Hoarding - Springing Ahead

GreyQueen

short_bird wrote: »

"When you need to buy things for your things, it’s time for fewer things. When we start talking about organizational bins or extra storage options, we know it’s time to get rid of stuff instead of accumulating more things to store it."

from here:
http://bemorewithless.com/smallspace/

ETA: you may be some time

I like it and have seen it before. But 750 sq feet apartment classified as 'small'?!

Pull the other one, matey, my flat is 240 sq feet. Small? I can tell ya about small...........:rotfl:

ginnyknit

One bag out to Cs and everybit of dirty washing now clean which is a major step for me. Even did the throw off my bed but that is much easier as I cut it down to fit just down the sides a little instead of it pooling on the floor. It was too heavy and took up way to much space in the summer when it wasnt on the bed. Oh's feather filled winter coat washed too - am way ahead now :j thats a good start to my plans for the week.

Took all post to post office and even bagged off the empty ink cartridges which earn me clubcard points. Have a dedicated pot in the office to pop them in and now its empty :T These little things make me feel efficient and as if I ma getting on top of things.

softpad

well done all. My pile of washing is huge, I have nothing to wear and determined to do it today. My house feels like a tip again with dirty pots and piles growing again. I really must get on top of my food waste I am very naughty, when we go shopping hubby puts too much in the trolley (its me that pays for it) and then lots gets wasted. Resolved to stop doing that and go by a list only from now on as it is such a waste of my money which I can't afford at all as I have bills to pay. Does anyone else ever feel everything is getting on top of them?

Mumof2_2

Hi, haven't been here for a while but been a bit manic (sorting out DD's secondary school for September for a start, all been stressful). Anyhow, just reporting in to say I've got a big blue I*ea bag full of clothes/wool/toys I'm about to decant to the charity shop on my way to Pilates. Feels good!

GreyQueen

softpad wrote: »

well done all. My pile of washing is huge, I have nothing to wear and determined to do it today. My house feels like a tip again with dirty pots and piles growing again. I really must get on top of my food waste I am very naughty, when we go shopping hubby puts too much in the trolley (its me that pays for it) and then lots gets wasted. Resolved to stop doing that and go by a list only from now on as it is such a waste of my money which I can't afford at all as I have bills to pay. Does anyone else ever feel everything is getting on top of them?

Yes, from time to time. It's often not a real reflection of how much effort is required to get things back on an even keel, either. It seems to be a morale thing, as in dirty pots and pans leading to the phenomenon of;

I'm hungry. I need to eat. I should eat properly (i.e. cook a meal). I can't cook until I wash up and clear that little bit of counter which is the only place to prep. It's cluttered and grungry. I'm too tired, I need to eat now. I'll snack. And my energy will be worse tomorrow, the pans are still there. Rinse and repeat with morale going down the toilet.

I'm getting better at this but still not there. Trying to have the kitchen straightened up after each meal, all dishes washed and surfaces clear, so prep is fast. Trying not to snack on a sandwich instead of eating properly. Trying to keep the home orderly and put stuff away when I come home.

It grows progressively easier with time but I'm a long way from having these habits embedded as the way I do things.

Little and often, peck away at it. Every item off the premises is one thing you don't have to launder/ wipe/ wash-up/ move to hoover/ dust/ repair or replace once broken/ argue about/ insure against theft of loss.

Keep the faith, it does get easier as you go along. GQ xx

ginnyknit

Softpad, simple answer 'yes' somedays I look round and think I could scream. Yesterday I has jaffa cakes for tea and that was at 10 o clock. Not worried about the calories as OH had me running up and downstairs as he was having nightmares (or day mares) from 3pm till 8 pm then again this morning from 6 am. No wonder the house is chaotic. Today i am definately going to do a bit more sorting so I dont get fed up with it.

Kitchen needs a little work but mainly the living room.

noelphobic

softpad wrote: »

Does anyone else ever feel everything is getting on top of them?

All the time.

Mumof2_2

softpad wrote: »

well done all. My pile of washing is huge, I have nothing to wear and determined to do it today. My house feels like a tip again with dirty pots and piles growing again. I really must get on top of my food waste I am very naughty, when we go shopping hubby puts too much in the trolley (its me that pays for it) and then lots gets wasted. Resolved to stop doing that and go by a list only from now on as it is such a waste of my money which I can't afford at all as I have bills to pay. Does anyone else ever feel everything is getting on top of them?

All the time Softpad. Sometimes I just need to take a deep breath, refocus and get started again. Life can be hard; I suffer from OCD/anxiety and sometimes everything just piles up and up and the bigger the pile of stuff I have to deal with the less I want to do and it spirals out of control. That's when I take the deep breath. I tend to sit down, break down what I have to do into manageable pieces and start small. By doing little things (washing up) that tends to lead to me thinking 'oh just quickly do that' and gradually, bit by bit, I can sort of get back on track again BUT my home will never be a show home as I'm just not like that! Does your husband know how you feel; can you talk to him?

roundtuit

Two bags of 'stuff' dropped off at cs today...... finally . It felt good heading back to the office empty-handed though
HO has been to 'check' on my progress! She asked if she could take photos to show her manager as she doesn't think there's a problem here and hopes to sign me off so to speak. I can't believe that I was able to allow every room to be photo-ed without wanting a hole to appear and swallow me up. The house is very much a work in progress - but now well within the 'acceptable' spectrum.
I get that feeling too softpad and I do what Mumof2 advises - break things down into smaller and more manageable pieces. As in 'just' washing one bowlful of pots, and then a little later 'just' one more. That is how I am tackling the whole house really. It's the 'how do you eat an elephant' thing. Works for me - hope it works for you too.
Rxx

Patchwork_Quilt

Sorry you and OH are going through the mill Ginnyknit. That kind of thing puts a stop to almost everything.

Well, those who read the 5 Pleasures will see I got rid of some planks from the allotment to the people next door. My allotment partner has been squirrelling wood, bits of fence, fence posts, windows and other assorted bits on the allotment for a long time. Everything is set out in an orderly way but I think it's time to use what we can and bin the rest. DH has promised some help with fences but I feel guilty about involving him. What puzzles me is how it actually got down there in the first place. There must have been many trips.

Scaffolding poles, anyone?

Anyway, it will all go to a good home. Allotmenteers are famous reusers of assorted bits.

Happy decluttering people.