I've found the UFYH website list of how to emergency clean your house as fast as possible to be extremely helpful. UFYH overall is a good resource for those of us who can't deal with the Flylady approach.
I've been fretting over my cluttered living space for literally years. This is a waste of precious energy, and it has to stop. I have to stop spinning my mental wheels in an endless shame-anxiety spiral and get it to a state I can live with and maintain. The anxiety itself is the barrier to ending the thing that causes the anxiety.
My closets and shelves are pretty clean, since I can't stop watching "Hoarders", but I wish I didn't live like...a subordinate clause.
I confess to being kind of a neatnick at the moment
I've been stretching out my year end cleaning ritual to include seriously deep sorting...like my embroidery floss stash. Something about the miniscule is giving me great comfort. And, if I move this year, it will make packing much easier.
While I have not read, nor can I remember the name of, the organizing book du jour...which I believe was written by a Japanese woman...I have been practicing the central principle as shared on facebook.
This past weekend, I took ALL my linens and spread them out, I picked up only the ones I really truly like or find super useful. In the end, I put together 4 kitchen rubbish bags of soft/warm things to take to the shelter along with a huge floor pillow and an under-bed storage bin.
This is what passes for fun in my house.
While I have not read, nor can I remember the name of, the organizing book du jour...which I believe was written by a Japanese woman...
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up?
I've got two weeks until we go on vacation and my SIL comes in for cat feeding and I'm already wondering how to make it look presentable. It looks ok for a second once you walk in until you, you know, let your eyes focus. Then you notice the dirt and cat fur tumbleweeds and THE HORROR.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up?
Is that it?
Google says you are correct, Steph.
I'm fascinated that there is a summary book you can buy for more than half the price of the actual book!
I would not have thought I needed that book, but reading the table of contents suggests there are a few things I could learn.
--How to avoid storing seasonal clothes? Given that size of my closet, that would be a miracle.
--Is she saying you should not have a change jar? I love my change jar!! Sorting and rolling coins is a total stress reliever for me.
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up?
YES. I bought that book and the techniques she teaches made me look at "organizing" in a whole new way. I'm doing it. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I feel unburdened, like this is finally gonna work.
I love the chapter heading that suggests de-tagging your clothes as soon as you buy them.
I take that waaaay further by cutting out all the labels/tags for comfort reasons.
Though...I can't put the idea out of my mind that I'm eliminating important forensic information if I ever end up meeting with a criminal mishap.
I should get it...but then I just fear it will all bounce off Tim and we'll continue hoarding cardboard tubes (no, really).
But then -- we cleaned out 5 years' worth of mail 2 weeks ago, so I have some hope we can keep making progress.
