Goal Tracking: Declutter and Cleaning

Wow, everyone's been hard at work! We're still keeping up with the dishes. I also found the energy to go back into my office/studio space that I started to renovate THREE YEARS AGO. We're taking care of the last big piece this weekend, and then it's going to be sanding and painting.

I have a question, though - I hear people talking about painting a room over the weekend. How do they do that? Even if I were more diligent, I don't get it. First you mud, then there's sanding, (and for me, usually another round of mudding/sanding), then washing, then priming, then painting, then another coat of paint. It takes time for everything to dry between each step. Are they not doing all of those steps? I'll have to ask.

I also got rid of two boxes of stuff I had been saving for Goodwill for several years. Trash instead.

I'll be spending some time today cleaning up. I'd like to get rid of enough stuff so that I have room for the stuff I actually want/use.

Ah, home improvements... my least favourite subject.

I made a list of things I wanted to do at the start of the last year, and thankfully I managed to accomplish half of it.

Now the other half of the list left for 2016 is:

1) central heating: nearly half of the radiators are switched off because of rust damage and leaks. I want to be able to change them myself, but I'm scared that I'm going to screw things up and break a pipe or something.

2) house interior painting: long overdue, but need to sort out the central heating first. Could probably do this myself if my back cooperates.

3) hire skip to get rid of the junk: could do this first, but it probably depends on making "1" and "2" happen first.

4) on suite bathroom: needs a new shower + new enclosure + new tiling. Can't do shower myself 'cause electrical work needs to be done by certified electrician due to insurance. Can't to tiling either because... well, Picasso would be jealous of my "work of art".

Well, got me work cut out for sure.

Fridge cleaned, inside anyway. I am getting Apartment Therapy's monthlong daily list of tasks. Unfortunately i didnt start on day one so im a little behind (only way i get to say that!) But its cool to think hundreds of other people cleaned their fridge with me today!

Where is this daily list of tasks?

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Google apartment therapy dot com, when the site comes up click on the three line menu box, then click on the january cure.

Thanks for that January cure reference - I just signed up. I've tried Fly Lady a few times, but can never keep up and wind up getting discouraged.

We realized that we were in over our heads with the home renovation project and are going to hire someone to finish it. I don't want to spend the money, but I guess I want to sand and mud even less.

I abandoned the January cure, too. I got an email about cleaning out a closet one day and just thought, 'no, I don't feel like doing that, why is my email bossing me around?' No wonder the place is trashed

Yesterday and today I have been working on doing all the shredding that has been piling up for almost a year!! And we got a break in the rain and I worked outside for about an hour. Still have plenty to do inside and the garage really, really needs to be cleaned but I made some progress

I threw out some clothes that were too worn out to wear, but really expensive when I got them. Just three things, but I guess that's progress? I'm really bummed because I started this thread a year and a half ago, but my house is worse now than it was then

Too worn out, thats very green i cleared three bookshelves. More to go but i am getting there. I kinda feel the same way, like the place is getting worse, but technically thats impossible, right? Because stuff is actually gone. e=mc2 - we have to rely on that holding true! New stuff cannot have been created out of thin air! Right? I hope...

Clearing three bookshelves is a lot! Thank you for the encouragement and math reminder

I must have acquired just enough new stuff to push me over the edge? Keeping up with dishes/laundry is worse now than it was before, I think because I am working again. More clothes to wash, less time or energy to put them away.

I just ordered a book, Lessons in Letting Go, by an Australian comedian, Corinne Holt. It's a memoir about getting rid of stuff. Can't recommend it yet because I haven't read it, but the reviews look good

I did dishes last night, small win...

I got the book on kindle, im about half way thru. It is great, thanks! But right now im just jealous that she still had ALL HER STUFF from when she was a kid! But she describes how it grows very well.

Grrrr...I have been working almost straight all week. I got sheets folded from my last laundry. Done 5 loads of new laundry & hung that all up. Now working on current sheets & blankets. Organized some boxes, cleaned my master bath where JoGI mostly stays so i dont have a dog fight to deal with.....& it doesn't even look like I made a dent in cleaning up my bedroom. How frustrating to work so hard & have it look like almost nothing was done.

I have a mouse problem in my kitchen I just noticed when I found the end of the stick of butter munched on, then found the 2 boxes of butter chewed into......I got all the dirty dishes rinsed, into the dish washer & washed & the counters still looks a mess.

It just let's me know just how much work there is that I have to do but it gets frustrating when all the work doesn't even look obvious

Ack, they didn't show me the kindle option when I ordered the book on my phone! I'm glad to hear it's good - I can't wait to read it!

Eskielover, that is how I feel. Like nothing makes a dent. I hope we are really making progress and are just blind to it... getting five loads of laundry done in a week is an accomplishment, for sure.

I check in on this post a lot. Even when I may not post to it. We're talking it's got to be dozens of times now I come on this thread.
EVERY SINGLE TIME I read "I know I'm going to hell" because you bought disposable salad bowls I burst out laughing out loud.

If for no other reason than that, if I have any say in the matter, you are definitely NOT going to hell.

That sounds so helpful and cool. Can you share the link to that list?

Things always look way worse before they get better. It's just part of the process and PROGRESS!

You are doing great, seriously

[QUOTE=lavendersage;4893893]That sounds so helpful and cool. Can you share the link?]

Already did. See below.

I can see clearly now
My brain is gone.
I can see all obstacles
With my stuff.
I can see storage payments
Ending now.
Gonna be a bright bright
Sun shiny day.

I got the book yesterday and now I see what you mean about her having all her stuff from when she was a kid! I am kind of jealous because her stuff sounds easier to throw away than mine, lol

I did find the book kind of motivating. The first few pages were hysterical.

Getting stuff done! Last july i had promised an old neighbor/schoolmate that i would snail mail him what i had of our elementary school newspapers from the early 1960's. Yes i still have some, and i knew right where they were; i just couldnt get to them! Today i put my hands on them. He was the paper's artist but had no copies. i am so glad to be able to send them to him!

That's awesome you were able to send those papers! Off to dejunkify my seed starting station so I can get started planting this year's plants!

I will try to do something in the kitchen, if I'm able to force myself to do it (very low in motivation).

I almost let my life insurance policy lapse through not bothering to open my mail for a few weeks. It's a great policy and I'ld never be able to replace it for the same low premium. I was almost hysterical when I feared it had lapsed. But it hadn't. I managed to go through most of the mail and send off payments on my bills.

I have no kids. My life insurance gives what relatives I have some incentive to care something about me when I come to the end of my days.

Two aims for today: Do grocery and do some cleaning in the kitchen.