KonMari 2017 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

PollyWollyDoodle

Can't explain it but I've had a real change in the last week or so. I have done some things that have been outstanding for ages - may seem weird to others but I hate having workmen in the home, I always fear I'm going to be ripped off or at least talked into things I don't want* and I hate making decisions about things under pressure. I've been putting off some fairly important work that I need doing.

This week I've suddenly found the energy and courage to make some calls and things are finally happening. It certainly helps that there's no panic to clean and up before they set foot in the house, as would have been the case in the past.

* there's good justification for this anxiety, based on past experience!

GreyQueen

:T Wow, PWD, that's an excellent and unexpected outcome from kondo-ing, you go, girl!

I'm sure I've read somewhere that the parts of our brains which do decision-making get easily fatigued and, the more decisions you have to make in any given period, the harder it is to make good ones - or indeed any ones.

I know I've certainly hit the wall most times in actual clearouts, when I've suddenly lost the ability to think clearly and rationally about things between one moment and another, it feels like. Sometimes after as little as an hour or two. Mum and Dad's house has that effect on me frequently!:rotfl:

Yesterday evening, between doing other things, I had a notion to start going through my chest-of-drawers. I inventoried the contents of the top two of the five drawers, but also ended up pulling three garments off the hanging rail and two out of the drawers for the chazzer bag. Plus moving the very space-consuming hiking socks from the top drawer. These are only used a few times a year and don't need to take up prime real estate.

Re feeling pressurised into decisions in the past, my observation is that those who try it on commercially (or in any other way) are low-level predators with a sense of which person is emotionally weak at that particular time. It's a form of bullying, really. If you are strong-willed, clear-minded and intentional, there might be an attempt to put one over on you which is half-hearted at best, or even no attempt at all, as it will be seen as a waste of time.

By emotionally weak, btw, I don't mean to imply negativity, we all have times (which might be days, years, decades, half a lifetime) when we're less decisive and powerful. One of the toughest and most dynamic women I knew (I only knew her in her later life) spent 20+ years as an abused wife; in photos, you would hardly recognise that timorous earlier version for the no-nonsense tough-but-kind woman she grew into.

If I'm going to be making big decisions, or even less big decisions like shopping, I find it helpful to pre-prepare for it by sitting down with a cuppa and perhaps a sheet of paper of pros and cons, and deciding exactly what it is I want to achieve long before I get anywhere near a retail environment, salesperson etc. It's so easy to be dazzled or steam-rollered, these people are professionals, after all.

Siebrie

I have a little pile of folded clothes at the bottom of my wardrobe, which are clothes I've worn once, and can be worn again, but I don't want them mixed up with the clean clothes. Some of them have been there for a year :eek: They can go!


Most of them were given to me by someone who stopped working in a corporate environment and did her 'good deed' by giving them to me. They are food quality, but not my style at all; which is fine, because I sometimes like to wear other people's styles for a few days, to see if it would be something for me, and this is a cheap way to do it. I received a lot of compliments, mainly that it was 'sexy', and that that was a good thing. I don't agree; I think 'sexy' is not for the workplace (unless you work ehhhmm in a sexy business :rotfl:) (easy on the eye, nice to look at: yes. Sexy: no. the business is macho enough already, no need to pander to it). Besides, they were a little on the large side, and I've lost a few kilos over the summer, so now they are too large, and I'm afraid the short woollen skirts will drop down :eek:.


Minnie, may I suggest you look for some (online) help to 'shine your spine'? There is a website called 'reddit' which has a 'justnoso' (just-no significant other) section. It is a kind forum (like this one here) and they give tips and support on balancing things out in your marriage. You don't have to submit anything, but just reading other people's stories will help you. There are other forums available, but this is the one where I like to lurk.

elona

My youngest daughter came to stay for a few days on Thursday so I made sure the house was tidy but lots of bits and pieces went into my bedroom out of the way. Unfortunately I have been doing this for months and my bedroom is a tip :eek:

Yesterday dd decided enough was enough and said she would help me sort out the bedroom as it was not relaxing to be in a messy cluttered space. With two us doing the clearing it only took an hour or so to make a tremendous difference and I feel much happier now.

There was so much clutter before it was discouraging and too daunting to even make a start and yet once we began the task was not as massive as it seemed.

