Tidying up!
Hi everyone! (I'm not sure if there's a specific section for this, so forgive me if I make a mistake).
I came across this article a few weeksago about the life-changing magic of tidying up: Link!
I've always been a hoarder -- my room was always a mess! I'm pretty sure it hadsomething to do with my depression but I always managed to clean it up every few weeks or when I hadsomeone come over -- so it never was a total mess but I never managed to keep it clean for more than a week. Sometimes I just left out my dirty laundry on the floor or I would have dirty plates for a week. Despite having been seeing a therapist for more than three years, I never really took concerns of this habit until a few weeks ago, I went to my newcounsellorwhom I haveonly been seeing for several months and he complimented me on my outfit. As a reply, I said: "Haha, just because I don't have anything else to put on!" What he said next changed my life: "Citta, do you realise that you have previously said the same thing twice? I know you like to buy and have lots of clothes, so how can you run out of clothes for several times since I met you?"
Only then I realised that this habit of mine has become very unhealthy and I had to do something about it. I talked to my counsellor in a session that, as psychologist Rob Yeung recommends about change that we should just try to change little things first, so I said to him that cleaning up is on my goal lists.
Then I came across the article I posted above and I was taken away by the concept of "Pick up each item one at a time and ask yourself, "Does it spark joy?". If it doesn't make you happy, just throw it away.
The very next day I sorted all the mess in my room and I managed to throw away, don't be surprised, SEVEN TRASH BAGS filled with plastics and things and bottles and everything. I have a huge bedroom and lots of stuff so never I would realise I would throw away so much. I then buy lots of colourful boxes and put little things and stuff inside and ta-daa....my room was sparkly clean!
Since then, every time I buy something I asked myself first if it sparks joy. I spent lots of poundsterlings to buy boxes and trash cans and cleaning stuff but I knew that it was for the best. It's been weeks and my room has been sparkly clean (still). I'm so proud of it. And it definitely brings much more joy to myself and helps with my depression.
I don't know how many of you would have the same problems as I had, but I hope I can share something very important to those who can relate -- tidying up can be a life-changing magic.
Hey, this is so exciting. My home can be a mess sometimes. I have ADD and I just sometimes have trouble finishing a really boring project like laundry or organizing things.
Recently, I watched a Ted Talks video on tidying up by Marie Kondo. I found her video on Youtube and it was very motivating and exciting to me. I like her philosophy of tidying up.There is a purpose for it and it is not just a chore. You are trying to create a home that is a comfortable, serene, and organized space for you to relax. Another listener told me about her book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up:The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo.I just ordered this book today and I am so excited to read it.
Also, my mom likes to give me her old clothes, purses, tote bags, magazines, etc and I use to always take them. Last week she tried to give me an old worn out tote bag that I did not need so I told her that it did not spark joy for me, lol, and Idid not bring it into my home. No new things for me until I get this home organized. At least this will save some money. I am so excited that you brought this up and I cannot wait to read the book. I would suggest watching the Ted Talk Video. There are also a lot other videos that others have created that teach you how to fold and how to organize your closet the Marie Kondo way. It is all about simplicity and who does not need their lives to be a little more simple. I like your thread. I just wanted to add to it. Thank you.Wishing us luck on decluttering our lives and
Hi, thanks so much for the insightful reply and I hope you can get the book soon! Do review the book once you read it so the other bookworms can learn from it :D I will watch the videos as well, thanks for the recommendation. Congratulations forrealisingthat the tote bag didn't bring joy and managing to refuse to bring it home, such a big step! Best of luck :))
Thank you andthank you for your insightful post.
@Alwaysdreamin
Hey there, Just thought I'd see how you're getting on. Your post certainly 'sparked joy' for me and I'm sure you have inspired others. Do come back and share, that way we can continue to support others
Lucy2
This could help anyone so I think the post could go anywhere in the forum but it would be especially helpful in the ADD and in the hoarding section so maybe you could post it there as well. Thank you again for your post.
