Sorting out house and life without despairing!

madmary_2

Scrapaholic wrote: »

I'm not motivated to start the decluttering etc I need to do at the moment . I feel as if I'm waiting for something, maybe warmer weather, even though it's indoor things to be done . I have grandson from 11.30 to 1.30 for 4 weekdays which cuts the day in half . By the time DD comes back for him and has a cuppa it's after 2 . One day I collect other 2 grandsons from school so don't get much done that day . I need to be more organised and get started but I sometimes feel my get up and go has gone . Once I've done the necessary housework I can't be bothered with the rest !

May I make a suggestion. I know how you feel. Forget the "necessary" housework for a few days. Focus on one room or one part of a room and do the decluttering BEFORE the housework. EG clear out a couple of kitchen cupboards a day, then clean the kitchen and give another room a miss. I did this last year. My flat was getting into a right state as I only ever managed the kitchen and bathroom before running out of energy. Then I realised that what I needed to do to make the cleaning easier was declutter first. I hope this is not too presumptious.

Mary

tina_malteser

MadMary
Thats how i do it now, new years light bulb moment, one room a day then its not so bad
Tina x

flyingmamma

Thanks Tina stage 2 of bathroom complete managed to run out of masking tape! I tiled my kitchen and did splash backs for bathroom sinks a few years bac and they still on! At the time I was terrified but it was really easy! U shud defo give it a go. I also didn't think I'd still be living here after 8 yrs ... Was my single gals pad now we bulging at the seams! Hav been really decluttering and choosing everything we bring into the house wisely and we starting to feel less cluttered! I agree with small steps one day u just look around and think wow what a difference! Off too make baby bottles and do a quick tidy up of toys in lounge!

jackomdj

Busy day here....
Dropped DD2 to her friends
Went to the butchers to stock up and get tomorrows dinner
Sent DD1 to tidy her room
Did livingroom - dusted, hoovered, hoovered ceiling, cleaned windows, even moved sofas to Hoover under them.
Hoovered stairs up to first floor
Hoovered first floor.
Hoovered stairs to second floor.
Tidied DD2 bedroom
Hoovered both girls bedrooms
DD1 collected for her play date
Collected DD2 (both invited to play with friends, unfortunately one was for the morning, one for the afternoon, would have got more done if both out at the same time)
Went to the shop for medium sized shop
DD2 asked to tidy playroom, needed lots of help, she is still at the stage where it has to get broken down into small jobs
OH arrived home as I was doing the dishes
DD1 arrived home at 6:00
Managed me time - went upstairs and dyed my hair, although both girls came up after about 20 mins.

We have friends staying tomorrow night so need to do some more tidying in the morning and go back to the shops to get the bits I forgot!

flyingmamma

Took the kids to get feet measured for new shoes turns out they haven't grown! I usually dread going into @larkes as I always spend money! Got off lightly today! Started painting bathroom did the edges which took longer than I thought ... Will take a few evenings I reckon... Regret starting it now think the colour a bit dark for small space !

Goldiegirl

I'm going to do a bit of project work shortly.

I'm going to sort some of the old photos that have been waiting in boxes. The are very higgeldy piggeldy, I want to get them in date order.

Also projects that need to be done shortly are

The letterbox - it rattles in the wind, we need a new one.

Power wash the front drive - it's very dirty.

Now spring looks like it's here, we hope to get going with these things, also need to wash the net curtains, so that's another thing I must get done.

There are other things, but if I wrote them all down, it's be too intimidating!


Oh, and I just remember, I did some financial tidying this week. I had some money in a fixed rate account that matured, and instead of just rolling the money over with the same bank, I shopped around and got a better interest rate.

flyingmamma

As I was loading the car up to head to the park this am 2 local kids -aged around 12 asked me for their ball.. I said I didn't think it was in our garden but opened side gate and let one in to look... I followed no ball! He spied my 2 yrs old sons ball in our playhouse next to back door and said that was some other kids I said it was my sons. Off they went and we headed to park... 2 hrs later we returned and the ball is gone... Any thoughts? Really annoyed I was nice to these kids who come looking a ball at least 5 times a day! Now my son has lost his fav ball and dd1 thinks all her stuff is gonna be stolen!

parsniphead

Not sure you can do much flyingmama unless you catch the little blighters with the ball. I would put a lock on the gate though if possible to make you little one feel more secure.

It's been busy here and I seem to have gone house mad.:eek: I can stop throwing things away, repairing things, painting things, etc. I have a really busy day tomorrow as the little one is at kindergarten and I want to do as much as is physically possible. It's really nice to see why I fell in love with when I brought it re-emerging from beneath the clutter.

Next job after I have got thing back to basics is to start planning jobs to be done and projects to be worked on. I would really love a nice new kitchen ( mine is a hideous 60's white melamine with metal trim special):eek: and I long for a new one. It's such a tiny room it's shouldn't cost too much but I need to get saving. I thing a few projects made to sell to fill up the pot may be needed.;)

Off to do some more now.

tootoo

Hello, can I join to please?
I'm trying to declutter and have a list as long as my arm of jobs to be done around the house.
Will put together a list later

savingqueen

Hello everyone,

Think I will join you all as I feel the same. Have many goals relating to moneysaving and OS, decluttering/cleaning/DIY etc, family goals, personal goals, career goals, fitness goals, you name it I want to do it.

I have been doing little bits of everything for years but need to step up several gears. Clutter is a biggy and hindering daily living. Have been unmotivated for months - guess a lot to do with the weather and suddennly have some motivation back. I tended to do all or nothing in the past but am working on babysteps now, a little bit of lots of things every day/week is the way to go. I spend hours planning but not enough doing! I am going to set up some sort of system - diaries etc to plan and post progress to keep on track. Will post some goals and steps to achieve later when have more time.

Bit about me, married in my 40s with 6 and 8 year old boys. SAHM doing volunteering and training with a view to changing career and getting back into paid work at some stage. Frequent the toughies thread more for emotional support and help with cooking etc. This thread will complement it nicely.

Today have been doing odds and ends as that's what I feel like doing. DS8 poorly so we are all stuck indoors.

today have: made 2 loaves
cleaned inside/back of one radiator (was :eek:)
descaled various applicances
cleaned a filthy/awkward bathroom light fitting (also :eek:)
scrubbed the bath

few other odd things I can't remember now

as well as usual daily chores like dishes, laundry, banking etc and looking after the kids

right off to empty the hoover bag now - not a pleasant job