My house is a mess.
After a lovely Christmas, I inevitably wake to harsh reality. The fact is, there is much purging and organizing to be done here at the cottage. Clutter is running rampant. My closets are a mess. Everything, and I mean everything, needs to be sorted into keep or throw away piles. The spare bedroom/office/husband’s studio looks like we just moved in and are using it to store everything until we decide where to put it.
I still haven’t put away the summery things on the porch. Really. It’s December 27th.
More than in any other year I can remember, I have avoided certain tasks – like sorting, organizing and purging – none of which are things I usually want to do. Clean out the closet? I’d rather read a book. Put everything away in the shed? I have to google something. Wade into the mess that is the office? I need a nap. I just haven’t been able to deal with it.
I have a theory. I’ve been suffering from emotional overload this year, much of which I’ve shared with you on this blog. When that happens, I retreat to a safe place. It might be a book, or this blogging world, or my favorite music. I don’t seem to be able to cope with those other, not so fun, tasks that need to be done. I feel overwhelmed at the very thought of them.
I have a feeling that if I just make myself tackle one, the others might follow. I know I will have a feeling of accomplishment.
I’m just about ready.
Unfortunately, I have to tackle some script work today and tomorrow. That has to come first.
But the wheels in my brain are turning. It’s time. Wish me luck!
(I love the way the Hipstamatic camera app makes these messes look sort of fuzzy and artistic. Like I purposely made the mess to take an artsy picture.)
If you’re here for our Defending the Small House Series, Brenda and I are taking a couple of weeks off. We’ll be back with a new installment on January 10th.
Merry Christmas Claudia!
I get the overwhelmed feeling…
Purging will be part of our lives this next year for sure.
Mixing two households means getting rid of a lot just to be able to see over the boxes.
Little at a time girl…steady progress everyday and soon you’ll be all organized.
Hugs, Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings…
Claudia, Your cottage looks lovely even when it’s a little messy! Don’t worry, life is short; dance, nap, read, google, then, IF there’s any time left, tackle the mess and organize.
My theory (because I’m messy and a collector/hoarder) is that when I die I want my loved ones to remember the time we danced, laughed, cried, etc… I’d hate them to remember “oh, wasn’t her house always clean, dusted, and organized.” I promise, there’s not a chance in hell of that, ’cause my life and my home are both frayed and messy most of the time!
Claudia- I am so with you. I have a bigger space but we will be downsizing in the next year or so. I REALLY need to purge and sort and contain. I’ve been having a hard time getting going this year, too. Maybe because I know that I am leaving one of life phases and it’s a little scary….xo Diana
Hi Claudia
Its funny I love Christmas but I hate getting everything back in place and cleaned up! !! Your cottage looks great. Have a good day
My closets and drawers seem to be busting at the seams and I know that eventually I must tackle the clutter too. Not my favorite thing to do at all, but once done, it is really worth the effort.
Danielle
Ugh me too! I started taking down Christmas decorations last night and took a hard look at what I LOVE and what is just meh. I already have a good pile started for the Goodwill. I would like to take my house up and dump everything out and start over!
Blessings
Linda
Claudia, we’re all the same. Of course it’s so much more fun to read, listen to music, watch old movies, take naps. But it’s also so very pleasant when everything is done and we don’t have to suffer that nagging feeling that never, never goes away until we have done what needs to get done. Cleaning closets and sorting things is a very heavy thing to do and I don’t know anybody who likes to do it except perhaps professional organizers and not everybody can afford to hire them.
What I do when I need to do a chore that weighs heavy on me is that I set my timer for ten minutes and I do as much as I can in those ten minutes without rushing. Sometimes I have even set the timer for five minutes. Pretty extreme, I know. But this method works for me and gets the job done. So, it works for me. You might want to give it a try. If you’re feeling especially heavy, set your timer for only five minutes. You’ll be surprised at what you can do in five minutes. Eventually, everything will get done. Hope this helps, Claudia! And, start today if at all possible because you know there’s no time like the present. Wishing you a pleasant, fun, productive day.
I’m giving my place the once-over today,Claudia, as a few friends are dropping by this evening. As for closets and other spaces, clearing needs to happen here. I’ve managed to avoid cleaning out the basement, a grey, unfinished, messy space, but I’m going to do it. Just not today…
-Karen
I get this, Claudia…I’m tackling an area each day! I just feel more peaceful when I get things in order…I know when things get cluttered, my brain is, too!
Boy, this is a great topic. And I feel overwhelmed is the key word here! When we are dealing with such heavy issues such as sick family members, whether it be our parents or our spouses, money woes, it’s so hard to see the forest through the trees and put on a happy face and clean things up. It’s much easier to just stack those magazines and not sort them, pile our hobbies in bags on top of each other. It is so much easier to avoid dealing with those issues on top of everything else. I agree w/Lucille, the 10 min rule is a great way to go about things. That way it’s just not such a mountain to climb. So don’t beat yourself up over this. Now I’ve got to go clear off my desk and get ready for the new year!
I take my decorations down on New Year’s Day, and for some reason it makes me want to start the year off with cleaning and purging, since I am putting stuff in the closets anyway. I donate most of it to the church thrift store, the proceeds go to the church school, so I feel better getting rid of stuff because I am helping someone. I get on a roll and do it until it is done (takes a few days at least). The feeling of satisfaction when I am finished is great (and I won’t have to do it til next year)! Sometimes I just have to stand and admire my closets for days! Getting started is the hardest. Just have some strong coffee and start, you will feel great when you are finished.
