2023 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD

oceanspirit

DFW38 thank you for taking in the kitten.  No animal deserves to be left in a bin.

nannywindow you couldn’t have timed that better - what a satisfying win.

TC77 you will get decluttered because it comes over loud and clear that you want to and you also know why you want to do it.  Keep at it in a steady pace and you will get there.  The key is definitely to prevent things coming in as well as letting things go.  I would second photographing things from happier times if it helps to move the actual items out.  You can always delete the photos later if you find you don’t look at them.

A few more magazines etc out along with food items being used up.  Mrs SD, I have no trouble deciding what to cook as the vegbox contents plus the short dated items left out on the worktop do the deciding for me!

roundtuit

One book returned to L
One velvet ribbon passed on to L
One box of books and one bag of 'stuff' given to L to pass on to her sister's church's thrift shop 

That feels better 😊

Going to bag up the rest of the cs pile of books and the next time they call I'll ask P&S to take them for me.

I've binned the torn bin bag that I brought down from RoD1. Taken the toy money back upstairs for now. The rest of the contents await my attention. 

Rxx

Soontobeoap

The 2 bags of wrapping from the beds and a boot full of huge broken down boxes now at the tip. Counting that as 5 and added to my totals 😊

short_bird

An update from the train  - isn't technology wonderful when it works -
2649: shredding resulting from sorting paperwork
2650-2651: 2 bin bags to the downstairs bin.
2653-2658: carriers returned to the delivery driver. 

Liverpool_Anne

Hi all, still felt a bit fragile yesterday and spent a lot of time sleeping but I did 1 LDFPA and I wrapped 2 gifts using paper from stash and sorted 2 cards from stash. I also did some ironing and have sorted my clothes for the funeral today. I have done nothing else except crochet .

I have caught up with all the posts and I can relate to so many. I seem to have bursts of energy when I actually get on top of something but then the motivation leaves and the overwhelm returns. I don't think it is helped by OH's health issues which mean apart from work has no energy to help and often hinders my progress by doing things like continually using the gas cupboard to put things on. No matter how many times I clear it within a few days it's cluttered up again. Currently covered by OH's mail, a bottle of wine from a pupil, a bottle of alcohol free cider bought for me to try, with no reference to me, several car cleaning products and general litter. I will sort this again before I go out . Onwards and upwards as they say

@Dfw38 loving the kitten smile:

@Siebrie, I have piles of gardening magazines from the rhs that I should move on. A few years ago I found a shop that was operating as a free library/ book swap and they used to take all my gardening magazines. Unfortunately they had to close and now I am trying to find someone to take them as I can't bring myself to just recycle them. I don't have a problem with other papers and magazines . I really loved your garden . Also I love a tablecloth

@Muddy_Walker so glad your cleaner has worked out. Does she travel . I could do with her here

Well looking at the time I had better get weaving, hugs to anybody who would like one
938 LDFPA
939 ironing
Take care everyone
939/2023

QueenJess

Today's mini decluttering mission was old receipts.  I don't keep old physical receipts, but do sometimes hoard online purchase receipts in an email folder.  Been through that and purged most of it.

Now I'm conscious of my email activity, I've had tons today and much of it out of my control and should be one offs... I guess only time will tell!  Will monitor them for a few days to a week to see if I can significantly reduce what I am getting in.

Digital:
18,443-18,683 - purchase/order email receipts

Physical:
18,684 - greetings card (recycled)
18,685 - aspirational cookbook (charity box)

Now about to go into a zillion work calls, but am hoping some will be listen only so I can do some tidying whilst they are on.

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

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 ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

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

Thursday & I have just woken up (12:20) - so much for getting my sleeping patterns sorted out 😔Today is a nicer day, blue skies & slightly warmer - no forecast for rain so might have to water the garden tonight. DSis’s new CPAP machine which she only picked up a week or so ago, doesn’t work so DH is taking her to the hospital to get it swapped 😔 I am going to concentrate on getting caught up on the cheerleading, timer on so off I go 🙂

Excellent decluttering of books weenancy 👏 You must be doing a good job as you are starting to notice a difference 🥳 I am awarding you a medal 🏅 for only being so restrained when you are in the bookstore 👏 Hope you have lovely lunches out with your friend & also with your sisters 😊 Happy Birthday to your youngest sister  🎉 🎂 

TC77, sorry to hear that you are struggling with your decluttering 😔 I was going to suggest taking photos but I see that Floss has already suggested that 😊 Floss has also made a good point about items degrading in storage 😔 One thought I had was that you might consider splitting the ‘happy memories’ items away from the ‘might be useful’ items (the Justins, Rons & May B Handy) & just dealing with those. If you don’t have an immediate use for them then photograph & donate, gift or sell (someone mentioned having a notebook to note down the item & what happened to it (with dates)). You will then have not only the visual reminder of clear spaces & less clutter when you look around your home but also a reinforcing reminder of how well you have done & the warm glow that you have helped out many people 🥹 You will also then have time & space to tackle the more sentimental items 😉

Fizz2015, I hope you have a lovely day visiting your Mum 😊 Sorry to hear about  your friend’s mum 😔Hopefully work & RL will quieten down over the next couple of months & you can make a start on your next round of decluttering & tidying🤞Maybe start small e.g. every time you walk past an area pick up an item & deal with it - either dispose of it fully or return it to its proper place. Another useful option is to pick an area, set a timer for 5/10/15/23 minutes & blitz 🙂 When the timer goes off you can either stop or continue with another timed session 😊 Good luck 🍀 - I know you can do it 😊

