2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Muddy_Walker

Hi all! Well my going back to work nerves are thoroughly decluttered…..along with my energy spoons! (Feeling a bit sorry for myself so feel free to smack me round the head a bit)
on a plus note - I dealt with the post as soon as I got it apart from 2 items which need more than 2 seconds attention, got some washing on, fed dogs and put recycling in the box outside. That’s not bad I think!
currently cwtched up in bed with the 2 dogs and some painkillers. Treatment is due on Friday and I’m always rough that week. Plus 2 extra hospital appointments….. oh so woe is me!!!!!! Dear god I’m getting on my own nerves.
Mrs SD I don’t need some cheerleading I need a kick up the bum!!!
well done everyone who has managed to fling stuff out today 😊

Kittikins

Phew! First day back at work today, so I can't really call putting bits of paper from my notebook in the bin decluttering..... But at home, a few more things have gone:

38 plastic inserts for storage boxes

63 CDs x15

GrannyKate

 Pottering kind of day here.  Horrible outside anyway so stayed in all day.  I like the 23 minutes a day plan and have reserved this to tackle at least 1 frog/froglet for at least that much time everyday. Washing all done and most dry - next job is to put it away.

30 Box of MIL's photos gone through while watching TV - 50% binned.  (Tuesday 23 minutes froglet)
31 Photo album to CS bag
32 Unused puzzle books to CS bag - I only really do suduko so think these must be late DHs
33 Partially done puzzles on loose papers to recycling (bonus find of complete unused sudoko book)
34 Xmas cards recycled - a few put aside for letters
35 Box of leaflets (houses to visit, museums walks etc) from around country drastically reduced - most were several years old 
36 Annual cull of receipt box - just kept recent Christmas purchases
37 Cleaned all the screens - desktop, laptop, iPad, phone and even my glasses!
38 Moved study shelves around a bit - done in a hurry before Christmas and some things didn't work well
39 5 stationary equipment boxes shuffled around, dead pens thrown away, some items in bag for CS
40 Threw away my trusty black washing up gloves and replaced with new.  Children think they are spooky and belong in a horror film but really sturdy.  The last pair had lasted ages but acquired a hole over Christmas.  

No point doing cleaning really but very much hope contractors will sign off drying out on Friday and I can get a date for redecorating and new floors. Eating up contents of fridge.  

nannywindow

I didn't have a very good night with bouts of coughing so then I in slept late, but today found some energy and I sorted and put the dry clothes away. Then I put the xmas things in their correct places as Mr Fix It kindly took them upstairs last week, but just left them on the day bed as he couldn't remember where they lived 🙄. Now all the crockery, cutlery and dishes have been stashed till they are needed again. All xmas wrapping, cards and bags are now stored in their cupboard ready for next year. 
Found my presents so to the recycling 2 empty cardboard boxes and the contents put away in their correct places. DH's are also in his cupboards. 
2 new books in my stash ( note to self:- read more paper books and then send to the cs, not keep !)
3 new jigsaws in my jigsaw cupboard, but another new one and a borrowed one from SiL still at large as the cupboard is full.
Checked med boxes and put empty boxes and their leaflets in the recycling. 
Recycled the cardboard x 3 from multi tins of soup.
A ring binder to the cs.
Pair of Lucy Lastic pants binned and one mate-less sock.
Binned a body wash puff, replaced with a new one.
Found an unused bag of parsnips + one flying solo, now all peeled and frozen. Also 2/3rds bag of carrots peeled and frozen. I sill have 2 full bags of onions 🙄 to peel ready for the freezer, but I'll leave the crying for tomorrow 🧅😪 Why did I not remember to check before going last minute shopping ? Naughty nan !
Take care all, hugs to the poorlies and anyone struggling.
nan

the_cross_rabbit

No. 13, Quick trip to the tip to offload the broken dehumidifier. Currently ziffitting some dvds almost at the £5 mark and they can go to.
CRx

nannywindow

MrsSD loving the frog tickling idea, but now I have the image of that and your DH's worm feeding in my head 🤣 Maybe it's my meds sending me loopy !
Muddy Walker here's a gentle push but feel free to reciprocate as I'm in need too, my living room really needs decorating but no oomph to start it as I don't want the upheaval.
nan

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks

2. Commence ‘Operation Frog Tickling’ I have an acronym - I.R.I.S. being Identify, Research, Implement, Sign Off

3. Implement a new sleep/wake up regime - start going to bed earlier (target before 2:00 a.m.) get up earlier (target by 9:00 a.m.)

