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.

Oh dear. You’re all quite far along but I’ve only just found you.

Can I join in at the back?

Morning all. Hope you're all well.
I'm happy with my progress so far. Didn't do much last week as I was on nightshift and bloody knackered but on Friday I tackled the box room (which was piled high with junk and now looks amazing!) and Saturday I cleared out towels/bedding that I don't use (another car-load to the textiles bank!!). No wine at all last weekend and I'm now in another stone bracket woohoo so happy.

This week I plan on clearing out my dressing room a bit and getting rid of some clothes that I no longer wear/don't fit anymore. That only leaves me with the kitchen cupboards and Christmas cupboard to organise this weekend!

I've finally started my Christmas shopping and have made a checklist of treats I want to make/bake in the run-up to Christmas.

I've never been this organised before in my life and it's making me feel so calm and happy! Even despite all the other nonsense going on in my life right now, at least this aspect is under control!

Enjoy your trip Peridot and welcome SleightOfMind You sound like you're making great progress too pleasenotmondayagain Keep On Keeping On.

Checking in.
Still not drinking enough water.
Dining room has been rearranged. The DVD racks are now in the conservatory until we get rid of them. They are blocking some of the light into the dining room which is annoying but it won't be for long. Started selling the DVDs on FB. Only sold a few so far but it's a start.
1 bag of old clothes taken to the charity bins at the supermarket.
Still not started on the kitchen.
Shredding is all done! We're now trying to keep on top of the paperwork and shredding so it doesn't build up like it had done (a few years, I blame pregnancy and a baby for a couple of years of that).
3rd bedroom not sorted. In fact it's getting worse as I'm storing Christmas presents and snacks in there atm.
Not touched the loft either.
No new bath panel yet.
Toilet not fixed yet.
No new blinds.
Christmas presents started to be bought for adults.
Conservatory is probably not going to get a deep clean until next year, as we are using it to store things. Will probably get DH to go around everything with a feather duster to get rid of the cobwebs (I won't do it because I'm scared I'll be attacked by spiders).
Smear test booked. Dentist for me and DS also booked. Just need to get DH to book his dentist appointment now.

Last weekend we deep cleaned the living room ahead of visitors. My goodness, it was really filthy behind the sofas and furniture. I'm planning on doing it again this weekend and wash down the skirting boards.

Since September I've made it my mission to take a bag to the charity shop each week. So far I've succeeded and the house is becoming more manageable and less cluttered.

This Saturday I want to tidy up the garden in the morning and then I'll take the kids to the village Christmas fair & light switch on.

I have a pile of confidential paperwork which needs to be incinerated so I'll do that when I sort the garden.

Need to book my elderly neighbour in for Christmas dinner at the local Bupa home. There's a scheme run by Contact the Elderly which hosts Christmas dinner for the elderly who would otherwise be on their own on Christmas day. I'm hosting her on Christmas Eve and another neighbour is hosting her on boxing day. I don't celebrate traditionally and my neighbour is a bit of a stickler for a traditional celebration so this scheme is perfect.

Basically I've got 5 weeks to sort my house before operation hibernation starts!

Hooray!
House: Three bags of DC tat and clothes taken to charity shop.
Home admin: Have booked dental and eye appts for 5 of us (DH does his own). Also flu jabs and haircuts for me and DS1. Booked vet for DDog1.
Found a guitar teacher for DD, booked new oven and carpet fitting and organised delivery of Xmas presents and goodies to distant family and friends.

Nearly finished wrapping DCs stocking bits.

Work: chased outstanding invoices for three pieces of completed work and pitched four more articles.

To do:
House Admin:
Book carpenter and bathroom fitter. Declutter bathroom, our bedroom, kitchen island and windowsills.
Sort food and DCs craft cupboards and bookshelves.
Cut little DCs hair.
Book dog groomers and cleaners for house deep clean.
Help DD finish thank you cards for her Bday presents.
Finish tidying garden for winter.
Book council colllection of old sofa and carpets.
Xmas:
Presents for my DM, DBil, DNephew.
One more present for DS3. Finish wrapping.

Work:
Arrange appraisal meetings for three team members (and plan what to say - one is not great so will be tricky). Check what training/support I can offer.
I hate this bit of my job so have been putting it off but I’m running out of time now.

Great thread. I was feeling a bit panicky and behind with everything but writing it down has shown me that I’ve actually made some headway.

Brilliant job sleight whistle figment and Luki - but now you've reminded me of the things that I had forgotten! It is quite satisfying to be able to cross things off the list, but there are some biggies that are still staring me in the face.

Into week five for me:

weight and health - some progress made this week - down three pounds, surprisingly, but that may be related to weekend stress.

house - couple of jobs that needed outside help are actually done now, hurray! Did a hot / service wash on the washing machine which resolved the 'what is that odd smell?' question. DC2 bedroom is now more or less sorted, although I need to sort out some boxes for small things that he plays with but just fall off shelves.

