I’m ridiculous!

I’m struggling to drink more water but starting to notice that I’m thirsty during the day which I wasn’t aware of before. I’m also trying to get more sleep. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends and I’m in a state of constant exhaustion. But even when I try to prioritize the time to sleep I still manage to wake in the wee hours! My body just doesn’t want to be healthy

Me.

Me: I have a massage booked for this afternoon (bliss). Also have managed to run for the last two Sunday evenings with my running buddy, so helping her keep fit too.

House: have managed to make good progress and all the things I cleared out last week have been returned to their owner/binned/gone to charity shop as appropriate. What makes me a little deflated is that I seem to be the only person in this house trying to stem the flow of stuff coming into this house. It's an ongoing thing!

Christmas: have made a sensible present list and am about half way through buying. I have also made a start on the two home-made gifts I'm doing this year. Have ordered some wrapping paper as we have finally run out - last year I didn't have to buy any as I collected together all the odds and ends that were scattered around the house and put them in one place. We also had 6 rolls of sellotape!

Checking in for the start of week 4:

Inspired by those of you who are well advanced with present-buying, I've sorted out most of the gifts that I need to post out to friends and relatives. Not wrapped them yet, but I caved and did an online order rather than going into town. I love Christmas shopping in the actual shops, sparkly lights, treating myself to a Christmas hot chocolate somewhere, but I'm saving that for stocking / family presents which will make it less stressful.

Home: sorted out the garage, taken a load of things to household waste centre, charity, school collection. Still left with a pile of things to put on Ebay - I'm going to try that this week and see how I get on. Slightly cross that the parts of the house that I attempted to 'deep clean' already look messy, but I'm hoping that they are just untidy rather than an actual health hazard.

Me: started to wage war on the hard skin on my feet, dry skin on hands, and manky nails. Weight loss efforts have been okay and I'm 3 pounds down this week after a slow start. I have a mental target of being comfy in my winter trousers by the end of the month. Went for a decent cycle ride on Sunday afternoon then used DHs gizmo to calculate distance, effort, calories which was depressing.

I feel your pain Rhinestone I've not chosen any wrapping paper this year because I have a feeling there is some in the loft purchased in January. Alana our hall is a mess too. Narrow anyway, but whatever the DCs bring home from school seems to fill it up completely. Peridot enjoy the trip!

Good luck everyone this week.