How to be tidy and organised

Spudsey

Hi

I am after some advice please as I really struggle with keeping things clean and tidy (think life of grime) and organised including myself.

We live in a small two bed house, work full time, have an allotment, and four animals to take care of. One of my rabbits is constantly poorly and requires a lot of care.

I just don’t seem to be able to get on and sort myself out, I feel like I am trying to fit too many things in and everything seems to be spiralling out of control.

We haven’t been to the allotment for the past week as the weather has been so awful, but I still don’t feel like I have any time to spare! I guess the only thing I have done this week is spent more time cooking meals.

VfM4meplse

I think you need to Kondo. First get rid of as much stuff as you don't need and designate a space for everything else. Your home will feel bigger and be so much easier to keep clean and tidy after that, leaving you with plenty of time to do what's important to you. Plus your stress levels will magically decrease.

There is a separate Kondo thread, read the first post and then get stuck in. Totally addictive

PollyWollyDoodle

Have to agree - I used to feel like that, and yes sometimes I still do, but it was the realisation that I just had too much stuff that was an eye-opener. Sound obvious but I'd spend all my time trying to be 'organised' when there wasn't really anywhere to put it.

Since I got rid of all the excess, life is simpler and much more enjoyable. I bet when you get back from the allotment you just want a hot bath, not to have to start cleaning and trying to clear up. Come on over to the Marie Kondo thread, we're very friendly!

pipkin71

Now that I'm working, I have found organising my time so that it is the most productive, has been a challenge. I work from home and have found that there is always something that needs doing around the house, that can distract me.

firebubble

What helped me was learning that cleaning and tidying are two separate tasks, and tidying has to be done first in order to be able to clean everything.

If you're always untidy, as other posters have said, you probably have too much stuff so a good declutter is always good. Don't pull everything out all at once, maybe set yourself a target of five items a day...have a google of 'decluttering challenge' and pick whatever method appeals. Start simple, with anything that is broken. Realise that everyone keeps things for 'Justin Case', but you have to battle this so you just keep what you will realistically use for an identified purpose.

Little and often is also key with tidying - maybe set yourself a 'ten minute tidy' goal before bed - I try and do this, and all I aim to do is to make sure everything I used that day is put back. That way, even if you do nothing else, things won't get worse.

Another thing to consider is whether the stuff you have and use is stored properly. Does it have a specific place, is it easy to get out and put away? If it's difficult to put away (eg you have to ram it into a cupboard stuffed with things) you're way more likely to leave it out. Plus try and keep things in the room in which they are used - if you have to lug stuff from different rooms, you're more likely to leave it out, meaning things are permanently in the wrong place (or more likely, they are in the right place, but because their 'place' is in the wrong room, you haven't got a place to put them there). Think of your toothbrush - it's likely that you keep it in the bathroom, accessible near the sink and it's not hidden behind other things. It never leaves that room, and that's where it's always used, so it never gets lost. Try and apply that principle to everything you use, by thinking about whether how you are currently set up is really right for you.

For cleaning, differentiate between what needs to be done daily (eg wipe down kitchen counters after cooking), what needs to be done weekly (eg vacuuming) and what can be left for a deep clean. Don't start trying to deep clean until you have decluttered an area.

Another trick to feel organised which I find useful is before I go to bed, put my entire outfit for the next day on a hanger (right down to underwear and jewellry), and also to empty out the bag I used that day and get it packed and ready for the next day. This makes mornings go much smoothly.

Hope this is useful, you're not alone with this and that means there are loads of free resources and summaries on the internet. Start gradually, don't get disheartened and just keep going...

Spudsey

firebubble wrote: »

What helped me was learning that cleaning and tidying are two separate tasks, and tidying has to be done first in order to be able to clean everything.

If you're always untidy, as other posters have said, you probably have too much stuff so a good declutter is always good. Don't pull everything out all at once, maybe set yourself a target of five items a day...have a google of 'decluttering challenge' and pick whatever method appeals. Start simple, with anything that is broken. Realise that everyone keeps things for 'Justin Case', but you have to battle this so you just keep what you will realistically use for an identified purpose.

Little and often is also key with tidying - maybe set yourself a 'ten minute tidy' goal before bed - I try and do this, and all I aim to do is to make sure everything I used that day is put back. That way, even if you do nothing else, things won't get worse.

Another thing to consider is whether the stuff you have and use is stored properly. Does it have a specific place, is it easy to get out and put away? If it's difficult to put away (eg you have to ram it into a cupboard stuffed with things) you're way more likely to leave it out. Plus try and keep things in the room in which they are used - if you have to lug stuff from different rooms, you're more likely to leave it out, meaning things are permanently in the wrong place (or more likely, they are in the right place, but because their 'place' is in the wrong room, you haven't got a place to put them there). Think of your toothbrush - it's likely that you keep it in the bathroom, accessible near the sink and it's not hidden behind other things. It never leaves that room, and that's where it's always used, so it never gets lost. Try and apply that principle to everything you use, by thinking about whether how you are currently set up is really right for you.

For cleaning, differentiate between what needs to be done daily (eg wipe down kitchen counters after cooking), what needs to be done weekly (eg vacuuming) and what can be left for a deep clean. Don't start trying to deep clean until you have decluttered an area.

Another trick to feel organised which I find useful is before I go to bed, put my entire outfit for the next day on a hanger (right down to underwear and jewellry), and also to empty out the bag I used that day and get it packed and ready for the next day. This makes mornings go much smoothly.