Claudia- Happy Holidays to you-just a bit late! I am in the same boat-but for different reasons. When we started getting so busy at work and life started to get overwhelming I did the same thing- pushed those tasks that I could to the back of my mind. Now I need to face up also or risk having to just move and start over-lol! Good luck with yours- it does feel so very good when it finally gets done :)
good luck! I have the same issues, my basement is horrible! I think I feel overwhelmed with it so I ignore it. I never got my fall and summer clothes moved around either…not like me?
I can relate. Speaking for myself, the cold winter months plus no sunshine has a lot to do with it.
I will do the needed laundry, cooking, cleaning but, no more…
I think once again. It’s time to make a list of things that need attention. This works for Me.
Try it and post it on the Frig. Reward yourself at the end of the wk. if you finish half. Hey, we can compare lists. I bet mine is longer than Yours!!
xxx Liz
Claudia, just do the “stream of consciousness” cleaning routine. You know….Put a shoe in the closet and take the coffee cup that you found on a shelf back to the kitchen, where you find the other shoe that has to go back to the closet with the other one. Pet the dogs. Pick up a mini and put it back in the dollhouse, where you will find a kleenex to put in the trash can, that needs emptying….And so on, and so forth. It will all get done sooner or later and you will never get bored, as long as you let yourself stop to do something fun on the journey… Happy cleaning!
Right there with you! I have NOTHING left in my closet because my shelf keeps falling down and I don’t want to completely unload the closet for someone to come and properly fix it. I have given up on some clothes I “might fit into” and stick to want I can and do wear. Passed on a lot of other things, but I am only “camping” here in the apartment. All my goodies are stored and I don’t even have any way to go through them all. Right before Christmas we went to storage, I was sooo afraid it would all be a broken mess, but no real casualties I just need time and space to decide which of my lovely treasures to keep. I am pretty good at sorting the daily pile ups so that isn’t usually a problem. Plus it soothes my OCD to organize ;)
I get the emotional part I hide too. I really blog more when things are worse, but I am going to more even as things are ok.
Hope you have an easy time tackling your projects!
Hugs, Lisa
Claudia
I did a great deal of de-cluttering this past year, but already see the need for it again. I think it’s best done in small increments, then it doesn’t hurt so much!Good luck!
Happy New Year too!
“I need to google something”~ Oh my goodness, that made me giggle! I am the queen of procrastination when it comes to sorting and organizing big projects, so thanks for those great excuse ideas.
Seriously though, I do know that feeling when it’s really time to get it done. This year is going to be an organization year for me. I’ve got some biggies ahead… the garage (aka Jill’s Craft Store/Vintage Mall), and The Studio (aka The-room-that-does-not-function-but-has-incredible-potential).
Really. I could have blog post topics for years to come if I just get in there, organize/purge, and then use what I already have in there!
Best wishes for success in your endeavors– just think how great it will feel to get it done. I know that’s one of my biggest incentives.
Hugs,
Jill
Exact same feelings here. I feel like this year has flown by and I’ve done nothing of value and I’m still sliding down the slippery slope. I’ve retreated into books most of the year but I now am retreating into videos on Netflix on my MacBook. I just can’t seem to get anything done, honey! I can’t even read the news because it’s so depressing. I’m a positive and optimistic person by nature so if it’s getting ME down I wonder how other people are coping. I’m even having trouble blogging and that’s just NOT like me.
I should probably do a blog on this also. I DID manage to vacuum, dust and mop today. Could that be an improvement or am I spiraling down faster that I thought?!
xoxo,
Connie
Oh I do wish you luck…I know my house needs some TLC too…I will start in January…until then my feet will be up. xoxox Hope your Christmas was merry and bright.
Claudia, we all have days when we’d prefer to hide our head in a book and not to clean anything up. And we all have our share of clutter. I used to wish that I had a bigger house, so that I’d have places to store everything away nicely. But after reading these blogs, I realize that many people with big houses just accumulate more stuff. So I am really thankful that I have my little-ish house and that my junk and stuff is still manageable. Sorta. (Just don’t look in my daughters room right now. But that will sort itself out after we can move her things to her new city.)
Some bloggy friends are going to follow the “2012 Declutter Calendar” this year to whip their houses into shape. Have you heard of that one? And other bloggy friends are taking on the “365 Challenge”, where they are keeping track of everything they toss or recycle, and they have to get rid of at least 365 items this year. I think I may try some sort of combination of both of them.
I could have written this post myself (except for the script writing, lol!) I have the same thoughts as you and the same feeling of being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start. I am determined to do some major decluttering this year in each room in our house. As I age, I have come to realize that I really don’t need all the stuff that I thought I needed at one time and I yearn to live a simple lifestyle now. That is my goal for 2012! Good luck to both of us!
Claudia,
I just played catch up with your posts. This is the first time I’ve sat down in 5 days!
I agree 100% about the Christmas let down. It’s always been my favorite time of year. Well actually from October thru New Years. The hustle & bustle, the buttons & bows, the shopping & treats,,, oh you get it. Then it’s gone. Our holiday radio station even stopped playing music the 26th! I thought they play till New Years!
Now that the pine garland has turned into a fire hazard & the endless vacuuming of needles has clogged my vacuum again I guess it’s time to pick it all up for another year. I also need to do some organizing & cleaning after all the hoopla.
Hope you find the strength to clean your porch & closets.
I also love the old picture of your family, what a treasure.
See you again next year!
Lisa
I feel exactly the same way. It looks like we are in good company from the responses you got. I get overwhelmed easy and it seems the older I get the worse it gets! My husband says I am a big procrastinator…I would rather be doing anything else than what I should be doing. I think it’s become a problem. ~Hugs, Patti
Me too. I’m intending to take the ten minutes a day approach to the sorting and decluttering, so that’s me busy until 2013 at least!
Just now starting to get caught back up. What fun posts to read about all your holiday adventures. I really plan on getting more organized in 2012 too.