KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

greenbee

GQ - the grown-up ness is catching. Although I haven't done all the washing up (plastic stuff is on the drainer and it air dries better than it towel dries), I have cleaned the DW filters, prepped my porridge for the morning and located a rather sad head of broccoli that I'm going to turn into soup using the rhermal bag tomorrow. And made yogurt.

Towels are in the wash and another load ready for the morning. The dryer is getting more use than I'd like, but I can't line dry when the builders are here. Bedding will go in tomorrow morning and I'll drop a load of ironing off when it's done (keeps it out of the house and dust free ).

PollyWollyDoodle

Welcome, Tete and sorry to hear about your dad - it's not surprising you have run into clutter problems but you're amongst friends here, and I'd second the advice about the knicker drawer as a starting point. Although most of us have skipped categories to do stuff that seemed more urgent, the suggested order of categories makes sense as by the time you get to the really difficult stuff you've sharpened your 'spark joy' detector.

Greenbee, I also work from home and your comments are spot on - I make sure I'm up and dressed by 9 every morning even though nobody sees me and I may not have any work; if the phone rings I am in 'business' mode.
I've needed far fewer work clothes than I thought, and they're due for a reKondo soon but it's wise to wait and see what you need.

The problem I have is with not having a routine outside my work; I tend to do things when I feel like it, which in the case of housework is 'not very often'. I'm not keen on too many rules but think I need to work out a cleaning routine so I'm hoovering regularly and not just when visitors are expected. The decluttering has helped immensely but it hasn't made the house self-cleaning!

Tete_en_l'Air

Morning all and thank you for all the lovely welcomes :kisses3:

dragonette wrote: »

Welcome Tete condolences for your loss, be gentle with yourself. All progress is a step in the right direction. The support on here and in the hoarding threads is fantastic and I've found them very helpful.

Thank you. I must admit I've not got rid of any of Dad's things yet (aside from old bills etc). Giving away his clothes is like admitting he's not coming back to wear them again so I'll definitely need to work up to that. I have a lot of plans for the house, deco-wise, and have even started buying some bits, but it upsets me to think I'll be removing his handiwork by changing anything. "He put up that wallpaper so carefully and I'm ripping it down..." -type thoughts. I guess I can apply Kondo-esque techniques but it will be a slow process.

PollyWollyDoodle wrote: »

Welcome, Tete and sorry to hear about your dad - it's not surprising you have run into clutter problems but you're amongst friends here, and I'd second the advice about the knicker drawer as a starting point. Although most of us have skipped categories to do stuff that seemed more urgent, the suggested order of categories makes sense as by the time you get to the really difficult stuff you've sharpened your 'spark joy' detector.

I'm thinking I want to just tidy up in the short term, get the place habitable again, and then start a 'Full Kondo' and actually go through everything - my goal for today is to get all my clothes up off the floor, washed, dried and put away, so that I can make a start on whatever lurks underneath (loads of papers!). You're right though, I do have loads of knickers and socks that are baggy and threadbare so I may do a 'Mini Kondo' as I go

I did make a small start last night in the tin cupboard: it's full of Dad's tins of soup, rice pud, etc. that I either don't like or won't eat because I'm doing Slimming World. I dragged them all out with a view to donating to the food bank, only to find that half of it went out of date long before he died including a packet of Angel Delight (Oct 2014) that I was convinced I only bought last summer. Not as bad as my Granny though - I was putting her shopping away yesterday when I noticed a very 'retro' looking pot of ground ginger - September 2002! At least it's from this side of the millennium I suppose! :rotfl:

ScotinLondon wrote: »

So since I last posted, kondoed 'the night manager' from recordings - really loved that show!

Is that a euphemism for 'watched and deleted'? I loved that show too. You make a good point though about digital clutter - when I said in my first post about clutter on every surface I should have mentioned every digital 'surface' too - every memory stick, camera memory card, my desktop on my laptop, my email inbox, and yes even my digibox is crammed with stuff I'll want to watch 'one day' :wall: - I've tried to watch War and Peace three times and never got past 30 mins of one episode, I should delete it shouldn't I?!

Anyway enough chat, best go and get a shower and get ready for work

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all
Welcome tete, and any other new kondoers I've missed.