Hope this is useful, you're not alone with this and that means there are loads of free resources and summaries on the internet. Start gradually, don't get disheartened and just keep going...

Thanks for your post, its much appreciated, you have hit the nail right on the head!

I sometimes set my little kitchen timer for 10-15 minutes but often forget that little tip. Did it last night though to get myself tackling the washing up which had stacked up again. After 15 minutes I did 10 minutes on my duolingo app as I am attempting to learn French, then set it again for the washing up. It really is a good tip as it makes you go that little bit faster as well to try and complete your task before the alarm goes off!

None of my stuff is stored properly, I have stuff littering the kitchen because I can’t fit things easily in the cupboards and stuff that has ‘no place’ just builds up on bare surfaces.

[Deleted User]

I don't work at all as I retired in 1995 but I lead a very busy full on life as I look after my DGS after school and during the holidays plus I go to lots of different clubs and coffee mornings and the only clear day I have is a Saturday and I spend that cooking and cleaning and catching up on stuff.De clutter as much as you can and if you haven't used it in 6 months the chances are you will never use it so get rid, its just taking up space in your life.

trailingspouse

I find a routine helps - it also helps with the guilt if something isn't quite as it should be.

So, if you know that you always wash the towels on a Tuesday, and they're looking a bit grim on the Monday, you don't need to fret because you know you'll be doing them the next day.

Other ideas - never go up or down stairs empty handed - there's always something that needs taking up or bringing back down.

Never just put something down - always put it away.

And think about working efficiently - for example, I always empty bins on a Wednesday, as the binmen come on a Thursday. I wash on a Monday and a Tuesday, so I always iron on a Wednesday. I clean the fridge on a Thursday because that's also the day I do the weekly shopping - the fridge is at its emptiest, and everything is nice and clean for the new stuff to go in.

And the easiest solution of all, if you can afford it, is to get a cleaner. Mine charges £25 for two hours, and whizzes about like you wouldn't believe. She does the floors (hoovering/mopping as required), dusts the obvious bits, and cleans the bathroom. It also forces us to tidy up before she comes...

And I remember the immortal words spoken to me by my dear old Dad - 'Don't be a lazy b!tch'...

Spudsey

trailingspouse wrote: »

I find a routine helps - it also helps with the guilt if something isn't quite as it should be.

So, if you know that you always wash the towels on a Tuesday, and they're looking a bit grim on the Monday, you don't need to fret because you know you'll be doing them the next day.

Other ideas - never go up or down stairs empty handed - there's always something that needs taking up or bringing back down.

Never just put something down - always put it away.

And think about working efficiently - for example, I always empty bins on a Wednesday, as the binmen come on a Thursday. I wash on a Monday and a Tuesday, so I always iron on a Wednesday. I clean the fridge on a Thursday because that's also the day I do the weekly shopping - the fridge is at its emptiest, and everything is nice and clean for the new stuff to go in.

And the easiest solution of all, if you can afford it, is to get a cleaner. Mine charges £25 for two hours, and whizzes about like you wouldn't believe. She does the floors (hoovering/mopping as required), dusts the obvious bits, and cleans the bathroom. It also forces us to tidy up before she comes...

And I remember the immortal words spoken to me by my dear old Dad - 'Don't be a lazy b!tch'...

Thanks for the useful post I will remember those words by your Dad!

maman

Not sure if any of the animals live in the house but even if they don't it's a small house but that has its good and bad points.


You're suffering from the bad points now with too much stuff piled up everywhere which must make it impossible to keep everywhere clean.


The good part is that once you've sorted yourself out then there are only a few rooms to keep clean and tidy.


Marie Kondo definitely works. I haven't gone the whole hog and had a love in with my favourite belongings (she can be a bit airy fairy) but clearing out 'stuff' to the bin or charity shop is cathartic. Then sort out what you have left so that everything has it's place and then when you've used something put it back.


MK recommends getting everything out and having a massive sort through but I've never really found the time or inclination for that. If I were you I'd start with one room and then narrow it down to one cupboard/shelf/drawer in that room and then work through until that room's finished. It's hard to be prescriptive without knowing your home but MK advocates keeping everything of the same 'category' together rather than spread all over the house. So if you have bookshelves upstairs but the sitting room is covered in books, newspapers and magazines: Take all the books except the one you're currently reading upstairs and put them at least near the bookshelves (you can sort that another day). Put all the newspapers and magazines in a box for recycling and only keep those that you're 100% sure you're going to read. Have a place for keeping current magazines and books (under a coffee table? In a basket?) and then train yourself to keep them there. If it starts to overflow then have another sort out as above. If you have a dining/kitchen table that's piled high with stuff sort through that in much the same way. I could go on for ever with examples but hope you get the general idea.
When the place is tidy it'll be 100% easier to keep clean.


Put briefly it's the old saying 'A place for everything and everything in its place'. It's just that you don't need everything!


Good Luck (and hope your OH is helping).

LameWolf

I try to live by Flylady Valli's mantra: "Don't put it down, put it away". Life has been a lot easier since I managed to get DH on board with this also.:D We are now to the stage where if one of us deliberately leaves something out because they're going to use it again very shortly and it's more work to put it away then get it back out again, they tell the other one. It's a common thing for me to say to DH "I'm not being an untidy mare; I need that again in half an hour." or something similar.