Hope you are feeling better, Anony. I shred everything with my name on it, every piece of mail, and I have a good shredder that cross-cuts, so I think it's fairly secure. Then I add a layer of cat litter (used of course) so at that point, I've done it all. I think if I only had a few papers your idea would make sense. But I do everything with my name or adrdress, even if just a postcard from the realtor down the street and addressed to "occupant"!

Take good care of yourself and let me know your progress! Making space is wonderful!!!

Greetings everyone!
I havent felt good today & have been catching up on sleep. I may go through the house & toss stuff at some point cuz its so hot outside. There is still that part of me clinging to the past...afraid to empty my place of things, since ive lost my soulmate, im afraid of losing myself, too...i need to look at it as a symbolic way to make room for new things in life.
Tatoulia, i use to sit in front of my shredder trying to not jam it with too much at a time, when i realized that it would be easy for a criminal to figure out what papers were important and piece them together. Now i get the important papers wet & ball them up. Theyre impossible to open up or read & its way easier, too!
As usual, it sounds like you each are getting a lot done every day?! 😀

Indoor challenge:

Vacuumed den and living room
Dishwasher ready to be run

Good morning!

Hot weather is definitely here! I am working from home today. I am chipping away at shredding papers. I have one shopping bag of papers leftover from...last year. So much easier to go through now, as once they are of a certain vintage, they lose all importance to me. Shredding is different for me now, too, because with living room cleaned up, I no longer have the shredder in the middle of the room--it now has a hidden home. But I find its actually easier to take the shredder out of its home and then return it. It feels like an accomplishment rather than just tripping over it day in and day out.

I need to vacuum today. Actually the vacuuming would have best been done earlier this week. I see now that maintenance is pretty much daily. and it is easier on me emotionally. It is so much easier to clean up if I don't have to do it under the heavy cloud of self loathing.

So, my friends, what I'm working on is maintaining the cleaned and cleared areas while expanding my horizons to clean and clear more areas. I guess this is how it's done. Tillie I am learning!!

Glad you are going to get out a little today Tillie. Fresh air and different surroundings always make me feel better!

Ice water clinks!

Good Morning Everyone 🙂

Hi Tess 🙂
Thank you 🙂
I am slowly getting all caught up, taking lots of rest.
Sorry to hear about your vacuum breaking. Good luck getting a replacement.
Some days, just getting the garbage out is a great accomplishment! 😀

Hi Diane 🙂
Hard boiled eggs are so great to have. Easy to eat and you don't get hungry soon afterward.
You MUST keep things closed up or cats will get into them and sleep on everything.
If I leave my dresser drawer open and come back later, there will always be a cat sleeping on my clean clothes.
WAY TO GO!!! for keeping up with tidying! (((hugs)))

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! tackling that linen closet! 😀
My cat has his own favorite tablecloth. I keep it on the table, covering up my tablecloth because the cat has always liked to sleep on the table. ;P
Keep up with puttering around, I get so much accomplished when just puttering a few minutes here & there. (((hugs)))

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
YEA!!! WAY TO GO!!! 😀
Cleaning under the porch!
Sounds like you are destroying any spider hiding spots doing that! YEA!!!
Hope your tummy feels better. (((hugs)))

Got all caught up with watering and laundry yesterday.
Will see what, if anything, I will do today.
Thinking maybe I'll drive into town at 9:00am.
Maybe I really need to get out of this house for a little while.
Maybe I will. 😉

TTYS 🙂

Great to read your post, Anony. Good work on your porch shopping--you are shopping for space! Go slowly in the heat and keep meditating during the breaks!

Hi all! Today im clearing & tossing out stuff from under the porch. Its a bit like shopping, in some ways...things catch my eye & i put them in my cart! ha ha It is amazing how much better it looks! With every piece i pick up its like a weight lifted! Im taking frequent breaks cuza the heat. Ive been meditating during breaks, too! That makes the breaks healing!
I didnt drink my usual cup of coffee today cuz my stomach really hurt yesterday, so im really dragging...
Im glad to read yall are getting lots done & feeling better?! 😀

How much fun to see so many of us here today!

