Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
Replies
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PackerFanInGB wrote: »PackerFanInGB wrote: »Today, I begin the decluttering of my clothing, I have kept clothes in bins and even in my closet that in reality I will probably never wear again because I will probably not get to that size again for a few years and they won't be in style any longer anyway. I need to just LET GO. My goal is to try on every single item. If I don't love it or it doesn't fit, it gets donated or tossed. At the end of this declutter session, there should only be clothes in my closet and my dresser that I love and feel good in when I wear them.
This is most likely going to be pretty painful, but it's time to get honest with myself and get rid of the old and start over new.
Just keep in mind that when you get to that size, you'll deserve new clothes.
Ohhh! Good way to think about it! Heck yeah! I will...
I have a feeling when I get done with this, I will have to go to the store and buy more now because I truly don't have much that fits me and is actually comfortable. I feel that I should have at least 5 outfits for work that I feel good in right now the way I am. But is that rewarding myself for gaining weight? IDK...I feel it has more to do with having some self-confidence.
You are celebrating who you are at this moment. Its a great gift and does inspire confidence.
Words.of.wisdom.and.LIFE.
Super, mega, ultra BOOM!2 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »I cleaned off my fake kitchen island this morning. I have things on the couch, from it, have to figure out where to put them. If they are still there this weekend, out they go. Happy New Year, we can do this!
Hahahahaha, Snoo you crack me up "fake kitchen island" I just love me some you
YAY you and we can/WILL do this in our own sweet time-slowly but showly!
Its attached to the wall, so in reality its a peninsula. LOL!0 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »I cleaned off my fake kitchen island this morning. I have things on the couch, from it, have to figure out where to put them. If they are still there this weekend, out they go. Happy New Year, we can do this!
Hahahahaha, Snoo you crack me up "fake kitchen island" I just love me some you YAY you and we can/WILL do this in our own sweet time-slowly but showly!
Its attached to the wall, so in reality its a peninsula. LOL!
I see what ya cha doing there...."island "peninsula" hahahahaha
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Therealobi1 wrote: »
What i am interested in is how you guys deal with toxic pity party type people. Dont want help with a solution just want to moan. This is what i want to deal with this year. I am someone who can listen and listen until my ears are chewed off and this makes it worst. This is not someone i can ignore.
I had a "friend" who was an energy zapper...she sucked the life out of me with her negativity!!! I finally let her know that her negativity was affecting my struggle with depression. I told her I had been beginning to feel really depressed again & was reading an article that highlighted how our thoughts & what we focus on affect our mood & negativity feeds depression SO I told her that I needed to keep things on a positive note & specified topics that I was no longer willing to discuss. Long story short I stopped hearing from her. Initially her contact became irregular & it got to the point where she stopped texting & calling altogether. Once I eliminated the negative, she had nothing left to talk about. She ended up attaching herself to someone else who she could blast her negativity at. That person is also a Negative Nelly so they can bring each other down to their hearts' content. I am FREE.........
I agree that you need to be honest with her & establish & enforce some boundaries around what you are willing to listen to...I understand how frustrating it is to listen to someone talk about the same ol', same ol' knowing that they have NO intention of actually doing anything about it. I listened to her go on & on and got to the point where I stopped participating in the conversation because she didn't want to change anything, she just wanted to hear herself talk...life's too short and I can spend my energy productively instead of going down the same dead end street to Nowheresville!!!!!!
I have established the same boundaries with another person who I no longer hear from either....that is ok with me. If a person is a loyal friend, they don't jump ship because you won't let them take advantage of you!! True friends, DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE of you!!!! So be prepared that your "friend" may hit the road if she isn't really a friend....I suppose you can take a chance & find out what kind of friend she is.
I am there for my friends, but I'm not going to be a doormat for pseudo-friends who have an agenda and it's all about them...no thank you! Friendship is a give & take on BOTH sides, never one-sided!! I've spent too many years of my life allowing people to walk on me cause I was afraid to take care of MYSELF!! To busy taking care of their feelings & ignoring my own...NO MORE!!!
I know it's difficult, but you will feel liberated when you take your stand. Like Dr. Phil has said, "We teach people how to treat us!!" Sounds like your "friend" needs a little lesson. Hoping the best for you....please let us know how things work out.
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ladyreva78 wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »ladyreva78 wrote: »I started to radically clean up my life 2 years ago.
