I should be cleaning...
Shawna Ellis
Hi all.... I just found this newsgroup by wonderful happenstance through
another in an off-topic discussion about such things. Reading the posts
here, it relieves me to realize that I am certainly not the only one.
I have always retained EVERYTHING, from gum wrappers which remind me of
an event, to drawings which I messed up but save anyway for "scrap
paper," to broken items which I will "eventually" repair, to old
clothing I could never hope to wear or again (nor would I want to)... it
goes on and on. I find it almost painful to throw something away which I
have even the tiniest thread of hope of using again. This has gotten
worse since I was married, when there was more room to pile things
because I was sharing a home with only one other person instead of four.
My greatest lament is not really working through all of this CRAP when I
moved here over four years ago (right across the road from where I
always lived). We have a mobile home, and the space is constricting
quickly, even with only my husband and myself. We do have many animals,
which adds feed, cages, equipment, and medicines to the already terrible
"back bedroom." I keep telling myself that if we get a shed, everything
will be okay... but will it?
How do I do it? I only work two days a week, but yet even while at home
I find myself avoiding the task of organising our home. It is to the
point where I would be ASHAMED for my mother to see any room except the
living room, kitchen, andour bedroom (all of which are bad, but not
TERRIBLE as are the bathrooms/laundy area and the dreaded Back Bedroom,
which is really the bane of my existence and my nemesis. I have neither
the courage nor the willpower to begin tis task, but I know it is
inevitable that I must, especially since we are "trying" for our first
baby. I have seen the cumulative effects of years of clutter in my
deceased mother-in-law's house, where she kept everything, it seems, and
has barns and sheds full of stuff. I don't want that. My own mother is
incredibly and infuriatingly organised, as she never was when we were
children, and it makes me sad to think how she would react to my house
were she to explore it. My sister, too, is freakishly neat, and I am
feeling rather like a failure. I blame it upon lack of room, but the
problem really lies in myself. I have read that if you have not needed
an item in the last year, you will probably never need it, and this
seems like sound logic. But what if I DO, and it has already been thrown
away?!?
--------------------------------------------
Small victories so far are:
always knowing where scissors, tape, and other necessities are
not having out of date food in my cabinets (these are relatively neat)
putting most of my animal feed outside in trash bins instead of in the
spare room
keeping most books on the bookshelf
usually being able to find a tool when needed
----------------------------------------------
These things are a start, but I need to learn how to go about some
massive cleaning, very soon! It has gotten almost out of control here!
PLEASE HELP!!
-Shawna (22 and deeply buried in all of that "should be useful someday"
junk)
===============================
Visit my woodburned animal portrait album at<<
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=139912&a=1343553>> Please
let me know what you think...
Also, you may see my pets at
<<http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=139912&a=1742289 >>
http://community.webtv.net/yodergoat/randomphotosfromour
trav...@my-deja.com
the nicest and most helpful group around. Come by and post every day--
your victories and accomplishments, your backslides, your goals, your
questions....we'll all help as much as we can, right gang?
Remember one of our mottos: Do one small thing every day. That means
toss a piece of paper, wash a pan, empty the trash......NOT clean a
whole room top to bottom!
Remember, too, one of our favorite techniques: set a timer for 15
minutes and work at one corner or pile or closet. When the timer
rings, quit! You will have accomplished a *lot* more than you thought
you could. You can go another 15 minutes only if you *want* to.
Imagine the joy and freedom and pride you'll feel when you take the
first step, and then the second.....
Having less "stuff" to weigh me down has increased the freedom and joy
I have. It's wonderful!
And remember, if you throw out something that you later *need,* you
can borrow from a relative or friend, or get another at the store.
You go girl!
--helena
In article <12367-39...@storefull-218.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
> =A0=A0always knowing where scissors, tape, and other necessities are
> not having out of date food in my cabinets (these are relatively
neat)
> putting most of my animal feed outside in trash bins instead of in the
> spare room
> keeping most books on the bookshelf
> usually being able to find a tool when needed
> ----------------------------------------------
> These things are a start, but I need to learn how to go about some
> massive cleaning, very soon! It has gotten almost out of control here!
>
> =A0=A0=A0=A0PLEASE HELP!!
>
> -Shawna (22 and deeply buried in all of that "should be useful
someday"
> junk)
>
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> Visit my woodburned animal portrait album at<<
> http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=3D139912&a=3D1343553>>
Please
> let me know what you think...
> Also, you may see my pets at
> <<http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=3D139912&a=3D1742289 >>
> http://community.webtv.net/yodergoat/randomphotosfromour
>
>
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Viv
the "small victories" which prove that you can do it. Let me tell you
that getting a shed will not help. You will just fill it up and then
you will have the Dreaded Back Bedroom and the Never to Be Entered
Shed. Believe me, I have 6000 sq feet of potential clutter space.