Great work!

Tess, I am hardly in a fully clean and clear house --def a work in progress and feeling so much better. I know you all feel good about it, as do I! I am working from home today so able to find little moments of puttering.

Indoor challenge

Recycling out (boy that bag fills up quickly!)
Worked on linen closet
Got bag of donations together
Washed some sheets from linen closet for cat to sleep on

The linen closet started when I was looking for an old but pretty tablecloth that the cat found to be cool to sleep on last summer. I can't find it so I must've taken it to goodwill last year. As I hunted, I found a lot of things that i could donate and/or wash and use. I don't really have any extra towels, having culled the herd either last summer or the summer before. But that half bag of yellowed (!) cotton balls was shown the door. A few other things too. Knee brace? When and why?

Right now I'm washing the sheets for my fold out couch--have been in the linen closet since last year's visit from friend. I'll fold up one of the sheets and place on chair for kittycat, as the only table cloths I have left 1) fit my table and 2) will be used again.

I can see everyone is doing great! Keep up the good work--sorry not to respond to each of you individually but please know that each post was like a wonderful visit with a very dear friend. Thank you all.

Tillie thanks for your description of shopping. As you know I have not been shopping at all except Costco once a month or less. When I went to garage sales, it was fun and I did only buy a few things, so need to realize that is where I shop, just no extra stuff. I shopped in the garage this morning and that was just as fun, except I saw a bunch of stuff I have to get rid of. The food analogy is a good one. I used to have an eating disorder, starve, binge, so I could relate to both. Moderation is becoming more comfortable for me, still a bit foreign. Roller coaster ride is not as attractive to me now. Men, money, food, starving, shopping, never enough----the drama is all too much now, just want my golden years to be peaceful and clutter free, except maybe a yard full of rocks!!

Hello everyone. So great that there is always a post to read when I sign on. I put the clean pants in closet, now bedroom is pleasant again, amazing how leaving something in wrong place can seem ok, until I sign on here. Speaking of allergies, a neighbor cat loves my deck, garage etc, and I am allergic to it. Today I finally put foam in the back of pickup for bed, my throat got dry and scratchy, then I saw cat hairs all over it. Cleaned it, then put mattress cover and sheets in pickup, very cozy. Got cooler down from top of the heap in the garage, for my overnight outing, which was going to be today, until it took all morning to get ready. Will be hotter tomorrow, so may go Friday when a little cooler. I watered outside some this morning. Put aluminum shiny tape on handles of rock tools so when I look for them, maybe I will find them, still need to be more consistent putting them in one place when out pounding rocks. Did dishes.
Thanks for joining me in indoor challenge and amnesty tossing. Just realized some of the junk in garage can have amnesty invoked upon them, need to fill garbage cart again this week. Today I will vacuum two rooms and clean toilet in rock room for indoor challenge. Yesterday I boiled a bunch of eggs, sure nice to have when hunger hits.

Hi Everybody -

Hope everybody is doing well. I didn't do anything at home yesterday except take out the garbage. I have plans after work, but later I would like to stop and buy a few things I need for cleaning. My vacuum broke and I need a new litter pan and garbage bags.

Diane - I'm so happy to hear from you!!! Showering is really important for your mental health. How often are you able to shower and what kind of issues do you have when you can't find yourself able to shower? For me, when I don't shower, I start to slack off in other areas. I get a little morose (which is a struggle for me anyway). Is there something you can do to help motivate you to shower? Like, maybe you can't touch your rock collection until after you've showered? I'm sorry, I'm not sure is it a collection? Also, don't beat yourself up over the slip. As long as you aren't backtracking into old habits, I think you will be just fine! I'm glad you're back 🙂

Tatoulia - Sometimes relaxing after work is a MUST. Isn't it nice to be at the point where you can walk in the house and know you can do it guilt free? Ahhhh, the dream. lol!

Tillie - I'm glad to hear you're feeling a better. but take things slow, you don't want to relapse. Maybe spread it over the week? or throughout the day?

