Fellow Shit-Tippers - Anyone want to join my thread for sorting your house out?

[RefereezaWanka]

I have tried Fly but can't stick to it. I need a plan! And I need support

I'd like to join you lot please!

As quick as I sort one area,another 'fails'.A 'big push' on the garden has resulted in a towering laundry pile.I'm never on top of paperwork as I find it both boring and overwhelming.I need to help the kids with another big toy sort out and my wardrobe is shameful.

I think I need to try to approach it by tackling the thing that'll make the most difference - which is always the last choice of things I pick to do.If I could choose to wake up to one thing being organised it'd be my paperwork for once and for all

From tomorrow I will tackle the laundry mountain (through neccessity) and focus my spare time to a thorough organisation of paperwork......

Mackrelmint get yourself better first.It's enough to feel poorly when you're pregnant with a littlie,without adding extra....

I can understand what others are saying:

If you try to focus on tidying and decluttering one area it's a bit demoralising to find DC's have been equally as focussed on trashing another area.But usually their mess tidies away reasonably easily whereas what you have done should be longer lasting...

Board games and things in boxes with lots of little bits are nightmarish.I would love a toy cupboard.I'd like to get a solid 2nd hand wardrobe that looks 'cupboardish' and ask DH to put shelves in it so the doors can be closed to hide the mess.

I find myself trying to finish the de clutter so everything has it's place before I do any more decorating.

I think I need to be strong and put away a lot of the crap objects d'art I like on display.I don't really like the minimalist look but its a lot quicker to keep clean and it's no good looking at things I find beautiful when everything is covered in a layer of dust....

Morning all, today I will be mostly throwing out in despair carefully sorting through DS toys with him with the incentive of decorating his room for Halloween once done. Then a trip to the tip recycling centre
It will happen. [hhmm]

Morning all! Day 2 of The Great Declutter and I?m still motivated! How impressive is that? Last night was a success ? I cleared out under our bed. It was a right state. Due to copious amounts of clutter I?d not been able to vacuum under there for a few months weeks, and we have a dog, so it was pretty grim. There?s a whole pile of stuff to go to the charity shop, a few bits to try and sell, and a few bits that I?ve offered to friends as I know they?ll like them. I also found a large (3 feet square) floor cushion, with no cover, which is too big to be much use really. So I pulled it apart and used the stuffing to re-stuff the dog?s bed. He seemed pleased.
Goal for today ? sort out drawers in bedside table, which have become something of a dumping ground, and drop off the stuff I sorted out yesterday. Not much really, but I?m at work today and out this evening.

Up and at it.I've got some washing on but I'm wavering on my primary objective already...
Will someone sensible come and 'ave a word.
See,I'm kind of thinking that since the paperwork has been in an untamed pile for so many years yet I generally manage to find stuff,perhaps I'd be better off focussing on something that has more impact.The paperwork is in a couple of big plastic boxes that can be shoved away in the corner.Whereas I could have clothes moths lurking in my wardrobe, and a toy sort out that would take hours rather than days would have an excellent and almost instant pay back in the greatly improved (and contained) look of the place,and ease of cleaning.

I suppose the question is,should I focus on the hardest and most stressful area (paperwork) or start where I can see instant results (almost) which I will be encouraged by?Or am I just trying to weasel out of last nights brave declaration (as usual)?

Well done everyone else and Rumpled what a golden opportunity!! Go Girl!

Joining in! Goody Slatterns Corner!

Could never join Flylady,don't do lace up shoes!!!

Countess- tackle the paperwork, thats my goal today.

i find it does help to subdivide it so if you can't face filing ALL of it just do one pile as you can.

Go through it & throw out the flyers/envelope/ crap that always come with stuff then get a box file/plakky box or 2 & have one for utilities, one for insurance etc whichever works for you.

i have one for household one for personal & one for work, all full to overflowing neatly filed.

Good luck back later!

