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RE: struggling with being messy???

 
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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/11/2008 3:23:06 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

Although, anytime would be a bad time for something like this!
This is true!

quote:

Wishing you a speedy recovery!
Thank you.

I guess in theory, I could plan stuff to do...

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/15/2008 7:59:17 PM   
agapetos


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It is so hard to get back into doing stuff again. I did bits that I could do, but not nearly as much as I could have done had my knee not been hurt. I just don't have the motivation to do more right now...

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Post #: 77
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/15/2008 9:34:31 PM   
firefightermama


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Wow, I can't believe it took me so long to find this thread! Every single thing in the OP applies to me!!

I am so so messy. Working on it, having a baby hasn't helped much. Being home for the last year on maternity leave hasn't helped much either

I have consistently been working on having the kitchen cleaned once a day (preferably before hubby gets home from work)

I also set the timer to go off an hour before hubby gets home so I can do dishes, pick up toys etc.

Another problem is having to be places and then not having time to clean up after supper or something, then it starts to pile up.

We also have very little space, and ZERO storage. However, that will all change in a few months, we are getting a basement and a garage! (which means another big mess, our house is moved and then construction begins)

I am heading back to work next week, but I will try to keep up with this thread. Oh, I didn't like FlyLady either. But messies anonymous seems like it might work...

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Post #: 78
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/17/2008 10:47:15 PM   
creationtalk

 

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quote:

having a baby hasn't helped much.

I can relate to this...and it doesn't get better as they get older...because then they can make a mess faster than you can clean it up.
quote:

Being home for the last year on maternity leave hasn't helped much either

Now that seems odd to me because if I were able to be home more I could get a lot more done than I do now.

I like to imagine that I am making progress on getting the house cleaned and organized. It could simply be wishful thinking. The kitchen and dining room areas are mostly free of clutter on the floor and the clutter on the countertops is getting less...I have the new cabinets put in and a set of decorative shelves for storing canned goods and similar. I was surprised at how nice the canned goods looked on the shelf...I'd thought I would need to build a pantry, but this works fine, is much easier, and takes less space. Both the living room and office are improving. The floors are mostly clutter free with isolated "piles." Some of this will be alleviated if I am ever able to get my son's bedroom cleaned out so that it can be repainted and the ruined carpeting replaced with tile (currently stacked in the living room). My son challenged me to a closet cleaning contest (I won), so now we both have clean and organized closets in our rooms. Of course, part of the reason that the living room and office are doing better is that I moved a lot of the Hur. Katrina stuff into my bedroom. Add that to my son also moving into my bedroom due to the mess in his room, and its a miracle that we can still find pathways to walk. I always have "plans" to clean, but most of the time, if I want to sleep more than 2 or 3 hours, cleaning doesn't happen.
Post #: 79
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/20/2008 9:21:32 AM   
humbleinspirit


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I learned again this week about the 15 minute rule. I might try implementing that again.

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/20/2008 4:25:55 PM   
Grace-N-Mercy


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I'm getting better at this since finding the thread. Just thinking about the thread makes me want to tidy up the house.

For me, surfaces collect things! I have very little storage, but it's adequate. Still I have cheesecake pans on the top of the chest of drawers in the dining room. The kitchen table is a challenge to keep uncluttered, too. And I don't always put dry groceries away when they come home. My laundry basket stays next to the laundry room (which is in the kitchen). In the living room, I have a spot near the door where my shoes come off. That's also where I put things that I normally keep in the truck, like fabric grocery bags. Since I don't have a trunk, they come into the house on Saturday nights so I can clean out the truck for Sunday morning, but they don't go back in on Monday.

Another problem is paper!! I wish I could say my bills go into one place, that my receipts get filed as soon as I come home, and that my to-do lists go on the refrigerator. But that doesn't happen. I have a neat little pile on my file cart that includes catalogs, receipts, lists, coupons, newspapers, etc. My bookshelf in my study room also gets piled-on. As my classes progress, I'm losing bookshelf space.

Oh, and on busy laundry days, sometimes the laundry piles up without getting folded. Now, that's something I'm usually pretty good about keeping up, especially since most things get hung up. But once in a while....

Lastly, I have a stockpile of things I don't want to get rid of (don't we all???) For me, it's towels. I recently bought a nice new set of towels, but I've got no place to store the old ones. So they sit in a pile in my room. I'm going to hold on to them, though, because they might come in handy if I need to move.
Post #: 81
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/20/2008 8:25:29 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

Oh, and on busy laundry days, sometimes the laundry piles up without getting folded. Now, that's something I'm usually pretty good about keeping up, especially since most things get hung up. But once in a while....
I always fold/hang my laundry... saves on the ironing!

