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Post by desposito on Nov 9, 2023 20:26:59 GMT -5
Well BetsyMarie, I love stickers too, although I don't put them on calendars, but I do use them on to-do lists, reminder signs, and anything else where I can see them! I hope they've been helpful to you.
Today is Thursday, my report day, a week gone already. I definitely haven't done 1/4 of the work on my list, but I did do a couple of things. I did the 30 minutes on book data entry, and this still hasn't even gotten me up to date on tallying all the books I've read this year, let alone books in prior years. So that will be a long project. I also cleaned out the "important" drawer, just today--it took longer than I thought because I decided to take all the spare charging cords and put them somewhere else, and I had to find a place for them. This should help immensely to keeping it neat in the future.
So:
1--Bring every room/work area in house back to baseline once per day -- I'm finally gettng close to this again after my weeks with mobility problems with my sore leg. Upstairs is good, downstairs is close.
2--Christmas card prep -- goal of 1 hour
3--Old paper -- goal of 30 minutes 4--Book data entry -- goal of 30 minutes -- 30 minutes finished, this goal is done!
5--Repotting houseplants -- goal of 4 6--Filing -- 30 minutes
7--Password project -- goal of 60 minutes 8--Reorganize enclosed back porch 9--Figure out better pet supply storage on first floor 10--Organizing in basement 11--Reorganize drawer with important stuff -- took about 30 minutes, this goal is done!
12--Front porch planter
13--Work on 2nd book box - goal of 3 books - I have removed some books from the box and found two I want to start, so I will start them and see if they are ones I want to finish
Diane
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 10, 2023 8:56:14 GMT -5
Today is Nov 10. At the end of the day, November will be 1/3 finished.
When I was first starting to clear my hoarded house a number of years ago (13 rooms plus large garage, complete with goat paths), I watched some of the hoarder programs, and they gave me instant motivation. I used to marvel at how fast the workers could get through a house or at least several rooms and make it all neat - it took them just days! But when you are doing it yourself, and your head is still caught in that nasty vise of resistance and overwhelmed, it can take much longer. It's not just the clearing that's needed,it's the inner education too.
In the beginning, I could only commit to 5 minutes at a time mainly because of 'overwhelm' plus still wanting to keep everything. That worked great in terms of intermittent motivation and slowly learning how not to be a hoarder... but to get a really large job done, realistically it can also take large blocks of dedicated decluttering. At least for me in this large house. And so it still does. And that is what I want this November to be - a large block of time to get lots done. Already I've done good work, but with much more to go.
Over the years I indeed have cleared massive amounts of stuff out of here. Most of the rooms are no longer visually hoarded, and the goat paths are gone, at least in the public rooms. Usually, it just looks like a messy person lives here. There is still way too much in the house however, and lots more needs to go. And for me, 5 minutes here and there is not going to do it. For me, that amount of time is more for maintaining. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, cooking... That of course is essential to prevent back-sliding, but it is not getting rid of inert 'stuff' or making life as functional as it could be.
This current level of accomplishment is absolutely great and I'm pleased to be here - but the job really is not complete. I want more. Including today, there are 21 days left in this Challenge Month. A nice block of time. In as comfortable a way as possible for this old person, I'm going for it
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Post by phoenixcat on Nov 10, 2023 12:01:31 GMT -5
Item 4 on my list for November (it was also on my October list) was working at my parents' home - this is the final tally posted on my blog: 1) 12 regular kitchen bags, 3 yard bags, 4 contractor bags and a pile of broken down furniture OUT to trash. NOTE: some trash and recycling was just due to my daily living here. 2) After today will have been to recycling drop off 4 times with a total of 10 kitchen bags and at least 4 broken down boxes. 3) 3.5 boxes shipped of the personal stuff of FOL's that I had put aside - letters mostly along with costume jewelry and tapes I want to convert - FOM was a musician. 1/2 a box was things that weren't FOL's - some of my clothes used for packing and to take the load off of my suitcase, gift my cousin gave me, etc. 4) 1 huge box and two bins, plus a half dozen largish items to donation 5) 3 bags and a large poster board to church 6) one box of canning supplies for a neighbor 7) one bag of extra supplies for the cleaner 8) one very large box half full of toys/games/coloring books for the neighbors to review and hopefully take 9) 10 furniture items tagged "TO GO" 10) one bag of bags to grocery store 11) one drop off of vases to the florist and returned all the items taken from the cemetery for her to disassemble and use the "good parts" I've been back five full days and we have not eaten out once. I'm not doing a lot of meal planning but I did do a lot of grocery shopping and have been eating all my meals at home. Making a commitment to myself that the only meals away from my house involve either a vacation or other people (or both!). Constant eating out is destroying my health and my budget! This weekend I'm planning on garage/storage work. Fingers crossed! PC
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 15, 2023 7:18:17 GMT -5
At the end of today, November will be half over. How did that happen? I'm hoping to get as much done today as possible to set up the last half of this month for a really big push. I even cancelled an appointment to set up a large block of time today.