- first I got rid of all those books I was never going to read again. (That's a good 50 kg out of my life. That much less weighting me down). Because, let's get honest, they were just collecting dust on my shelves, in my closet, under my bed, piled up against the wall. Pretty much in any free space there were books. I was feeling guilty for neglecting them so badly. So I let them go.
- next I got rid of all those pretty clothes from when I was slim and thin. (that's another 50 kg out of my life. That much less weighting me down.) Because, let's get honest, they were just getting moldy in boxes and in the back of my closet. Pretty much in any free space not taken up by books. I was feeling guilty for having failed so badly at taking care of myself that I was 50kg overweight from when I fit into them (a very brief period of my life.) So I let them go.
- next I got rid of all those beautiful (and some not so beautiful) collectibles I was given through out my life. (that's another 50 kg out of my life. That much less weighting me down.) Because, let's get honest, they were just collecting dust and chiding me for not honoring them better. Someone went through the trouble of giving them to me, and I considered them more as interlopers that had no place in my life. I was feeling guilty for not loving them better. So I let them go.
- next I got rid of all those fantasy mes that were never going to be me. (That's a good 50 kg out of my life. That much less weighting me down). Because, let's get honest, I am never going to be a world class seamstress. Or painter. Or Scrapbooker. Or a weekend skier. I was feeling guilty for all those supplies and all that equipment laying around reminding me of the person I thought I wanted to be. So I let them go.
- next I got rid of all those toxic relationships that were slowly killing me (That's several times 50 kg out of my life. That much less weighting me down). Because, let's get honest, I was never going to get anything useful out of those. First and foremost my former boss and employer. Blood sucking leeches that were killing my by the gram. I was feeling guilty for not being the person who could deal with all the crap they kept on throwing at me. So I let them go.
- next (together with those toxic relationships) I got rid of the alcohol (that's 1.5 kg I'm not going to lose. That much more life quality not slipping through my fingers). Because, let's get honest, I do not want to divorce from my liver. I happen to like having it detox my body and metabolize fat and carbs. I was feeling guilty for not taking better care of myself. So I let it go.
- next I got rid of foods I do not like. (that's another 35 kg out of my life. That much less weighting me down.) Because, let's get honest, I wasn't going to eat them for that little rest of forever granted to me, so I was going to fail again and again at losing and maintaining that loss. I thought I had to eat a certain way to be healthy - a way that wasn't keeping my satiated (mentally and physically). I also got rid of excessive serving sizes and every day desserts (Still have that dessert 2-3 times a week now ). Things that weren't painful to me. I've let them go, and I'm healthier for it. I'm down 35 kg and slowly inching closer to my goal of -50 kg.
By cleaning up my life and figuring out for myself how I wanted to live my life (not how society wanted me to live my life. Or my parents. Or my siblings. Or my friends. Or all those people I know), I finally found the mental reserves to also take care of my health and lose the weight I need to lose to get my health in order.
W
W Reading your post was like lovely and refreshing stroll thru a super beautiful place filled with wonderful sunshine and fabulous fresh air for/to me! What an eye-opening/thought provoking, delightful and COOL AND FUN post you've shared..I LOVE IT. You've also inspired me to get rid of even more books (that I've already read and won't be reading again--BOOM)!
Thank you ever so VERY much for taking the time and care to reply...YOU ROCK, period.
Thank you
I've been keeping a journal logging my 'decluttering process'. On the first page I listed what my goals were and on the following pages I'm documenting my progress. Sometimes, like the post I wrote, I make a summary to myself to see what I have already achieved. It makes the progress seem more real, especially on days when, mentally, I'm not so well. That job I cut out of my life did a number on me and I'm still working on getting myself back to where I want to be.
Thanks for the journal idea. I tried to start decluttering this weekend and felt like didn’t make enough process. I got tired and depressed so I stopped. I am now willing to try again.2 -
Over the past few days I got rid of a box of books...some beloved!! I am also a book person so it was difficult...one of my most loved books was The Glass Castle, but I've already read it 3 times AND saw the movie twice...I think I can move on now. Plus my place is 400 sq ft...not much room to be hanging on to things. I also went through & recycled lots of magazines I've been hanging on to cause there are articles in them that I'm interested in...time to move on...LET IT GO!!
