|
|
Post by stressedbythemess on Jul 3, 2008 17:16:26 GMT -5
So, I have been trying to de squalor, and I have made some progress. But a big problem I have always had, since I was a kid and my parents used to do this, is a lot of times things will get stacked up and then moved into a messy area.
On one hand, I now have a living room, hallway, entryway, dining room that are all at about the best they are going to get considering we have 3 adults who dont share living in 1 apartment.
On the other hand most of the stuff that wasn't trash has gone into my room or my closet.
A lot of the house and my car has made significant progress. Some areas are now 0. Others have dropped at least a level other than the porch closet which I have not started. BUT:
Bedroom: Gone from a ehh maybe not a 2 to SOLIDLY 2
Bedroom Closet: It was and still is a 2 but it's no better at all because I have made as much mess as I cleaned up
And I feel REALLY lost as to what to do next. I know there is stuff in the closet to get rid of , but most of the stuff in the room i dont want to but I dont have anywhere to put it!
|
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Jul 3, 2008 18:44:07 GMT -5
Dear sbtm, Congratulations on the progress!  You are making the best of the situation, and that is to be commended. The current problem you have, besides your shared living spaces, seems to be a reluctance to get rid of things. You are in good company with that one  . I am learning that I can't organize clutter, and that sometimes I have to let go, but it is a hard lesson. Maybe it would help to attack this a couple of ways. One is to box the things in your room, so the stuff is at least contained. Then you deal with the boxes by putting a date on them, but not listing the contents. If you don't open the box for 6 months, you didn't need what was in it and can make an agreement with yourself to donate it unopened. Or go through the boxes every couple of months, and purge a few items at a time, as you are ready. For sentimental items that you can no longer use, would you be just as happy with a picture to remind you of it, and then let it go? Pictures take up much less space, especially if they are digital. For items that you are not now using, but might want to use "someday", would you be able to replace it easily when the time comes? If so, you might want the space for something else, and borrow or buy one when you do need it. If you decide on one of the box approaches in the bedroom, then you should tackle the closet next. Since you know there are things in there that you will get rid of, this could free up space for the things in the bedroom that you ultimately decide you want to keep. Things can get messier in spots as you shift and stack and decide where things are going to go. It happens when places you want to use for certain items are already full of stuff that has no other home. It can become a vicious circle. To get out of the circle, you have to find a way to stop playing the game. At times you may ruthlessly decide that you want order more than some of these things. Sometimes it takes moving the things around over and over till you get tired of them. I play the game of "would I want to pay someone to move this if I had to move?" If the answer is no, I get rid of it. I'm sure you will get plenty of other suggestions. You can tackle this, be patient and don't give up. messymimi |
|
|
|
Post by Carrie on Jul 3, 2008 18:48:21 GMT -5
Hi SBTM - First, pat yourself on the back for the progress that you HAVE made! Then..........what would make you feel the best?? Cleaner bedroom or cleaner closet?? Maybe it would be easier to have one clean before you do the other?? Decide on that, then start by picking up one item in your hand and decide if it's keep, throw away, recycle (donate or Craig's list, etc) or not sure. If it's keep and you know where it goes, put it there. If it's keep and you don't have a place for it yet, it goes in the keep box or bag. Throw away goes in the trash, recycle goes in its' box or bag and not sure is a separate box or bag. Take frequent breaks and after each break, give containers a quick check. See if you have a place for the "keeps" yet, or if you have a better idea about the "not sures". Sometimes after a second or third look at something it dawns on you just where this should be kept, or you realize it's something you really don't need after all. This is a method I tried out of a book I got yrs ago and it works well for me, EXCEPT..............you have to commit yourself to dealing with the items in each container, not just leaving them in there or shoving the full boxes or bags back in the closet, under the bed, etc. So, I would recommend stopping your work BEFORE you get tired or are ready to quit, going through the "keep" and "not sure" boxes and dealing with those things so that they are empty for the next day's start. Whatever method you decide to use, I know you can DO IT!! Sounds like for you (as with most of us) it's a matter of getting rid of some of the stuff you really don't need/use so it doesn't keep getting shifted around. Let us know how you do!
Carrie
|
|
|
|
Post by stressedbythemess on Jul 3, 2008 21:14:21 GMT -5
Thanks guys, I'm going to try and use all of that tommorow. And carrie- it would actually probably be easier to do the porch closet then my bedroom closet then my bedroom, earning me storage space in the porch for lesser used items and the bedroom closet for more frequently used ones.
Those are all super ideas.
|
|