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Post by desposito on Nov 15, 2023 13:49:14 GMT -5
Phoenixcat, that's a lot of work to get done, I assume you were by yourself so you did all that on your own?
BetsyMarie, still half a month to go! The entire last 3 months of the year always fly by for me.
I actually did several challenge things this past week but my report day is tomorrow so I will post then. Every time I go into my messy food pantry I think "why didn't I put this on the challenge list"? As though I can't clean it up because it's not on the list! But having things on the list definitely makes me more likely to do them--maybe next month!
Diane
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 16, 2023 10:21:22 GMT -5
Diane, I find time is definitely flying. For me, it goes week by week. It seems every other day is Friday. Like tomorrow. Nov is now half over. But there are still 15 full days remaining. And since this is a challenge, I'm going to do something that to me is truly challenging - a timed 30 hour challenge. That's an average of 2 hours per day till Dec.1. I don't like keeping track of time, and usually forget to note it when I finish. But, Nothing ventured, nothing gained. The parameters: Doing anything that pertains to making life more pleasant and orderly, inside or outside the house counts. All actual maintaining and de-cluttering counts. Thinking or posting does not count. 30 hours is the minimum.
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Post by desposito on Nov 16, 2023 20:30:07 GMT -5
Betsymarie, 2 hours sounds reasonable, you can do it! Put some good music on to give you energy!
This week I finished 4 goals, 30 minutes on old paper, 30 minutes on filing, prepping a front porch planter, and reorganizing the back porch. I also did 10 minutes on Christmas cards, 10 minutes on the basement, and repotted 3 plants. And, I'm "this close" to being back to baseline, just a few things left to do. I started one book from the book box and will finish it soon, it's a very short one that is intended for young adults or maybe even younger teens, so it won't take long to finish.
The plants I repotted were two little Haworthia retusa babies that grew in another pot and pretty much fell off the parent plant because they were ready to be repotted--they are in the same pot. Then I took 3 Christmas cactus cuttings that were rooting in paper cups of perlite for way too long. I put them all in one pot. And, I repotted another very small Christmas cactus cutting that was in a pot with dirt but was not doing well at all. I may have used too much grit in that pot so I moved it to a different pot with better medium and I'll see if it recovers.
1--Bring every room/work area in house back to baseline once per day -- Upstairs is good, downstairs is VERY close.
2--Christmas card prep -- goal of 1 hour -- 10 minutes done
3--Old paper -- goal of 30 minutes -- this goal is done!
4--Book data entry -- goal of 30 minutes -- 30 minutes finished, this goal is done!
5--Repotting houseplants -- goal of 4 -- 3 are done
6--Filing -- 30 minutes -- this goal is done!
7--Password project -- goal of 60 minutes 8--Reorganize enclosed back porch -- this goal is done!
9--Figure out better pet supply storage on first floor 10--Organizing in basement -- goal of 30 minutes -- 10 minutes done
11--Reorganize drawer with important stuff -- took about 30 minutes, this goal is done!
12--Front porch planter -- this goal is done!
13--Work on 2nd book box - goal of 3 books - I have removed some books from the box and found two I want to start, so I will start them and see if they are ones I want to finish.
Diane
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Post by phoenixcat on Nov 18, 2023 8:30:41 GMT -5
Yes Diane I finished all the stuff at my parents on my own. . Warmed up my purging muscles . Look at all your "DONEs" WOW!! For November: 1) Eat at home and plan my meals. About 80% on this - fell off the wagon for the last couple days - getting back on it today! 2) Figure out some online pilates and yoga classes. not yet 3) Finish the ordering for my next trip. I think I'm done with ordering. Now to figure out what I'm keeping! 4) First week - finish what I'm doing at my parents' home - cleaning, de-cluttering and shipping out boxes to my home. Reported on this - did a BUNCH of stuff 5) Work on the outside, the garage storage room and the outside storage closet. Those projects are finished!!! Worked on them all last weekend.6) Take out a lot of donations. And, see if I can get someone to pick up furniture. Ended up filling two bins along with a few extras of donations. A lot to recycling (broken down boxes). Some to hazardous waste. Some packaging materials to office. So far, three pieces of furniture have left my home in the last month.Have another 9 days before I leave including a long weekend so hope to get some serious purging done in all the bedrooms. PC
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 19, 2023 10:42:51 GMT -5
Betsymarie, 2 hours sounds reasonable, you can do it! Put some good music on to give you energy! Yes, 2 hours is reasonable, especially when the spirit is willing. I generally have episodes of 'Snapped' etc. on in the background, . Nice to see you both accomplishing so much, phoenixcat and desposito For myself, I don't much like keeping track of work by the clock (I keep forgetting to look), but have found if I set a timer for an hour, it keeps track of the time for me. I don't use the hour itself as a goal, but rather keep it visible on the counter and check it and/or reset it so I know how much I have done. Yesterday I put in 3 hours in a block this way, and another hour later in the day. I'm trying to bank a few extra hours for later in the month for a break if needed. The next big project is reorganizing the 2 hall 'linen closets', not used solely for linens. Lots of space in them, but so disorganized they are not easy to use. This house has more than enough storage space. Apparently I am the problem.