OK, so the upside of me doing this is that while I was going through some magazines in a drawer in my living room side table, I found a card from one of the above friends I no longer see, and there was $40.00 in it for a ticket for a play I had bought her way back when....she must have shoved it in the drawer when she was here one time figuring I'd find it...and I DID!!! How many months later...woohoo!
I AM beginning to declutter....now I just have to get a rather large box to put all my knicky-knacks that are shoved in my armoire...but at least they are hidden & the top of it is bare as a baby's bottom...NAKED I tell you! Under my bed is getting cleared out also...I have to be creative with storage here. I have a few other areas to tackle...but it's a start....
Thank you @NewLIFEstyle4ME for this thread!! I just stumbled on it & am really glad cause I'm getting motivated!!!2 -
What a fabulous way to start weight blastification progress starting 01/01/2019
One of my daughters stopped by today and she had the CUTEST coat on. I asked her if I could try it on (background: EVERYONE in my entire family is skinny as rails, I've ALWAYS been the ONLY fat/overweight/obese person in my ENTIRE family-our children never saw me "normal/healthy" size for all of their lives. For more than 20 years I've been fat--I FINALLY "match" everyone in my family--not as skinny as them (nor do I want to be, I'm aiming at a size 7/8 no smaller), but I'm FINALLY at a healthy/much slimmer and trimmer weight and no longer obese/overweight. I momentarily hesitated to ask to try the coat on, knowing that even though I've lost a LOT of weight, kinda, ummmm, "leary" of asking, thinking because she's so skinny, it won't fit, but I kicked that "fear" in the butt and asked....here's the results:
AND BEST PIC OF ALL....
Now granted, this coat fits baggy/swing coat on her BUT I got my tail into a size small coat and COULD ZIP IT ALL THE WAY UP. This time last year, I couldn't even get my arm into this coat, let alone zip it up--YAY!!! What a GREAT way to start 2019!!!!! BOOM!
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NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »What a fabulous way to start weight blastification progress starting 01/01/2019
One of my daughters stopped by today and she had the CUTEST coat on. I asked her if I could try it on (background: EVERYONE in my entire family is skinny as rails, I've ALWAYS been the ONLY fat/overweight/obese person in my ENTIRE family-our children never saw me "normal/healthy" size for all of their lives. For more than 20 years I've been fat--I FINALLY "match" everyone in my family--not as skinny as them (nor do I want to be, I'm aiming at a size 7/8 no smaller), but I'm FINALLY at a healthy/much slimmer and trimmer weight and no longer obese/overweight. I momentarily hesitated to ask to try the coat on, knowing that even though I've lost a LOT of weight, kinda, ummmm, "leary" of asking, thinking because she's so skinny, it won't fit, but I kicked that "fear" in the butt and asked....here's the results:
AND BEST PIC OF ALL....
Now granted, this coat fits baggy/swing coat on her BUT I got my tail into a size small coat and COULD ZIP IT ALL THE WAY UP. This time last year, I couldn't even get my arm into this coat, let alone zip it up--YAY!!! What a GREAT way to start 2019!!!!! BOOM!
What a fantastic morale boost! I love that you blasted the fear out the door. Good for you my friend!1 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »What a fabulous way to start weight blastification progress starting 01/01/2019
One of my daughters stopped by today and she had the CUTEST coat on. I asked her if I could try it on (background: EVERYONE in my entire family is skinny as rails, I've ALWAYS been the ONLY fat/overweight/obese person in my ENTIRE family-our children never saw me "normal/healthy" size for all of their lives. For more than 20 years I've been fat--I FINALLY "match" everyone in my family--not as skinny as them (nor do I want to be, I'm aiming at a size 7/8 no smaller), but I'm FINALLY at a healthy/much slimmer and trimmer weight and no longer obese/overweight. I momentarily hesitated to ask to try the coat on, knowing that even though I've lost a LOT of weight, kinda, ummmm, "leary" of asking, thinking because she's so skinny, it won't fit, but I kicked that "fear" in the butt and asked....here's the results:
AND BEST PIC OF ALL....
Now granted, this coat fits baggy/swing coat on her BUT I got my tail into a size small coat and COULD ZIP IT ALL THE WAY UP. This time last year, I couldn't even get my arm into this coat, let alone zip it up--YAY!!! What a GREAT way to start 2019!!!!! BOOM!
What a fantastic morale boost! I love that you blasted the fear out the door. Good for you my friend!
