2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

Brie

And if you want a version of "stuff" to make you smile try George Carlin.  Warning - language alert!!  (but not as bad as his "7 words you can't say on TV")

George Carlin Talks About "Stuff" - Bing video

Muddy_Walker

So after a very long and challenging week I can now breathe a sigh of relief as it’s Friday afternoon and I am tucked up in bed with chocolate.
I have been training my replacement and it is hard going….now I train teenage cadets and have never had an issue but this person is very softly spoken with an accent (can I say that? Is it allowed?) and I could feel the energy draining away. One more week then I’m off for a week….I won’t be seeing HR just yet but am keeping a note of everything in case I need to!!!!
Dog1 is getting better BUT has decided that along with the cruise my vet so obviously needs, vet needs expenses too. Dog1 has what I thought was a stye and that will need operating on in the near future…Dog2 is being….dog2!
no deliberate decluttering except a pair of leggings as they got a big hole in them and weren’t that comfy so are now in the bin.

Bit concerned about my mortgage - they haven’t taken this months payment even though there is more than enough to cover it. I don’t have the energy today so if it hasn’t gone by Tuesday afternoon, I’ll try the bank then.

Jab later so lots of fluffy cuddles!

gettingthrifty

Thank you all so much for replying to my post. So many responses resonated with me and lots of super good advice.!

soontobeoap  - oh my goodness your sibling and the storage! I can really see how that situation happened. I really like the categories of things you decided to keep , makes so much sense and the starting small, I think I'm thinking too big picture and wanting results too fast. I've done the quick fix easy stuff -  the obvious broken things and out of date things and then got overwhelmed by the 'next layer'. Thank you
queenjess I think I do need a hug thank you and also for your very comprehensive reply. I think i am going for perfection i hadn't realised that  wanting do donate, use, recycle to the perfect end point cant always happen. Yes the lightbulb moment! its going to take more than one sweep!! Fantasy me thinks I am systematic but I'm not. Yes i do weed through my paperwork when im on call queues, and delete emails too. Ive also stopped get annoyed by people who are late, i use that time to clear the junk mail and go through my coat and bag pockets. Maybe more progress than i thought Thank you!
siebre Re marie kondo I do find putting collections together superhelpful - oh heck 6 dental flosses? How did that happen?, but completely couldnt do the' spark joy' thing. But Dana k white i love!  I completely understand her way of thinking in relation to justifying keeping stuff . The container concept makes so much sense. However i have a big house and hence can convince myself myself there is room ! Thank you
off to lunch i will reply to more shortly

Siebrie

@gettingthrifty I don't always get the 'spark joy' either. I've understood that it's a translation-variation, and could also be translated as 'resonates' or 'pleases me'.

gettingthrifty

daisy_1571
Thank you for your post very thought provoking. I'm pleased to tell you that in the past I have done the paper thing and I know absolutely why I want to do this  coming on the thread is trying to give myself accountability I think.  My home is just like ( one of the OP mentioned further on). On the surface it appears largely tidy with some surface clutter, but every cupboard drawer wardrobe are stuffed, the loft and sheds too , garage partly cleared . My paperwork is my biggest challenge, some very painful stuff in there. I can vacuum and dust and no health hazard thankfully. A close friend tells me she loves my home and not to worry and I believe she would be entirely honest.
Re: the family. My 82 yr old mum mum is very concerned about her affairs and we frequently have death talk! I am pleased she confides in me, i think she does because she used to work in legal and dealt with many families with complex situations. Whilst i don't mind her talking this way it does make me think of my own situation. In some ways my DC have freed me already by saying they want nothing it will all go in a skip!
You have really hit the nail on the head in what my fears are about and the safety of keeping things although if I'm logical it is irrational. I have just moved on from a very financially difficult stage of my life, hence my user name and i can categorically say that even at the worst financial place, most of it wasn't saleable anyway and i was too unwell to consider it !!
Wow! your idea of the holding zone really gives me hope!! That is such a good suggestion, almost like a reverse packing party (the minimalists). I do think i will enjoy the empty/cleared spaces so much i would never want to delve in them again and if the worst came to the worst i can just tell my family the boxes are presorted just let them go. Daisy thank you.
TC77 - Your post resonated so much with me and the feelings you described are exactly what made me seek help from you all ..your word 'paralysis' and 'rabbit in head lamps'.. Oh my life. i could have written that ! Then you mentioned the legal situation.
I was in a legal situation for 7 years which has just ended. My complete life was on hold and i had to keep receipts and evidence such as reports and huge documents, photographs of injuries etc. I feel like i was stuck in a time warp and my life stood still in all that time. Now that its over i feel like i have been catapulted into a life i hardly recognise, hence the need to move from the chapter into the new one. Please do not let the legal situation rule your life take lots of care and be super kind to yourself .
Mrs SD sorry for hogging the thread but i am very grateful to those that have posted their advice. Im another one who does not divulge in my real life so the support is truly appreciated. I will log off for now and respond to others a bit later if thats ok. Thank you

daisy_1571

Gt, I too have been moved by the posts, I'm so glad you have been helped and the same for others plus any lurkers.  Its amazing how similar us human beans can be and how different, we celebrate everyone on this thread. 😻 

Hope you are having a lovely time away Mrs sd

Daisy xx

Fizz2015

Afternoon All, the sun is shining here and I'm feeling motivated. I survived 4 hours in the office. It was very quiet, nothing has changed and a colleague who is struggling was very draining. So left with a headache. I emptied a couple pedestals in work (not mine) but they are condensing the office space..
I then came home washed the dishes,declutter the laundry pile (1 load hung out and the other will be soon.) All bins emptied and 1 side wiped down and planned what we are having for tea to use up leftovers. I'm hoping to avoid a supermarket shop this weekend.
I will focus on my wardrobe this weekend (in stages), think I am struggling with my style at the moment and I'm back in the office mainly and don't have much smart casual spring/summer stuff and office appropriate footwear. But I need to get rid of stuff before buying new. No idea why getting rid of clothes is so hard 😫 
In other news my OH is taking about going self employed and this is the most serious he has been yet. He has work lined up if he does and is well respected in his industry. But still stressful and making sure all set properly. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, just a funny thing. As some may know OH is a driving instructor and sometimes has tales to tell but this is from another instructor. While driving around the pupil asked who all those people are over there. That is John Lennon's house, they are tourists. You know who John Lennon is right?. Oh yeah, the fella who built the airport! . Honestly you can't move in this city for references and statues to the Beatles. , 
Take care everyone

stellata

3 day weekend ahead and I've got nothing planned or to do. Perfect time for reviving the declutter you'd think but I'm so exhausted I can't think straight. The last year or 2 have been difficult, a long drawn out legal thing which is now thankfully over, and lots of personal stress which I hope will improve now. I think I'll take the evening "off" and start anew tomorrow. 

daisy_1571

Brie said:

And if you want a version of "stuff" to make you smile try George Carlin.  Warning - language alert!!  (but not as bad as his "7 words you can't say on TV")

George Carlin Talks About "Stuff" - Bing video

Brilliant,  should be compulsory viewing every day from age 6   

Daisy xx