4. Deal with daily mail immediately 

5. Don’t put it down, put it away

6. If I spot a mini task deal with it immediately e.g. refill olive oil pourer or salt cellar, stitch up a hole in a garment etc

7. Continue to keep kitchen clean & tidy - before going to bed

So Tuesday”s overcast skies progressed to rain - a steady & heavy drizzle 😔 Our plan to clear DH’s office desk failed to be put into action 😔 Instead DH went out on the motorbike to pick up some cigarettes for me ✔️ & try to get some milk for DSis ✖️Once back he filled the bird feeders & hung out a fat filled coconut for the birds. It didn’t stay up long as the squirrels chewed through the string & dragged it away 😂 Since my last post I have dealt with today’s mail and sorted another kitchen cupboard. A double cupboard with 3 shelves affectionately known as the Brexit cupboard 😉 Completely emptied, cleaned inside & out & then rearranged. This included removing a few items & relocating them to more appropriate places 😉 thus creating space to add a few food items from the overflow in the lr wall unit 😊 Also updated my stock list 🥳 A very successful session & managed to get rid of some packaging 🙂

16 - 17 Cardboard packaging, magazine - recycled 

18 Plastic packaging binned

Straight back into cheerleading 🙂

No worries ~FlowerPot~ there are days like that when for whatever reason only a minimal amount of decluttering gets done 😉 Having a glass of wine & planning your next decluttering session is time well spent 👏

Two lovely ‘finds’ DundeeDoll 😊 Anything that can make you smile declutters frown lines 😉 Great work on clearing the office for DD2 👏

You are very welcome cinnamon123 - I get a lot of pleasure from this thread & I love meeting new people 😊 2023 is definitely a big year for you - decluttering to facilitate downsizing & at the same time future proofing your finances 👏 Very impressed that you have flexed your decluttering muscles by helping someone else 👏 So welcome aboard - you are obviously fit as you managed to catch the train 🥲

Brie, a medal 🏅 is on its way for sharing such useful ideas & helpful examples of successful decluttering specifically to assist Keiths_Mum but very useful for all your fellow declutterers 👏 

Keiths_Mum, the sentimental items are always the ones that are more difficult to deal with - I still have a few boxes of mum & dad’s stuff in the loft - currently out of sight & out of mind - I just remind myself that my priority is to create a home that I love living in. At the moment we have two Rooms of Doom, a huge wall unit of Doom & various ‘pockets’ of doom around the house which I am gradually chipping away 🤞It sounds like you have made your decision & will tackle your own paperwork first - well done 👏 A useful tool to help with this is a clock - you can set the timer for 15 or maybe 30 minutes, declutter & if still feeling motivated when the alarm goes off, set for another 15 or 30 minutes. Remember to stop when the decluttering starts to feel more like a chore than a pleasure 😊

Well said florianatwobob 👏 Excellent decluttering & corralling 👏 Thanks for the reminder re Birthday Cards - I need a trip into Lewisham as I have a year’s worth to buy 😬 & several to write for January.

Welcome aboard The EDT Pennyrounder, lovely to meet you 👋 Now, now Pennyrounder none of us are hoarders we are what is called Justins or Rons 😉 We keep lots of items ‘just in case’ or ‘for later on’ The kitchen is an excellent place to start & you have a plan so you are now on your decluttering journey with all of us cheering you on to success. Might I suggest you take a before, during & after photo of your kitchen declutter 🙂 Remember success breeds success so that your next project will be both easier & more enjoyable 😊

Good luck with the 31 day Minimalist Game, Florenceem 🍀

Caramac, perhaps give your sister a time limit on sentimental items that you no longer wish to store - if she still isn’t keen to have the sentimental items in her house perhaps a photo will suffice 😉 An excellent start with the photo cull 👏

Loving the ‘go with the flow’ attitude EnergyShifter 😊 Each challenge has been met with open arms & a Can Do attitude thus reducing the potential for stress 👏 Reminds me of Vascodakarma 😊 I also really like your numbering system 🙂 Excellent decluttering especially when you didn’t really feel like it 👏