I have some old towels. I've got some of those storage bags that shrink everything. I don't have many good towels and the old ones are handy to have when I'm ill.

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Post #: 82
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/20/2008 11:06:05 PM   
hartslove

 

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I used to let dishes pile up for a day. Then I'd wash most of them but quit before I got to them all. I'd not have enough space on the rack. Sometimes I would get everything done except the pans.

I became motivated when my teenage daughter told me how they do at her dad's house. Each person rinses and immediately places their dishes in the dishwasher all day, and they run the dishwasher in the evening. I don't know what they do about unloading the clean dishes before the next day.

My reward is seeing an empty sink and clean counter, so now when I come in from work tired and I know I must cook, I just don't bother getting too comfortable. I try to psych myself up planning the meal when I'm at work, and I begin cooking as quickly as possible in the evening. I take out only what I need and put packages/containers away as I go, and I wash stuff as I go.

It helps also to have the teens wash their stuff when they're done and sometimes I'll designate one of them to wash and the other to put away dishes.

My other challenge area is the bedroom (laundry). I had a system, but my husband is different. Everything ends up on the floor. I'm becoming a little more like him, except a couple times a week I need to get all my stuff and my 3-yr-old's stuff put away. Everything has a place, but I need the energy to take care of it. I telecommute once a week, and so in the morning I wash clothes. In the afternoon before I get my child from daycare I try to fold and put away as much as I can. I have more energy on the days that I don't commute.
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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/20/2008 11:16:15 PM   
Grace-N-Mercy


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quote:

ORIGINAL: hartslove

I became motivated when my teenage daughter told me how they do at her dad's house. Each person rinses and immediately places their dishes in the dishwasher all day, and they run the dishwasher in the evening. I don't know what they do about unloading the clean dishes before the next day.

My reward is seeing an empty sink and clean counter, so now when I come in from work tired and I know I must cook, I just don't bother getting too comfortable. I try to psych myself up planning the meal when I'm at work, and I begin cooking as quickly as possible in the evening. I take out only what I need and put packages/containers away as I go, and I wash stuff as I go.


I wish I had a dishwasher. But I don't, so here's what I TRY to do. When I get the dishes caught up and put in the drainer to dry, I'll drain the dirty water and add fresh soapy water. Then as I go about my day and bring glasses and snack dishes to the kitchen, I just wash them right then and there, and put them in the drainer. It's great because for a few hours, the kitchen will be completely clean!

Right now my dishes are clean and my laundry is almost completely washed... and I feel good!
Post #: 84
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/20/2008 11:22:38 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

I wish I had a dishwasher. But I don't
Nor me. But I confess, I'm not sure that having a dishwasher would really help any.

quote:

Right now my dishes are clean and my laundry is almost completely washed... and I feel good!
Good for you!

I have to confess, it's great when I've washed the dishes ~ even if they're drying in the drainer.

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Post #: 85
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/24/2008 11:36:32 AM   
coinpurse

 

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Hartslove,

Sounds like a pretty good routine, washing things as you go.

quote:

I take out only what I need and put packages/containers away as I go, and I wash stuff as I go.


Agapetos, were you the one who suggested 10 minutes 3 times a week???
Well, I realize time scares me...when I think in terms of time, I freeze up! So, I decided to think, "What 2 things can I do each night to make tomorrow go smoother"...still the same idea, but I took out the concept of time...and I aim to do whatever it is fast. So, this might mean mapquesting an address ahead of time of a place I need to be at, putting my clothes out for tomorrow ( this helps a lot as I dont have as much clothes on the floor anymore).

I have a phone where I can insert tasks and I get a reminder ring...so, after 1 year of having that phone, Im putting it to good use. Gosh, the simple things I have to remind myself of! Put water in the Brita (I have one that holds several gallons), wash the car...
Post #: 86
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 9/24/2008 8:23:20 PM   
agapetos


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quote:

Agapetos, were you the one who suggested 10 minutes 3 times a week???
Guilty as charged!

I think your idea is great! I know I suggest time and quantity (is that right. sorry, it's late here) but that was just a suggestion. I know that it can be really hard to start somewhere because there is so much to day, and in a way, it's easier to just ignore it and do something else instead.... but long term, that doesn't work (been there, done that). And even doing something small, helps mentally. The total may not be complete, but a start has been made!

You know?

I was motivated to clean my kitchen floor yesterday after making some blueberry marmalade and dropping a jar that I was trying to screw the lid on! It's not something I'd recommend as a motivational reason to clean the floor!

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Post #: 87
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/1/2008 8:04:42 PM   
agapetos


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I've just started another thread here. Partly triggered by this thread, partly by a tv programme, My sleep has been really out of synch this week, for a variety of reasons. The more tired I've become, the less inclined I've been to do much around the house. I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only one that feels that way.

