KonMari 2016 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

PollyWollyDoodle

Kittie, please keep posting - you're an inspiration to me.

I have completed the Kondo process once but things have slipped a bit lately. I really appreciate the benefits so far - the house is easy to clean, packing for holidays is a doddle, I can lay hands on lightbulbs, batteries, insurance policies and bank statements - but I would love my life to be simpler. Hearing about your daily activities really makes me think it's possible.

greent

Revisiting things this Easter - a constant thing with children This week has mainly been about KMing in DS3's room (I know that sounds like doing it by location, but it's not - it's just KMing his things, which are all in one place - still doing it in categories) Almost done, but it takes a long time persuading a 7yo to look at everything for joy!

This weekend will see the garage done (annual sort out - easier after the last couple of big sort outs, but still a worthwhile exercise - we tend not to keep it in such good order over the cold months as it's freezing out there!)

Next week will see DS2 and I tackle his room. DD and DS1 are tackling their own. (Almost now a tradition that we do the children's rooms over Easter)

Simplifying life - something I've been working towards over the last few years. Stopped being Treasurer for PTA after a second stint (total around 5 years), stopped WI committee (realised it was becoming a burden rather than the original joy), stopped helping to organise a festival (took months and months to do, hours and hours of my time and I got lots of grief when things went wrong which were nothing to do with me and lots of new helpers stepped up for this year - time to leave with no regrets) Am now stepping down (in a few months) as treasurer (and ultimately also as trustee) from a small local charity - 7 year+ stint so far. I don't mind the volunteering element, but the politics and hassles have got too much. Risk assessment seems to be my responsibility but noone takes notice of what I say (it is a H&S nightmare) and I feel undermined. When I'm dealing with things at 11pm and then again before 7am the next day on a regular basis, it's too much. I have been saying about leaving for a couple of years, but love the principles behind the charity so have stayed. Time to go now, and replace with something less consuming. Our lives change and there is a time and place for some things - I've done my time there and still have plans to volunteer elsewhere, but in a lesser way for a while.

xx

imataloss

GreyQueen wrote: »

Feeling pleased with myself as have just kondo'd a whole pile of paperwork which has been stacked on the top of my CRT monitor for a couple of months.

Some filed, some recycled and some confidential bits shredded. Glad to see that back of that lot (I use the monitor top as an informal in-tray as the desk is very small).

Guys, will be at the parental home tomorrow evening and who knows what straaange things may happen there - will keep ya updated over Easter.

Snap GQ - I did the same yesterday plus also did my in-tray (why had I got things from early 2016 in there?. Such a feeling of joy/relief when it got sorted.

Enjoy your weekend break.

LizzieR

imataloss - just wanted to say I'm inspired by your signature! Been struggling lately with various rubbish stuff going on and have been quite frustrated by it and my own reactions to it. Gave myself a good talking to at about 5am this morning (couldn't sleep) about it all, along the lines of accepting what I can't change etc, and not sabotaging myself by eating rubbish, not being kind to myself etc - your signature sums up it beautifully, so thank you. I've already written in my journal and am thinking I might need to stick it on a few post it notes around the flat to remind me!

So, now onto a bit of relocating items KM style and then some cleaning - cos I deserve to have a lovely tidy and clean home that brings me joy :-)

[Deleted User]

Ahh Polly

greent I know exactly where you are coming from. My husband did a huge amount in enabling leaseholders, last property, to buy freehold and thence to self manage, 43 properties. Three people were downright nasty, did nothing to help, nothing at all but gave so much grief. A terrible amount of stress followed and in spite of 39 begging us to stay, we moved from that stress situation. It is always a few who take no account of the work that `volunteers` do out of sheer goodness. I turned down a recent request from a small group here, to co-ordinate various things and to make my personal e mail available to every person in this area, I said no. I have reached the limit of what I want to do for others. The first no is the hardest

Quite honestly, being retired and widowed has brought a huge amount of work to me and kondo has enabled me to cope, so that there are still pleasures in my day

Bed and poppycock have gone

I do have 1/2 tonne of 10kg wood pellets stored in the garage, under polythene. It was my safety net, just in case of snow and cold like in 2010. Next autumn, I will start using it and will eventually have a much nicer place to store my bikes and to do my carving.

Just typing while I wait in for teak oil, I need to oil some garden furniture this spring. I was good and only bought the amount I think I will use :cool:.

I`m waffling again, I can tell!! :easter_ba

Slinky

I've just had an odd find in the kitchen sink. Discovered something sticking out of the sink trap, pulled it up, turned out to be a little sprouted seedling. Judging by the shape of the seed, it looks like a butternut squash seed from our weekend soup has got trapped in the sink trap and has sprouted.

She has been named Betty and planted in the garden. No idea about growing butternut squash, but I'm prepared to give her a go!

luxor4t

[QUOTE=GreyQueen;72394122.........
Guys, will be at the parental home tomorrow evening and who knows what straaange things may happen there - will keep ya updated over Easter.[/QUOTE]


:j:j:j looking forward to your adventures.


I am getting the bedrooms ready for DD and Co, plus DS2 to arrive - we kondo'd the wardrobe to fit the cot into her old bedroom, shifted the bed to a different wall and it has made so much space.
If I get rid of another wardrobe, can I have another grandchild? :think:

MMF007

Kitie, it's not waffly it's chatty, and jolly nice it is too, thank you for posting
Second the thanks to imataloss, inspiring sig indeed :T

Someone kondo'd DH's wing mirror on his van as he was parked and they drove by. He txt me a few hours ago to tell me. Anyway, DH has just seen the culprit driving round the village and managed to speak to him (firm but polite!). The guy said he didn't realise but did admit it must have been him driving, and did give his details and will speak to his boss then contact DH. As i type the guy has txtd for more info. Hopefully he will pay the replacement price. DH happy to fit it himself.

Oh well, birthday tea to kondo later with a g & t

PollyWollyDoodle

That's a result - usually they're long gone by the time you discover the damage.

Greent well done on shedding all those responsibilities. I am a volunteer for one organisation, chair of another (very small and not onerous) and on Committees for two others, just writing this down makes me think 'no wonder I can't get anything done!'

I told one Committee that I'll be resigning at the AGM in December- I've done this job for six years and that gives them lots of time to find a replacement. The secretary replied 'oh, I'm sure we can persuade you to stay on in another role' adding rather unflatteringly 'we need more women on the Committee'. He's going to be disappointed in December! I love your comment Kittie 'the first no is the hardest'. It's a word I need to use more often.

greent

Yes Polly - these 'small roles' grow and encroach on life - and people always like to ask someone to take on similar roles (in the vein of 'if you want something done, ask a busy person') - well I don't want to busy with everyone else's stuff nowadays - I want to be busy with my family and my very part time jobs - I want to potter in the house and garden and not feel mentally exhausted at the thought of dealing with something which is voluntary - I already have the guilt trip of knowing that it will be hard to get someone else to take over the role but my priorities and availability have changed. We have a crisis situation at the moment, but after that (and when I have fulfilled some obligations which I have agreed to do) I will look to hand over the reins. I have already told DD that she can help me fulfil these obligations whilst she is on uni break - and that I will pay her to do so (I want them cleared that badly!)
x