Excellent work Slinky 👏 and yes decluttering copious amounts of dust can be counted as decluttering - I think you should add at least 5 to your numbers 🙂 Everything is coming together nicely & the visit by your friends was made more enjoyable by being able to gift them 6 bottles of beer 😉

Welcome aboard The EDT welshspendthrift, lovely to see another new face 👋 Exciting times ahead - decluttering to facilitate downsizing leading to retirement 🤩You are going to be very busy. You have made an excellent start - wishing you successful selling on Vinted. We are all here for you - offering encouragement & support 🙂 

Lovely to see you again Happy_Kitties 👋 I have noted your two targets & your aim of posting regularly 😊 Excellent start to your 2023 Decluttering journey 👏

Blue_Doggy, what a marvellous suggestion/idea of how to deal with items of a sentimental nature 👏 Great decluttering whilst entertaining friends - a win win 👏

Keiths_Mum, you could do with a clone of my brother (not sentimental at all about things) 😉. I think a time limit is definitely the way to go coupled with Blue_Doggy’s recording system of when & where the item went 😊 That must have made for an interesting dynamic in your childhood home - a ‘hoarder’ (not enamoured of that word 😔) & a ‘minimalist’ (sounds like your Mum was Marie Kondo’s ancestor 😉 

GrannyKate, Keeping family & guests entertained is way more life affirming than decluttering 😊 However you are still managing to declutter 👏 Do remember that tidying is a form of decluttering 🙂

That really sucks, Wednesday2000 - a third leak in 8 months 😖 Sorry about the unexpected decluttering but better safe than sorry 😞 Wishing you a speedy resolution from the insurance company 🤞 Very well done for not being distracted & getting on with more productive decluttering 👏

Great work short_bird 👏 Love the first item of your ‘deferred decisions’ decluttering 😊

skogar, I think our EDT driver is a bit ‘mutton jeff’ either that or she is a speed merchant 😂 I absolutely loved your post & have copied it to Notes so that I can read it again & again 👏😊 Your comments have been gratefully received & will be incorporated into my 2023 Wish List - I am using this as an excuse to take my time writing said list 😂

-taff, what a beautiful, thoughtful & generous post 😊 I have copied it to Notes, so that when I get around to going through the boxes of my parents possessions I can have a reminder not to beat myself up when decluttering - thank you 👏

Well done DrCarrie 👏 Day to day decluttering is just as important as big decluttering projects - remember Prevention is better than Cure to use a health analogy 🙂

Not a lazy gardener at all Muddy_Walker more of an Eco friendly gardener 👏 Hope work goes well & you can settle back in without too much hardship 🤞

Lovely post Floss 😊 A few well chosen items & lots of lovely memories are a great testament to your parents 👏

What great ideas for real fur items daisy_1571 👏 - theatre companies & zoos/animal charities. Real fur clothing is such a contentious issue but hopefully those advocating re-using rather than destruction will prevail - I will get off my soapbox now.

Isn’t it great when an idea strikes a chord, mfwin2019 🙂 23 minutes of doing something each day is eminently doable ✅ Very pleased that you chose self care which also took account of decluttering (nail clippings count 😉)

Taking another break now as I need to sort out dinner with DH’s assistance 😉

MrsSD

Decluttering Target 2023: 18/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £5:00

Muddy_Walker

Nannywindow have a gentle push for tomorrow - up, do 23 minutes (I love that idea!) and then have a cuppa and get on with your day xxx
i will too! 

popthekettleon

Today was about meeting some friends for lunch that have flown in from Spain, lovely afternoon.
Morning was spent doing a full top to toe house clean with DH, (he has always shared the housework with me) . Can I count that as declutter?
Decluttered the last of cheese and crackers for tea.
Recycled all packaging.

Saw a post somewhere about decluttering clothes-the idea was to turn all hangers other way round and as you wear the clothes turn hangers right way round. After 6 months anything still wrong way round you can donate, only issue I have with that is some clothes are seasonal so dunno.. but may work for some.

Take care all x

Madbat60

Today I tackled the airing cupboard, 2 bin bags later in the recycling centre plus one bin bag of rubbish. Tomorrow I plan on finishing a dress I started sewing at the weekend.