Getting ready to move from our old house was a de-junking nightmare that
I never want to repeat.
Viv
MAmadurk
Shawna Ellis wrote in message
<12367-39...@storefull-218.iap.bryant.webtv.net>...
I keep telling myself that if we get a shed, everything
will be okay... but will it?
<SNIP>>>TO MAKE A POINT>
I have seen the cumulative effects of years of clutter in my
deceased mother-in-law's house, where she kept everything, it seems, and
has barns and sheds full of stuff.
**Hi Shawna!! Well, I see you have figured this one out for yourself!! I
live in a mobile home too and believe me it does not get better!!! Force
yourself to start dumping garbage: BELIEVE me, you feel so free once you
begin to have more room!!! You have made good starts, I see, in always
being able to find certain items. But there is such a release once you
start unloading those gum wrappers and other incidenta;l papers and useless
items.!! Try it!! As so many here suggest, just one small thing every day.
Religiously!!
I don't want that. My own mother is
incredibly and infuriatingly organised, as she never was when we were
children, and it makes me sad to think how she would react to my house
were she to explore it. My sister, too, is freakishly neat, and I am
feeling rather like a failure.
**Don't feel a failure!! If you were, you wouldn't be here!! You are just
beginning a new chapter!! Find the thread about How old were you? on this
NG. You find that many of us did not :absorb" the HOW to part of keeping
neat and organized. But that doesn't mean we cannot change!!
> I blame it upon lack of room, but the
problem really lies in myself.
** Yep. Must be one of those mobile homethings!!
I have read that if you have not needed
an item in the last year, you will probably never need it, and this
seems like sound logic. But what if I DO, and it has already been thrown
away?!?
**There will be another one when you need it, a better one or you will find
something else that will serve the purpose. You will manage, Trust me on
this one! BEsides, will you be able to find this one amid all the clutter
when you need it? or will it be faster to get another/new one anyway???
Cheers Shawna! And welcome!
MAmadurk
Mary MacKenzie
I have no answers since I'm still learning myself.:-(
Mary
In article <12367-39...@storefull-218.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
yode...@webtv.net says...
>
>
>Hi all.... I just found this newsgroup by wonderful happenstance through
>here, it relieves me to realize that I am certainly not the only one.
>I have always retained EVERYTHING, from gum wrappers which remind me of
>an event, to drawings which I messed up but save anyway for "scrap
>paper," to broken items which I will "eventually" repair, to old
>clothing I could never hope to wear or again (nor would I want to)... it
>goes on and on. I find it almost painful to throw something away which I
>have even the tiniest thread of hope of using again. This has gotten
>worse since I was married, when there was more room to pile things
>because I was sharing a home with only one other person instead of four.
>My greatest lament is not really working through all of this CRAP when I
>moved here over four years ago (right across the road from where I
>always lived). We have a mobile home, and the space is constricting
>quickly, even with only my husband and myself. We do have many animals,
>which adds feed, cages, equipment, and medicines to the already terrible
>will be okay... but will it?
>I find myself avoiding the task of organising our home. It is to the
>point where I would be ASHAMED for my mother to see any room except the
>living room, kitchen, andour bedroom (all of which are bad, but not
>TERRIBLE as are the bathrooms/laundy area and the dreaded Back Bedroom,
>which is really the bane of my existence and my nemesis. I have neither
>the courage nor the willpower to begin tis task, but I know it is
>inevitable that I must, especially since we are "trying" for our first
>deceased mother-in-law's house, where she kept everything, it seems, and
>incredibly and infuriatingly organised, as she never was when we were
>children, and it makes me sad to think how she would react to my house
>were she to explore it. My sister, too, is freakishly neat, and I am
>problem really lies in myself. I have read that if you have not needed
>an item in the last year, you will probably never need it, and this
>seems like sound logic. But what if I DO, and it has already been thrown
>away?!?
Dan Goodman
day. That's small as in SMALL; something you can do any day you can get
out of bed at all. Do more if you feel like it that day.
2) Open your mail right by a wastebasket. Keep only what you need. Not
the envelopes stuff comes in; not "I'll read this catalog soon".
3) Find out if there's a Clutterers Anonymous or Messies Anonymous meeting
near you. http://www.clutterers-anonymous.org; http://www.messies.com.
In article <12367-39...@storefull-218.iap.bryant.webtv.net>,
--
Dan Goodman
dsg...@visi.com
http://www.visi.com/~dsgood/index.html
Whatever you wish for me, may you have twice as much.
Greenbanks
>always knowing where scissors, tape, and other necessities are
>not having out of date food in my cabinets (these are relatively neat)
>putting most of my animal feed outside in trash bins instead of in the
>spare room
>keeping most books on the bookshelf
>usually being able to find a tool when needed
>-Shawna
Welcome, Shawna!
You are ahead of the game, in some areas, and not-quite-so-far-along in
others... just like the rest of us...
