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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

Teachers who Kondo

17 replies

squiggletea · 20/02/2016 22:55

Hi, I'm one of the many new konverts. To be honest, Mumsnet has taught me everything I know about housekeeping. (Don't tell my mother :-) )
I've read a couple of posts that are explicitly from teachers and it definitely seems that there are a few of us around!
So... Do any more experienced Kondo-ers have any advice (or sympathy) on how to keep going in term time?

Do you think I should prioritise binning some more stuff tomorrow (so I have less to tidy in term time) or should I concentrate on planning and accept where I am?

Any tips gratefully received.

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MadauntofA · 21/02/2016 07:05

Hi, I'm not a teacher but live with one so I know how busy term time can be. He is being converted by stealth! I constantly use kondoing to avoid doing my work but find that I feel more able to concentrate when the place is clearer. Can you set yourself little goals for during term time - kitchen utensils for 1 week etc so you have plenty of time but still feel like you are progressing a and not avoiding work?

cozietoesie · 21/02/2016 08:19

I lived with a teacher for some time and I was always staggered by their apparent need to keep things 'just in case' - and I'm talking of things like old washing up liquid bottles and toilet roll innards let alone more 'conventional' acquisitions. ( 'They might come in useful for projects'.)

How are you on bringing things into the house? (Before you even start on getting rid of stuff.)

Forgetmenotblue · 21/02/2016 08:26

I am a Kondoing teacher and I am now really strict with myself about school crapola being in the house. I bring my stuff in and get my work done, then put it back in the boot of my car so I don't have it in the house. Also I no longer keep any stuff for projects at all .

I think teachers are really bad at work/life boundaries (sorry, huge generalisation) and Kondoing can really help. Why should your personal space fill up with school stuff?

I've been teaching 20 years plus and the last two years have been much better for me mentally since I got ruthless about stuff.

Sorry haven't actually answered your question....

Forgetmenotblue · 21/02/2016 08:30

I'd say yes keep binning stuff. Once you have a really clear space it is so calming and marvellous and easy to keep on top of.

bigTillyMint · 21/02/2016 08:40

I am a primary teacher and DH is secondary. We don't keep any school crap in the house other than a bit in the bag I take - he cycles so no bag!

Our teen DC, however, have mountains of school books left everywhereAngry

Original poster
squiggletea · 21/02/2016 09:14

Thanks for the tips and thoughts.

Yes I have been guilty of keeping stuff just in case. And yes, I can't find it when I need it! Getting better at that one.

Yes the home/school boundaries are very blurred. There's a lot of of "agh is that the time?" and scraping stuff into bags to do later. Hoping that gets better when Ds1 gets to secondary and my day gets a bit longer.

More home/school separation discipline seems the way to go. I keep thinking of Marie emptying her bag.
And a school paper clear out this afternoon...

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Original poster
squiggletea · 21/02/2016 09:16

Interesting about teen DC. I think that's another motivation for me to get sorted, so at least the example I set isn't so bad...

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MadauntofA · 21/02/2016 09:32

Crapola - love that term Forget

MadauntofA · 21/02/2016 09:34

Posted too soon - my problem is child crapola. Doesn't help that they spend all their pocket money on useless stationery - tiny rubber that looks like a cheeseburger, separates into 10 pieces and doesn't actually rub out Hmm

Original poster
squiggletea · 21/02/2016 09:42

And collecting cards...

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MadauntofA · 21/02/2016 09:52

And miniature toys that breed - shopkins, Lego pieces.....

Original poster
squiggletea · 22/02/2016 06:04

I am finding more will power on'pocket money toys ' these days.

But Lego...

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Zippidydoodah · 22/02/2016 15:26

I'm an ex teacher, and if I'd known about kondoing when I was still teaching, my life would have been so different!

I'd say do little bits and bobs here and there, whenever you can. Easter holidays, then! Grin

Original poster
squiggletea · 22/02/2016 21:04

Thank you for the encouragement. It is only 5 weeks away.

I think six months may become a year.
I'm still going with the flylady approach of 15 minutes is better than none. It's the general day to day stuff that ends up piling up..

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Artandco · 22/02/2016 21:07

I would do 15 mins a day to keep it going and so it's not overwhelming at Easter . And you can rest.

LadyMacnet · 27/02/2016 16:31

I teach. So does DH. You can probably tell from Kondo thread 10 that I got lots of kondoing done in half term and hardly anything at all achieved this week since we've been back. I'm going to focus on really small quick fixes in the konmari categories during term term weekends and then return to a blitz at Easter. I really like the idea of keeping my school work in the car once when I'm not working on it but I worry about someone stealing it! The trauma of losing controlled assessments would definitely be too much to bear!

Original poster
squiggletea · 27/02/2016 17:23

Yes, my car isn't visible from the house so using it as storage isn't really an option.

As you say, there has been a lot less kondoing this week. Fortunately I was able to laugh at the Friday morning carnage yesterday!

DH has taken a box to the charity shop and a boot load to the dump. It does feel like progress is still being made... Just slowly!

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