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Post by hiding on Aug 18, 2014 18:19:30 GMT -5
It seems to me that the only way I can get major de-cluttering done is to devote an uninterrupted block of time to it. I am moving along anyway but it's much too slow and I am very frustrated. So I requested a week vacation time. Five workdays plus 2 weekends will give me 9 days.
I don't plan to do anything else during that time but purge and clean .I don't know if I will be able to get the entire house and garage done or not, but I will make a major difference. I am starting to formulate a plan so I can make maximum use of the time. Any suggestions you have are welcome.
Thank you, folks!
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Post by moggyfan on Aug 18, 2014 18:33:36 GMT -5
That is almost exactly what I did nine years ago. It worked for me. I made so much visible progress in a short time (less than a week) that I was totally inspired to finish! I have a kitchen, bath, bedroom, living room, dining room, enclosed back porch, entryway/hall. It was pretty bad.
Couple things I did:
1. I ruthlessly threw stuff away and/or put it on the street with a Free Sign. I gave away a bunch of stuff on the free section of craigslist. I took a TON of "good" stuff to work and was thrilled as my colleagues took it ALL. I never regretted getting rid of a single thing. I *did* have to replace one thing: A blow-up bed I actually ended up needing after all. That was it. I hardly remember all the stuff I got rid of--and I probably got rid of about 40-50% of my stuff.
2. I hired a person to help for about three days (from craigslist). I was lucky--she was a huge help, very easy to get along with and cheered me on. I could have done it myself but it was great to have some help/company.
3. I think it made a big difference that *I* was the one who decided to do this--I wasn't pressured by an inspection or a landlord or a family member. I did it for myself because I was sooooooooo ready to be done living in a mess.
I know a lot of people say you can't do it in one fell swoop like this, but I did and I have been in maintenance for the last nine years, never slipping back more than could be made pristine again in a couple of hours.
Good luck as you embark on this project--you will not regret it.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 18, 2014 18:35:49 GMT -5
Hi hiding, I am the same way. I need blocks of time, and I usually don't tell anyone that I'm taking time off because friends and family always start thinking of ways to occupy all my "free" time!
I've been taking some time off last week and this week. I started by decluttering because it's easier to run things to the thrift stores, etc. during weekdays when things are quieter and there's not so much traffic.
But I also need to clean, so I'm just kind of alternating between decluttering days and cleaning days. I've been eating a lot of takeout because I don't want to spend time cooking and also because I need to get the dishes caught up.
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Post by dtesposito on Aug 18, 2014 18:56:58 GMT -5
Hi hiding, how exciting to have a big chunk of time to use!
I would suggest trying to figure out a reasonable amount of work to get done per day and make a goal for each day. You won't stick to it exactly, but from experience I can tell you that a week can absolutely fly by. It's easy to think that you have plenty of time, and before you know it it'll be over. So having something to gauge your work against will tell you if you're putting in enough time each day.
I know some people freeze up if they make goals like this, so if you're one of those I guess you shouldn't, but I know for me, if I don't have a goal I work in an aimless way and waste a lot of time.
Good luck, I'll be very interested to watch your progress!
Diane
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Post by hiding on Aug 18, 2014 18:57:30 GMT -5
I am not telling anyone at work what I am really doing. If they ask, I say that I am working on a personal project. They can think what they want, from I'm building a golf course in the front yard to I am getting cosmetic surgery.
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Post by Serendipity on Aug 21, 2014 13:24:38 GMT -5
That is funny hiding! I will be looking for updates and maybe even work along? I think if i put some kind of timeframe on things it would help. School starts soon. Good luck with the golf course!
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Post by def6 on Aug 21, 2014 13:53:55 GMT -5
Hello Hiding I'm very excited for you and want to work along too . As the English say...Hire a skip!
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Post by outfromundah on Aug 21, 2014 19:28:06 GMT -5
Schedule breaks! Use a kitchen timer, if you have one! Hang your To-Do list somewhere prominent and check things off as you go! Play music and dance while cleaning! Have fun!
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Post by lostchild on Aug 22, 2014 1:54:13 GMT -5
See if you can hire a helper or friend to work with.Make a priority list...in order of most aggravating situations and deal with those first.
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Post by hiding on Aug 23, 2014 12:38:03 GMT -5
I'm getting some great ideas from you folks. Thank you!
The dates are Sat 6 thru Sun the 14. I like the idea of displaying a prominent to do list. I think I should put the large white board, which has been sitting around for years, to work. I also like the idea of going after the most annoying area first.
Sweetie tripped over some stuff yesterday and fell. He was angry at me. I know it's easy to blame the other person. Truth is that he is just as much the hoarder as I am. That's a whole other matter though. He complains and complains about the mess in the house but hasn't taken many steps to do anything about it. So I decided to take the initiative and use some of my paid vacation time to concentrate on this.
However, to be completely fair, he is working hard on the large shed and will probably do the garage. I think it is probably better if we work separately on this project. I am concerned that if we work in the same room, we'll get into arguments about strategy and waste time arguing. I have already told him that I'll separate out his stuff so that he can decide what to with it.
