Hoarder's Anonymous, Part 6

[Solo]

Well, here we are embarking upon part 6 of our epic journey of sorting out our homes.

We are a varied group of likeminded householders that are leading somewhat challenging lives; be that living with too much 'stuff' that we find difficult to deal with, houses that are falling apart (mine included), health issues within the family unit, wider family, or ourselves that makes sorting out our households challenging, to say the least. So...

Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us for support, adding their own ideas to help others out, storage ideas, even tips on actually getting those items out of the house which sounds so simple when you say it. Encouragement abounds here, and we do not criticise. EVER! We even try not to criticise ourselves as it's not helpful to anyone.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, don't know where to start, can't be bothered but really do want to be bothered...think you are lazy, just need to see it in print here...we'll help. We'll virtually fist bump your achievements - small or large, and virtually hug you when the need arises, and if you want a hug, just ask because we are here for you. Here for one another because we get it - the highs and the lows, the art of washing up is sometimes our great achievement of the day, but it's still an achievement.

Welcome to thread #6 of Hoarders Anonymous - Carrying On Sorting It Out

HERE

I’m experiencing a real lull. I did really well for maybe a month and then sort of stopped, and haven’t started again. My to do list is just getting longer. I have guests this week so really need to create some order in the spare room - a deadline like this is helpful. Also have admin to do like renew passports and return purchases in store.

I find that whatever else slides, I am always on top of washing up and laundry as they are visible in our house. It’s the stuff that is all tucked away that is my big problem. And there is an awful lot of it.

And I’ve lost another 2lb. Proper decluttering there! A long term project though, still at least another stone to go

Good luck all. I hope it starts getting easier.

Last evening I made a list of things to tackle today. Thank goodness I did. I get terrible decision paralysis. I don't know where to start, that's what I tell myself. Anyway I bypassed those feelings this morning. I got on with quite a few things! I'm glad. Nothing ever gets done start to finish though. I have to chop and change and I never finish things off in one go or one day!

I picked up free succulent cuttings this morning! How lovely that someone shared. I potted them up.

It's a great drying day today, I've got plenty of laundry done and dried. I have a huge permanent backlog. I'll perhaps try chipping away at it. Honestly I need to wash things from the pile and then get rid of them. They've lurked on my laundry pile for a year.

I've got dentist tomorrow, I had to force myself to book that!

I baked a Nutella brownie the other day. No one likes it! What a pain! I've made shortbread today. They're nice, thank goodness!

Trying to tackle more of the kitchen while kids are out. Too overwhelmed. Maybe I should get off my are and do any other job....

Arse it's arse; not are...arsing autocorrect

I've put on a load of laundry today and hung it out to dry. After a lot of rain we're having two sunny days, it really helps the laundry mountain shrink! I've washed quite a few bits that have been languishing in the laundry pile for absolute ages.

I put several t-shirts into a bag for the charity shop. I threw away school trousers with a big hole in them. I have put several rash vests into the charity shop bag. I put two pairs of trousers in the charity shop bag.

I put a plastic bag in the bathroom bin, as a bin liner. I'd procrastinated over that tiny job.

I work a new dress today and a stranger complimented me on it! That was lovely.

I had the dentist this morning. Everything is fine and the appointment was pretty fast. I've booked the kids appointment for the dentist. I usually procrastinate booking things.

I have an appointment this afternoon and after that I'll sigh a huge sigh of relief!

My laundry is piling up again. Washing up i'm actually managing to stay on top of by...using a star chart. Oh the shame, but it is actually helping. It's joint with the kids. They get stars by putting their shoes on the rack, and clothes in the laundry basket. I have to clear the lunch and dinner things straight away. For fifty stars we get a trip to the aquarium.
We've lost our third school holiday in a row to illness (chicken pox this time) so trying to get little bits done around the house.

Hello to everyone, and welcome to Awkward and Stripy

It's great to see the progress here. Nordic you seem very sorted with lots of space and storage.

I have been doing! I have gone through some stuff that's piled up in my living room. I've sorted through a lot of paperwork - but still loads to go! I found a bit of space on the moth eaten carpet and vacuumed that bit. I've decided that I will be going through my books and culling them (a bit). I've done the washing up and I cleaned the bath and basin. Most of the laundry is washed and dried, but I need to do the bedding.
It doesn't sound much, does it?

I've done more laundry today. I'm backlogged with folding and putting away.

I am doing washing. One lot done. Need a nap before the next lot.

