2020 - banish the clutter

Abbafan1972

I need to declutter my paperwork - my concertina folder is broken and I need a new one.  will get some shredding done hopefully.  Some decluttering is on hold as the rubbish tips are closed anyway and charity shops too.

nannywindow

Hello all. I hope everyone is well and staying sane ! Many hugs to those who are struggling, we have all been there at one point and I'm certainly up and down like the buses. I can go from angry, tearful, cba and manically happy in one day.

Still not much real decluttering done here except normal refuse, but I have not put a bin or recycling bag/box out for a month The food waste caddy is nowhere near half full either, but it will go out tomorrow in case it starts to smell in the warm weather. Shows me it can be done if I really try hard enough and I will have to keep it up when this is eventually all over, whenever that is.

I had 2 online food deliveries today, couldn't get one for love nor money for a month or more, but then got 2 on the same day. We were looking a bit desperate and so was my 90 yr old Dad. We were nearly down to those fish fingers and jam sandwiches/pie All's well now and I will declutter Dad's shopping to him tomorrow.......... does that count MrsSD ? Hopefully we shall have plenty of food to last for at least 4 weeks or more.

Keep smiling all.

nan

Gem-gem

⭐️ Thank you Mrs SD for my gold stars. 

When I was teaching I use to love giving the children gold and silver stars. I still have several packs in my cupboard. 

Been in the garden again today. Planted rocket and seven rows of carrots. Empty seed packs binned. Spare compost bags split up and lined a wooden trough, Hubby cut the grass and decluttered the cuttings.
Also decluttered the dust from the curtains and blinds in the main bedroom. Hoovered upstairs. 
recycled: 
plastic container
easter egg box ( I know - it is a week early) x 2

basketcase

Not much done in the way of decluttering really. but I'm plodding along slowly.  I've got some stuff to clear out of the house to CSs but I don't feel I can count that until it's gone. 

There was a huge pile of ironing which built up while I was doing other things.  Normally I wouldn't count ironing, but this is clutter because it was just hanging around.  So:

37 items of ironing

3 cardboard boxes

3 large manilla delivery bags (would normally use for rabbit cage - but I'm currently throwing away due to risk of contamination)

6 items of junk mail shredded

That's about it, really.  A total of 49 to be added to (IIRC) 577 making 606.  So that's 38/39 items per week if I'm to hit the target by the end of the year.  A whole new meaning to 5-a-day!

Stay safe and well all

TC77

Gem-Gem -  a huge thanks for the recipe (lentils and sweet potato) which meant my oldest ate with me and her sister and watched TV ( a huge feat as recovering from anorexia) and a fun evening. Thank you.

Little decluttering  here -  2 bags from the garden, have offered supplies to the local volunteering group so hopefully these can be picked up/dropped off safely. 667- 668

Couple of admin tasks hanging over 669-670

Take care everyone x

bit_by_bit

Hi all, I hope you and your are all well.
So as with many, my house decluttering is lacking a little. I have been overwhelmed and exhausted a lot lately. Part of that was need for a holiday, stress related to having too much to do and of course the stress of the C Virus. I am not someone who lies awake worrying all the time but there has been an enormous amount to think about. It doesn't help that I work at a big hospital. I am not being asked to look after virus patients but being supportive and cheerful in the face of the coming adversity has taken it out of me and I still do work on wards. I am not part of any ward team and will be expected to maintain the service I do for the hospital as other collegues do work on the wards.
I have not been out socialising for four weeks now and not working at the CS. I am not missing it as much as I thought I would as there are so many other things waiting. Time for a rethink of my activity balance.
Anyway. I had a few days off this week as I started my new shorter hours. I have slept in, worked in the garden preparing to raise veg at home if the allotment is banned by the powers that be. In doing so we have decluttered a load of wood, including the roof of an 8 x 6 shed into raised beds and a wood store. Reduced the size of a load of conifers, built beds for MiL to grow veg at home and done some planting of spuds and maintenance at the allotment.
I have had time to declutter the bathrooms and dep clean and also hit the kitchen. I finally got a way of getting my DH to put the breadmaker away. It is now on a tray in the cupboard below its ususal place. 
The RoD is now waiting but I am getting a pile of paperwork sorted that I have been avoiding done first. By the time this priod of enforced stability is over I should be well sorted.
Keep well everyone.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. WRITE AND USE “TO DO LISTS” - MINIMUM 30 MINUTE BURSTS OF ACTIVITY AT LEAST TWICE EVERY DAY