Countess - why not set a timer for 15 minutes. Do your 15 minutes of filing, and leave it at that. Then you can do some quick wins afterwards if you like. The paperwork will get done slowly over time.

tiger

I used to have my own little decluttering business and still do it for friends when needed. It is very rewarding when it all goes right and I loved doing it.

My main customer base was businesses, everything from solicitors, architects and art galleries. All of my recommendations were word of mouth and I never advertised.

It is very hard work and I offered a complete service that included the decluttering, bagging, labelling (archiving if neccessary) and despatching goods to tip/charity shop/auction.

If you do decide to go into it then be prepared for the clients who want/need/book your services and are still unable to part with a single thing (very frustrating) or negotiate over every single item. I have had clients trying to make 'deals' with me along the lines of "Okay I shall throw away the broken teapot but I get to keep the fourteen pepperpots".

On the other hand I have had clients that embrace the procedure whole heartedly and worked side by side with me. They are the most satisfying and when I have left at the end of the day I could almost hear the whole house purring.

Also please be aware that some extreme hoarders do have mental health issues that should be dealt with by a mental health professional.

Good luck if you do decide to go for it and PM me if you would like any advice.

[hgrin]

Right Bossybritches and cupcakes,paperwork it is.I shall attack one section like you suggest Bossy.But I think that's a good idea Cupcakes that I do a little then tackle a quick win.Really to do the ridiculous paperwork hoard I have got in one session would be insane (trust me,I have appointment diaries dating back to the 90's....)

Perhaps I should start by disposing of those diaries?I keep telling myself I should have a look through and see if there's anything interesting in there or that it's fun to keep them so I can look and see what I was doing this time ten years ago...Someone please give me permission to just chuck them away....

countess

Chuck the diaries away now.

Happening any minute now Blood.Thanks!

Thanks countess - noone else is telling me to rest so I probably need someone to! but I'm not feeling too bad today and I think I'll feel better with a few things done, so I'm alternating chores with naps/tv/tea time.

I have done one load of washing and de-cluttered the piles on both landings.

Weirdest thing I've thrown out this morning - the plastic tub the homebirth midwife brought round for the placenta then forgot to take with her when we transferred to hospital. Been sitting there for 15 months - I guess I thought I'd take it back to the hospital at some point, but I'm not sure the overworked receptionists would really know what to do with it and it's unlikely I'l get up there soon so it's just going in the bin. The kind of thing that I'm tempted to think: 'oh, but a big plastic bucket might come in handy...' but it doesn't have a use right now so it's got to go.

I had the same thing with diaries countess - it was kind of fun to look through and see my random notes and stuff. But then I thought if I didn't have them I probably wouldn't miss them and managed to get rid of (most of) them. I kept books where I wrote down everything I spent for a time as well thinking it 'interesting'...

Just realising I probably am a terrible hoarder. I had convinced myself I wasn't too bad...

bloodred - oh dear. I believe I own both a few bits from broken teapots and if not 14 then at least a few more pepperpots than I need... But I think if you told me to get rid of them I probably would.

Mackrel seriously if you wont REST at least please do sitting down things ...

I'm having a break - getting on with the paperwork and it's not nearly as bad as I thought.I've done far longer than I thought but I reckoned I'd keep going while the going's good.DC's have had a few busy days with lots of attention and outings recently so they're happy in front of TV and playing.

Haven't actually tackled the diaries yet,but I fully intend to.

I have also 'archived' a couple of lidded plastic boxes of stuff for the loft.One is 'keepsakes' of the kids pictures etc.Stuff I want to keep but don't need to be downstairs cluttering up our (limited) space.Plastic boxes are my friend.

Well,I'm getting back to it.

When I'm sick of paperwork my quick wins will be packaging up the pile of spare towels in the bathroom (that I haven't touched in two years) and putting them in the loft ready for planned puppy (when the time is right),and putting sandals in the loft.

