Seeking Tidying/decluttering buddy/ies

[petal2019]

Does anyone fancy a tidying buddy? Or in fact a virtual decluttering buddy? I need to do some major decluttering and tidying... I wonder if anyone would like to join me in this and we could cheer each other on!!!?

I find it so heartening reading all your messages! it is so nice to hear that other people are in a similar situation to me and also waking up in the middle of the night worrying about everything and the lists and the piles everywhere. I am envious of your decluttering... I have such trouble just staying on top of tidying!! However I do feel that every time I have a go it goes so much quicker than last time.... I must begetting better at it. I also notice that the messiness of my house seems very much to reflect how cheerful I am feeling.... do you feel the same? I find if I am feeling low ... as I have been recently ... the house seems to echo this.

Anyway... so have a little go now... at 11.30pm x

I've flooded my kitchen put cleaning cloths in on a hot wash added powder and had a mass of bubbles and water kids loved it and I cried. Oldest dc room started to smell we have a no food and drink rule upstairs unless your ill. None of them have been but found wrappers and cups up there. Removed all electronics and hide router until it's cleaned properly. So frustrated I'm trying to get tidy and sorted and make the house nice for everyone and they don't seem to care.

Managed it just have a bigger pile of washing to do now as used towels to try and mop it all up. Definitely oldest excuse is he did it because it's his brothers turn to tidy up and he is sick of cleaning ds2 mess up. Told him it's not a good enough excuse and if it happens again then electronics will go for a week. He's normally a good kid he's 15 and just left school so surprised more that he's ignored me.

DDIJ and Magnetic:! You rightly sound fed up battling against the tide ☹️ I don't have children so have no suggestions about how to make them work with you - but restricting access to the internet always seems to get some results.

I had yesterday off from any work but today I've been to the tip twice, and repotted a dozen plants in the garden.

I've realised I'm very good at buying things but very bad at following through to finish things so I've had two lovely new pots, two golden yew, and several bags of compost sitting at the front door for weeks. Then it's been a case of moving a lot of plants up a pot size.

Not much decluttering/organising done here , weekends are full of football and dancing, plus we had our ds football presentation Friday evening and I went for a meal with friends on Saturday evening.

My kids aren't great at naturally cleaning up after themselves but will do it if I ask them so it's my fault for not keeping on top of the delegation! My eldest dd actually gutted her room on Saturday so she could have money to go to our local carnival so I may introduce pocket money and see where it goes ?

(Oh and the cleared dump it ground on the kitchen side is still clear !)

Back to it tomorrow, going to jot down my list for the week so that hopefully I can get some sleep !

We're getting there slowly ds2 has sn and needs to be told to change clothes wash take meds etc. He has a checklist but needs constant reminders. He gets distracted easily and I think ds1 has just had enough. Dd1 is good at tidying when she is in that mood but has sn too so it's up and down with her. Dd3 is nearly 2 and tries to help she likes sweeping and ds4 is 4 and likes helping with the laundry. My other 2 are 9 + 6 and they tend to make a lot of mess but won't really help as much no matter what is on offer as a reward or punishment. I've spent the past 2 years struggling with my health in one way or another and don't have much help. I've tried my best to keep on top of things but when my health has been bad things have slipped and then my depression and anxiety kick start to niggle.
I'm still not 100% and I'm starting to think I'm not going to be so need to get used to my limits and find a routine that I can keep to but with all appointments it gets hard to keep to things.
My oldest has apologised and has promised to keep the room tidy and even made me a brew and a snack so he's not all bad really.

Hi is it ok to join?

My goodness! Reading everyones posts makes me feel comforted for not being the only one feeling like this. It seems like everyone is finding is not easy trying to cope with everything... and usually singlehandedly. @Magneticred it is so impressive that you are managing to get your kids to do anything.... that is out of my league!!

I have been trying to make a huge decision about moving to be with my parents who are very elderly. I don't really want to because of the responsibility involved and the change... but also at the same time feel my mum who I am devoted to is going to go soon and wanted to spend time with her. My dad I find rather difficult and he is hostile to my moving....