2. KITCHEN WILL BE LEFT CLEAN & TIDY EVERY NIGHT

3. I WILL ENDEAVOUR TO BE NICE TO EVERYONE & TRY TO SEE THE FUNNY OR PECULIAR SIDE TO AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
4. DAY TO DAY DECLUTTERING WILL CONTINUE

Yet another gloriously sunny day & warm - the chilly wind seems to have abated for a while 😉 The ‘laziness sloth’ perked up a bit today - DH washed & swept the patio - no green bits 👏 & I made a lasagne from scratch plus chopping extra onion & a swede (before it was wasted) & freezing. Finished scarf no.35. Watched the1st two episodes of a BBC4 new Nordic noir series - Twin. It is excellent & I am already hooked - thank heavens for pause as the whole thing is subtitled 😱 It helps me that the main character is an actor I recognise (GoT) 🙂 Have been given some more hg Chinese mustard plus Chinese spring onions. So a bit of research required for cooking options. The lasagne was delicious & enough left for tomorrow 🥳 Glad I haven’t cleaned the oven yet 😉

687 - 688 Kitchen recycling, Glass bottle - Recycled 
689 Bag of kitchen detritus - Binned

Good work Nicnak 👏 Re your neighbours - perhaps you can remind them that any toys they give you will have to be quarantined then washed & that you do not have the time 😉 Seems like they are oblivious to the current situation 😠 

Oh dear Foofoopuppy ☹️ Rather ignorant of the solicitors - surely they could have someone working from home to keep you appraised of progress or lack thereof 😉
I would continue to declutter though because I have no doubt when this current situation is over you will be expected to be ready to move with 10 minutes notice 😱 I exaggerate but probably not much 😉

That is good decluttering boultdj 👏 using up jars rather than binning the contents 🙂 When did you plant your tomatoes?

It is a pain isn’t it Abbafan1972 - I can understand charity shops being closed but the rubbish tips wt* 

Absolutely counts nannywindow 👏 Not only are you decluttering the food to its correct home but also the stress of not starving 😆 Two deliveries - jam today & jam tomorrow 😉

Great work in the garden Gem-gem. As you have physical gold stars perhaps you can make yourself a notice board & stick your stars on 🤣 

If I ever did any ironing basketcase, I would definitely be counting as decluttering 🙂 
Plus good news your new total is 626 👏 back to Maths school for you 🤣 

How lovely TC77 - maybe Gem-gem has a few more recipes 😉 that can tempt your oldest 🙂

Your time off appears to have done you the world of good bit_by_bit 🙂 Hopefully TPTB will keep their mitts off allotments  - I think that there would be a riot - after all, those people growing their own vegetables will mean more vegetables for people who have to use supermarkets + it will keep them sane & fit 👏 

Have just watched Gogglebox & my face & sides are aching as I laughed so much 🤣

Keep safe everyone

MrsSD ⭐️ 

689/2020

Willowtree222

Thanks Salad, 
I didn't know she had them as they were given to her daughter to put over the fence for DD to pick up. They are currently in a bag in the kitchen and will be making their way to the bin. Her decluttering means my house gets cluttered! 
They have given away some lovely things before now, which is lovely of them to think of us. 
I will hit my target today if I achieve what I want to achieve. x

basketcase

Wow! People are really steaming away with the decluttering here. I feel quite guilty...  I'm finding it quite difficult to set up a new routine.  Must do better!

Mrs SD - Thank you for the cheering news that I'm 20 items further along than I thought I was!  I do that all the time.  It seems I have some sort of dyscalculia (dyslexia with numbers).  I understand mathematical concepts, but actually working with the numbers? I go haywire.  Maths school?   You're speaking to the person who once managed 9-4=23.  Feel free to correct any time!

Scuttles off to work on routine and decluttering (via updating signature!)

Have a good day and stay safe all.

wort

Hi! I de cluttered a long ti e ago via the Marie Kondo method. But keep looking in on these forums as ideas pop up and keep me motivated. 
I was thinking maybe if you've time now your self isolating!! To think of Christmas !!!!!! And take the step of writing or emailing/text to everyone who you normally buy presents or cards for..... I have a large family and decided not to send birthday cards and presents anymore . 1 because of the cost and 2 because of adding to people's clutter!!! And 3 the utter waste of paper. I know it feels mean to some people but it can often take the burden away from those who can't afford it. Also if you write to them now , it gives them time to understand, and for those that pick up presents early know they don't need to bother. 
If certain people refuse say you would rather they give money to a charity instead in your name. But reiterate that you won't be buying/sending, and it's not because you don't love them but you're doing you're bit for the planet/eco . I hope you don't mind me posting this.  You're all doing wonderful!  Keep it up, I love my tidy easy to manage home , it frees up time to actually do things I enjoy rather than clean!!