The Hoarders Anonymous #5

[CherryMargo]

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Is your house/flat in a complete mess? Do you often feel overwhelmed and helpless when it comes to sorting it out? Do you procrastinate a lot? Do you struggle to declutter due to emotional attachment or decision-making fatigue? Are you embarrassed to invite people in?

Then you and us have a lot in common!

Join in for advice, encouragement and support. Here we share our struggles no matter how big, and celebrate our progress no matter how small. Welcome to thread number five! 🤗

P. S. Here are the links to various methods mentioned in previous threads:

The FlyLady Cleaning Method by Marla Cilley
The Organised Mum Method by Gemma Bray
The KonMari Method by Marie Kondo
The Getting Things Done Method by David Allen

I took a bunch of stuff to the recycling centre today so my car boot is ready to be refilled with stuff for the charity shop, which will clear a bit of space in the house.

Apart from that all I’ve managed is my daily routine stuff - dishwasher, laundry and meals.

It's a good start chillied. I create time by going to do a small job when the kettle boils and another one while the tea brews.

This thread has really got me into the momentum of decluttering. I'm in a much better place mentally now regarding letting things go. I'm quite frustrated that selling things takes so long TBH. I've put out more sale adverts today and one buyer is coming to collect something tomorrow.

The things I've read about floor creep resonates although I have wall creep instead.

CherryMargo Thank you for the digital advice. I have made a start and deleted a few emails. Think, I will just do a few minutes a day and see how I go.

DownUdderer Your entryway looks wonderful! Well done and enjoy your new dining room chairs

CarmelBeach Welcome

Elleherd Hope you sorted things out with the social workers. YY, about our bodies not being able to keep up with our expectations.

AmberItsACertainty Wish I could obsessively clean!

What I did over the weekend
Bought and filled four boxes to go on top of the kitchen cabinets, which DH put in place for me.

Labelled above boxes and all the plugs in the kitchen. So no more unplugging the wrong thing, lol

I also made a plan for my living room and dining room. I listed the jobs which could be done on their own and other jobs which needed other things done first. I also decided to tackle each room independently, even though it is a through room.

What I did today
In the living room. I moved the big exercise bike (with help) to a better place for now.

I picked up all the boxes in the living room end and put them on the sofa under a cover.

As I moved items, I hoovered everywhere. So with the exception of under the heavy sofas (which is a problem for another time) the entire living room is hoovered.

What I aim to do tomorrow
Do similar to the dining room. One large hobby item which needs to be listed on eBay. Hoover all the floor and under the stacked boxes.

And I just have a few clean things on the kitchen windowsill to find proper homes for in the kitchen cupboards. I am keeping on top of kitchen, a miracle for me!

Nettleskeins Promised myself that GA’s fridge door stays shut until after Friday. Oddly this is also progress as it’s not long ago I’d have been unable to leave it unless I wasn’t coming back. I struggle knowing what it’s like and leaving it even though I know logically it will make little difference. PS There’s a whole garden in crisis here if you run out of other people’s veggie patch’s…
BlackeyedSusan Hope the diagnosis ultimately helps.
Babieseverywhere Congratulations on the kitchen!

Today saw two sacks, and half a carrier bag of recycling out. It’s felt like churning as having to move so much stuff around to achieve things. Did manage to sand down and repaint one side of a door frame. Can’t do the other side until I’ve filled the gap between it and the wall halfway up. This place really is trying to fall down.

Some busy bees here!

After work, and then lunch, I started going through a few bits and pieces in the lounge which resulted in me having a small bag of rubbish and a new craft/sewing box with ribbons and a few silk flowers in, and a few things which need to go elsewhere, but that will wait at the moment. I added a couple of toy things to be sold too. I then washed the dishes and cooked dinner.

Just opened a small C&A carrier bag (yes, I know how long they've been gone from English high streets!), and found 2 different pattern pieces, some stiffening, and some red bias binding. I don't know where one of the pattern pieces came from as it's for what appears to be a piece from a man's pair of trousers. Confused.com.

Off to do Dd's sandwich, wash up, get Dd's and my clothes from one of the many piles of clothes in the dining room - then bed!

So two hours on post diagnosis session. An hour or so feeling sick beforehand. A long sleep afterwards. Half a bar of chocolate consumed.

What I have done: sorted dd's and ds's clothes boxes as DD has broken the shelf in the wardrobe again and it bumped into my wrist. Thankfully one of the boxes prevented it from collapsing completely. (Shouting ensued) 4 items of clothes identified for charity bag.

Wiped the top bit of tiles behind the cooker while attempting to put the cooker back properly against the wall.