I find the weight of this decision is stopping me from being able to move forward in my life and this is reflected in my inability to tidy up. Does anyone else think that it helps being aware of how ones inner battles are reflected in environment we are living in ... and maybe are simply created by them.
And does reorganising the outer world help the inner world at all? I am going to start off from this premise. Sitting surrounded by utter chaos.... am going to tackle it and then go on to tidy up my inner problem. So... am the only person awake.... will approach with elan and see if can get it all tidy by 7.00am.....
all= tidy and clean kitchen, bathroom and sitting room and make a start on humungous pile of clothes in my bedroom and the huge heap of ironing. .... it requires a lot of optimism and courage too to tidy.... and then I find my problem is keeping it that way. I shall try my theory of sorting out my problems from the outside in and see if it works!! I think we should all pat eachother and ourselves on the back for having the courage to keep on everyday trying to keep our own worlds nice and inhabitable.... it is more of an achievement than some people think because it is a real demonstration of courage in the face of the world.... And perhaps it helps to think.... cleaning this sink means more than just soap water and scrubbing.... it is the start of taking control of every part of my life.

So with all that in mind..... on wards and upwards... start off with this sofa and work round in circles....
5.33... sofa
5.36..rug
5.38 piano and table
5.41 table
5.45 floor... (this is all by the way not thorough tidying... just superficial clearing surfaces and cramming things into overfilled drawers.... but a way forward!)
and table
5.49 side
5.51 dining table
Sitting room done and dusted....
now for kitchen.... o god the kitchen!!
have to break down into tiny chunks because it is SO overwhelming!
5.58. rug
6.01 stool
6.04 all stuff to go into dishwasher
6.07
all recycling
6.09
all stuff to go into cupboard
6.11 all stuff for fridge
6.12
all stuff for bin
all to wash up
6.20 clear all last stuff on side and wipe
6.25 clear all last stuff on other side and wipe
6.29 wipe cooker
6.36 break to get milk for cuppa!
shops still closed!
6.55
last side... overwhelming....
all white things...all brown... etc
ok kitchen done and dusted... well, wiped!
now on with the bathroom.... no first milk for tea!
little break. 7.13
ok back again... with milk and bananas!
7.26
Bathroom.... feeling overwhelmed again....
Ill try and do very small sections....

ok.... little break...
Im so sorry ... such a boring post.... but anyway! don't feel obliged to read it! I do find it helps though and don't mind if anyone else does something similar!

@cherrycokex... yes of course you are very welcome! how are you getting on?

@Tidyhomewannabe. .... yes I have been wondering about tidying pocket money.... I have a friend who pays herself for tidying!! they put it all in a jar and then spend it together on things like ice-cream!! I think that is quite a good idea

anyway... on with blasted bathroom....
ok...
7.34.... sink!
7.37 bath
7.39 toilet
ok bathroom done and wiped....
7.49...so tidying cleaning the whole of downstairs has taken a bit more than 2 hours... who says that housework is not proper work.
and how is it that the home keeper is not paid for this or is expected to do this work on top of doing all the other work... no wonder we are all feeling so overwhelmed.... not sure what the solution is to this.. .but anyway... onward with the next necessity....
7.51 hang out washing!
7.57 wash the curtain
8.04 ok... floors.... kitchen floor
8.10....sitting room floor
8.19
all done...

@petal2019 wow, you’re starting so early! I hope you are noticing things getting done with all your hard work.

I have managed to declutter a bit. Have less in the living room, sorted through paper work. Our biggest cupboard has a bit less in it. However, there’s mess in every room 🙈 I need to find place for things. I will do a room each day as we have a busy week!

Good luck to everyone else x

Hi @BeHereNowx32! Well done! That is great work. Yes.... small person was able to come down to a nice tidy house. I think that is good for the morale... it is all very well being messy and chaotic on your own... but a bit much inflicting it on others I always tell myself! Wish you a great day! best

Can I join in please? I can make my house look clean and tidy but it's thick with dust and every cupboard is rammed with random stuff. A lot of it is perfectly good stuff just unused or stuff we own in duplicate or triplicate. I'm not going to get held up with trying to sell stuff I think I will just donate to charity and never get into this situation again.

Joining too!