#4 - Hoarding, Sorting, Organising, Friendship, Understanding. All On One Thread.

[Solo]

Are you a hoarder? Are you in a mess, untidy, disorganised? A bit lazy with housework? Are you are ill and not coping with the housework? Are you totally overwhelmed? Are you are emotionally attached to items for whatever reason and can't let them go? Are you unable to just ask someone in for a cuppa at a moments notice or do dread the meter reader asking for access?
Do you find yourself nodding whilst reading any of this? If you have a combination of any or all of these things or something completely different, please come and join us. There is no judging. We have something in common here and we have a common goal. We share our ideas and we share our disappointments no matter how big and our celebrations no matter how small. We cheer one another along and drag the drowners from the depths of despair.

Join us; we don't bite! Welcome to thread number 4.

And if it doesn't need to move country I am going to be more ruthless! I am looking at YOU perfectly good box of bathroom tiles that has no home....or purpose...why am I keeping you??

Welcome, @BlackeyedSusan! 👋 Nice to meet you, @Babieseverywhere! 🤗

@Elleherd @FiniteSagacity I get what you’re feeling about food waste 🙋‍♀‍ I always feel extremely guilty when my items expire whether it is food/drinks or makeup/skincare. I was no stranger to overstocking my pantry and buying multiple backups for my beauty stash. I was also the recipient of other people’s unwanted items. All of this resulted in self-punishment – and here comes an embarrassing confession – I did consume expired food, and I did apply expired skincare and makeup 🤮 I’m trying to avoid this in the future: I’ve spent the last four years bringing my makeup & skincare hoard under control, and this year I want to address my food-related issues.

It would have been quicker to just chuck all the unwanted food on January 1st and start anew but a hoarder in me could not do this, so instead in the first two months of 2021 I ‘used up’ all the food that I had accumulated in my flat. Alongside with that I designed a 5-week rotating Menu Plan (step 8 of the FlyLady’s Control Journal) 📝

To ensure that from now on my pantry, freezer and fridge will store only those items that reflect and support my aforementioned menu plan, I’ve created a pantry list and a master grocery list (steps 7 and 10) using the iSpreadsheet app on my phone. Hopefully this will help keep my flat free from unnecessary food clutter.

In other news, I’ve skipped step 9 (Daily Reminders) because I’m already using the Getting Things Done notification and task management system instead. And this means that my Control Journal is… FINALLY COMPLETE! ✅ Moreover, it also means that I’ve finished implementing all of those elements and routines of the FlyLady’s method which I found beneficial and relevant/applicable to my current life circumstances. All in all, it took exactly eight weeks.

Now back to staring at the rest of my hoard 👀

Oh wow @CherryMargo amazing that you’re doing so well with your control journal and flylady steps. Do keep posting progress reports please

Don’t feel embarrassed by eating OOD food - I do too as long as it smells and looks ok. Though I have chucked a lot of OOD food too because it’s stuff I know I won’t actually get around to using.

I made a plan to have one meal a week that uses up something unusual from the cupboard but I haven’t really stuck to it . My cupboards are gradually becoming clearer as I’m resisting the urge to re-stock when I still have multiple packs/tins.

@Elleherd I would probably hang onto the storage for the extra three months and try and use the time wisely (easier said than done).

I'm always inspired when I come here and read. Knowing that some of us are making progress, some of us are making plans and some of us are up and down.

I managed to get decorations up yesterday. I'll get a few more up this afternoon.

I've bought two more houseplants from Aldi. I just love houseplants. They always die. But I'm just hoping to get greenery inside and enjoy having them.

This week I'm feeling like I'm getting there, last week I was just feeling fed up. I'm feeling more positive.

I'm going to have a look in our hall cupboard tomorrow. It's a big cupboard, if I can organize it a bit I'm sure it'd be a fabulous cupboard.

There is something about clearing and refilling cupboards in an orderly way, that makes one feel so great. Perhaps it is some hardwired mammalian hibernation or nesting principle...for storing food etc.

Still brooding about the spare tiles here....
And the storage unit I might organise.
If DH didn't care I would just put everything on the wall for passerby's, but I just know he will then want to keep it all. Whereas if I can smuggle it out he won't notice or care.
Ridiculous!!!

By removing a box of tiles and a pair of winter boots I have made room for several items which were on the utility worktop in the cupboard.
I need to ditch the platter, the smoothie maker and keep being ruthless about jam jars.
Big pile in recycling, and university prospectuses from three years ago.

@DownUdderer I find it inspiring and confirming to hear everyone’s stories to. It can spur me on or reassure me - thanks everyone.
We had a very productive weekend last week as we had a new bed delivered for the teen and it took Saturday to dismantle the old one, clean and then all day on Sunday to assemble the new one. It was trickier than it should have been due to space but I was able to let go of the old bed and an old mattress to HRC as we’d booked a slot. Huge for me as I suffer from the ‘might be useful’ issues and recycling guilt but all had been very well used for several years.

