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Post by tangerine on Jan 15, 2010 15:01:34 GMT -5
I have the next two weeks off before I start taking classes and am thinking about taking the luxury of this time off to go through my house and get things together.
I don't know where to start! Or what is the most important area to tackle first. In a weird way I am organized - I have things packed in tightly - I really can't keep track of what I own anymore, and it's getting harder to function with all the junk I have.
Finances, house cleaning & projects, my wardrobe, my diet - everything is on the verge of going off the rails right now.
So, if you had two weeks to devote to this, what would you do? I would love to hear your ideas!
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Post by bluefrog on Jan 15, 2010 15:18:36 GMT -5
It depends. What is most in the way? Do you need to toss trash, do dishes, sort and toss papers, do laundry, organize drawers, or separate junk from useful stuff? Do the things you want to keep have homes, or do you need to clear unwanted stuff out to make space? Do you need all the useful stuff you have, or can you donate some of it? I'd go for the most obvious first, because it feels good to be able to see what you have accomplished. Taking pictures before you start and during the process helps, too, to let you see just how much better it all really is when you're in the middle of the process. Then there's the "See how great this looks!" photo when you're done that you post in By-ways.
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Post by Chris on Jan 15, 2010 15:45:15 GMT -5
I always vote for the kitchen as a starting place, unless you have it real organized already!  hi by the way. And good luck on tackling your house! |
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Post by Meme on Jan 15, 2010 15:52:18 GMT -5
What rooms do u use the most and which room would you choose to study etc?? find you comfort zone- about starting-- I would elimanate as much as possible and put things in the rooms they belong---I would toss things you know in your heart you no longer need or want whether gargage or give away- do not spend too much time thinking a plan out of the two weeks will be gone -
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Post by StuffNoMore on Jan 15, 2010 15:55:29 GMT -5
My 1st room I did was the den. I wanted somewhere clean to sit for my work breaks and looking around at how nice it looked it gave me the motivation to keep cleaning. Whatever room I was to rest on breaks was the room I wanted done 1st and it happened to be my den as I watch the Hoarder shows there and the DVR is in there. My next room was the kitchen and I made sure I maintained those 2 every day as I decluttered the others. It just seemed to go on from there and now I'm in maintenance! So, if I can do it anyone can!!!   SNM |
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Post by Rory on Jan 15, 2010 16:04:08 GMT -5
I did my kitchen first so that I could get at the washing machine, the sink so I could wash things from elsewhere in the flat and also so that I did not get food poisoning.
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Post by puppybox on Jan 15, 2010 16:25:34 GMT -5
I would do something that had immediate, dramatic visual results. that way it will motivate you.
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Post by Evelyn on Jan 15, 2010 17:07:13 GMT -5
Okay, so you have two weeks = 10 "working" days = 80 hours at a reasonable working pace. I really can't keep track of what I own anymore, and it's getting harder to function with all the junk I have. [...] Finances, house cleaning & projects, my wardrobe, my diet ... It looks like your main areas of concern are: - keeping track of what you own (& choose to keep). - getting ridding of junk (& whatever else you don't choose to keep). - finances. - housecleaning (as opposed to decluttering/organizing). - warddrobe. - diet. So that's 6 areas to focus on. Let's say you'll put in 4 hours of "overtime": 84 hours/6 areas = 14 hours/area. So you could make at least a significant dent in any or all of these areas. In your place, I might tackle things in this order: 1. Getting ridding of junk (& whatever else you don't choose to keep). If your place is at all like mine, most of the stuff relevant to all the other areas you want to work on is mixed in with all the junk; so you'll just about have to sort through at least some of the junk before you can get much else done. 2. Keeping track of what you own (& choose to keep). As you sort through the junk to get rid of, you'll also be sorting out the stuff you choose to keep. Sort similar items into some sort (any sort will do, as long as it's sturdy) of box or bag, and label it (the voice of frustrated experience speaking). 3. Finances. Money makes the world go round, and is the balm and lubricant of everday life. With it, (almost) all things are possible; without it.... not so much. That means it's so important that I have a hard time dealing with it - not the money as such; but the need to hand it over to other people like the landlord, the utility people, the car insurance people, etc. (Maybe paying bills is kind of like when you've eaten something that doesn't want to stay down - the feeling that you need to throw up is awful, and the vomiting itself can be a truly horrid experience, but you are just about guaranteed to feel much better once you've gotten it over with.) (Or maybe I'm the only person who hates bill-paying so much that I'd compare it to losing my lunch.) 