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Post by grungygeorgie on Jul 17, 2009 13:37:16 GMT -5
Is it okay to give ourselves a little break from cleaning & decluttering? I am physically & mentally worn out and running out of steam.I don't want to backslide either.Right now I am staring at 2 laundry baskets piled high w/ gathered objects to be gone through.I also have paper piles by desk.My bedroom (what a disaster),den (ditto), finish garage,sunporch,basement.Do you think I should just work through the exhaustion,feel the burn,per say?My goal is to be done by September,then start to look for work.This maybe the last opportunity for the luxury of being able to do anything at my own leisure.
I am proud of the hardwork I have done in the past 2 months.My minimalist New York friends were over last night.They complimented me on how clean my kitchen was.The wife is spareness personified, both in body & home (she is a former ballerina and pin thin).
Today I am taking a mental health day. Reading,"Clear Your Clutter w/ Feng Shui",by,Karen Kingston A little "out there"& new age in some aspects,but inspiring and insightful too.
So I am asking for thoughts/advice as my life crumbles around me, how did I get the energy,motivation to get this house clean & finished?I thank you all ahead of time.GG
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Post by messymimi on Jul 17, 2009 13:49:53 GMT -5
The two most important things in decluttering are to pace yourself and take breaks.
Working through it is what leads to crash and burn, and then you don't want to work any more, so it gets worse.
Take a mental health day.
Then, when you get back to it, set a timer. The timer is important in that it tells you when it is time to stop and take a break. No cheating, take those breaks.
Plan to do no more than one hour a day, or 15 minutes a day, or whatever amount of time you allot that you are comfortable doing.
Maintaining the ground you have gained is just as important as covering new territory. It is okay to stop, maintain, move on. That way the mess does not grow back in the places you have already been.
You have permission to take as much care of you as you do of your place. When you take care of you, you can take care of your place.
messymimi
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Post by ivorytower on Jul 17, 2009 13:53:33 GMT -5
It's not just OK to have breaks - it's essential! It's good that you've been keeping going so long and obviously made a big difference, but don't wear yourself out. Put your feet up for a bit and have a rest
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Post by Lucky Laura Loving Life on Jul 17, 2009 14:30:38 GMT -5
Dear GrungieGeorgie, I sure hope you take a break! It is so important,I have pushed through the burn so to speak when it was required (Impending Move) and I am here to say it's not good.I ended up at a point of shutdown where all I could do was sit and look in circles frozen by indecision on the simplest of tasks.I hope you enjoy the book,sometimes you won't agree with everything but will take away something you find that really suits you and your style of living.Good Luck & enjoy a break!! Love,Laura
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Post by theroyaldump on Jul 17, 2009 15:06:35 GMT -5
OMG Georgie I sooo know where you are coming from on this. I want this done badly but I know to take my time and do it MY WAY. My fiance R and best friend S are constantly pushing me and pushing me *DAILY* and I just want to SCREAM!!!! I have been working everyday for 4 weeks and some days I just can't do it!!! Purging and weeding through all this stuff begins to feel like a punishment. I know that they have my best interest at heart but some days I just need to get away and neither of them understand that so I end up lieing to them and feeling terrible. I feel that one of my biggest mistakes was telling them what I was doing. Neither of them have seen the volume of stuff I have here and they keep saying ... guess you are just about done,huh? or you couldn't possilby have that much or your apartment is only 600 sq ft - how much can you have? Grrrrr. Every single time I talk to them they want to know my progress. I have seriiously come close to telling both of them to LEAVE ME ALONE! Go ahead and take your breaks ... you may save your sanity!
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Post by autumn on Jul 17, 2009 15:29:19 GMT -5
Hi Georgie, Clear Your Clutter w/ Feng Shui is one of my go-to favorite books when I need motivating!!!
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Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Jul 17, 2009 17:27:14 GMT -5
Georgie, you ARE NOT allowed to clean on Saturday. Tell yourself that, and you will be rarin' to go on Sunday. Its gonna be hard not to get started on Saturday. It works everytime, trust me.
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Post by grungygeorgie on Jul 17, 2009 17:46:30 GMT -5
Thanks all!Great suggestions & comments,as always.
I notice it is getting harder for me to let go & get rid of things,what if I go to much n the opposite direction then need "That thing" a few weeks down the line.
What is that about?
I am trying to do the:do you love it/used in 1 year advice also, just keeping, the best of the best-because,that is what we all deserve,THE BEST!
Much gratitude,gg
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Post by paperpiler on Jul 17, 2009 22:00:55 GMT -5
Georgie, this just came in my mail. Thought you might be able to use it. Zen Habits and Illuminated Mind are my two favorite blogs. The guy who wrote this is a guest contributor to Zen Habits who also has his own blog, Illuminated Mind. zenhabits.net/
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Post by Meme on Jul 17, 2009 22:17:23 GMT -5
yes- it is ok and I do take wellness days-- I often do some puttering and maintaining but nothing I feel I should do..........breaks are a good thing - just set a time- if it is a day then take the day and then just get back to the game the next day- God tells us to rest one day a week and most of us do not........I wonder how we would feel if we did ---------
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