Thanks my Snoo
Hurry and Fear, absolute ENEMIES of mine, forevermore--hmmmph!2 -
lorrainequiche59 wrote: »Therealobi1 wrote: »
What i am interested in is how you guys deal with toxic pity party type people. Dont want help with a solution just want to moan. This is what i want to deal with this year. I am someone who can listen and listen until my ears are chewed off and this makes it worst. This is not someone i can ignore.
I had a "friend" who was an energy zapper...she sucked the life out of me with her negativity!!! I finally let her know that her negativity was affecting my struggle with depression. I told her I had been beginning to feel really depressed again & was reading an article that highlighted how our thoughts & what we focus on affect our mood & negativity feeds depression SO I told her that I needed to keep things on a positive note & specified topics that I was no longer willing to discuss. Long story short I stopped hearing from her. Initially her contact became irregular & it got to the point where she stopped texting & calling altogether. Once I eliminated the negative, she had nothing left to talk about. She ended up attaching herself to someone else who she could blast her negativity at. That person is also a Negative Nelly so they can bring each other down to their hearts' content. I am FREE.........
I agree that you need to be honest with her & establish & enforce some boundaries around what you are willing to listen to...I understand how frustrating it is to listen to someone talk about the same ol', same ol' knowing that they have NO intention of actually doing anything about it. I listened to her go on & on and got to the point where I stopped participating in the conversation because she didn't want to change anything, she just wanted to hear herself talk...life's too short and I can spend my energy productively instead of going down the same dead end street to Nowheresville!!!!!!
I have established the same boundaries with another person who I no longer hear from either....that is ok with me. If a person is a loyal friend, they don't jump ship because you won't let them take advantage of you!! True friends, DO NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE of you!!!! So be prepared that your "friend" may hit the road if she isn't really a friend....I suppose you can take a chance & find out what kind of friend she is.
I am there for my friends, but I'm not going to be a doormat for pseudo-friends who have an agenda and it's all about them...no thank you! Friendship is a give & take on BOTH sides, never one-sided!! I've spent too many years of my life allowing people to walk on me cause I was afraid to take care of MYSELF!! To busy taking care of their feelings & ignoring my own...NO MORE!!!
I know it's difficult, but you will feel liberated when you take your stand. Like Dr. Phil has said, "We teach people how to treat us!!" Sounds like your "friend" needs a little lesson. Hoping the best for you....please let us know how things work out.
Thanks for responding. You have described the same person i need to deal with. Energy zapper and loving the sound of their voice. Its a me me me person. I can listen to moaning for one good hour. Its my own fault anyway i should have nipped it in the bud ages ago.
I am going to use a mixture of silence and directness. Its not going to go down well but hey....
Thanks
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Amen to getting rid if the toxic people in our lives!
I work with a highly toxic person that brings me down daily.
I'm not sure how to deal with it - the only way I can think of is to find a new job and let her fester.
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sparklyyeah wrote: »Amen to getting rid if the toxic people in our lives!
I work with a highly toxic person that brings me down daily.
I'm not sure how to deal with it - the only way I can think of is to find a new job and let her fester.
Yes, that is a tough one. When you have to deal with toxic people on a daily basis & have little control over your exposure to them...BUT, this could be practice for you in setting up some boundaries with her. It can begin by just paying attention to your interaction with this person & LISTEN to your body...what are the gut reactions you get to her behavior...THAT alone will give you an indication what buttons she is pushing & how you react to that is also telling you something about yourself. Then you can figure out how to change YOUR reaction.
There is a TON of stuff on YouTube on how to deal with toxic people so that would be my suggestion to check that out. Even just learning about the effect that these kind of people can have on us is helpful because it shifts the focus on THEIR behavior...and can help you to learn how to deal with her & decrease your stress level. AND it is supportive knowing your are in good company in your attempts to cope.
You could get a new job BUT learning how to deal with these types (because THEY are EVERYWHERE) is your best defense going forward. You may be able to get away from her, but there will be someone just like her, or worse, around the corner. Hoping the best for you.4 -
Don’t have any success stories yet, but I am newly motivated to do some clutter control while still on vacation
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is an excellent book about getting rid of clutter. And she gives great advice about folding clothes neatly. The author can be a little too woo-woo for some, but I like her advice to openly keep things that bring you joy. It’s time to rid myself of joyless, droopy underpants that are too big.
