May's Dynamic Declutter

[Harriet]

Clear surfaces, organized cubbies and lovely living spaces are available to us with just the commitment to manageable declutter appointments. Here in this monthly thread, we encourage each other to commit to 15 minutes of clutter control time per day, OR the equivalent on other schedules. We hope you'll join us.

Never feel you are alone if you have clutter struggles. We know where you are because we've been right there (and then have faltered after decluttering and ended up there again… … twice or three times ). We know the same prospect looms for our future if we don't stay vigilant! Clutter is picking a fight with ALL of us. We are with you.

[Nancy]

I've decided that I've done the right amount of decluttering for now anyway.
Kept enough toys for youngest dgd to be happy while she's here so that's a good thing!

[Harmony]

DH informed me today that I was not to throw out his old clothes. He says he is sentimental about his stuff and I am not about mine. Thank goodness he does not have a lot, he just wears his things over and over for years and years until it's threadbare!

[Harriet]

I may have to confine my decluttering to my own house for a while. I can't really figure out how to do any at my ddad's right now.

The Hoarders site has a new feature called digital room tours. You click on objects to learn the reason the person gives the organizer for being unable to let go of the item. Some of the reasoning is unreasonable, of course, like saving a sentimental cigarette in its ash tray, or buying something only because it has your child's initial on it. But there is some that's just poor decision-making that gives an insight into how to decide to throw away.

[Nancy]

Holmes on homes is having to deal with some hoarders on one of his upcoming shows I
saw on the previews looks interesting.

[Harriet]

Just happened to learn on Discovery Health that those rare persons actually diagnosed with the condition of hoarding are often "highly intelligent and very articulate". Just goes to show that we have always been exactly right on these boards when we insisted that we had respect and appreciation for all those among us with messy houses no matter what. Even the rare person with an actual disease state causing extreme clutter or mess is OF COURSE a person of great value with every right to high self-esteem. I only wish this kind of social understanding could have existed when my late dh's shy, sweet-hearted aunt, who lived her life in pathways through stacks of newspapers, was alive. She was so misunderstood and never got help.

[Nancy]

I am pleased with my de-cluttering progress this week.
Got sacks back to the store for recycling.
Plus I've been putting things in the car trunk that have been kicking around here
that needed to be donated to the thrift shop yea for progress!

[Lynlee]

Harriet I don't think that type of understanding of hoarders is very widespread. I see it as v different from "messie unorganised" all a matter of degrees I suppose.

[Nancy]

I got a few items decluttered this week
they are loaded in the car trunk.
Plus last night I went through a box of items down stairs in the basement
while I was looking for something and it did not take that long.
that I'd totally forgotten about it felt so good to make that kind of progress!
I'm totally revived and ready to tackle the next box I need to get one
in the creativity room upstairs and make progress in there.
I had a cleared surface to work on and good lighting that made a big difference for me.

[Nancy]

Today I added magazines and a cookbook to the donations going to the thrift
shop this week.