Any life coaches on the board??? I need help!

[smurfette]

dizzy,
Before I moved I had a ton of "stuff". Just get started. Then you will start to find that getting rid of stuff is very liberating and It starts to feel great. There is a feeling of freedom. Good Luck! I'm rooting for you

[rgcraig]

Originally Posted by OneAccord

I value my AFF membership. I appreciate the friendship, the fun an the fellowship. I am grateful for those who tolerate me here. Therefore, I cannot, and will not, deny nor confirm who, if anyone, is depicted in the graphic in question.

You've been around the block a few times I see!

[tamor]

Originally Posted by rgcraig

You've been around the block a few times I see!

Smart man, that OE.....

[izzyschwartz]

Beware of anyone named Stan...

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by izzyschwartz

Beware of anyone named Stan...

Ehhhh????


Who is this?????

[MissBrattified]

Random Thoughts:

dizzy, in our household of 6 humans, 3 fish, 1 hamster, 1 lizard, and 2 cats, chaos can happen very quickly!!!

When things get out of hand, I make two lists:

1. All business matters that need tending to - doctors appts., bills, etc.
2. All household chores, by room. (It helps me to list what needs to be done if I go to each room and write it down)

Okay, then I asterisk the stuff on each list that is top priority. Everything else--take one item off the list per day and do it.

Other good rules:

OHIO (Only Handle It Once - If you pick something up, don't put it down until you can put it where it goes.)

Change 1 (sounds like a diet) Every time you walk into a room, change one thing (for the better). Whether it's putting a book away or picking your husband's dirty socks--just get in the habit of one thing per room.

As for clutter--what really gets stacked up around here are books, bills, kids' school papers and sheet music. When it gets out of hand, I'll declutter one area per day. (That means I actually clear off one surface, such as the top of the piano, and everything I remove from that surface must be filed, thrown away or put away.)

One thing I've always had a hard time parting with are my kids' outgrown clothes. So I started a quilt box for each child, and now the clothing that I can't bear to part with--I cut a square (or several squares) out of it, put it in their quilt box, and then I have both appeased my sentimental side and gotten rid of unnecessary clothing. I also cut up Jeff's old shirts and jeans (some of them) and tossed pieces in the quilt box. I do keep the really sentimental things, like dedication outfits, first booties, etc.

I am NOT an organized person, (although I LIKE things to be neat), so I have to work really hard at it--that is, I have to focus on it. I don't work any harder than the next neat freak.

If your house is really messy, you can go into deep-clean/maintenance mode like this: Start by deep cleaning 1 room from start to finish. You have to finish it, though. The next day, maintain the room you already cleaned. (If its the bedroom, pick up dirty clothes, make the bed, straighten your desk, etc.) Then deep clean a second room. On day three, you maintain the first two rooms (5 minutes per room should work), and deep clean a third room. Etc. If things are really out of hand, or you just don't have enough time, then you can make it one room every other day, or even per week. Just remember to spend 5 minutes per room maintaining what you've already done before you deep clean the next room on the list.

I also go through the house about once a month and make lists for Jeff of small repairs or odd jobs. He likes for me to write it all down for him so he doesn't forget (or so he says--lol), and then my "worry" about the repair is lifted because it's been delegated.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Random Thoughts:

dizzy, in our household of 6 humans, 3 fish, 1 hamster, 1 lizard, and 2 cats, chaos can happen very quickly!!!

When things get out of hand, I make two lists:

1. All business matters that need tending to - doctors appts., bills, etc.
2. All household chores, by room. (It helps me to list what needs to be done if I go to each room and write it down)

Okay, then I asterisk the stuff on each list that is top priority. Everything else--take one item off the list per day and do it.

Other good rules:

OHIO (Only Handle It Once - If you pick something up, don't put it down until you can put it where it goes.)

Change 1 (sounds like a diet) Every time you walk into a room, change one thing (for the better). Whether it's putting a book away or picking your husband's dirty socks--just get in the habit of one thing per room.

As for clutter--what really gets stacked up around here are books, bills, kids' school papers and sheet music. When it gets out of hand, I'll declutter one area per day. (That means I actually clear off one surface, such as the top of the piano, and everything I remove from that surface must be filed, thrown away or put away.)