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 21, 2023 11:20:10 GMT -5
November 21. Counting today, there are 10 full days left in this November challenge. I've banked an extra three and a half hours (end goal is 30) which I'll probably use later this week. I am getting lots done, and it's very pleasing. Hope everyone else is doing well.
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Post by catcats on Nov 21, 2023 13:07:48 GMT -5
Ok---well, the den bookcase is done, all cleaned, the books removed and dusted , and everything orderly. Much of the weeding is finished, but not all. The cat pans and porch furniture and cat carrier were taken out, washed and hosed off, dried, and put away. Well, the cat pans are still in use now. I decided to have the rocker repaired at a later date, and the Roomba is not yet set up. I sometimes choose the wrong things as a challenge, and I did it again. Many things were done this time that were necessary, but not on the challenge list. I guess I don't care too much as I am getting stuff done !!
Wishing success to all !!
catcats
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 21, 2023 16:51:40 GMT -5
I sometimes choose the wrong things as a challenge, and I did it again. Many things were done this time that were necessary, but not on the challenge list. I guess I don't care too much as I am getting stuff done !! Wishing success to all !! catcats Exactly. And why I don't make lists with respect to general cleaning (at other times, absolutely yes). I get stuff done, but usually not what's on my list, and that can be frustrating. It seems there is always something that needs doing first. Whatever works. catcats , You have been getting lots done, so congrats!
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Post by catcats on Nov 21, 2023 23:30:49 GMT -5
Thank you, BetsyMarie !! I keep seeing more important things to do than what I expected . Sounds like you do too. It still helps me to sign up for these challenges though. catcats
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Post by BetsyMarie on Nov 26, 2023 11:53:11 GMT -5
Thank you, BetsyMarie !! I keep seeing more important things to do than what I expected . Sounds like you do too. It still helps me to sign up for these challenges though. catcats Other than preparing for a trip, or a special event, I generally don't make more than very short lists - there is always something 'more important to do first' than what's written down. As long as things get done towards the final goal, it all needs doing anyway. As long as there are no recriminations for not sticking to a list, and things are getting done, IMO it doesnt matter. Whatever works. With respect to this November Challenge, there are 5 days left. I took all of yesterday off to have guilt-free fun. While I've lost track of total time spent working towards my 30 hours, I'm pretty sure I've either already exceeded that, or am very close to the goal. Doesn't really matter, I've gotten lots done, with still 5 more potentially productive days remaining. Back to work.................
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Post by itsybitsy on Nov 26, 2023 23:25:15 GMT -5
I wanted to say I have doubled down in November to work my way through the following: 1) Clothing - I'm estimating that I donated about 40% of my clothing. I still have more to do, but I was able to let go of the items that no longer fit and do not reflect where I am today (retired). The real accomplishment was that my DH went through his clothing for the first time. 2) Kitchen - I have donated 3-4 boxes of items that were no longer used. 3) Paperwork: this has been my biggest accomplishment. I have emptied six office storage boxes by coming up with a retention schedule and beginning to pare down what I'm retaining. I was the executor for the estate of my mom (15 years ago) and my dad (8 years ago) so I released all the legal and tax records connected with that work. It really is a mammoth undertaking. A 4-drawer vertical filing cabinet is now empty. I still have about 10 boxes out but I am now doing about an hour each day to bring it to the point that I can tuck away and know that it's far better than it was at the beginning of November. I laid out a total of three boxes of DH's work files and he was able to make decisions in about 15 minutes of going through the items. So proud of him! 4) I did pull back 3 items from my donations today. That's okay...it was stopping me from donating anything and the items were sitting in my car. I will see if I use them over the next two months. If they don't get used, I will donate without worry.
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