need help..I am a slob by nature?
I am embarrassed to say it, but I am a slob as far as housecleaning..and too much stuff that I can't seem to throw away..I get emotionally attached to everything..
Answers:
Hey Shaney
First things first! If you have things in boxes from years ago; call your local sanitation department and find out when big trash day is for your area; then neatly stack all of those boxes at the curb the day before. Don't open the boxes, don't even peek! If the things in those boxes were all that important THEY WOULD NOT BE IN THE BOXES!! If you open them you'll just be forced to take a trip down memory lane; you'll get all sentimental and you'll try to hold on to most of it! LET IT GO!
Establish a filing system for important papers, receipts, bills, etc. and STICK TO IT! Keep it near the place where you sort or read your mail, or balance your check book for easy access
Next, twice a day (in your case maybe 3 times a day) pick an area of your home to clean/sort/organize. You must follow some basic rules:
1) you can not relocate the clutter
2) if you can not identify what it is....TOSS IT!
3) if it's broken, and it's been laying around for more that 3 months waiting to be repaired....TOSS IT!
Going forward put things in their proper place immediately after its use; that will cut down on clutter; and make things easier for you in the long run
Other answers:
Start by giving things away, or throwing them away, or both. You might be smart to look into the source of your emotional attachment to things - it's probably not that deeply-rooted and giving up that attachment (made possible by identifying the source of it and then dealing effectively with THAT) will free you to start tossing stuff. The feeling of freedom will inspire you.
As for getting more organized, you just can't do it until you get rid of the clutter. It's not just occupying space in your home and shed, you know - it's also filling your mind.
Start by giving things away, or throwing them away, or both. You might be smart to look into the source of your emotional attachment to things - it's probably not that deeply-rooted and giving up that attachment (made possible by identifying the source of it and then dealing effectively with THAT) will free you to start tossing stuff. The feeling of freedom will inspire you.
As for getting more organized, you just can't do it until you get rid of the clutter. It's not just occupying space in your home and shed, you know - it's also filling your mind.
If you can't keep your house clean then I would worry about you being able to keep yourself clean.
There are several websites with great tips and items out there to help you get more organized. The Home & Garden network has lots of teriffic shows that offer good advice as well. Personally, the first thing I do whenever I look at my mess is ask myself, "Can I picture myself needing this in the next 3 days?" If I can come up with 5 good reasons how I can use something, none of which have to do with, "I might need it", or "But I like it", or "But it's pretty!", then I keep it. If not, it goes in the junk bin.
Then I take the mess apart step by step (put on some music to groove to, it helps- not from the TV or you'll be easy to distract). After that, I double check my junk bin. Anything trash I can recycle goes in bags for my local recycling area. The rest of the trash I throw away.
If I can't use it, but it's in good shape, I take half to Goodwill, Salvation Army, what have you; the other half I sell in a garage sale and make some quick scratch (anything left over from the sale I take along with the charity stuff). It it's clothing, but it's in too bad of a shape to donate, I keep it because I sew, and I can make something with it. If you aren't crafty, you might want to include those things in the trash pile.
After all that work (it sounds like a lot, but it's rewarding) I concentrate on organizing what I've kept. Good luck!
I would start with Jack's approach. Past that, there are lots of books out there about decluttering/organizing, and I imagine some web sites. Once you are organized and decluttered--punt! Hire a housekeeper. It gives you one less thing to worry about, and it's so wonderful to come home to a clean house. Just don't use a franchise like Merry Maids--get references from friends, or interview individuals who have placed classifieds. It's best to have the same person cleaning each time, and you can negotiate "extra" chores like washing cabinets.
First of all, dont label yourself like this!! Its unfair to yourself. Most people are not obsessive about cleaning and can get behind on cleaning from time to time. And its never too late to get some change in your life!!
To begin with - you should probably hire a cleaning lady/help for a day or two and clean out your shed. Look around in stores to get shelving for your shed and ask for organizing ideas at the same stores. Force yourself to throw away anything you cant see yourself using for the next 2 years.
Its all about the first few steps!! Once you get started it is much easier to maintain organization...since you wont have to put in so much work each time.
Treat this initial step as a workout :)..
Best of luck!
Have someone help you with organizing and cleaning, it really helps. A family friend of ours is not a organizer or a housekeeper, so we found someone to help out. Also get a notebook and write out what needs to be done in order of what is most important, then another list for the cleaning lady to do, put this list on your refrigerator. Weekly household help really makes a big differece. Also remember you are not alone, and one step at a time to clearing out clutter. Best wishes.