Tete deepest condolences to you I can understand that it is difficult to sort through your dads stuff, I'm still helping mil with things 5 years after fils passing. With regard to clothes, may I suggest that when the time comes that you feel ready to let them go don't take them to a local CS either put them in a collection bag or have them taken to one out of your area, especially if they are things of a distinctive style that you may recognise.

Decided to repurpose a huge throw we gave mil about 10 years ago as she said she didn't want it as it hadn't got a use so will use that to back the t shirt throw for dd2 laid it out and it's more than big enough.
If I get that sewn this week I can get it back to dd as a house moving gift for her hopefully new home at the end of the month.

Got rid of a fair bit over the weekend, which was good.
There was an interesting article in the you mag with the Mail on Sunday yesterday all about how clutter affects your life "moving to Japan inspired writer dominique loreau to embrace a simpler way of living, here she explains the benefits of paring down" it is very kondo in method and covers home, wardrobe, time and diet.
it's taken from a book called l'art de la simplicite: how to live more with less by dominique loreau translated by Louise lalaurie and published by Orion that's out on 21st April if anyone wants to order it from their library or look into it.

Want to fill another bag (or two) for the CS this week and get the throw finished. Was pleased that all the little balls of oddment wool I'd left out in a bag have now been t
Knitted up into instant smoothie hats, I did 21 over the weekend, while its not much it's a small bag of spare wool oddments that have been turned into something useful which can leave the house.

Have a joyful day all.

PollyWollyDoodle

The KM method will really help you - I'm assuming you've read the book, but you might find it worth re-reading before you tackle something really hard. You'll reach a point where you feel able to thank your dad for his handiwork and accept that it's time to move on but it's still very recent for you, and you can't rush these things. I'd definitely focus on your own stuff first before you try to deal with your dad's things.

I've always had a problem getting rid of things that had emotional significance. After years of 'decluttering' this method is the only one that's ever worked and enabled me to let go of things from my childhood and junk that I inherited. Go on - get that knicker drawer open! :rotfl:

maddiemay

mrs-moneypenny wrote: »

Morning all

Decided to repurpose a huge throw we gave mil about 10 years ago as she said she didn't want it as it hadn't got a use so will use that to back the t shirt throw for dd2 laid it out and it's more than big enough.
If I get that sewn this week I can get it back to dd as a house moving gift for her hopefully new home at the end of the month.

Want to fill another bag (or two) for the CS this week and get the throw finished. Was pleased that all the little balls of oddment wool I'd left out in a bag have now been t
Knitted up into instant smoothie hats, I did 21 over the weekend, while its not much it's a small bag of spare wool oddments that have been turned into something useful which can leave the house.

Have a joyful day all.

Mrs M-P you inspire me with all the craft work that you do, I have down loaded the instructions for the smoothie hats and I will try and get all the odds and ends of yarn together. I visited The Knitters thread and having read a good chunk at the beginning and current posts it was lovely to see your name there and also Mrs Hinge. I am a lapsed knitter with a vast stash of yarn and I am feeling a little more energised to begin knitting again, this should fit nicely as I Kondo the room of doom and my craft space in the eaves. Thank you for giving me some motivation:A

mavvymoo

Morning kondo fans
Tete welcome sorry to hear about your Dad.
Its a difficult one clearing your Dads things but you will get there I promise it just takes time and head clearing. Which is where the book will help you loads.

My Dad is 83 and in pretty good health so I am lucky and I have been helping him clear his flat of 'stuff' as he wants it in good order for when that dreaded time comes.This has only come about since I become a kondoite some time ago. So its a bit of a woo really as I always dreaded sorting stuff out as I knew it would have been a nightmare.
Its something we really dont talk about with our parents and its something we really should also our kids if we have them.

But hang on in there you will get all the support you need as they are a great bunch of wise people on here.Which have helped me no end with all sorts of clutter both in the house and in my head

Mav x

VJsmum

Welcome Tete (great name and great picture ) as others have said, be kind to yourself, it's 6 years since my mum died and i still have bad days.