One thing I've always had a hard time parting with are my kids' outgrown clothes. So I started a quilt box for each child, and now the clothing that I can't bear to part with--I cut a square (or several squares) out of it, put it in their quilt box, and then I have both appeased my sentimental side and gotten rid of unnecessary clothing. I also cut up Jeff's old shirts and jeans (some of them) and tossed pieces in the quilt box. I do keep the really sentimental things, like dedication outfits, first booties, etc.

I am NOT an organized person, (although I LIKE things to be neat), so I have to work really hard at it--that is, I have to focus on it. I don't work any harder than the next neat freak.

If your house is really messy, you can go into deep-clean/maintenance mode like this: Start by deep cleaning 1 room from start to finish. You have to finish it, though. The next day, maintain the room you already cleaned. (If its the bedroom, pick up dirty clothes, make the bed, straighten your desk, etc.) Then deep clean a second room. On day three, you maintain the first two rooms (5 minutes per room should work), and deep clean a third room. Etc. If things are really out of hand, or you just don't have enough time, then you can make it one room every other day, or even per week. Just remember to spend 5 minutes per room maintaining what you've already done before you deep clean the next room on the list.

I also go through the house about once a month and make lists for Jeff of small repairs or odd jobs. He likes for me to write it all down for him so he doesn't forget (or so he says--lol), and then my "worry" about the repair is lifted because it's been delegated.

Those are some really helpful ideas MissBratti, thanks for taking the time to write them down!

I think I have gotten some really great information on here, and I plan to try to start implementing it next week. (I am going to go through all the info I've been given, yours included and try to put together a plan that I think will work for me)

I would say this weekend, but we have a big wedding at the church on Sat. and my daughter is involved, so it probably wouldn't be wise to try to start a big project (which this will be for me) then.

[MissBrattified]

For clothing: Go through each closet once a year and put items in the following categories -

* Charity (Goodwill, Salvation Army...) (Things in good condition that I just won't or don't wear.)

* Trash - It's okay to throw away things with stains, rips, tears--if it's unwearable and won't qualify for Goodwill--TRASH IT!!!!

* Needs repair (mending, treating stains)

* Sentimental -- Okay, I have more of these than I should, but I'm trying. I even took one of my dresses and cut it into pieces for the kids' quilt box. That was a proud moment for me! Obviously my wedding dress is in this category, along with a couple of other "special" dresses. Just don't cater to the idea that you must actually keep every satin or silk horror that you were required to wear at a wedding. Guilt over fabric is so unnecessary.

* Keepers. Whatever fits, is in season, is in good repair and otherwise wearable goes back into the closet.

The key to this whole process: Donate the charity clothing right away, throw away the trash right away, and put the menders in your sewing basket and get to them ASAP. Otherwise it will all find its way back into your closet or into your laundry room.

[MissBrattified]

FLY LADY is great--but I have to say--I end up having to declutter my email box, so I don't like getting the emails as much as just reading her suggestions.

I do LOVE lists, only because putting my thoughts (worries/anxieties) on paper helps me purge them out of myself somehow. If its written down, then I know I'm not going to forget, and I worry about it less.

dizzy, just don't try to do it all in one day. Time is on your side. When I tackle one or two things a day, and don't wear myself out trying to spring clean the whole house in one day--well, it just turns out better and I have fewer backaches.

P.S. I am NOT a life coach. I probably NEED a life coach. LOL!!! Personal Trainer also comes to mind. Any volunteers? *sigh*

[MissBrattified]

Okay, maybe one more...

When Hannah asks for help cleaning her room, I give her the following generic list that works in nearly any bedroom:

1. Make your bed
2. Take dirty clothes to laundry room
3. Put away shoes
4. Put away books
5. Put away toys (or misc. items)
6. Pick up any trash, empty trash can.
7. Hang up or put away clean clothes.
8. Clean off each surface, one at a time (dresser, bed, bedside table, coffee table, etc.)
9. Dust
10. Vacuum, sweep or swiffer