Sorted all the veg in the fridge. Cooked up tea for DC and ex. ( He kept DD a little longer as I was heading towards a meltdown over shopping and fridge Tetris so got tea made from those veg I was sorting)

Received shopping, sorted ex's stuff out. Sent ex's stuff out the door. Tomorrow I will sort the bin bag and he can take that down.

Ex took compost and recycling.

Cooked tea, and the veg for two more meals.

Collected washing and put in machine.

Threw away the ends of cereal bags that have been stuffed in the cupboard. I could not get rid of them all in one go as I feel guilty.

Got down tins on top of cupboard to find the packs of seeds for tea.

Washed the piece of wall we all lean on while using the computer.

I bet it is satisfying to get rid of those things miaowse.

I need to put away cooked veg and eat something.

Today I’ve done a load of laundry and hung it out, it’s sunny here so I think it’ll dry.

I’ve swept in our sunroom, a rug I ordered arrived today and I think I’ll mop and then put the rug out there. The sunroom would be a lovely space for the kids to play in, just a bit more cleaning is required.

I’ve wiped down and put away a huge pile of books. Some have been recycled and two are in a bag for the charity shop.

I have a pile of clothes to organise. Some toys need dusting. A rug needs hoovering. A messy area underneath a big drawer needs completely sorting.

Two lots of washing done and out on the line to dry. One thing sold and collected.

Babies

As I moved items, I hoovered everywhere. So with the exception of under the heavy sofas (which is a problem for another time) the entire living room is hoovered.

A tip for the future, I only ever buy two sorts of furniture - stuff that has 4 legs and raised well above ground level so I can get the hoover underneath easily and stuff that has no legs and sits on the floor so nothing including dirt can get underneath. I came to the conclusion that life is too short for shifting furniture to hoover.

BlackeyedSusan I hope you're ok after the diagnosis. I know how much of a shock it can be, even if you're expecting it.

Didn't do much today but I did find homes for all the clean things on the kitchen windowsill and kept the kitchen clean!

Plus some of my daily jobs and made many 'free from cheesecakes'.

Tomorrow I will try to start in the dining room, lol

@AmberItsACertainty

Two lots of washing done and out on the line to dry. One thing sold and collected.

Babies

As I moved items, I hoovered everywhere. So with the exception of under the heavy sofas (which is a problem for another time) the entire living room is hoovered.

A tip for the future, I only ever buy two sorts of furniture - stuff that has 4 legs and raised well above ground level so I can get the hoover underneath easily and stuff that has no legs and sits on the floor so nothing including dirt can get underneath. I came to the conclusion that life is too short for shifting furniture to hoover.

BlackeyedSusan I hope you're ok after the diagnosis. I know how much of a shock it can be, even if you're expecting it.

A tip for the future, I only ever buy two sorts of furniture - stuff that has 4 legs and raised well above ground level so I can get the hoover underneath easily and stuff that has no legs and sits on the floor so nothing including dirt can get underneath. I came to the conclusion that life is too short for shifting furniture to hoover.

I totally agree. However I need a sofa which recline to lift my legs up to stop them swelling too much and sadly they are too heavy to move easily.

Did my grocery shopping today after work. Put a homemade (ish) jar curry into the oven, just waiting on that...washed up. The end.

I'm feeling very fatigued today.

Susan holding hand; I hope you are okay.

Today was supposed to be a bit of painting and a lot of clearing, but it didn't quite work out.
Started out by painting two walls with damp resistant paint. Painted bathroom floorboards before contractors get to work so that if there’s another sewage flood after they’re done, hopefully it will make it less awful to clean after. (Have previously, repeatedly scrubbed and re-scrubbed them with neat bleach letting them dry out in between each time.)
Got unexpectedly dragged (texted this morning) to hospital meeting about GA. Did best to represent her interests without being press ganged over mine. Got back with just enough time to paint walls with second coat and clean up and wash out two large outdoor plastic boxes and four small indoor ones before ran out of time. Today’s out is just a handful of envelopes and adverts from sifting paperwork. Just about to do last pet run then bed on return.

Elle you still got a lot done.

I'm going to wash up, make Dds lunch up, grab clothes from a pile in the dining room, and go to bed, I think.

You may wonder why I don't just take the piles of clothes up and put them away. Well, I have no room for them at the moment. I have to get rid of a 3 drawer chest, take a bigger one upstairs to go into the front bedroom. I also need wardrobes for what will be my room. Need oak to match the chests of drawers I've had for a number of years which are still boxed up. Go figure! I need to put away the vintage (and beautiful) clothes which I'm hoping Dd will want to wear in a few years, They are all quality, and I will not be donating them to charity. If Dd doesn't want them going forward, I'll see if I can sell them.

