Overwhelming amount of stuff to do

[FloppyWollop]

Please be gentle, I don't need anyone being nasty about it. I feel bad enough that it's come to this point.

The whole house needs tidying, the whole house needs decluttering, everything could do with a deep clean after to start fresh. How do I get all of it done? There's stuff everywhere that needs to be put away/stuff to be washed etc.

I can't put things away in the cupboard because theres too much stuff already in there - the cupboard needs clearing out before I can put stuff away - I need space to be able to get everything out to clear the cupboard - I haven't got space because of all the things needing to be put away - I can't put the things away because there's no room in the cupboards.

It's a vicious cycle and no blame can be put on any one person in the house, we all make the mess and we are all reluctant to getup and do it, but something needs to change. We sorted out a lot in the summer but it slipped back to our old ways as I struggled to keep up with the demands of a baby and my DH went back to work. I absolutely will not ask for help from outside whether that's professionals or family/friends as it's our responsibility to sort out.

Can someone please help me work out where to go from here, how to declutter and get back to square one and most importantly how to maintain it? I don't want links to the websites that will help as I find that it only encourages me to further procrastinate😣 thank you!!!!

Everything is everywhere but I'm seeing progress. I'm not just doing it quickly to get it done I'm doing it sensibly so it will actually be easier to keep this way. Even if nobody is reading this it's here as a reminder to myself of the progress I'm making.
Main priorities:
Toys 80% done
Hobbies 60% done
Washing pile 25% done
Laundry away 60% of current
I think if I continue this progress I'll be done by the end of the week (including time away with other commitments)

I was in the same situation. I read the marie kondo book and it was a bit extreme for me.

However I did google and print off a Konmarie checklist of categories for decluttering which makes it easier.

DH is ill and completely unable to help, everything seems overwhelming and I don't feel like I have enough time to do everything I need to do. Someone give me a shake!

OP grab a bin bag and set your timer for 5 minutes.

Walk around the house and bin anything broken, rubbish or not being used.

Its the small steps.

Draw up a plan. Have you a way to get to a charity shop or dump? In my hall cupboard I have 2 bags on the go. One for charity and one for the dump and I dont wait until they are full, if I'm going that way I take them.

Watching an episode or 2 of hoarders usually gets me motivated...

You made such good progress on moday. Is there an update? I bet you are there now if you kept it up at the pace you were working at.

When I have a big clear out, I work on the move it from room to room method. Its easy to bin / keep / charity etc, but I like to empty a room and totally reorganise it as Im doing so. It may seem counter intuative to just move stuff from room to room, but I find when there is space to properly assess I am more productive.

Update for anyone still here. It looked tidy if you didn't stare too hard or investigate but obviously we wanted to completely overhaul it. DH did a big chunk of work while I was out which made me want to continue when I got in. He's been quite ruthless and chucked a lot out I wasn't there for him to ask whether or not it was needed and so it went. I've been concentrating on some of the easier places and then he's been doing the same ruthless method in other areas. When tidying everything looks like the aftermath of an explosion but it's now starting to see improvement. We have a mountain of things that will be given away over the weekend. 'A place for everything and everything in its place' has made everything a lot easier. When I notice something is out I've been putting it away where it belongs.

Hi Floppy, that's a great update and sounds as though you're making progress. Also good that DH is on board.

Here we have decided to sell our house so that has motivated me to keep going. This morning I have filled half a bin bag with crap from the kitchen and I'll do the same this afternoon in the living room. Baby stuff has been sorted to go to a few friends tomorrow and when term starts.

Fantastic Brio! Once you get going it all seems to carry on doesn't it?

New update for anyone still here (thought it would be easier than starting a new thread).

After my last update things did slide again. I realised I just had far too much stuff. We've decided to sell our house so we had to get the house to a marketable state which it definitely wasn't. By getting rid of our storage cupboards we held on to less stuff, less stuff means less to put away, less to put away means we haven't got much to tidy in the first place. We've kept it maintained for a whole month and have been going round dumping more things from drawers and cupboards. I've got a lot of stuff that I've had stored for a few years in various boxes which I can't get to until we move, but the plan is to take them all to the new house and sort out a box at a time. I'm guessing most will be thrown as I haven't needed it for so long. The laundry is the only thing I've been falling behind with but hopefully I'll get my mind around that soon too.

Hope anyone reading this in the same situation finds the same relief I have, it really has changed my mood and health for the better! The turning point was this weekend, when I not only had family round and didn't need to keep doors closed to my bedroom (I usually throw everything in there before guests come over) but also had them look after my DC while I went out. I have never left anyone in my house alone before incase they go snooping but this time I had no fear because there's nothing I'm ashamed of. HUGGEEE PROGRESS!

Hello OP. Just an idea about your laundry. I'm helping a friend sort out his home and posted about the laundry on my thread yesterday. I took the equivalent of about 7 loads of washing to a laundry. I used 2 small and one medium of their industrial machines, and 3 large dryers, it cost about £20 and took me a couple of hours. It would take much longer at home to do that amount. It worked well so I'm going to make a few similar trips to tackle the mountain left, as and when I can. I had a DC with me but you could take a book and a flask to pass the time. Laundries will do it for you (a service wash, dry and fold, and even iron it) but the cheapest way is DIY and to take your own powder and fabric conditioner. HTH.

Thanks EatingTheElephantInChunks the main issue is keeping on top of it, we do big loads (about 4/5 to clear the baskets) but once we get through it all I then don't keep up with the small loads to keep it clear. I know that if I did a small load every day or few days it would become so much more manageable but I never bloody do it!

Glad things are ok Floppy. Since you started the thread we have had what feels like a thousand viewings on our house - it's forced me to keep on top of things. I'm being more ruthless about getting rid of stuff too, which is helping.

I've gone back to work part time after mat leave though and can see that things aren't getting done in the same way, despite DH's and my best efforts. I have a few days off in half term so will try to get back on track then.

This week with the laundry I've been filling the machine every evening before bed, putting in the powder etc., and then turning it on first thing. That's helped.