Always try to remember what you're doing well, in addition to the things which
need improvement.
Continue to read and post, sharing your questions, problems, answers and bright
ideas... we all help each other, here!
M'Lou
Shawna Ellis
cleaning out of the Back Bedroom, which resulted in something which has
not been seen in that dread place for many a day... FLOOR SPACE!!!
I put the various cages and crates under e house on a pallet, and burned
many a random cardboard box and old feed bags (uuuggghhh... buggy
badness). I have gone through the first stage of half the room, and
before I continue I shall weed that remaining pile down further yet,
until finally I (in theory) have only a wee little pile of things to
keep, and these I will neatly stack to one side, while I continue the
process on the other half. I was surprised at how easy it was to ditch
some of these things with hardly a second thought! But, I am not yet to
the nitty gritty.... old school papers, drawings, and assorted childhood
things. That I dread with deep fear, but I shall do it!
The rest of the house isn't NEARLY so bad as the Back Bedroom, and could
be tackled in a day's time, if I went into with a set mind and stout
heart (as well as many trash bags). I feel so much better physically and
emotionally this year than I did the last few, and have been working on
the house bits at a time, so that now it is vaguely manageable. I just
want it to look clean and crisp as I always imagined, and not dark and
cluttered and spidery like it is now!
I offer many thanks to this newsgroup, from reading previous posts of
even small victories. You have all encouraged me greatly! THANK YOU!!!!
-Shawna
===============================
Visit my woodburned animal portrait album at<<
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=139912&a=1343553>> Please
let me know what you think...
Also, you may see my pets at
<<http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=139912&a=1742289 >>
http://community.webtv.net/yodergoat/randomphotosfromour
Ms. Tori
Tori
"Shawna Ellis" <yode...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1441-39...@storefull-216.iap.bryant.webtv.net...
<snip>
MAmadurk
Shawna Ellis wrote in message
. I just
>want it to look clean and crisp as I always imagined, and not dark and
>cluttered and spidery like it is now!
Part of that may be the mobile home mystique--try to go for lots of light;
open airy space...bright whites..big mirrors... you know the stuff that tout
in decorating magazines to promote that open airy feeling.
I went so far as to paint the paneling in my daughters' room. (No I don't
recommend it, but it can be done and we all felt so good afterward that I
would do it again.)
MAmadurk
Connie Verbeck
basement getting the cobwebs really changed the atmosphere. I still look up to
the ceiling in the TV room where the joices (sp?) for the next floor are
exposed. We have never finished it off. It is so cool not to see cobwebs. I
know they will return soon. And it always astounds me the amount of them once
I do start vacuuming, but it is well worth the effort. And now that I am
becoming clutter free it will be so much easier next time!!!
Take care.
Gramma Connie
Judi
>From: yode...@webtv.net (Shawna Ellis)
>Date: Thu, Sep 14, 2000 21:23 EDT
>Message-id: <1441-39...@storefull-216.iap.bryant.webtv.net>
>
>Thanks for the welcome, M'Lou! The very day I posted this, I DID do some
>cleaning out of the Back Bedroom, which resulted in something which has
>not been seen in that dread place for many a day... FLOOR SPACE!!!
>I put the various cages and crates under e house on a pallet, and burned
>many a random cardboard box and old feed bags (uuuggghhh... buggy
>badness). I have gone through the first stage of half the room, and
>before I continue I shall weed that remaining pile down further yet,
>until finally I (in theory) have only a wee little pile of things to
>keep, and these I will neatly stack to one side, while I continue the
>process on the other half. I was surprised at how easy it was to ditch
>some of these things with hardly a second thought! But, I am not yet to
>the nitty gritty.... old school papers, drawings, and assorted childhood
>things. That I dread with deep fear, but I shall do it!
>
>The rest of the house isn't NEARLY so bad as the Back Bedroom, and could
>be tackled in a day's time, if I went into with a set mind and stout
>heart (as well as many trash bags). I feel so much better physically and
>emotionally this year than I did the last few, and have been working on
>want it to look clean and crisp as I always imagined, and not dark and
>cluttered and spidery like it is now!
>
>even small victories. You have all encouraged me greatly! THANK YOU!!!!
>
>-Shawna
>
>
>===============================
>
>http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=139912&a=1343553>> Please
>let me know what you think...
>
><<http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=139912&a=1742289 >>
>
>
>http://community.webtv.net/yodergoat/randomphotosfromour
>
It is wonderful to see FLOOR SPACE!!!
The only way is to make things on the floor a big NO-NO!!! I had to do it for
my daughter and myself! My daughter was Horrible on Things on the floor and I
was having minor problems. I would always clean when I returned. I decided
that
if I had to make her keep clean, then I had to set as perfect example as I
could. It is working but she is fighting me all the way...until I make her
move...It is not worth all of this...
Nice...@aol.com
Cozy Home
prints on them? - Cozy