The state of your home, is generally a reflection of the state of your mind. I am not being critical, just honest. If you buy books/gadgets to organize yourself, they'll likely end up in the pile with the supplements, if you don't make some other changes.
Get to the root of your turmoil. Counseling, an honest friend, a good mirror. Unclutter your mind and your home will follow! Good Luck!
if you can afford a maid- get one!i had a client like this, once everyday things are controlled, you can focus on the other stuff.
Set aside certain days of the week to accomplish only a few things. Everyday I shower & dress, feed the kids then do the chores of that day. I'm always done by 10 am. Saturdays are my days to clean things like ceiling fans & heater vents & such. Never too much at a time, then eventually you realize your house always looks great.
get someone else to help you they have a different mind set than you do and will not necessarily think everything has to be kept.
To get rid of the clutter etc...
get 3 bins/boxes.. Label one keep, one give away and throw away. Slowly but surely go thru everything. You will likely make many trips to the trash and to the Goodwill etc to give away, but keep at it. It is not a bad idea to look at something and ask yourself, when was the last time I used this; do I plan to use it in the next month or year. If not, then do you really need it.
Once you get thru the clutter, cleaning will be much easier. You may need to go thru your keep pile several times to pare it down...
One other thing worth considering.... why do you have the clutter and disorganization to begin with... do you really not care about house work, are you really disorganized or is there some need you have to be able to "see" all your "stuff".... it is worth looking into this as once you get things straightened out, you will not want to end up back in the same situation in a couple years...
Good luck
Boy, I wish I knew! I used to be a clean/neat-freak. Then I got married. The hubby does NOTHING, so I eventually stopped trying to keep up with his slop. He also has boxes piled to the ceiling, overflowing, etc. I've tried everything to get him to do something around the house. I can't even hire a housekeeper - she'd have no place to move!
I'm beginning to think the secret to a happy marriage is separate residences - one for all the junk and another to actually live in. Good luck to you.
go to walmart and buy a dozen of those big plastic tubs. i would label them for example- VITAMINS, Special Papers, Toys ..winter clothes from 1970 ect...and start in the area that you live in everyday. maybe your kitchen where the fire hazard is possibly worse. as you box these items up- stack em somewhere in a corner and just keep going thru your home until you feel it is cleared out enough. you may find some things ready for charity or a yard sale while you are doing this. after you have the house done- then proceed to the shed starting in a corner so you have a place to put the tubs as you finish each one. depending on your work schedule i would commit at least one hour a day every day to this project until you have it done. really, you would be amazed at what you can do in just one hour if you do this everyday. good luck.
You sound like a procrastinator who gets anxious knowing you are a procrastinator. At any rate you are avoiding the problem for some reason. My first advice is to take up meditation. It will calm you down & leave you feeling at peace with yourself.
You know what to do, you just don't know how to make yourself do it. You are making your job harder with this negative attitude toward yourself, calling yourself names, etc. Decide to be positive & reward yourself for each accomplishmen. Soon you won't be trying to make yourself clean up the mess, You'll naturally accept doing it & know that there's a reward waiting. Start small. Set up an easy schedule for working on the job. The first day work for 30 minutes, or pick a small task that lasts for 30 minutes. Then give yourself a pat on the back & a reward. The next day you can work longer but keep the rewards coming. Pretty soon, you'll forget your avoidance & automatically work longer & longer until you get the job done. If you backslide, then you know what to do about it. Don't forget to meditate every day.
You said you need help cause your a slob. Well what is the Question?
americanchaldo.com
Hire someone to do it for you.
this should be under mental health
take it slow, the stuff you are reading put it away.. old magazines throw out, grab 2-3 boxes at a time, GO THROUGH them and fill 1-2 at a time and put out at the curb, you'd be surprised what pple will take and love it!! Some places like EF, Salvation Army will come and get it, there may be donation boxes around town, make it a habit to take something with when u leave home, 1-2 bags of clothes.. etc to put in. Just do it!! :>
You're under a mountain that is too big to handle. Break it into smaller piecies. Pick a place to start and just do it. A tip that works for me when I get behind (frequently). Set your kitchen timer for 15 min. Tackle a box until the timmer goes off. If you still want to keep working when it goes off then do. Just promise yourself you will keep sorting or whatever needs to be done until the timmer goes off.
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