I can feel justified in putting things in the loft as long as there is reason as we did manage to do a complete loft sort out this Summer so that (at least) is very organised

Mackrel I am going to tell you to get rid of the broken teapots and excess pepperpots.......

I have done nothing today. DC being very clingy so can't leave the room. I'm losing all patience. It is proving to be a very long week. I've caved in and put more laundry on despite not having put the last lot away. I struggle with the cyclical nature of laundry and how it is never, ever done. I would like to have two washing machines so that I could have two loads on simultaneously.

I binned a few bathroom bits last night. Half used bottles of this and that. I find it hard to get rid of them because it seems wasteful but I am not going to use them and I can't really palm them off onto anyone else either. So they've gone. My bin is full for the first time in ages. Usually we only half fill our bin.

Now the clingy DC has set the washing machine on a 2.5hr cycle, just after it finished. It is a crap machine and can't be reset, even if I switch it off at the mains.

Another break.Sorting paperwork is SO draining.

Don't think I'll do too much more today (not even dressed yet )

lampli ain't kids great?I feel your frustration through cyberspace....

I'm trying to take a break on MN while 'helping' DD 'dress' her Nintendo girl....

So, plan is to do a little more paperwork sorting,get dressed,go for couch to 5k run,do some more laundry and get on with a couple of quick wins.

lampli I am also going to resort to binning a few bathroom bits.

hello all, my declutter plan for today is books. Under my desk there are piles of books that I'll prob never read again so they're going to the charity shop. I haven't missed them in the year they've been there, but a lot are uni set texts that I feel oddly attached to (studied Literature).
Moral question: what about DH's books that are there? Find space on the groaning shelves or take them too and deny all knowledge if he ever notices?
Baby awake, so no idea how long this simple task will take!

TheGhouls I find it so sad to get rid of books but I had to get rid of a whole load because literally no room.I told myself,and found it to be true,that you can always get them from the library.Funnily enough I've kept more reference books although good old google has rendered many unneccessary (old fashioned I suppose).

I think you must check with DH first.Sorry!

Have finished 'paperwork bit' for the day.Perhaps sort some washing before I go for run....

Mackrel, you were right, my list was too daunting. I have done none of it! I hope you're feeling better.

Countess, I know, I thought I'd get loads done this week! It seems though that by the time I get home from work (am trying to build up flex in preparation for dc's being off poorly and I've run out of annual leave), feed and walk the dog then feed me and wash up there's only an hour til bedtime! Well done you for sorting the paperwork, good job done.

I think I fallen off the wagon before I've started.

Books are another problem of mine, I just get so attached to them. I have boxes of them in the garage but as soon as I look through, I think I'll just have another read of that one.....

I do have a solution though, I have a great used bookshop near me where you can take your boxes in and he'll pick the ones he wants to buy then I can take the rest to the charity shop next door. All done in one trip. Not that I've done that yet obv.

Have done everything now other than the quick wins.Finding myself flagging now I've got to what should be the easy part...

Rumpled I'm luckily on annual leave for a few days.Can you resort to a microwave meal and dive into the declutter for just a short while?Or put some of those books in the car for tomorrow?

How's everyone else doing?

DCs in bed at last. I'm not going to do anything tonight. I hope I will start off again tomorrow feeling refreshed.

Countess I'm inspired by you doing the c25k. I downloaded the podcast ages ago and haven't done anything about it. I was all set to go but my dad told me I would have a heart attack and wreck my knees and that put me off a bit. I was reading a book on decluttering a while ago and it described fat as body clutter, and that really made sense to me. I think I would be fitter and thinner if my house was in a reasonable state, as it wouldn't use up all my mental and physical energy. Sometimes I dream that I am running along effortlessly, light as a feather. I am probably running away from this dump.

I've still not put the clothes away. There are more in the dryer. And another load of wet stuff in the machine. I seem incapable of dealing with laundry.

Oooh, can I join in? I'm halfway through decluttering one room but the rest of the house looks shocking!!