The magic of tidying

Gosh @Oaktree well done.

I think there's a spectrum of clutter/hoarding. I've seen lists of levels.

Getting things sorted before your husband's surgery sounds pretty important, but having things looking nice will also help your wellbeing.

My bedroom is quite cluttered but has been a lower priority for me as I'm so attached to the stuff. A lot of manuscripts going back 20 years or more that I need to deal with.

Re what @tyme said about becoming minimalist I can relate. I've read about "Swedish death cleaning " where you deal with most of your stuff so your executors don't have to. And I once knew someone who lived completely minimally - not keeping a single book - after living in a caravan in a formative period of his life.

@Dimity

Maybe I should look up Swedish Death Cleaning!

I don’t think I could ever become a minimalist but I think that living in a caravan for a while could change your outlook. You don’t take much stuff into a caravan.

I think that if I had less stuff then I would be less stressed!

Meggle

Well done @Oaktree! I see the cleaning fairy has been to your place! ❤️ I just find if I break things down into small actionable tasks its easier when spread over several days. I've just cut my juicing celery to store in the fridge. Its all wrapped in aluminium foil ready to go. I know what you mean about motivation. I used to have issues with motivation but my psych meds seem to help with that. I've known several hoarders its quite serious as it can be a hazard but theres lots of them trying to live valiantly with some measure of dignity despite the stigma. I really needed to educate myself about hoarding. I know you are not a hoarder, just a messy person like me! Hoarders tend to walk into all kinds of situations without assessing risks I noticed. I wondered if it was a root chakra issue? A psychologist I used to follow, "Anodea Judith" who ended up making chakras her life work seemed to indicate in her writings that this is the case that in fact healing and balancing the root chakra resolves the issue. Lots of hoarders feel safety in their homes being surrounded by their possessions.

@Oaktree You got started and you have reason to get a few things done. Its your place and you do not want to toss things that you will regret. I have friend who is challenged by cleaning up 2 places

I am not into the minimalist phase. I go with approximately clean and tidy with a little leeway. I have 2 items on my couch waiting for me to take them in ... when I get in a sewing mood. It might be another week ... a home does not need to be show place.

Thanks @Appleblossom

My house is very far from a show home. I picked up everything off the bedroom floor and vacuumed but now there is stuff on the bed. I was going to move the bed but hubby says it’s too heavy so we are going to leave it. We will just switch sides when he is recovering from his surgery. This is the most housework I have done in a very long time and it has taken the whole day to do it. Thank you everyone for being so encouraging. I think I just need to make small goals and then chip away at them.

@Appleblossom @Dimity @Former-Member @NatureLover @TAB

Meggle

I agree about chipping away @Oaktree .

Today I haven't done any extra tidying - I might later - but I picked up a bagful of litter from my street.

Well done on picking up litter in the street @Dimity that’s amazing! Very community minded!

I wish people wouldn’t litter.

Meggle

Well done @Oaktree 👏

Well done @Oaktree I followed your lead and chopped my celery for storage, tossed out lots of recyclables, froze leftover vegies and threw out scraps to the compost bins. Have been walking today. Its been a productive day. Its amazing when people encourage eachother and what can be achieved! THANKS! 🙂

Well done @Former-Member

You have been extremely productive today! So proud of you! What are we going to do tomorrow? I should try and do something small each day to get on top of the mess. The bedroom looks much better but now I have to move some stuff off the bed. Still a work in progress. I have been meaning to attack the bedroom for ages so it’s amazing to me that I got it done today! Thanks for the encouragement.

Meggle