2019 - Organize Your Life & Declutter Your Stuff

[Lizard Queen]

That is like a work of art, Chloe!  My problem with lists is that, I don't mind making them, but I do mind following them.  The only time I really follow them is when I have a lot of must do's, as opposed to should do's.

[TheOtherMe]

I've done my spreadsheet work for 2019, taken dad to lunch at McDonald's and found some stuff to go in the trash when I take it out tonight.

I may have to crawl to the end of my driveway as it's a sheet of ice.  I put de-icer on the sidewalk between garage and porch and hope the neighbor plans on removing the snow.

[Sharon]

Jan 1, 2019 13:41:00 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I've done my spreadsheet work for 2019, taken dad to lunch at McDonald's and found some stuff to go in the trash when I take it out tonight.

I may have to crawl to the end of my driveway as it's a sheet of ice.  I put de-icer on the sidewalk between garage and porch and hope the neighbor plans on removing the snow.

Are you shaking things up with Dad and his favorite lunch place or is DQ closed today?

I have done a small amount of shredding but other than that today has been one of pure laziness and it is so needed.

[TheOtherMe]

DQ was closed today.  It was actually cheaper for him, but he has all of those gift cards for DQ.  This is the day that they do the deep cleaning on all of the equipment.  Dad was very concerned about where he was going to eat.  It did appear that only McDonalds and Hardees were open.

He did miss his hot fudge sundae and he still ate too fast.

[moneysquirrel]

My lists aren't as pretty as yours Knee Deep in Water Chloe but since I started using something similar I have gotten more efficient on getting my things done. 

Currently have the Roomba going in the craft room and a load of laundry is in the dryer.  Football is on.

So far this morning:

*Went to Mass.  Like to start the new year this way.
*I opened a new Saving Account at Cap1.  Money Market paying 2% for over 10000. Less deposit = less % but better than most.  I simply transferred from one account paying less % to this one.  Once I know that it is working ok I will think about transferring more of the savings to it to take advantage of it.
*Laundry
*Organized my google drive folders
*Uploaded a few documents to the cloud 
*Did the puzzles on USA today -- crossword and sudoku
*Worked on setting up the spreadsheet for 2019
* Donation Bin is set up

Still to do today:

*Back up my documents to my portable hard drive
*Bead -- while watching later games on TV
*Set up new spreadsheet for Beading
*Set up new spreadsheet for the Craft Shows
*Organize one area
*Find 5 items to place in bin    I usually find items to add to the donation box as I come across in the usual course of events. Not sure if I will actively search for 5 today. 

I know that I am forgetting something.  Hope that it is nothing important or that it can wait. 

PW:Day 1 -Set up a donation bin. And, everyone in your house finds 5 items to place in the bin.



#31Days2GetOrganized

Dryer just buzzed.  Need to finish this load. Not enough for another load.  

[debthaven]

This week
- Mend DH's jacket/Tues

- Catch up on laundry/Tues

- exchange DH's gift/Wed

- blood test/Thurs
- work on lines w K/Thurs

I have been spending a lot of time learning lines. My director offered to help. It's a PITA to go there but it helps, so I'm going this week and maybe next week (before I go back to a regular schedule).

[busymom]

LOL moneysquirrel!  Just as I was reading your post, my own dryer alarm went off.  I'm catching up on laundry today, too.  


I'm also filing paperwork.  Not too exciting, I know.  Seems like New Year's Day should have more to it.  



I've already mopped the floors, and DH mowed the weeds, because the grass doesn't grow here this time of the year.  Just the weeds. 

[TheOtherMe]

Once I get the trash and recycling out to the end of the driveway, everything on today's to do list will be complete.

[debthaven]

I've got two bags ready for donations, but one has my old winter coat, which is worn and too big. I ordered another coat (on sale). I will pick it up from H&M on Thursday when I go back to school.

I'd rather not throw out the old coat until I'm sure the new coat fits. I'll probably put those bags in my car on Thursday and drop them into the donation bin on my way home if the new coat fits.

I'm all about decluttering but I don't keep track of numbers.

[debthaven]

He did miss his hot fudge sundae and he still ate too fast.

TheOtherMe they do sundaes at McD's, but it's been so long since I've eaten one I can't remember if the chocolate is hot.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Everything for Christmas is packed! Two more trips to the garage. Woooo hooooo!

[TheOtherMe]

I know they have sundaes, but dad is cheap.  His meal should not cost more than $5.  If he would have added a sundae, he would have spent over $5.  

At DQ, he gets the $5 lunch special, which includes the sundae.  

[Lizard Queen]

I watched the first 2 episodes of Tidying Up. The first place wasn't really that bad to start with. The couple was a little weird and annoying to me. Here's a news flash: if you're stressed out by lack of time, you might try weaning your 2 year old from breastfeeding.
I liked the 2nd episode a lot better. It was nearly a hoarders-level like start to the place, but I don't feel like they're really done. Hopefully they keep paring stuff down.

[Saving4Norway]

Dec 28, 2018 15:15:56 GMT -5 Chocolate Lover said:

I always want to unclutter weight, I think I'm roughly the same weight I was at the beginning of the year.   I got a fitbit for Christmas though, let's hope it helps. 

I still have a few areas in the house apt that need help (like the storage closet outside) so I have that on my radar to do soon. I may or may not keep a count somewhere. 

I got a FitBit for Christmas, too! So far it's given me some motivation to be a little more active.

[Saving4Norway]

Dec 30, 2018 13:33:38 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

www.becomingminimalist.com/resolve-to-declutter/

7 Tips to Help Keep Your Resolution to Declutter

WRITTEN by JOSHUA BECKER ·

I happen to be reading his book right now! It's motivating!