Christmas - cards bought, starting to write them. Opened up the loft and brought Christmas boxes down, and found that we still have a lot of wrapping paper from last year. Slightly cross, because I had in mind that we would switch to brown paper this year, but I'm not going to waste the stuff that we have already.

Good luck everyone! Week five for me is already half way done, which is a little scary, but at least there is (some) progress.

As usual, still not drinking enough water. And now I'm a bit run down with a cold.
Still slowly selling DVDs on FB. No clothes sold yet as I have to steam out the wrinkles first.
DH has been brilliant and started on the kitchen (FINALLY!!). He has rearranged the pan and plastic tub cupboards, and thrown away some really out of date food (mainly baking stuff as we haven't baked since DS was born 18m ago). He has also cleaned these cupboards before putting everything back in. Hoping to continue this weekend as DH is off now till Wednesday, if we get enough time along with Christmas shopping, putting up the decorations, visiting Santa, appointments etc.
Only thing I have done with the 3rd bedroom is tidied the Christmas present up so they don't fall over.
Not sorted the loft, the bath panel, or the toilet.
Blinds have been measured for and ordered. They should be fitted before Christmas.
Lots of Christmas presents have been bought. Going to buy some more this weekend. Hoping to have it all sorted by the end of next week. Then it's on to wrapping!
DH booked his dentist appointment, that is now tomorrow along with my smear test. Also booked a little 10 minute Christmas photo shoot for DS next week.

Haven’t checked in for a while but fairly pleased with progress. I’ve started listening to “A slob comes clean” podcasts for motivation, and been following her advice for decluttering without making more mess, and staying on top of the daily stuff so I do feel like I’ve made and maintained good progress. Apart from the playroom the downstairs is looking good. Upstairs needs to be taken in hand but while it’s not great, it’s not overwhelming either.

I’ve made a huge list and stuck it up in the kitchen so if DH wants to help he can refer to it. Gifts are bought and there’s a small bit of wrapping left to do but I enjoy that.

This weekend we’ll start putting up decorations. I’m going to put up less. In the past I’ve decorated every available space but ended up with nowhere to put the mail until DH reads it, or the library books etc. I’ve been paying attention to how we live over the last few days and I want to make sure we still have room to live over Christmas.

So the house is taking shape, but I’m still putting me last though. Still haven’t phoned the dentist or the optician, though my back is much better for the Physio and taking a few easy days. I’m not eating chocolate at the moment and I don’t really like non-chocolate sweets so that’s something. I’m struggling to manage more healthy foods though, and the water habit isn’t sticking. Getting outdoors lots.

Can’t believe it’s nearly December.

I think I may have posted way back up there^^ at the beginning.

I have surprised myself in ways this autumn - I have let some balls drop close to the floor (but not actually dropped anything - yet!), but I have also managed to get a fair amount done and still make some time for things I wanted to do for myself.

Even this week, I have made Dr appointments for me that needed to be done, and also dealt with DD having an ear infection - trips to OOH, her GP during work day, chemist, etc...

The diet is mixed - I am mostly making and drinking my breakfast smoothies with lots of berries and some porridge oats in it. But my lunchtime salads have not happened, more often than they have happened. Dinners - well - let's just say that there has been food on the table every night (and mostly it has been at least somewhat homemade, with almost no takeaways at all).

DD has been through another assessment process, which I had just not got organized for quite a while, so that's good.

My car has been serviced. DH's car is fine. He bought snow socks (new cars since last bad snows) that will fit. Bills are all (except AA - due today) paid and sorted. House has had some more decluttering done, lights fixed, various small maintenance jobs and annual checks done and some of the more seasonal rather than weekly cleaning things done too.

And I collected the things I want for 1st Dec tomorrow from the storage unit - DD's fabric advent calendar, her fleece blanket, 2 Christmas mugs to enjoy, and DD's Santa duvet set.

Still on my list are to:
Pay AA
Send email to assessor
Hand over paperwork for a Committee I have managed to leave
Tidy up spare room again and change sheets ready for any visitors that arrive
Declutter my dressing table

Finish crafting Christmas presents (getting there)
Finish buying other Christmas presents (bit further away from getting there)
Write all cards (way behind this year - they're usually written and waiting to be posted, all I've done is buy them and not even bought stamps yet)
Decorate the house
Have a wrapping night
Make garlands for hall
Make a table centerpiece flower arrangement
Buy Christmas dinner (I have internet shopping slots booked, but I like to buy my turkey in person)

And SLOW DOWN before everyone in the house burns out....

How is everyone getting on? I've unfortunately not managed to do everything but I did manage to get a couple more things done. I blame working alternate hours to DH so one of us has DS, and usual winter bugs.
I did get all presents bought at the beginning of December, everyone else's were wrapped last weekend, and DS's were all wrapped last night. The last present is being delivered today. Also all the blinds have been replaced. They are now safe, just in time for DS to learn how to climb (he started the other week). And of course the big Christmas shop was done yesterday. 2 more shifts at work and then I'm off for christmas.