I will! Thanks for letting me know!
@Citta
Hi There,
Thank you for sharing your experience. I hope others are inspired to do the same. I pray itcan beas easily dealt with for others, but realise the solutioncan be verydifferent for each person.
I hope you are still coping well and look forward to hearing how things are going.
Warmwishes
Lucy2
Thank you for such warm wishes, Lucy!
Everything's been going well. I hope it's the same for you. Thanks for being so caring!
Take care!!
@Citta That are such great tips. In much need of a clean up before next semester
Hello all, just found a great hoarding site FLYLady.net very detailed and fun. This encompasses the whole areas of hoarding, different activities to do. You can take out bits relevant to you, free, there are some shop section if want to but good advice. Still new finding way around but very motivating so far. Thank you
Thanks for the kind recommendation!
Update:
I started to read the book I recommended but some of the things in the book I was not able to do. Marie Kondo recommends sorting all of your clothing at one time. This does not work for me. There are five people in my family and this would take weeks. I already take everything out of the closet to clean it out and then it stays there in a pile. I still have to get rid of the piles. Many of the other strategies she recommended were great and I did sort my clothes the way she suggested from heavy to light.
Also, about Flylady, I hope she has improved. I tried her many years ago and found that I received millions of emails per day reminding me to do a chore. Also, I found that Flylady was meant for someone that did not have a job during the day because she would send out emails during the middle of the day reminding you of a chore. Maybe it has improved because it has been years since I used her. She has some great tips as well though like scrubbing your sink each night and others.
@Alwaysdreamin
I'm about 1/2 of the way through my house using Maries method. (I'm on the kitchen now and the other areas I've tidied have stayed clean! due to everything has a place upkeep!) The HARDEST action so far has been clothing. My only suggestion would be to only purge your clothing if possible. Other family members should have responsibility for their items. Take an evening/afternoon, make time for the process. it's well worth the effort. With the piles to discard, my best suggestion is this. PUT IT OUTSIDE in the trash or in the trunk of your car to deliver to donations as soon as you possibly can (like right after doing the sort/spark joy decision making). I actually stopped subscribing to Flylady for the reasons you listed about a year ago. going from room to room was not helping me. I have hoarder tendencies because I'm a COH (Child of hoarders) and I needed to re-learn how to operate on tidying. sometimes if I don't know where to start and don't feel like working on a section of Marie's book I'll check Fly-Lady for the day on her website instead of being subscribed.
Hi there @toughBanana57
You are doing brilliantly 
well done and I hope you realise just how well you've done. You're a credit to others. Please keep us posted.
Always here
Lucy2
@lucy2
Thanks Lucy, is it OK for to me posting ont he Hoarding support section here? I don't have contact with my parents due to the hoarding and emotional side of things, but I'm more than happy to help support others looking to make the hard changes and are motivated to do so. It would make me feel really good to make a positive impact and be of help to others struggling with the clutter.
I find tht I'm not a hoarder
@Citta thank you so much for this! After struggling with depression for so long and every dish washing being so painful and miserable to do, I developed the bad habit of feeling anxious when cleaning. This has helped me realize that my fears are unnecessary and that others struggle with this as well. I'm hopeful there is a way for me to move forward and keep in the habit of tidying up.
Hm...me likey this~ thanks for sharing this with us,it's something to ponder upon. I have so many things too! And i get so overwhelmed and lazy when i see the pile. But the messiness really affects my mood. Clutter room clutter mind that my mum nags me since young finally makes sense to me as I'm older now.
I've always thought this was my particular problem I love my home, and I'm constantly doing little bits of maintenence and decorating, but when I get down, it all goes to hell in a handcart! Lol
Hi there @LetTheWindBlow - that's saying is so true, and I tend too take that one step further which isn't such a good thing either, to the extent that if I go anywhere that's cluttered, my mind starts racing and I have to leave. Not sure if there's a name for that but it's not always a good thing
Lucy2