[TheOtherMe]

I have taken his course twice.  I am now on my third pass of things.  Some things needed to sit and age some more so I could get rid of them.

[tcu2003]

Got the donation bin set up, and DH and I each added at least 5 things.

Went through part of the playroom and threw a few broken toys away, put a few in the donation bin, and at least got stuff put away. I’ve also got some books to take to M’s daycare class. We still have too much stuff, but at least a few things are gone/going away.

We also went through the clothes in C’s dresser today to take out the ones that are too small or he doesn’t like. Those are in a box to give to a friend with a son who will be able to use them.

[TheOtherMe]

I have a doctor's appointment and some errands to run while I am in town.

My mom would have turned 95 today.      I miss her so much.

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 2, 2019 8:29:49 GMT -5 TheOtherMe said:

I have a doctor's appointment and some errands to run while I am in town.

My mom would have turned 95 today.      I miss her so much.

[finnime]

I'm impressed by the organization and decluttering work in progress by everyone, and dispirited by what I have to do. It's overwhelming right now, the sorting and cleaning to be done and the major clean-up and work on my home needed.

I don't have the habits of organization. When I do declutter an area it ends up covered again. The one shining thing I was able to organize last year was the part of my too-small kitchen devoted to baking, and it now needs some help again in the wake of the holiday wave. Plus most of my more-expensive clothes are too big now. They make me look dowdy.

Small, medium-term and long-range organization and clean up efforts are needed everywhere. Ugh.

[finnime]

Hugs to you, TheOtherMe. My mom's birthday was 12/31. I remember her every New Year's Eve, and miss her.

[Blonde Granny]

All of my sewing room equipment has been sold. However, there is still a drawer in the back hall that has a lot of now useless stuff in it. Maybe today will be the day that I it all into the trash.

[imanangel]

Dec 28, 2018 13:51:26 GMT -5 tcu2003 said:

I want to declutter some kid stuff (other stuff as well, but kid stuff is my priority), and get more organized, specifically in my kitchen and pantry, and my craft room (which is currently a catch-all).  

Assuming he does them again, I'm going to follow the Peter Walsh challenge in January, as I feel that even doing some of them helps me start my year off on the right foot.  Every other year I fall off the decluttering bandwagon fairly quickly due to life, but I try to be kind to myself and remember that any steps, even a few baby ones, are progress.  

I am not sure who Peter Walsh is.....I will have to google him. I need a declutter challenge to keep me focused.

[imanangel]

Dec 28, 2018 18:46:44 GMT -5 debthaven said:

Hello friends! And welcome mathsplosion !

I "liked" PW on FB years ago and yes he will be doing the 31 Day Challenge again. Some of us post the daily challenges here, but if you have a Facebook account, the easiest way to follow them is to "like" PW on FB. You can always unfollow him later.

Happy prose I would be really curious to see her show. I hope it's on here too. This said, from what I've read, I'm not sure I agree with what she says. I admit I haven't read her book, but I have read that she's all about only keeping what "sparks joy". My vacuum cleaner and toilet brushes don't "spark joy", but they are pretty darn useful LOL. So I would be very curious to see her show.

I'm (still) decluttering weight too ... 4 more lbs to goal (I've lost 40 lbs since late June.) I really hoped to hit my goal by Christmas but it didn't happen. With the holidays and the kids here, my goal is just maintaining (so far so good!) DS3 (college student) leaves on 6 Jan. I'll get strict again once he leaves.

 

Thanks for posting that he has a FB page. I just went over there and liked his page. I need all the help I can get.

[imanangel]

Ok I am in. I need to declutter. One big reason that I am extra motivated, Goose applied for some overseas jobs. If he gets one, I do NOT want to move any crap over. 

Our big thing is papers. I really need to clean out the office of old papers. 
Another problem, my dresser. It is packed with clothes that I just don't wear anymore. I need to go through it.
Third area of concern....my teaching bins in the garage and attic. I REALLY need to go through them, consolidate, and get rid of stuff. When I resigned last year, I did finish up the year, but I hopped on a plane for Italy, the day after school got out. I pretty much was just throwing my stuff in the bins to clear the classroom so I didn't have to go back. 

[debthaven]

Hugs TheOtherMe and finnime.

imanangel I'm a huge fan of his! I'm sure you'll find it helpful.

[nidena]

I'll be decluttering my third bedroom.  It's been repurposed for a couple years now and that need is no longer there so I need to get rid of most of the stuff in there.  Today will be the start of that.  I'll be taking a number of books to the used book store and throwing old papers and magazines into the recycle bin.

I also need to do another round of clothing purge to make sure I didn't miss anything and to see if any of my "joy" has waned or left.

My desk and office bookcase are another target, along with the bin of papers that need to be shredded.

[redwagon]

I need to do some serious work in my basement. We moved here almost 4 years ago and there are boxes of stuff I should organize/protect or toss/sell. I also have stacks of boxes of baby/kid clothes I can sell now DH has shut me down on the 4th kid. So I am thinking spring tag sale.

I also need to purge toys, especially the random pieces I don't know what they go to.

[Blonde Granny]

Truth be told, there are 4 more drawers in the back hall bank of cabinets that need to be emptied. I found all the empty wooden spools of thread from my Mom and promptly started crying (she's going to be 99 Jan. 14). So, rather than continue with another pointless crying bout I called and made an appt. for a pedicure today.

[busymom]

Day #2 on Peter Walsh is "shoes".  Fortunately, I went through all of mine before our move.     But, maybe I'll go through them one more time...