MMF007

elona wrote: »

My youngest daughter came to stay for a few days on Thursday so I made sure the house was tidy but lots of bits and pieces went into my bedroom out of the way. Unfortunately I have been doing this for months and my bedroom is a tip :eek:

Yesterday dd decided enough was enough and said she would help me sort out the bedroom as it was not relaxing to be in a messy cluttered space. With two us doing the clearing it only took an hour or so to make a tremendous difference and I feel much happier now.

There was so much clutter before it was discouraging and too daunting to even make a start and yet once we began the task was not as massive as it seemed.

You are so right, Elona. I have sometimes dreaded a task, be it tidying or anything else, because I thought it was overwhelming. I think KM has helped change my mindset and I find it easier to look upon things as 'do-able' now!

minnie2

Thanks everyone.been busy for last couple of days.now attempting to sort the boy's room again.should just be a case of.putting back in rightful place now hopefully !!! I will let you know.also got to do living room and kitchen got around 3hours to do it.fingers crossed i can.the bathroom and my bedroom are still fairly ok thankfully as i have a lot of people coming round tomorrow.my poor conservatory though is going to be packed with stuff while people are here.hopefully though after today all the stuff still waiting to find new homes will just be in the conservatory.with the rest of the house being finished :-) we shall see though!! Hubby said as he left thurs for work good luck trying to keep the house tidy today.i could have slapped him!!!

Our room is so much easier and nicer now though!! No tripping over stuff to sort and we can go straight in to the cupboard we want and find the specific things.lovely!! Still do have paperwork stuff to sort but think that will have to be on going.hubbys side of the bed is a different matter i keep asking him to keep it clear as i cleaned and cleared it tuesday but there are shoes and clothes everywhere :-(

Floss

Minnie i feel for you & the uncaring people you share your home with... It seems to be an on going challenge for you.

minnie2

I am not doing very well help me!! Ive flittered between everything my time is nearly up and i have achieved nothing so far except gained a headache.urgh i am hungry and thirsty and have a tonne of jobs to do.i cant seem to stay on one task.going to take some pills for the headache and revisit my list.i have no idea what to do first.i thought of something i needed to buy and before i could write it down forgot!! Arghhhh

MMF007

I've also had a slightly disjointed morning but it came to fruition in the end.
Tidying top drawer of my bedroom COD and realised I have 7 watches. 7! DH bought me 2 really nice ones over the years, not that valuable but more than the £25 my budget usually stretches to! Both are awaiting new batteries.
DH bought me another one for my recent birthday. It is a bit 'bling' but I am getting used to it !
I have a cheapie for work, a previosly-used-for-work one, and one I use exclusively on holiday (cheap plastic strap, dosen't mind suncream or mossie repellant!). The last one is an MnS one that was given to me a couple of years ago and is quite dressy. Also, of course, needs a battery

I laid them all out and decided that I like 2 of the 3 DH-gifts but one of them I shall never wear because it is a style that looks terrible on me. Just wondering how to release i) without upsetting DH and ii) for cash, it because I suspect it is the most valuable. Will do some research. Bearing in mind that i cannot actually remember when i last wore this watch I think it should go.

I already put the ex-work one in CS bag, along with a couple of bits of costume jewellery.

Drawer now nice and tidy

I also [STRIKE]excavated[/STRIKE] pulled out several necklaces. I rarely wear any jewellery but have, it transpires, 9 necklaces (real, as opposed to costume), ranging from lockets to a small opal dropper and a 1/2 sovereign in a mount that was my grandmother's. Again, this piece has almost never been worn and is worth a few quid.
I have done the joy test and I want to release a few of the items. Thinking as I type, maybe a job lot in the local auction next time they have a jewellery sale? Hmmmm.

Funny how KM takes you by surprise. I never thought I would let any of this go but there was just no joy in most of it. The pieces i love I shall keep, of course! It feels very liberating just the thought of releasing them, even though they take up little space.

wort

Minnie ,I feel for you its so frustrating to want to keep tidy, when others are thwarting your plans.
I agree that sister should be given a date to move out by you. Also that she keeps the house tidy or she goes next week. Maybe she could pay for a cleaner to come ? An hour or two a week. Also give you some money for food. I would definitely lift the meat out of freezer for Sunday tea!
It does sound like dh is annoyed by your sister, hence the comment "good luck keeping tidy".

I've been in the garden tidying today, typical that after the good weather whilst at work it windy and rainy today! I came in soaked and you can't tell what's been done, but my green bin is full.
Also wrapped the seat cushions to the garden furniture, and put the up in the eaves in garage. And cleaned my garden tools and oiled! That's a first for me :T