How can I stop being a slob?
I've been a slob all my life (I'm 45). I moved over six years ago, and still have boxes I haven't unpacked. Clothes everywhere, old papers and mags all over. Unopened letters in piles.
I do my laundry regularly, so I always wear clean clothes (even if I picked the clean shirt off the floor). I shower daily, so I don't have B.O. I don't leave food or dishes out, so I don't have a pest problem, but I'm just totally disorganized and sloppy. What are some habits I can get into to slowly, step-by-step, stop being a slob?
Answers:
Me, too.
I once read that we're perfectionists and actually try to overdo when we do clean, then just turn our back on the whole thing in frustration. So set a timer on a room - like 20 minutes - and just do that much at a time. Next day another room. And start thinking 'good enough' or 'better than it was' rather than 'spotless'.
As much as possible, do things on a schedule. Have a "laundry day" instead of trying to do a load here and there, vacuum twice a week at first (just finding the floor will be a major task) and mentally release it the rest of the time.
When if comes to the "can't toss it, it's still good" stuff you don't need - www. freecycle.org. Join your local group and give it to someone who DOES need it. Stuff like that saps your energy and doing someone else a good turn will give your spirit a boost.
I'll never be confused with a neatnik, but can let people in the door now.
Glad I'm not alone. Mom was a quadreplegic and when people ask me "didn't your mom teach you..." well, no she couldn't. I know it isn't easy to learn later in life, but I can attest it's possible to improve.
Other answers:
Well, you've already addressed the problem. It takes a little discipline to just pick your stuff up.
Well, you've already addressed the problem. It takes a little discipline to just pick your stuff up.
Give yourself a rest, if u have kids old enough to do the chores work with them.. so they could help a bit.. and i recommend that treat urself for once.. take a 2wks vacation somewhere else..Cool with tropical breeze..like Hawaii, Jamaica.. and if u do so..i wish u a nice trip in advance..:)
I'm more of a neat-nik, but I know lots of people with a similar problem -- only they don't know, or refuse to acknowledge, that they are slobs. At least you're honest with yourself! That's step one. The next step is to start cleaning now and keep it up. One method is to do a ruthless cleaning, getting rid of all the clutter and forcing yourself to clear the clutter in a single weekend. Others have more success with small, daily goals, like filling one bag a day with trash, like those old papers and magazines until it's down to a manageable size. Choose whichever method you think you can handle. And it might help to get a friend to go through your stuff with you; they'll be more inclined to get rid of stuff than you.
Once you're rid of the worst of it, keep up by having a place for your worst offenders. Get a large basket for the newspapers and put them in it every morning before you leave for work. Hang up your clothes every day. Keep two baskets for mail -- one for incoming, one for outgoing and through the rest away. And do it every day.
Good luck. You have some bad habits to overcome, but don't be so hard on yourself. There are lots of people who are much worse than you.
Takes willpower and motivation. You have no reason to spruce up your appearance or home. Why? To impress anyone? Yeah you trip over your stuff, ware dirty cloths sometimes cause you didn't separate them. Your not married and have someone cleaning after you like mom may have done. it doesn't effect your income. Many small reasons. The main reason some people are orderly is because of something they take for granted and you might try it out for 90 days if you can make it and discover the secret. Try and have everything in its place. Iron your shirts. Clean the dishes after every use. Take out the garbage and sort them by glass and plastic and paper. See if you can even change for 90 days. read up on the subject of Organization and Clutter issues. You may not even know why your life has brought you to this forum. But its far better to have a clean house than a messy one. It clears your mind and will change you for the better.
Your realization of the problem is half the solution.
For remaining half, be part of the world, share your life with someone. It appears that you are living all alone. Get into the natural mode to lead a family life. One gets bored by repeating same routine on daily basis. Bring some change like go on vacations.
Try and donate some useful unopened things to the Charity.
Invite friends, once a week/fortnight, on an in-house cup of tea. May be you find time to get organized before you receive them.
I'm in the same boat & I've come to terms with the fact that "clean-freak" just isn't me. Like me, you prabably feel that it is overwhelming.
I've done some things that have helped the situation:
1) got a dishwasher -- improved the state of my kitchen tremendously.
2) paid a cleaning girl to come every 2 weeks. The intial cleaning may take a while, but after she's been there, it becomes a simple matter of maintenance. You don't necesarily have to have the entire house cleaned on the first visit either -- do it by room if you have to. On her off week, it will only take about an hour to maintain/simulate what she does when she's there.
3) paid the cleaning the cleaning girl to help with the "purging" projects once the house got into a better state -- things like filing papers, emptying unpacked boxes. Almost like a personal assistant.
You may be inclined to think that paying a cleaning girl is expensive and something that only rich people do. But think about it -- isn't it worth $25 - $35 an hour to have this cleaning done? I think so. You are also more inclined to not let your house get into such a state when you are paying to have it cleaned. You may also feel awkward about having someone see your filth at first, but you'll get over that real quick.
Some cleaning girls will ask you to give them a housekey so that they can clean while you are not there. I don't recommend this unless you have developed a lot of trust with the individual. Also, they all seem to work more efficiently while you are present.
I do empathize with you, but trust me -- there is no better feeling than when the cleaning girl leaves & everything is clean!
PS -- It could also be a cleaning guy too.
Sounds like you're a procrastinator. You don't have the inclination to deal with things immediately. It's that habit that you need to break. You know what needs to be done. You know your clothes are on the floor. You know that you get something in the mail, and you either set it down on a table when you come in the house or you open it and stack the box on the other boxes. But these are such small things. They're no big deal right? right and wrong.
Use a hamper. Leave the top open if you need to so that you can just toss your clothes into it. (easier that way)
Put a trashcan by the areas where your trash gathers. Instead of stacking it up, (once the area is clutter-free) throw away those mail ads.
Invite a frined to help you clean. Make it a "get drunk at your expense" party.
Get new boxes. Transfer all the stuff from your unpacked boxed into the new boxes, in the process, reorganize it. Then stack each box in a storage area.
Buy furniture polish. It smells good, and makes everything shiny.
Okay, you know what? I just sat here for half an hour trying to break this down for you, but I deleted it all. I have a good idea exactly what you're dealing with, because I've battled the same problem for years, both with myself and people I've lived with: parents, boyfriends, roommates, etc. Get in touch with me, and I will be glad to help you. I'm very good at what I do, so I strongly suggest you take me up on my offer lol
I just put my foot down & we finally set about 1/4 of our house-full-o'-crap out on the curb for trash day, and revamped our storage shed and spare room, which were both crammed full & completely disorganized. If it makes you feel better, I still look around my house in disgust, but progress is better than build-up.
Send me an email, use messenger, whatever. The info should be on my Q&A page. If it's not, then it will be either by the time you get this, or within 15 minutes. I'll check my options for you now :-)
You need to check out flylady. http://flylady.net/
She will help you by starting you out with baby steps, and help you set up routines. Even if you don't do anything other than get a morning, and evening routine down, you will be surprised how much it will help you.
She has helped me and my house immensely.