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Post #: 88
RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/4/2008 12:03:38 PM   
humbleinspirit


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Well, I am doing a fairly thorough cleaning of my living room/kitchen combo right now. My landlord is having my refrigerator checked up on as part of a yearly maintenance contract. As a result I am in rush cleaning frenzy!

I must have filled at least 3 garbage bags of needless stuff so far! Thankfully I am almost done.

I am also finding it way too easy just to not do anything, but I know that I must! There is still the issue of organizational skills which I seem to lack, but I am improving though.

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/4/2008 3:10:04 PM   
humbleinspirit


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Ok, I made it through, did a real lot of cleaning! The only thing that I really still need to deal with is the syrup that leaked to the bottom of my fridge. That is a pain to clean, other than that I can relax for a bit at this point.

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/4/2008 5:36:17 PM   
agapetos


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That's great Mike! Well done!

I've actually got an added incentive to make sure my kitchen is clean and tidy. I've been making some preserves and I've checked into a way of selling them. I have to do a basic food hygene course, which I can do online (I think) before I can sell any (can't sell any I made before that date though so have been giving some away and I'll be giving some for Christmas presents).

It's rather nice making things, and it doesn't use a whole pile of dishes (added incentive there!).

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/5/2008 12:46:47 AM   
humbleinspirit


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Thanks Aga, my living room/kitchen is actually clean enough where I am not embarrassed having people over at the moment.

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/9/2008 10:47:43 PM   
creationtalk

 

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Well, so much for making progress on the mess. Three weeks running now I've been home (and not working--I do a lot of the prep work for the teaching job at home) only long enough to sleep. Worked both days two weekends in a row and everyday in between, worked this past week with only one day off...and spent it riding and bathing a horse in prep for a horse show this weekend. I'm exhausted and way behind on a bunch of stuff both at home and at work.

The really ironic thing is that though I've barely been home, the mess has continued to grow...I think I've proven spontaneous generation of clutter...
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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 10/12/2008 8:14:11 AM   
Grace-N-Mercy


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I've been wanting to work on my bedroom because I have a few boxes stacked up in a corner and I'd love to make room in the closet (I have a nice large closet, though it's not walk-in size). So I go to my mom's house, and she's in a cleaning-out mood and gives me a box of stuff. Thanks, mom!! Last night, I get an email... she's clearing more stuff out! *screams*
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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 11/1/2008 10:59:57 PM   
creationtalk

 

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Has everyone given up on conquering messy or has everyone except me conquered messy and are on to the next project? I worked really hard last week with the goal of having my house completely cleaned before I went back to working both jobs again this past Monday...I cleaned and cleaned, got the kitchen, dining room, hallway, second bath, office swept and mopped, mostly cleaned, got my bedroom started and most of the floor vacuumed. I don't know what happened, but I'm pretty much back where I started, and now I don't have any time again because I'm working.
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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 11/3/2008 9:56:24 PM   
sisrev


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I have a cleaning lady who just came on Friday. This is Monday. My house is a wreck. How does this happen?

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 11/6/2008 6:06:14 AM   
agapetos


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quote:

ORIGINAL: creationtalk

Has everyone given up on conquering messy or has everyone except me conquered messy and are on to the next project?
Nope, but I'm getting there! My computer died the other week so I have to make use of the time-limited library computers. Means I have a whole lot more time in the day!

House looks better though!

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 11/6/2008 7:30:25 AM   
Roberta_


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quote:

ORIGINAL: sisrev

I have a cleaning lady who just came on Friday. This is Monday. My house is a wreck. How does this happen?


I have that problem too.
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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 11/15/2008 9:21:14 AM   
humbleinspirit


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I've backslid on cleaning again. I believe that cleaning is a habit that I must get myself into.

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RE: struggling with being messy??? - 11/17/2008 1:39:46 AM   
creationtalk

 

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I'm trying to get my house completely cleaned by Monday night...the bug guy is coming on Tuesday and I want it cleaned up so I'm not totally embarrassed to have him come in to spray....and I don't want him spraying toys, etc that are on the floor like he did one time (some I had to toss, others were cleaned very thoroughly). Cleaning difficulties are compounded by the fact that my little house is once again home to all my plants that usually live outside on the porch.

Unfortunately, my son is not very good at helping me clean. I asked him to get all of his things out of the livingroom and put away in his room. So he picked up most of the things that were in the living room and took them to his room...but every time he came back, he brought some cool thing he found in the room and wanted to play with...so when I finally went in to do the rest of the cleaning, there was almost as much stuff there as when he started...and the vacuum cleaner died.
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