It is interesting how often the feeling of tidying up is equated with the feeling of losing weight.5 -
Someone posted a link to a declutter site a while ago. Its 15 minutes a day and gets every part of your house. I am doing it. Today is clean the sink area. Not under the sink. It took me 17 minutes, but I don't have a lot of stuff in that area. I will say, behind the faucet was disgusting. I will do better! I also need a new potato scrubber.
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Don’t have any success stories yet, but I am newly motivated to do some clutter control while still on vacation
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is an excellent book about getting rid of clutter. And she gives great advice about folding clothes neatly. The author can be a little too woo-woo for some, but I like her advice to openly keep things that bring you joy. It’s time to rid myself of joyless, droopy underpants that are too big.
It is interesting how often the feeling of tidying up is equated with the feeling of losing weight.
Not sure if the show is new (and if someone has already mentioned it I apologize), but just today on Netflix there is a Marie Kondo show that popped up for me called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” I can’t wait to watch it! I’m in the USA (I know Netflix has varying offerings by country).
The book was very helpful for me, I declutted a TON of things after I read the book, though I admit I stopped when it came to sentimental items.
I need to work on that. I still ask myself when decluttering, does this spark joy?
Also funny, I just bought new underpants! I know, TMI. Turns out, after losing 50+ pounds, you might need new undergarments. 😆7 -
This information is for those of you that are in "declutting mood" after the holidays. Lets make it worthy and rewarding for others as well.
Where To Donate Used Christmas Cards & Greeting Cards 9https://www.home-storage-solutions-101.com/donate-used-christmas-cards.html0
Charities That Collect Used Christmas Cards | LoveToKnow (https://charity.lovetoknow.com/Charities_that_Collect_Used...)
If your are interested in donating the front of your used Christmas cards to the center, give them a call at (321) 313-9591. Age UK Volunteers upcycle the donated cards they receive in order to make new cards to send to their members, who are people ages 55+ in need of services and health resources.
Charity Holiday Card · Salvation Army Pick Up
Donate to St./ Jude's Ranch for Children: (https://stjudesranch.org/recycled-card-program/)
"We are currently updating our recycled card program to make it easier for you to support St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in our effort to provide teens with life and work skills. The NEW and improved program will be unveiled soon. In the meantime:
Please SEND (front only) of your recycled cards (except for Hallmark, American Greetings or Disney) to: St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude’s St., Boulder City, NV 89005
You can also SUPPORT our programs which help children and youth break the cycle of abuse, abandonment and neglect. Thank you!"
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IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »Don’t have any success stories yet, but I am newly motivated to do some clutter control while still on vacation
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is an excellent book about getting rid of clutter. And she gives great advice about folding clothes neatly. The author can be a little too woo-woo for some, but I like her advice to openly keep things that bring you joy. It’s time to rid myself of joyless, droopy underpants that are too big.
It is interesting how often the feeling of tidying up is equated with the feeling of losing weight.
Not sure if the show is new (and if someone has already mentioned it I apologize), but just today on Netflix there is a Marie Kondo show that popped up for me called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” I can’t wait to watch it! I’m in the USA (I know Netflix has varying offerings by country).
The book was very helpful for me, I declutted a TON of things after I read the book, though I admit I stopped when it came to sentimental items. I need to work on that. I still ask myself when decluttering, does this spark joy?
Also funny, I just bought new underpants! I know, TMI. Turns out, after losing 50+ pounds, you might need new undergarments. 😆
It's a new show, just heard about it today. I'm planning to check it out. 2 -
Ohhhhh, I LOVE this, OUR thread so much! Thanks to everyone for your much wanted/needed and just terrific replies--WOW, you guys are just the BEST, period. 4
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Operation LET IT GO and DON'T LOOK BACK:
Becoming Debt Free...
It's 2019...time to begin (and for SOME continue) to kick some major butt and take names in/of the foul business of being in debt. Financial freedom, like weight "loss" is so ummmmm TREMENDOUSLY HEALTHIER AND SO GOOD FOR/TO/WITH US!
Let's not forget to include the goal of letting go and not looking back at the dreaded ugh and yuck and SLAVERY of debt. Debt is a sneaky/tricky ENEMY...an enemy that must NOT/NO LONGER be ignored another day. A lot of people reading this thread are in DEBT up the nose. MANY are in debt because of excess/too much "stuff". I know with the weight blastification AND decluttering, to add the heroic adventure of, at the very least, seriously considering getting out (and staying out) of debt "may" seem overwhelming, but the
is a liar/a lie and it CAN be done. There are SO many folk reading this thread that are debt-free--it may have taken them years and years, it may have been an uphill battle and a major struggle in their lives, but debt free they are and you can be too--you REALLY can, no matter how impossible it "may" look now.
