Simplifying Life

10past6

Mrs_Bones wrote: »

Any tips on where I start with my home would be wellcomed.

Hello Mrs Bones

I've suffered 2 nervous breakdowns, I've found it's easier and more managable to break everything down into tasks, so, whatever it is you have to do, break it down.

When I'm cleaning at home, I break each room down into an individual task, so, I have 6 tasks to complete, it's easier for me to face, if I only complete cleaning 3 tasks, at least I feel I've acheived something.

When washing up, I break it down into 2 tasks, washing up being one task, drying being the 2nd task, I follow that through with almost everything within my life, it works for me.

Trust that helps and makes sense.

ceridwen

Hi and welcome to the newbies.

"Rome wasnt built in a day" is the phrase that is coming to mind here Mrs Bones. I'm a pretty organised person (well I like to think so;) ) - and have no particular health problems hampering me at home....but "cant do everything at once" and personally am a huge fan of lists (doesnt mean to say I finish them - but it gives me something to "focus" on and I make some progress, then some more progress) with getting things organised. It doesnt happen overnight - or anything like. I have found its a gradual process.

The suggestion from 10past6 sounds like a good one. I was going to suggest taking one room at a time and then breaking that down to one bit of that room at a time (say one wall's worth) - so - yep - doing things in steps is sometimes the way to go.

do_it_today!

Hi Mrs Bones and everyone :hello:
I agree breaking up the tasks into small chunks or even layers works well for me.
ie if I think clean the house - I now tackle it as upstairs one day down stairs the other.
If Im really low on energy or time I might just focus on one room and just pick certain tasks to improve it - ie living room empty the bins, remove cups and gather bits and bobs to one pile somewhere. Now it wont be pristine but it'll look a little more presentable.
maybe a couple of hours later i'll find a few more minutes to sort through the pile.

basically I like to focus on a bit at a time
good luck and rest when needed!

lilac_lady

Leading a simpler life definitely makes life a lot simpler, if you see what I mean! It spreads into other areas of your life apart from decluttering. I find that little things don't bother me the way they used to and I feel able to cope with most things that are sent to try me. The best mantra I repeat to myself when things are a bit tough is "This too will pass". Simplyfying your life is a great start to a better future and this thread has helped so many of us focus on our futures instead of our pasts.

mary43

Hello all !

I had problems on 'where to start' with de-cluttering and felt I had to go mad and have a real purge on everything........it didn't work and I got in an even bigger mess -that caused me a lot of stress when I was already feeling really down (different situation) so, I went with ceridwens idea of clearing one room at a time and doing one wall at a time.......i.e. cupboard and shelves in alcove..........another day(not necessarily the next day), computer desk and so on. Gave me an immense feeling of relief and achivement. I wasn't really surprised at the amount of clutter I had as I tend to be a real hoarder of all sorts - I blame my dad for passing this practise on to me.........lol After he died I hung on to anything and everything of his that no-one else wanted......now I've thinned it out, passed some on to my sons and given some away.....sort of 'letting go' of my Dad I suppose as well as giving me more room for other things I really cherish.
Wardrobe got cleared out (7 bags of clothes !!!) so I can at least now see what I've got to wear. Same with books........I had so many I couldn't see what I had to read !
At a bit of standstill now.........feel I need to take a break from it and come back to it another time but at least I'm learning to keep on top of what I've done so far.
Cleaning has never been a strong point but I agree with do it today - don't try to do it all. Do a bit at a time and give yourself a chance to sit back, have some 'me' time and enjoy your surroundings.
Good luck:j

ceridwen

And the decluttering DOES come to an end at some point. Well...as someone said...there is going to be an ongoing maintenance element...but the basic "work" will get done somewhere along the line (even if at times it feels like shooting for a moving target).

Thankfully....a recent programme of work on my house has been done now (not the total end of it...as there is those 2 rooms to redecorate at some point as soon as and another major programme of work to deal with when I retire...ie retrofitting this house)...but, for a while, there is a lull...whew...

I've been able to reclaim my meditation room/occasional dining room for "haven" purposes (after months of having to "store" bits and pieces in there from other rooms whilst work was done on them). That is a surprisingly strong relief to me...just the thought of having a nearby "haven" of sorts, even if one doesnt use it that often, does help a lot. So that room now has 2 huge, thick floorcushions in there and I'm about to put in there a few of the throws/shawls I have for wrapping round myself as required. Its pretty decluttered. I can just go in there and think "The WORLD stops at the entrance to this room" and either sit on the floorcushions just reading or lie on them listening to relaxing music. Whew...thank goodness thats sorted at last. I feel more "human" already.

mary43

ceridwen - oh the bliss of having somewhere that's a 'haven'.............mine is currently my computer room/den...........no meditation......haven't mastered the art of that yet ....but I can lost myself in here with books, computer,write letters, sort out card making........all sorts. Bed settee thats fairly comfy for what it is and youngest son bought me a 'touchy feely' cushion at Christmas for those moments when we all need a bit of 'comfort' so I can sit on my sofa and just hold that if I feel the need.
I think everyone should have somewhere (if possible) to call their own bit of 'space'. OH is quite happy in the lounge with his music or on the bench at the bottom of the garden near the pond 'at one with nature' as he says.

Well, today has been a better day though not one where anything has actually got done. Definitely a 'me' time day.............and a spot in the garden looking at how everything is growing so well. Some orange flowers mum gave me a few years back have seeded again and again and seem quite happy to almost take over the garden. Well, thats fine by me.........I don't have to worry about filling any gaps anywhere..........its a mass of tangles greenery and flowers...........just how I like it. De-clutter my garden ? No........I don't think I could........well not totally anyway..........lol

ceridwen

Mary


...and sometimes a little patch of "Nature" - even if it isnt ours - can be a haven. Mixed feelings on that one...as I have sorta "adopted" a teensy bit of land near my house as under my "stewardship" and tend to get a bit aerated at the fact that the owners of a house nearby have obviously "adopted" it in a very different way. In their case they obviously believe it is an unpaid skip for rubbish...from which some very obliging "fairies" come along at intervals and empty the "skip" for them (nothing whatsoever to do with the fact that I ring the Council and report that some illicit "dumping" has been done to my "spot" each time....and the Council send along people to remove it...presumably with a pair of gossamer wings attached on their backs!).

mary43

ceridwen - course.........I shouldn't forget that for every responsible person there are a few that just don't care. Shame about you having to share your 'nature spot' with such mindless (or to be kind I should say, thoughtless) people - still at least your little bit of nature has you to take care of it.

It so annoys me when I see rubbish dumped down country lanes in hap hazard manner without a thought for the wildlife there let alone the beauty that is so spoiled by it all. We've become a very 'throwaway' society......Ive lost count of the number of cola cans I've retrieved from my front garden........and of course once people see one, then very quickly the number multiplies.

Penny-Pincher!!

This week we have charity bagged 3 large bags of either clothes, books and bedding. Very pleased with getting rid of the stuff. I really need to sort out 2 cupboards.....but that will have to wait.

PP
xx