Floss, a lovely thoughtful post & a timely reminder of “It’s all about the life you have now, not the life you used to have or would like to have” One medal 🏅 coming your way 👏

Nice to see you bit_by_bit 👋 Hope you had a lovely weekend away 🤞 Well done on getting back into the swing of decluttering 👏

Excellent decluttering short_bird 👏

As the timer has just gone off for the 2nd time, I will have a quick break to make another cuppa & then settle back down again with the cheerleading 😉

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟 💐🏅💐🏅💐💐💐🏅💐 ⭐️ ❤️🏅🍾🏅 📣🦸‍♀️💐 ⭐️ 🏅 

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 1614/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.00

Florenceem

Been out to the shopping centre with Mr F and then went to Ald.
Mr F's feet are so swollen - we have a Doctor's appointment booked for Monday to see if he needs a stronger diuretic.
He was walking badly today but just used his stick.
Mr F went in the office before we went out - found problems with work he did in 2022! He should have retired a while ago.

QueenJess

Just had a productive call.  Can't see the difference in the library, but things are v. slowly getting sorted.  Put some Lego sets on Buy Nothing as just not worth my time to sell.  They were only worth £5 in profit, so opted to tell DS they are sold and give him £5 of my money and just give them away.  Also got rid of some xmas cards I was going to upcycle into more cards, but if I haven't had time this year yet, I'm not going to and I just got rid of them.  Feel better as they were taunting me..
18,686-18,691 - greetings cards (recycled)
18,692-18,750 - Lego (Buy Nothing)
18,751 - packaging (reused)

Mrs_Salad_Dodger

1. Write a daily To Do list - only 3 tasks to include MMiM - do this before I go to bed

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 ‘Urgent’ daily mail immediately & the rest at the weekend

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 taking my own advice, whilst I was waiting for the kettle to boil I wudupa the half a dozen items from the sink + wiped down a few tiles that I spotted were grubby 😉

Lovely to see you Dfw38 👋 Sounds like a brilliant party for 2nd DD 🎉 🎂 Also what a great community you live in - so many generous people 🥳👏😊 Now that life has settled down a bit I hope you can get some semblance of order back 🤞 A new family member 😯 Poor little thing but well done you for taking in an abandoned kitten 😇  What a great name - Ziggy the Cutie 😊 I did smile at your comment “I like its (the Universe) optimism 😁 Ziggy certainly looks contented 🥹

Good luck TC77 🍀 I think you are still searching for the decluttering system that works for you long term but having met you I know that you will succeed 😊  

I tend to mix & match - sometimes I am in the mood for ‘pick one thing up & return it to its rightful home’, other times it is set the timer for a 23 minute session of tidying/decluttering/cleaning & yet other times it is just contemplating my navel 😂 Now that you have a clear goal in mind ‘spending more time with friends doing things you enjoy’ you are on the road to a successful outcome for your decluttering journey 😊

Floss, more useful information, thank you 👏

Great work TC77 👏 A useful conversation about which organisations need donations 😊

What a brilliant idea weenancy 🥳 worthy of another medal 🏅 I have taken a copy as that has struck a chord - just the thought of going into someone else’s home is enough to kick start a decluttering session 😱 

TC77, come to think of an ‘inventory’ is definitely scary 😧 although it might kickstart a decluttering frenzy once you start on just one cupboard or shelf 🤣 Good luck at your Dad’s house 🍀 Please try not to bring anything else home 🙏

Moorviews, thank you for sharing your decluttering journey 👏 Your post is full of observations & useful tips/ideas to mull over 🤔 So impressed by all the insights that I am awarding you a Gold Star ⭐️ Thank you & good luck with your decluttering journey 🍀

Lovely to see you EnergyShifter 👋 So frustrating when you lose a long post 😖 The shortened version never quite conveys all the hard work 😓 & is never quite the release of emotions that one would like 😔 Well done on the impromptu office declutter - a Gold Star ⭐️ for you & also a Gold Star for DS 👏

Dfw38, Ziggy the Cutie is so lucky to have found such a loving home 😊 & it sounds like he has settled in well 😉 Good luck with your decluttering 🍀

Florenceem, it will take a bit of time to settle into a new routine so please don’t stress yourself about decluttering 🙏 You had a really busy Wednesday what with helping out at the SA lunch, first aider duties & also keeping an eye on MrF to make sure he wasn’t getting into mischief 😉 

Losing concentration now so will take a longish break before resuming the cheerleading 😉DH & DSis are back & have both had some lunch. 

See you later 👋 

MrsSD (a superwoman) 😇 🎖💐🤩🏅🦸🏅💐🏆 💐🍰🍾🌟⭐️🌟 💐🏅💐🏅💐💐💐🏅💐 ⭐️ ❤️🏅🍾🏅 📣🦸‍♀️💐 ⭐️ 🏅 

DH Awards: 🥇🏅⭐️💐,  perseverance medal 🎖️, 🥇 🏅🏅 

Decluttering Target 2023: 1614/2023

1p Savings Challenge Running Total: £228.00