My dining chairs arrived today, second hand, but really lovely. I'm pleased. I'll put three old dining chairs in our garage.

Glad your dining chairs are lovely :)

I have done little jobs all morning. Straightening that, cleaning this, hoovering there. I know things are slightly better and both the dishwasher and washing machine are running but I don't think anyone else would notice. For instance it took me 30inutes to wipe down and clean the living room door, from everyday cats and kids dirt build up. I am pleased with it but noone will care, lol.

I am avoiding the dining room which is my next job but I know it will take days to surface finish. (Storage units are the next job) Plus it will get way worse before it gets better but I need to make a start.

I have decided I will move 5 things in the dining room before I return online! Wish me luck.

Right, I have :-

1. Cleaned piano as it was dusty!
2. Sorted and cleared up printer paper and card
3. Stuffed excess wiring into a corner where DH will sort it out hopefully at the weekend.
4. Sorted and cleared/organised two large drawers and two small drawers in the storage unit. (One large one to go)
5. Started a bin bag for rubbish and half filled it.

Having looked over the boxes in the dining room, it is clear that it is 99% DC3 & DC4 mainly craft stuff. So once I have cleared the final drawer and moved my 1% of stuff out. I am done for now.

I will get DC3 & DC4 to help me decide what they need to keep and what they don't. It will take a while but we will get there.

So after I do what I can in the dining room this morning, it will be back to the living room tomorrow!

I fell asleep on the sofa sitting up!

I don't know if it is the medication I am taking or my various conditions, that make me so tired. But if I don't have a lie down in the afternoon my body just shuts down. I only sat to stroke my cat and then I fell asleep sat upright!

I have to stop this or how will I ever hold down a job!

the diagnosis was difficult. more the process as I had to remember all the bloody awful autistic things i have done over the years as it focusses on difficulties. that is beginning to fade a bit now

today was another appointment, and yet another one tomorrow at the hospital between two of us.

I have not got much progress done. I washed a lot up yesterday and put it away this evening.
I hung yesterdays laundry and have done another load and hung it today.
I have washed up todays washing up, well nearly. most of it at least.
I picked up some shopping and put it away.

Babieseverywhere Is it wrong of me to be jealous that you not only slept, but did it with a cat? I' stopped being able to sleep properly some time ago but I'm going to eye up GA's questionably friendly felines as napping companions tomorrow!

Painted more walls, scrubbed and partly dried mats. moved lots of stuff around, laid lino, sorted animals, and replied rather too honestly to work colleague needing answer too late at night. I hurt far too much.
Total disposal today was just an instruction manual, and mainly to keep my hand in!

BlackeyedSusan Diagnosis, EHCP's, PIP etc, all have the effect of making people who spent their time working to the best of their abilities, suddenly reframe themselves around their disabilities. It's always going to mess up the mind for a time.

Susan these things are always difficult, but of course, the hope and aim is that the end game is that it will make life easier for you following it.

Started sorting through a pile of absolute crap in the lounge. Still much to do there. Hand and scrubber down the loo to get rid of the limescale - still a little there, but so much better. Washed up. Made dinner and ate it.

Babies they never notice anything, do they!

Babies. You're doing great. You've always got progress to share here. I'm sure the appointments and hospital visits are really hard going.

I'm having some emotional turmoil this week. My Dh's family are awful and some things have come to a head. In a way it'll be easier dealing with them now they've shown their true colours. I won't have anything to do with them now and I'm relieved, of course we're on the other side of the world to them so that's good as well!

I've got laundry on.

Tomorrow I would like to look at curtain fabric and touch it. I'd like to drop off charity shop stuff. I'd like to do some jobs but not too much. Forward momentum feels good but some down time is also on the books!

i have been dusting the underside of the computer desk with my hair.
someone, whinged and moaned about being hungry but refused to help themselves then spilt cereal in the computer keyboard. thus no computer time as the whole thing had to be shut off.

there has been swearing as when ex set up the computer he tied all the wires around each other in several ways, a key board was not able to be rescued easily because its wire was wrapped around several others.

everything has been pulled out, untangled and plugged back in again. spare keyboard attached. I have sound, a mouse and a working keyboard, monitor and connected to the internet so I think I have managed everything connected back up again properly. I hope the super snazzy mouse will remember whatever has been programmed into it or else there will be trouble tomorrow.

hoovered under the computer while I was there...

today has also been take someone to the hospital for follow up appointment. all good there. We have a better list of what can or can not be done.