KonMari 2018 - The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up

Karmacat

I love those decisions, Siebrie, good for you

pavlovs_dog

not posting much, but still chipping away at the clutter.

Tonight I came across a book called decluttering at the speed of life. I have only skimmed the author's blog and read a few summaries of the book. Some of her approach is quite different to the Konmari method, other aspects I think compliment it quite well. There is a good summary here.

In essence;

1) you should declutter without making a bigger mess
2) start with the most visual clutter and quick wins
3) when decluttering, you deal with things instantly. Each item is either binned, recycled or rehomed but you do it straight away.
4) When dealing with homeless items, ask yourself

If I was looking for this item, where would I look for it first?
If I needed this item, would it ever occur to me that I already have one?

5) put things where they belong even if that space is currently in chaos. But don't get distracted by the chaos of that space...
6) ... complete one space/project at a time.
7) Deal with Procrasticlutter. This is all the stuff you stop noticing because you know exactly what you need to do to deal with it. You just haven’t dealt with it.
8) think of your home/existing storage solutions as containers. If your possessions don't fit within your existing containers, you have too much stuff. Try the 1 in, 1 out approach if you need to add something to an overflowing space.

As someone who is very guilty of 1) and 7) (and 7)s caused by 1)s :rotfl: ) I shall certainly be trialling her advice alongside the KM principles

Karmacat

I like the concept of Procrasticlutter and the "questions to ask" are really good s well but to make decisions instantly, and declutter without making a temporary mess ... may be good for some, but I'm not going there

GreyQueen

I was watching some inspiring you tubers about minimalism etc before going out gardening this morning and dove into the CodD and pulled everything out of two drawers.


Result is sone definate Outs and some Maybes. I will wear the Maybes during the coming week or two and decide if they're keepers or not. If not, next time they come thru the wash cycle, they're off to the chazzer.


Was gardening today between showers and potting on. Found a couple of the flowerpot stash had gone brittle and split, another couple are slightly broken but can do another season. All are washed up and dripping dry on the top of the bean poles like a row of jolly hats. Normally I'd chuck 'em dirty into a big trug and leave 'em. Which would make the trug unusable for the duration and lead to a mahoosive washing up sesh stooped over the stand tap at the plots. Not kind on the back and something I'm trying to avoid when possible, so little and often is the way now.


Have also realised that the allotment pondlet which I acquired last year when I look on the next door plot must have a leak in its liner as the level drops ridiculously fast. I had wondered if it was evaporation but the surface area is pretty small, the pondlet is pretty deep and the water dropped 3 inches in 24 hrs. I shall eventually get to a garden centre and get another liner, but will keep it topped up meanwhile as there are froggies in there.

silvasava

Oooh GQ I luvs froggies.......and toads

Siebrie

I gave the kitchen a good scrub on Friday, and behind the cabinet with the coffee machine I found a complete frog skeleton :eek:

On Saturday I made a flowerbed with the plugplants I bought a month ago, following dd2's advice: just dig a hole and plop them in Unfortunately, I strained my back and am now moving very carefully, or lying on the sofa with a hot water bottle against my back, watching Homes under the Hammer.

GreyQueen

Siebrie, I'm a recovering perfectionist and am telling myself that the important thing is to get the seeds/ plants (trans) planted, it doesn't matter if they're in a straight line or whatever, just get on with it.


Have been wearing one of the Maybe tops today, and it's a keeper. Will try a different one tomorrow. Was talking to the mothership who has been clothes shopping today for really comfortable things and she's got three pairs yoga pants and 3 tops and is now thinking that the several drawersful of her clothing that I kondo-folded approx 3 years ago, and which has been undisturbed ever since, need rethinking.


Here's hoping there's a major clearout on the cards and that the charity shops will benefit.

Siebrie

Ooh Greyqueen, how exciting that the kondo method works for your Mum!

I have several more plugplants that really need a home, but they have to wait until my back has recovered. Drs estimate is four days. DD1 is really helpful, dd2 is complaining that she isn't my little slave (it's her own stuff I'm asking her to pick up!).

GreyQueen

She's quite resistant to decluttering, some Isshews regarding getting rid of stuff, very harsh early life forming hoarder habits.


I had heard her remark that the kondo-folded items had remained in their folds, thus demonstrating that they weren't being used. I didn't go in like a bull at the gate, I'm playing slowly slowly catchee monkey and letting her draw her own conclusions.


There have been false dawns before, I won't get my hopes up until the bags hit the chazzer.

silvasava

DH has started taking out my old kitchen units. They're in surprisingly good condition considering they must be 25 years old now. I've listed them on Freecycle and had a few enquiries so far. If nothing materialises through that avenue they will either go to the local hospice shop or a charity that supports trafficked children.
The room is surprisingly echoey