Friends,living debt-free is the bombdotcom, for real--IT'S NOT ONLY POSSIBLE, IT'S SUPER DOABLE no matter how much in debt you may currently be swimming/drowning in. Debt is a slick giant (but quiet/seemingly invisible-easily ignored) monster that keeps people as wage slaves, and is such a burden and major hindrance in our daily lives too. No matter how much in debt you may be, you can climb out of it little by little--just like weight blastification and decluttering. Begin at least considering becoming debt free with absolutely No pressure, NO hurry, but making it your business to get out and stay out of debt. You can/WILL do it, because you're amazing like that, period.
We can look at it this way, as we are moving towards our goals in EVERY area of our lives, let us add getting de-cluttered financially as well. As we get to the business of decluttering our lives of EVERYTHING that's keeping us from being/doing all that we can WILL be, let's no longer ignore that destructive/crazy-making thing called DEBT!
May 2019 see EVERYONE reading this thread success in weight blastification, living a more simpler/clutter-free life/lifestyle and debt free. Here's to cheering us on--doing it slowly but showly and right and righteously. 6 -
Someone posted a link to a declutter site a while ago. Its 15 minutes a day and gets every part of your house. I am doing it. Today is clean the sink area. Not under the sink. It took me 17 minutes, but I don't have a lot of stuff in that area. I will say, behind the faucet was disgusting. I will do better! I also need a new potato scrubber.
Go girlfriend, you're a winner, period. 2 -
Put all my recipes in alphabetical order, and in protective covers. Put them in a 3 inch binder (my 1" was too small). Recipes organized!9
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Someone posted a link to a declutter site a while ago. Its 15 minutes a day and gets every part of your house. I am doing it. Today is clean the sink area. Not under the sink. It took me 17 minutes, but I don't have a lot of stuff in that area. I will say, behind the faucet was disgusting. I will do better! I also need a new potato scrubber.
What’s the name of the website? Sounds great!2 -
IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »Don’t have any success stories yet, but I am newly motivated to do some clutter control while still on vacation
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up is an excellent book about getting rid of clutter. And she gives great advice about folding clothes neatly. The author can be a little too woo-woo for some, but I like her advice to openly keep things that bring you joy. It’s time to rid myself of joyless, droopy underpants that are too big.
It is interesting how often the feeling of tidying up is equated with the feeling of losing weight.
Not sure if the show is new (and if someone has already mentioned it I apologize), but just today on Netflix there is a Marie Kondo show that popped up for me called “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” I can’t wait to watch it! I’m in the USA (I know Netflix has varying offerings by country).
The book was very helpful for me, I declutted a TON of things after I read the book, though I admit I stopped when it came to sentimental items. I need to work on that. I still ask myself when decluttering, does this spark joy?
Also funny, I just bought new underpants! I know, TMI. Turns out, after losing 50+ pounds, you might need new undergarments. 😆
SO EXCITED to watch Marie Kondo on Netflix! That will be perfect for winter evening workouts on the stationary bike!3 -
The past few days I've had a feeling that our apartment is a disaster, overly cluttered and filthy. But it's weird because we haven't bought any new stuff and I've been cleaning. I can't even pinpoint what the problem is exactly. I feel stressed out about it and don't even want to be at home anymore. Has anyone else had this feeling? Is it just some sort of societal ideal that your home is supposed to look like it's out of a magazine, and cognitive dissonance that a real-life home with actual people in it is not going to look like that?3
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laurenq1991 wrote: »The past few days I've had a feeling that our apartment is a disaster, overly cluttered and filthy. But it's weird because we haven't bought any new stuff and I've been cleaning. I can't even pinpoint what the problem is exactly. I feel stressed out about it and don't even want to be at home anymore. Has anyone else had this feeling? Is it just some sort of societal ideal that your home is supposed to look like it's out of a magazine, and cognitive dissonance that a real-life home with actual people in it is not going to look like that?