Karmacat wrote: »

I haven't done things strictly to kondo recommendations - the first thing I tackled, before I even knew about Kondo, was the monthly journals from my professional organisastion - 20 years worth taking up a whole full height bookcase. I can't bear to think of it now! Nowadays, I scan any article I need for professional purposes, and the whole journal goes into the recycling straight away.

When i read the "decide what you don't give a f*** about and then don't give a f*** about it" article a while back, work magazines were the biggest thing i applied that to. Just thumbed through and the bits that were "don't care" "dont care" etc i just skipped. I dont think my life has been the worse for it. I need to do it again as they have built up a little. I have about 6 to get through and so i will do this on a train journey this week.

The other thing i applied it to was social media and facebook friends / twitter follows etc. It cuts down the time.

greenbee wrote: »

1. Dedicated work space. Somewhere you can keep all your stork stuff and shut the door on it at the end of the day. No non-work stuff in there (although personal admin and files can also be kept out of the way there as well), and treat it like 'going to the office'. I'd also recommend that it is as far away from the kettle and biscuit tin as possible to ensure that you get some exercise. Kit it out properly as an office - phone/IP phone with headset, decent chair and monitor, plenty of room for files/books etc that you need for work. If you're going to do video-conferencing you also need to think about your background. It needs to look professional.
2. Clothes - again, if you're doing video conferencing these need to look professional BUT you will find you can cut down on your 'work' wardrobe quite considerably. I don't recommend throwing stuff out straight away, but certainly packing up the majority of your office-wear may help you clear some space. However, DO NOT work in PJs. You need to get up, shower, ideally take a quick walk (I think of my walk to the village and back as my 'communte'), eat breakfast and dress properly before you start work.

3. Routine. I have a bad habit of getting up at 6.30am, making coffee, taking it back to bed to do my emails and then having a mad rush to get ready before my first meeting!

Love this, thank you (she says, typing this at the kitchen table still in her PJs). I really need to sort the office out as i just don't like being in there. i think i would get more done.

The weekend was spent tidying up after shed demolition. they were based on paving slabs - some have been repositioned but the remainder needed lifting and taking to the dump. we found muscles we'd forgotten about - the dump had a dedicated rubble skip so it will all be repurposed. just a small concrete slab to break up now - we will try with a sledge hammer, but i think we may have to hire a breaker for the day.

The small Ike@ chair i rescued from the skip has been repainted in AS chalk paint and finished. THat is going to the chazzer today (it is a kiddy chair, and as my kiddies are now 19 and 17 and 5'9 and 6'1 respectively, I think it can go :rotfl:). I had a small pot of chalk paint left, so that has now gone and i think the chazzzer will make a few quid from the chair so it's all good. As i have a rule that if something is going to the chazzer then at least 4 other things have to go, i did a quick scout round the bookshelves and have found a couple of books and a couple of DVDs we can let go. one of the DVDs was bought for me on mothers day and we've now watched it. It was a bit "meh" so i can happily let it go (it was one we'd wanted to see at the pictures, but missed it. So getting it for Mother's day was perfect - it saved us £20 at the flicks, was a thoughtful present, and now it can go :T)

Whilst watching the DVD, i started crocheting a blanket from all the left over wool in my stash. There is probably enough to make something to go over quilts on very cold nights and i like to have something to do with my hands when watching TV (not that i watch loads) as it keeps me from falling asleep.

Right, off to face the day.

Have a joyful one, all.

silvasava

Mrs M - I read that article too and thought it was a similar ethos to Kondo. Tete - many of us find it difficult to let go of items with an emotional attachment but I too find that thanking an item does make it easier. Don't be in too much of a hurry to deal with your Dad's things - Kondo is not a race and baby steps are fine. It's your home and your life so do it your way.
Bag of bits for the CS going today - I'm also returning the slow cooker I bought to replace my old one. The new one was round and I do lamb shanks and found I could only get two in it. Picked up a beauty in the CS so the new one is going back along with a pair of cut offs that were too tight on my calves and too big on my bum!
DH sorted some of his clothes for our holiday and I did manage to get him to relinquish a pair of shorts that made his legs look like bell clappers ( shades of Eric Morecambe!)
I'm itching to go through his wardrobe but that is one area that is definitely baby steps lol

greenbee

VJ's Mum - I always found paving slabs and rubble went well on freegle... no idea why