Hoarding - A New Start

Catriona_P

lostinrates wrote: »

Catarina, we should all sing and dance like your daughter in our clear spaces! Perhaps a duet will remind you both that the space is better than excess stuff?

That is very true. Think that will be my mantra for 2013 - making us a space in which to dance!

JayneC wrote: »

Hi Catriona,

Just wanted to send a virtual hug, you sound overwhelmed. I'm not sure if it's been mentioned on the previous thread but have you looked at flylady - www.flylady.net
It definitely helped me to get to grips with the basics and although I don't keep up with it all the time, just little things like making my bed everyday helps me to feel better. It helps to realise you don't have to do everything all at once and just a few minutes can make some difference. HTH x

Thanks Jayne, I've been on the Flylady website a few times in recent months but found it a bit tough to stick to. Some of the language makes the feminist in me itch, and I admit I found the clean sink idea a bit frustrating (I usually have a clean sink, it's everywhere else that's the problem! ).

But that does give me an idea - when I'm off on study leave next week I might set myself one small 'task' a day to do with tidying. Aim to get it done first thing to hopefully spur me along to get my head stuck in my study books!

blossomhill_2

Broomstick wrote: »

blossomhill, I love the name ' ninth square'.

It's not my phrase and ironoically the puzzles usually have 16 or 25 squares - but it fits the bill!

Ring-fence the problem. It helped me to realise that I did not have hoarding problems in some areas of my life and some, which used to be a problem, are no longer: clothes, food, toiletries, kitchen paraphernalia, household linen, toys... all of these were fine or have been dealt with over the years. Other things are borderline and happened for a reason eg. educational materials and craft materials were linked to work. And some - particularly paperwork and books - are tied in with the more difficult stuff for me to deal with. That's the level I'm sorting now. In other words, for some people, hoarding may not be an across-the-board problem, just in select areas.

This works for me too, well spotted, I try to identify WHY I don't have a problem with those areas and build on it - eg never have trouble with egg boxes or old shoes or keeping a pristine WC but shoe boxes, old coats, work surfaces - puh!

Newly_retired

Today I took down the Christmas decorations and had a good clean of the living room. It's now clear of clutter.

When we took the christmas tree and decorations boxes down to the basement, I could have cried. Those are the only items down there that I want to keep - the rest is DH's hoard. Items too numerous and varied to list.
Add to that a garage full of tools + junk, and two studies.
I really want to move house this year, but the task seems insurmountable.
I managed not to comment when we came up from the basement.
Dh was breathing heavily - not sure whether it was the exertion or the worry about all this stuff - or fear that I would nag him about it.

VJsmum

Hello all.

Whilst not a hoarder in the larger sense of the word, I am "someone who lives in clutter and who has hoarderish tendencies". My DD and my OH i fear are hoarders.

I am going back to my "put 3 things away, throw 3 things away" a day thing as i find that helps to create order and get rid of stuff. Before that though I need to clean and tidy the pigsty of a house

Welcome, delurkers!

sjprmc01

Been at it all day and the kids room STILL is not quite finished. I need to get rid of some soft toys although I've gotten rid of hundreds lately and these were the keepers so maybe I just need to find somewhere to store them? The main body of what is left in the room is a pile of clothes and it shouldn't take me too long to sort those tomorrow Places are looking clearer and its a huge chunk of stuff I've done this week but I fear I may be coming up to a period of 'meh'. (Where I cannot motivate myself to do anything) I'm off to the bingo with friends tonight for some me time

whitewing

I'm sorting thro paperwork/receipts for the tax returns.

I thought we'd been fairly good with spending in December but actually we have been absolutely terrible. Good job this shiny new thread has motivated me to keep plodding on with organising as much as I can, even if in little chunks, because otherwise I wouldn't have started looking at it later in the month and it would have been a whole lot worse then. I think I spend stuff twice, if I sell something for £15, I get so excited at my gain, then I have a treat as it's money I wouldn't have but then I go shopping anyway. What I buy is good value (half price etc) but you have to have the cash flow and mine is honestly boogered at the moment, not to mention income being delayed by bank hols etc. Oh dear.

Next week it's all going out as fast as it is coming in.

miffy257

Catriona.P there is a flylady thread weekly on MSE forum and it's a lot easier to follow. Hope you get on top of your clutter.

GreyQueen

:j Wheee, new people uncloaking. Fantastic. Hello to everybody and may your decluttering go smoothly and your 9th square be always found.

Loved Blossomhill and Broomstick's posts, so profound. There's a shedload of issues, not the same for everybody, behind the shedloads of stuff and it's more than a simple matter of logistics.

Was talking to the parental units a while ago. They were hunting for the instruction manual for an old DVD player which is currently surplus to requirements and was retrieved by me from their loft over Crimble (closes eyes and shudders at the memory). DVD is going to someone in the extended family.

Anyroad, they found the destructions and Dad found something long lost in the mists of time; his P.60 (or whatever they were called then) from the tax year 1960-1961. Sheesh, that's older than I am and they've moved thrice since then. £311 per annum dahn on the farm.........:rotfl:

Just had friend and neighbour SuperGran over for a natter. SG is a neatnik and detests clutter and her flat borders on the Spartan but then she's a social whirl between friends and voluntary groups. One of these days she'll catch me with a tidy sitting room.;):p:o

Oooops! Flying pigs sighted at 10 o'clock.

It's amazing how often the subject of clutter and hoarding comes up in general conversation, if you're attuned to it, as well. It's not people going on about the state of other's homes either, it's very much confessional about their own issues and how it's affecting their quality of life, and that of their families.

Mebbe there's something in the watter. I've decided I want more and more of less and less. Can I go buy some less, somewhere?

Enough tosh, going to see what the rest of OS is up to. GQ xx

tibawo

Well still on with it... Everyone's stories are keeping me on track. I did slip back into this might be useful mode so stopped for a while. Last night I had to admit defeat that I won't finish all by the time back to work but have two empty drawers to put bits in so still being ruthless.
Have another pile to go on eBay. Hanging back while current list ends. Judging by bids so far it means I can get the rug to match new laminate and then sell old rug to get paint etc. determined to upload a photo so you can see before/in progress and after with monies that have come from my hoarding / things that might be useful.

Patchwork_Quilt

But that does give me an idea - when I'm off on study leave next week I might set myself one small 'task' a day to do with tidying. Aim to get it done first thing to hopefully spur me along to get my head stuck in my study books![/QUOTE]

If it's any help, I am in my sixth and final year of OU and tend to study for an hour at a time, interspersed with small domestic tasks. For example, study, then put washer on and clear dishwasher, study, then hang clothes on airers and go through post. It stops me feeling too inert and I find my brain is often working through the study I've just done whilst I'm doing a domestic task.

Good luck and I would prioritise the study. Decluttering is a long term project!