{{{{{{{ Lauren }}}}}}}
Please KNOW you are so NOT alone...even though you've haven't brought more stuff--"maybe" you are feeling the anxiety from the excess(ive) amount of things/"stuff you do have. Having too much "stuff" can open the doors of depression and confusion...well, at least for me anyway. I found this article that may give you some doable answers:
The Link Between Clutter and Depression It’s been proven. Clutter is a bummer — literally.
here's an excerpt:
"It turns out that clutter has a profound affect on our mood and self-esteem. CELF’s anthropologists, social scientists, and archaeologists found:",,, (for the entire article, click link bellow)
https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/cleaning-decluttering/clutter-depression/
Here's more helpful answers to help how you "feel"
6 Ways to Clean House When You're Depressed
A clean house can help a depressed mind. Learn coping skills that can help you stay on top of your housework. Here's an excerpt:
"One of the key signs of depression is when you suspend taking care of day-to-day chores, like cleaning your house. Depression leaves you feeling so down and tired that you just let things go. Unfortunately, a messy house can add to those feelings of depression — creating a destructive cycle that feeds on itself. " (click link below for entire article)
https://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/clean-house-when-youre-depressed.aspx
Girl, I can't speak for everyone (of course), but my house isn't going to be looking like a "magazine" no time soon, because we live here and are at home a lot, for real, and expecting our homes to be magazine like is simply, ummmm, unrealistic, impractical and/or unreal expectations. (Even though one of my daughters came over yesterday and did comment how beautiful the house looks, but that took a LOT of time (and getting rid of a LOT, I mean A LOT of "stuff" in that year's time and it took/takes A LOT practice/maintenance over the past year to keep it that way too--(the good news is, all of that practice/maintenance I used for N.E.A.T. exercising and helped me blast 70lbs off of my body/life) It's simply Ain't going to happen overnight, like ALL good things, it gonna take time to get there and even more time to STAY there/maintainance). Maybe once all of our (many) children are FINALLY gone/OUT THE NEST though, maybe then I'll have a mazagine looking house--MAYBE ....that's only a hope/dream of mine. Seriously though, decluttering is so NOT about stuff being "picture perfect ALL the time", it's about NOT hanging on to so much stuff, NOT being overloaded/overwhelmed with so much stuff, it's impossible to not only keep a clean house, but to be able to SEE stuff. Sometimes, the clutter is so, ummmm, "natural" we're so used to it--it doesn't "seem" like it's really clutter and/or we feel like you do
"But it's weird because we haven't bought any new stuff and I've been cleaning. I can't even pinpoint what the problem is exactly. I feel stressed out about it and don't even want to be at home anymore.
That may be a "sign" of it's time to get rd of a lot more stuff...maybe not though--but MAYBE . When I got to the point of getting rid of soooo much stuff (nice stuff, memorable stuff, cute stuff and lots of it), I could start "seeing" when things were out of place more easily. Check out those articles and again, know you're NOT alone and we're here with and for YOU!
P.S. {{{{{{{ Hugs again }}}}}}}}}
4 -
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IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »
Yes it is...YAY Snoo!2 -
IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »IdLikeToLoseItLoseIt wrote: »
Yes it is...YAY Snoo!
Thanks! I've been wanting to do it for years.1 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »laurenq1991 wrote: »The past few days I've had a feeling that our apartment is a disaster, overly cluttered and filthy. But it's weird because we haven't bought any new stuff and I've been cleaning. I can't even pinpoint what the problem is exactly. I feel stressed out about it and don't even want to be at home anymore. Has anyone else had this feeling? Is it just some sort of societal ideal that your home is supposed to look like it's out of a magazine, and cognitive dissonance that a real-life home with actual people in it is not going to look like that?
{{{{{{{ Lauren }}}}}}}
Please KNOW you are so NOT alone...even though you've haven't brought more stuff--"maybe" you are feeling the anxiety from the excess(ive) amount of things/"stuff you do have. Having too much "stuff" can open the doors of depression and confusion...well, at least for me anyway. I found this article that may give you some doable answers:
The Link Between Clutter and Depression It’s been proven. Clutter is a bummer — literally.