I am working on a timeline and strategy for myself. I am not going to be rigid about it but I do need to set up some guidelines/rules for myself also. I am not saying that anyone else has to do it "my way". I just need a workable plan for myself or I will end up flailing about for 9 days, get little done, and end up depressed and worse off than before. I do intend to get a lot done, however I need to curb what might be unrealistic expectations. I'll work smart, steady, and see how far I get.
It is fortunate that I don't have an authority figure forcing me into this with an unrealistic deadline. The motivation here is coming from me. I am thinking that it is a completely different that the panic I would feel if the County, etc, was after me.
Cheers!
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Post by misssue on Aug 23, 2014 14:07:01 GMT -5
Put yourself on a working day mode, not a vacation mode! Do something reasonable, 8 hours, just like you do for paid job, that you are taking off from! Hopefully, you are getting a paid vacation, so technically you are earning money while you are home "working'. Plan your lunch time and take a break too. This is a working vacation. If you are not used to being home, structuring it and being on a schedule is essential, or the day will slip by! You will say what? Four PM? I got little done.
If you are disciplined, you can do what I have done for big projects, work 4 hours in morning, do something else for a few hours, something fun.. and then put in your other 4 hours! Or work 8, and take off the time whatever suits your life, some of us night owls, some morning larks! This worked when I painted the exterior of the house with my now ex husband. It was too hot to paint in the afternoons, so we did a few fun things.. of course in those days my inside house was darn near perfect! He took some of his vacation to do projects or remodel. People figured if we could gut our first house and work together so well, never get divorced, they were wrong! We painted a couple houses, our two, and a friends in our younger years. Meaning I was 44 or so, when I painted this exterior. A basic rule of remodeling or house projects, figure at least 25 percent more time than you allotted, because it never goes as smoothly as you think! Same with purging or cleaning or whole clean out projects! BUT pace yourself. Too much fun or too much work= burnout. Or frustration. I often am not realistic about how much time it can take.. either way, too little or too much~ Build that in your plan!
Watch distractions too. I was famous for not answering the phone when housewife. I had a head set, so I could keep working if I did talk. The internet is a big time draw too. If I was working here or at work, I was busy I would say. I have not recently, but I did like books on CD when I worked on projects. I also now believe for me, silence is good to work on my house... I am older, I now more mindful too! Or can not multi task like I once did. Only you know what pace you can work at. Purging is about decisions, is individual and can take time for some. I do not think I can have anyone help me purge other than be there to help me move something. If something is not working, acknowledge it and change the plan. Meaning if H is holding you back or you are wasting time dealing with him, fix that somehow!
I have been on all sides, I worked professionally, I stayed home with no kids too. I worked part time after I got divorced and bought him out of our house. Now I do it all on my own. When I went back to work, divorced, I set goals, and had to break down jobs for the time I had. I ripped out my own carpet and painted, I just had to work in 3 hour chunks. Working cut into my redecorating. Some of us are more productive when we have a schedule, I am.
You may want to write down what you did each day, so you remember what you did, not what you did not get to. That can be encouraging, to cheer you on, and by day 3 or so, you can then see if you are where you want to be in this. You might have to change something! You may not have anyone after you, but you might want to build some structure or accountability in your plan. Just sayin'!
Dress for the part would be my other suggestion. All the years I was home, I got up and put on shoes, jeans or light pants, and no slob clothes. If I am too comfortable, meaning yoga pants.. I do not get as much done. That might just be me. Years of being home, I tried to never be not "fixed" up a bit. My job was to work here, and I felt being groomed was part it. GOOD LUCK... and hope this helps, just my thoughts. I need to step it up myself. The longer I am home, the less I get done some days. Work fills the time when you have more of it! YOU can do it!
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Post by hiding on Aug 23, 2014 20:06:51 GMT -5
Missue,
Thank you so much! Everything you said is good advice. I will add your tips to my developing plan. I am going to treat this the same as I would when I go to my office. Otherwise, as you said, it is way to easy to get distracted by the internet, reading, etc. On the other end, when I am on a roll with something, I tend to not take breaks, eat , or even go to the bathroom. Then I find myself 16 hours into it. Productive? Yes, very. But there is a real danger of getting burned out from such a marathon, to the point where I won't do any more. Better to find a steady, but reasonable pace - with periodic breaks.
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Post by dtesposito on Aug 23, 2014 20:36:49 GMT -5
Hiding, when is your vacation week? I love goals and plans so look forward to seeing yours!
Diane
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Post by Louie on Aug 23, 2014 21:34:11 GMT -5
Hiding, I am looking forward to following your progress a couple of ideas, before you take your leave, cook extra servings of meals and freeze them in single serving portions so that you have quick, nutritious food available while you're cleaning. helps keep you healthy and well nourished while you're working as you'll be tired at the end of the day. buy some paper plates / bowls to eat off so you can skip the washing up. do a stocktake of what cleaning supplies you have on hand and make a list of what you need to get so you're stocked up and ready from day 1 - gloves, trash bags, vaucam cleaner bags, cleaning products, boxes, storage bins take photos before you start so you can see how you are progressing during the week. I did this in the past and it really helped, you don't have to share them. all the best!
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Post by hiding on Aug 24, 2014 13:26:44 GMT -5
Hiding, when is your vacation week? I love goals and plans so look forward to seeing yours! Diane The dates are Sat 6 thru Sun the 14.
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