I have been preparing for the massive storm Eunice coming on Friday and her little brother Dudley tonight and prepped ex's garden weighing down my stuff. We dismantled his glass table and brought it inside.

Also charging power banks and phones. I will find out the flasks and fill with hot water later.

How was last night's Dudley, Susan? I hope no damage to any of our members.

I'm actually full of cold or something. I ache so badly, and my throat is very sore with swollen glands, sneezing, and coughing, but no temperature and my appetite is still okay. Tested negative yesterday and going to test again soon. I've stayed home today (does anyone else feel guilty about being ill?). I did a load of washing. I accidentally washed a pair of charity shop trousers of Dds that are dry clean only. They were silky on the outside, but don't seem to be now. Dd won't mind if they aren't satiny anymore as although she loves the trousers, she has some sensory issues with certain fabrics.

Down I really need to fold and sort my clean laundry too...

My clean laundry still isn't folded!

I hope the storms aren't too bad for you all. It's a worry isn't it? No one knows if a branch might fly through the air.

Gosh. I've had a haircut today, first haircut for me in so long, more than 6 months. I took dd for a haircut this afternoon, after school. I took ds for a haircut yesterday. I had dentist this week and skin cancer check up (I get annual check ups over here in Australia). All these appointments have scrambled my brains! After lockdown and avoiding people for so long I'm out of practice with normal human interaction! So I'm completely exhausted with it! Daft isn't it! I'm glad the appointments are over and done with. I think I'll count them as brain decluttering! No appointments next week! Phew!

(Not so) Little bundle of rage checking in. Been dealing with one of those areas. Basically a bit of packing away stuff to be dealt with later as I am trying to clear space to DIY work in ds's room. Have chucked some stuff as I go and charity bagged other stuff. But I hate it. hate it I tell you.

(Apologies too pissed off to read previous posts. When I have gained my calm I may also gain my social nicities)

Eating and drinking before retrying

Susan I hope you are okay?

I have covid. Lucky me.

Should have said that so does Dd. Both feel crap.

Oh no, get well soon Solo and Solo’s Dd

It’s all shite here. On the plus side it’s nearly bin day.

Hope the rage has passed, BlackeyedSusan

Any laundry progress DownUdderer? I folded some of mine today.

Flowers for anyone who needs a bit of cheering up

Thanks, Miaowse :)

Oh no solo. I hope you are both feeling better soon.

Thank you, Susan - how are you feeling now?

Washed up fully today (twice). None for tomorrow morning!!
I also cooked. It was only sweet n sour pork (jar of sauce) and rice, but very nice. Sadly, I've still got an appetite, so no decluttering of lbs.

Oh Solo I hope you both feel better soon.
I’m delurking ( no, not delusional know-it-all autocorrect....although on second thought...) because I so sympathise @AwkwardPaws27, my DH is impossible!
He has 37 bags for life and 11 huge cardboard boxes stuffed full with obsolete paperwork going back 25 to 50 years from when we moved from the far,. Old milking records and god knows what other crap, it’s all in the attic but he keeps dragging it down, going through it saying he’s chucking it out then stuffing it back up there. I have absolutely no bloody idea why he’s keeping any of it, we gave up farming nearly 25 years ago ffs.
I have loads going on in the house decorating etc and he’s doing my head in.....😱🤬

Argh, every time I write a post, I seem to get interrupted and by the time I go back to it, the post has disappeared. This time it was literally 3 minutes

It’s not been a good week. I’m feeling very anxious but I’m not sure why. I missed a (largely self-imposed) deadline this week so perhaps it’s that. The thing I need to do is stressful and I have spent a lot of time on it already with very little to show for the time and emotional energy invested. I’m ashamed of myself for being so useless

The only positives - I dropped a very full bag of rags to the textile recycling bin and offloaded some (not to our taste) food to the food bank.

Just returned 100 bags on my shop. Quite a few originating at ex's. (We are still joint shopping as maintenance due to COVID with vulnerable children and cost of a shop)

Also hoovered the hall stairs and most of the kitchen. I am working on tidying the little collection of stuff in the corner

Done two loads of washing.

Put kids weekend bags away

Done two mammoth loads of washing up. (Opticians yesterday took up whole of my energy)

Got to sort the shopping and put away or send it away with ex.

Thank you, YanTan - have you name changed, or have I just had a mental melt?

I'm still feeling crap, and still testing positive, but the second line is a lot lighter...but bad bad news today as one of my friends passed away, and I've been literally howling with pain today. I've never done that before. I'm so sad.