here's an excerpt:
"It turns out that clutter has a profound affect on our mood and self-esteem. CELF’s anthropologists, social scientists, and archaeologists found:",,, (for the entire article, click link bellow)
https://www.houselogic.com/organize-maintain/cleaning-decluttering/clutter-depression/
Here's more helpful answers to help how you "feel"
6 Ways to Clean House When You're Depressed
A clean house can help a depressed mind. Learn coping skills that can help you stay on top of your housework. Here's an excerpt:
"One of the key signs of depression is when you suspend taking care of day-to-day chores, like cleaning your house. Depression leaves you feeling so down and tired that you just let things go. Unfortunately, a messy house can add to those feelings of depression — creating a destructive cycle that feeds on itself. " (click link below for entire article)
https://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/clean-house-when-youre-depressed.aspx
Girl, I can't speak for everyone (of course), but my house isn't going to be looking like a "magazine" no time soon, because we live here and are at home a lot, for real, and expecting our homes to be magazine like is simply, ummmm, unrealistic, impractical and/or unreal expectations. (Even though one of my daughters came over yesterday and did comment how beautiful the house looks, but that took a LOT of time (and getting rid of a LOT, I mean A LOT of "stuff" in that year's time and it took/takes A LOT practice/maintenance over the past year to keep it that way too--(the good news is, all of that practice/maintenance I used for N.E.A.T. exercising and helped me blast 70lbs off of my body/life) It's simply Ain't going to happen overnight, like ALL good things, it gonna take time to get there and even more time to STAY there/maintainance). Maybe once all of our (many) children are FINALLY gone/OUT THE NEST though, maybe then I'll have a mazagine looking house--MAYBE ....that's only a hope/dream of mine. Seriously though, decluttering is so NOT about stuff being "picture perfect ALL the time", it's about NOT hanging on to so much stuff, NOT being overloaded/overwhelmed with so much stuff, it's impossible to not only keep a clean house, but to be able to SEE stuff. Sometimes, the clutter is so, ummmm, "natural" we're so used to it--it doesn't "seem" like it's really clutter and/or we feel like you do
"But it's weird because we haven't bought any new stuff and I've been cleaning. I can't even pinpoint what the problem is exactly. I feel stressed out about it and don't even want to be at home anymore.
That may be a "sign" of it's time to get rd of a lot more stuff...maybe not though--but MAYBE . When I got to the point of getting rid of soooo much stuff (nice stuff, memorable stuff, cute stuff and lots of it), I could start "seeing" when things were out of place more easily. Check out those articles and again, know you're NOT alone and we're here with and for YOU!
P.S. {{{{{{{ Hugs again }}}}}}}}}
Thanks for responding! I actually started going through and reorganizing some things and I think it's helping. I pulled all of my and my husband's clothes out of the drawers and closets and threw them in a big pile, then went through them all and re-organized the dressers. I feel a lot better about the way the drawers are organized now. I already have some bags of stuff to donate or put in the fabric recycling bin that have been in my closet for weeks, but I also made a large "maybe" pile of clothes that I'm not sure whether to keep, but I have to try wearing them out and see how I feel. I have been slowly redoing my wardrobe over time because my style has changed (I'm going from my early/mid-20s wardrobe to wanting stuff that looks a bit more polished), but I'm not exactly sure what look I want to go for and I'm particular about what I buy, so I have to keep around a lot of clothes that I'm "meh" about just so I have enough things to wear. I think that's a big part of the problem.
Another part is my MIL, as I mentioned previously, is a hoarder, and while the hoarding is contained to her room, it annoys me that the hoarding is there at all. While she is limited by what she brings in because she can't drive and can't carry very much at once, the amount of stuff in there is increasing over time. She does throw out actual trash at least (except paper, that comprises a lot of her hoard), but once an item goes into her room, it stays there whether she needs it or not. Like yesterday my husband brought her a chair from her old hoarder house that he's cleaning out, because she needed a chair. She told him that someone in our apartment building was moving out and offered her a chair so she actually got a chair for free. But even though she didn't need the other chair, and we could use it since we need more dining chairs for when company comes over, she still kept the other chair in her room, and my husband said he didn't want to ask for it back because she would get upset. She has like five tables in there of varying sizes too. She has duplicates of disability equipment like walkers because we bought it for her and then the insurance sent her another one, and instead of giving them back to the place they came from, or giving the extras away to a needy person or something, she just keeps them, even though she hasn't needed any of the equipment in over a year! Whenever she gets one of those plastic takeout containers she keeps it to store leftovers in even though those containers leach chemicals if they're re-used, and she already has several actual reusable containers for putting leftovers in. So I think that's a big problem because no matter how much I get rid of, there's still the elephant in the other room.5
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