Long week at work but I have the first day off with both DC in school tomorrow, trying to be purposeful and make the most of it. DH is going to dentist and then for his vaccine so I’ll have the house to myself!! At the very least want to do a proper clean of bathrooms (while no one is constantly in and out of them!) and vacuum the stairs for the first time since January
I know gradually organising my cupboards is the way forward for me @Nettleskeins - basically bringing some method to the madness and assigning everything a place helps me put things away and direct the right behaviour in DH and DC.

I managed to get a mattress picked up by council about a month ago....it had taken up space for so long under ds2s bed ("spare" for non existent teenage guests)
Goodness I am glad it has gone. Why did I keep it so long???? Maybe if I had had a toddler that liked jumping or a very very easy going lodger but it was manky uncomfortable and IN THE WAY..

@CherryMargo I’m trying to shine my sink and have to be dressed every day again (school run keeps me honest!) but I’ve not got much farther with fly lady. Good on you for sticking at it the bits that work for you. I like the TOMM idea of level 2 jobs on different days, Friday focus and then having my weekend to tackle the bigger more long term stuff mountain. I know I need written intentions but also that if I write out a big plan I’ll sabotage myself.

I've made more inroads on my study. The big cardboard box holding several picture frames has gone. The pink runner for abroad is put away. The picture frames are going too. I've found the address for a letter that has been sitting unlisted for two weeks under everything (the address I mean)
I've put away several plastic bags which are floating around.
I've moved stuff to utility now that there is space on the worktops...ie groceries which were in the study, baking items.

Snails pace but a bit of progress. I make same mistakes over and over but every now and then I get something OUT of the house

@Nettleskeins we’ve actually used up all the tip runs we’re allowed in a month! At some point I’ll need a collection for another spare mattress we couldn’t transport by car - good to know councils are still collecting. On a good day I can ask myself why I’ve kept things but I get ‘decision fatigue’ after a while. Gretchen Reuben stresses that you need to be well rested to declutter and she’s right - although that’s easier said than done.

I also threw away a children's book
A jacket
And a book on revising for a levels

It took two weeks for council to pickup, bulky collection do cost though. It is worth having more than one bulky item in the collection...here it doesn't cost more if it is one or five items.

Well impressed with all the work here
I have kept on top of the maintenance but more clearing tomorrow.

Ok, so I’m having a block with the hall cupboard. I kept telling myself I didn’t even know where to begin. So I have done lots of other tidying and cleaning. I’m pleased with the jobs I’ve managed today. I’ve swept and cleared and tidied, I’ve done laundry.

Things look better, I’m happy. The cupboard will wait.

I have waited all day for a phone call, it was good news! So now I’ll unwind and relax!!

Looks like everyone's been very productive!

Decision made, I am going ahead with the extra unit. Just have to be really self-disciplined about how it’s used. Thank you all for input.
I’m also finding this thread really reassuring and helpful. Thank you everyone for sharing.

Yesterday was a bit low on productivity but cleaned all bedroom clothes hangers that had signs of damp, and found a few more items of clothing affected. Also discovered and cleaned the signs of the start of mildew on other things near the wall that water’s still running down from above me. A couple more items into the charity shop pile, and ended up with a carrier bags worth of rubbish including some stuff I’ve been dithering over.

Nettleskeins if you do decide to get a unit to put things in for going abroad, I’d advise ensuring you only ever use it for that. It’s not only the ‘out of sight out of mind’ that can happen as I’ve discovered the hard way.

Cherry Margo In agreement with Miaowse that you shouldn’t be too embarrassed about the food thing either. Many of us have done similar. “Self punishment” rang a big bell.

Finite Sagacity that’s interesting about being well rested to declutter. Being permanently tired can’t do much for decision making processes.
Any chance of friends who might let you have their excess tip trips? (especially if you’re able to take their stuff too.) I could be wrong, but my understanding is the aim of limiting domestic trip numbers, is to stop illegal waste collectors, builders, businesses etc, hiding behind domestic use and not paying commercial waste taxes, rather than to limit genuine use.

@Elleherd well done for tackling the wardrobe - frustrated for you that the water is ongoing though, will make it like painting a bridge.

As I’m off work again at the start of April I’m okay with building up to a big cathartic trip or two then. If we tackle our worst ‘room of doom’, we’ll order a collection for large items - thanks to @Nettleskeins for the tips on making the most of that, I’ve looked into the cost and how to book which is an achievement in itself!

Have a big box from delivery so at least there’s a place to dump smaller recyclable stuff for now and I always feel better if I sort it into categories so it’s efficient when I get there.

Got bathroom and downstairs loo to finish before dinner but reasonably productive day off today 😊

More items in paper recycling
Some tights out of house
Sorted out picture frames and some paperwork put in right pile ( not dealt with exactly but room is tidier and emptier)

The external top of the fridge is staying clear!

Having spent two or three days sleeping and not getting much done.....signing in for action...( Between the sleeping)

I will read back on the posts I missed in my breaks. I look forward to seeing what you have done as inspiration!

I am contemplating one room getting sorted or doing the worst areas in each room. Probably the later.

I hope someone is up for starting a new thread soon.

Breakfast eaten, radio on.... no more procrastination...

GO!

Have been volatile, depressed, have done nothing except comforting stuff. Must try to do something today!