4. Housecleaning (as opposed to decluttering/organizing). Now that you've cleared some floor and/or table space by clearing and sorting, and built up some frustrated energy while dealing the money stuff, you should be ready to attack dust & dirt & grime and clean like a banshee.  5. Diet. Not quite sure what you need to do here; but if you spend time now cooking healthy soups & casseroles & so forth, and freezing them in individual portions, they should last you some good way into the school year. 6. Wardrobe. Again not quite sure what you need to do. Laundry is laundry; a paste of equal parts baking soda, dishwashing liquid, and water will do wonders for most stains; and mending and hemming seem to go much faster when done in front of a favorite TV program. Scheduling-wise, I might aim for 1 hour/area on each of the 14 days; but some things will take more time than that, some things will take less. I promise you that if you put in any 84 hours - or even just 80 hours, or maybe even a bit less - in any combination of these areas over the next two weeks, you will have gotten a great deal done before your classes start. Good luck, and be sure to enjoy the heck out of all the progress you make. - Evelyn |
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Post by charis on Jan 15, 2010 17:23:04 GMT -5
Kitchen and bedroom closet
i think having those two things organized would be the greatest convenience to have done when I returned to work
I am happy for you having two weeks. Hope you get a little fun time too
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Post by serenitynow on Jan 15, 2010 18:53:41 GMT -5
WOW, Evelyn! I just might have to follow that advice myself ( Are you sure you're not our lioness incognito?  ) serenitynow..blown away |
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Post by anonymoose on Jan 15, 2010 19:05:32 GMT -5
Wherever the most obvious, fastest difference could be made just to keep the momentum going Good luck! |
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Post by Evelyn on Jan 15, 2010 21:13:17 GMT -5
Thanks, Serenity. As I was writing out that post, I was thinking that it was advice that I might want to follow for my own self. (And just as soon as I getting around to taking and posting some "before" pictures, you will be quite sure that I am not Lioness at all  - and that I am much better at giving advice to others than I am at taking action for myself.) - Evelyn, who is much more like a rather messy tigercub |
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Post by juniper2 on Jan 15, 2010 21:46:08 GMT -5
Tangerine! I guess if I had classes, and my house is as squalored as it is...a grade 3...I would concentrate on the room I would be studying in and totally organize my desk, papers, etc. in prep for studying. Organized work space feels good and clears the mind so one can think. Next I would tackle my clothes...make sure enough were clean, organized, etc. and had some kind of wardrobe together so I didn't need to spend anytime looking for clean clothes or go thru messy drawers. Set up a system for washing them weekly. Next I would probably have my bedroom more together since that would be the place where I spent the most time after studying...Clean sheets on bed every Sunday night, totally de-cluttered bed and surroundings. I'd like to sleep restfully and peacefully to prepare for a fresh new day of classes. If there was still time in the two weeks. Depending how messy the kitchen was...I'd make sure the frig was cleared out of any rotten food, clean and defrost it, and stock with some groceries bought just before classes started that week. Have the top of the stove cleaned up and the kitchen dishes and pots done and put away. This is the bare minimum that I would do and would be able to function just fine. Much success in the next two weeks in prep for your studies! 
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Post by rickie on Jan 15, 2010 21:52:26 GMT -5
I would declutter my diet first as that provides energy and a healthier mind and better mood to tackle the rest. It's like making sure you have fuel and a tuned-up car before setting off on a big road trip.
For financial squalor you might not be able to do much without first working on the areas where you store papers, receipts, bills etc. that you need, but I advise taking care of your money at the earliest possible opportunity.
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Post by tangerine on Jan 18, 2010 15:15:36 GMT -5
Thank you all for the advice! It helps so much to have an outside perspective on this.
This weekend I tackled my closet. I don't have tons of clothes, but what I had was just thrown in haphazardly. I organized, re-folded sweaters, and purged a big bag of old stuff. I can see what I own now and my dresser drawers close easily again!
I also found a couple of pair of new workout pants and tops that I need to shorten - they were hiding in various nooks and crannies. I've been needing new gym pants for awhile, and all along I've had three pairs that I forgot about.
I can't believe how much better I feel already. I dug out from squalor about five years or so ago, and really didn't pay much attention, it started to sneak up on me again. It's so darn easy to acquire new clutter, it's amazing.
The suggestions to clean out my study area make good sense, that's what I'm going to do next. I have already cleared the floor in the den. Next I'll have to clean out my desk. Papers sure do pile up quickly, don't they?
I also really like the idea of having a bedroom retreat, so that should be pretty easy to do. I'll work on that when I need a break from the horrible den.
Anyway, thanks soooo much for the motivation!
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