Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Yes, I enjoyed lunch, thanks, @Dimity .

There's all sorts in my bags, including tissues, garbage bags etc that need to be put away. I didn't unpack 5 bags yesterday but will try again today.

Got to go out on errands this morning.

Good luck getting back to coping, for us both 🤞

Hi again @Dimity , I decided not to go out on errands today. It was a good move as I've unpacked about 20 bags and put the stuff away. They're in the wash now.

There are a few more bags but they have stuff in them that needs disinfecting. About 5 bags left. I'll take them slowly. At least it's easier to move around in the kitchen now. It was even difficult to open the fridge door because of the bags on the floor.

It seems that I can only usually sort out the house on days when I'm staying home for the whole day.

I hope you are having a coping day if possible. 🤞

Wow great effort @NatureLover . Well done!

I'm trying to get through some needed chores and hoping it will quell my anxiety. There's admin stuff I have to do too.

I'm about to peg washing knowing it won't dry.

Well I did some basic chores for a couple of hours @NatureLover and struggled through my exercises but didn't get onto the paperwork. I call it paperwork but it's mostly digital. Admin stuff.

I've not decluttered much for a while and it's depressing to see surfaces piled high. (As I work through things I refill the workspaces with more stuff.) The admin stuff is a priority and has become urgent. Then I'll have to begin again on the rest.

Fingers crossed unpacking your grocery bags and clearing the way to your fridge makes it easier to think about meals.

Well done on 2 hours of chores! Plus exercises! @Dimity Did it help your anxiety?

I don't even try to hang washing out in winter as I don't want to bring it back in again still wet 😃

I'm srprised you don't enjoy your clean surface(s) after you've decluttered, at least for a day or two?

I woke up late today so there was no time to jump online here before starting work. Had a good day at work.

Hope you've had a good day if possible.

@NatureLover I enjoy hearing how your work sustains you. I was a workaholic who identified with their work but physically and mentally i couldn't cope. I completely went to pieces after struggling for years.

I guess I do enjoy clean surfaces but they're a magnet for everything I deal with or unpack that doesn't immediately get thrown out or put away. Sometimes I can find the stuff a home by clearing a space somewhere else.

Yesterday my anxiety didn't ease until quite late when I read for a while. Today I spent about an hour sorting through papers and still didn't get onto the work needed. I did a couple of other chores and got to the shops, and will try again tomorrow when I get home from seeing young relatives.

Looking back on July I made no real progress with the clutter. I probably backslid by buying stuff. August I'll have to do better.

I hope you enjoy your clear floor this weekend.

Hi @Dimity

I'd be a bit lost without my work. My mental health would suffer without purpose and feeling useful.

What was your work? (You don't need to answer if you'd rather not)

I agree that clean surfaces attract new clutter or function as a sorting-out surface.

I was happy to hear you read for a while. It helps my anxiety too.

Well done for what you achieved yesterday, even if it wasn't as much as you wanted.

My floors are not that clear - I have some papers on the floor plus the 5 or so bags. Plus a parcel of slippers I bought, still unopened. Plus some boots I need to put away in their box, plus a pile of cloth grocery bags I need to wash. I wash them after every use.

Today I'm unsure what to do - I need to buy some potatoes and spring onions for lunch, and also do errands, but I don't want to leave the house. I find without a definite plan for the day, I can end up reading all day. So I hope I feel a bit stronger once I get up (I'm still in bed). Oh - and I also need to write and post a birthday card today. I'm having a block about cards lately.

Good luck with seeing your young relatives today. I hope you enjoy it if possible.

Purpose and feeling useful... yes I got that from my work too @NatureLover . My work and study were in niche areas so i won't be specific.

Did you get your shopping and errands done? To me that sounds like a plan but perhaps you prefer to lock something in. Would it help if you set up reminders the day before?

It was lovely seeing the young ones today. I probably won't see them again til Xmas. It was a big day for me.

Your floors don't sound too bad. Well done for unpacking most of the shopping bags. I probably wouldn't remember what was in them and would buy more. Actually that's been happening with my overstocked pantry. Usually I'm more disciplined and stick to my lists of what's depleted or run out. My floors are stacked. Many of the boxes are now empty but have the same visual impact as full ones. I'll need them to bring back stuff from elsewhere - and I can't do that without help.

I'm glad you enjoyed seeing your young relatives yesterday, @Dimity . Well done on your big day.

I went out to get the food, but didn't get all my errands done. Then I did some work, as next week is a busy work week.

Reminders the day before do help, but it really depends on how I feel once I get up for the day, whether I can go out or get stuff done at home.

Unlike you to have an overstocked pantry. Sometimes I do forget I've already got something in the bags. Not lately though.

That's a victory that you have so many empty boxes at home. It means you've successfully sorted and got rid of the contents. Even if the empty boxes do take up room in your house.

Today I'm planning a bit more work, plus some housework. I did have a coffee catch-up scheduled, but they are sick. I'm glad to stay at home.

I hope you have a successful day. Did catching up with your young relatives give you a boost?

@NatureLover it was nice to see the people yesterday but it was a bit awkward. I'd initiated it and it went longer than planned.

It's a pity you didn't have your catchup today.

I pushed myself to get some admin and other things done today. It's never enough, but i made the effort. Hopefully i can keep it up.