Good Morning Everyone. 🙂

Hi Diane 🙂
Thank you. 😀
So you went to some yard sales.
Did you find anything that you absolutely adore or need and are using right now?
Yard sales and thrift shops are the best places to buy needed items when on a very limited budget, like I am.
The trick is in knowing what I already have at home and what I need to buy, never buying something just to not leave empty handed.
No impulse buys just because something catches my eye.
Never shopping is like being on a super strict diet where you never get to eat anything you enjoy eating so one day you end up eating an entire cake.
Moderation in everything so everything is ok. (((HUGS)))
Happy you went rock hounding! 😀
WAY TO GO!!! with keeping up with maintenance.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for walking into your fairly tidy home after a long hard day! (((HUGS)))
Sorry you lost your post. 🙁
I hate when that happens so now I always copy before I try to post.

Almost 10:00am here.
Cats & I went out early and watered the trees & bushes.
Now I am doing a load of laundry.
So much catching up to do since being sick.
I am already tired.
Need to wash my hair and do some food prepping.
Also need to scoop litter boxes, sweep and take out the trash.
Guess I better get off the computer and get busy. 😛

Hello everyone! Glad to see your posts!

I did not get anything done yesterday re the house, worked at office late, made dinner, did dishes and then relaxed. I was so pleased to walk into my house and see it fairly clean and clear. There are definitely areas that need both clearing and cleaning, but the trend is in the right direction, thanks to everyone here.

Joan and Tillie, I have some allergies but not a lot. I do find that one allergic reaction seems to trigger more allergies. I also know that with age my allergies have changed somewhat. I am only mildly allergic to cats (very allergic to dogs) and with enough dedication, I've been breaking them one cat at a time!

Anony you are doing great work. You need to take care of yourself and keep your chin up. When I am most disgusted with myself, I find I sit here and wallow instead of taking action. The action really helps.

Tess--you are doing great! I find that I actually do better with less time--I try to get something quick done when I have little time. For ex, if BF says he'll be here in 10 minutes, I try to do something quick and easy. It's when I have unlimited time that I do nothing!

Diane!!!!!! Missing you!!! So you had a blip--that's all--I'm so pleased for you and your clean bedroom!!!! You have no idea how happy this makes me! And your indoor challenge is helping me so much!!!

You are each an inspiration to me. Thank you for your friendship.

Hello everyone. Took a long time to read all of your posts, did not realize how long it has been since I have been on here.
I had a slip on Thursday and went to some garage sales in neighborhood, then Friday was afraid to leave home, thinking I would go to more garage sales, and very self critical. Then Saturday and Sunday, I may be a day off, anyway, I went rock hounding and had fun. Today I stayed home, did dishes, washed new rocks, cleaned up a few things. After reading your posts, hopeful that I will get back to cleaning.
Fun reading about clean bedrooms, now that I actually have a clean bedroom, for the first time in years. I put some clean pants on top of dresser last night, and just realized I forgot to fold and put away.
Tillie happy you recovered from being under the weather, even though good weather.
I am still not taking enough showers, and not getting any aerobic exercise, both would lift my spirits.

First time in a long time--post didn't show up!

Suffice it to say it's great to hear from you all. Keep up the good work, take care of yourselves. At office all day. So nice to come home to a house that is clean and clear-- at least some of it is.

Going to do dishes and go to bed. Thank you for helping me to build new habits.

I'll write tomorrow--cannot recreate my post right now.

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

Hi Anonymoniker 🙂
Thank you 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for all you have been doing! 😀
Takes a bit of time to adjust to all the newness of the changes you've made.
Bet Kitty was stung by a wasp or something. Happens to my kitties to when they bat at them.
Definitely get some face masks, they really help.

Hi Tatoulia 🙂
Thank you 🙂
That is a very impressive list, WTG! 😀
Try to stay cool when the heat gets there. (((HUGS)))

Hi Tess 🙂
WAY TO GO!!! for all you did even when you had very little time and no plans to do stuff! 😀
Amazing what you can accomplish when you just sneak up and attack it like that. D

Hi Joan 🙂
It would be simpler to list the things I am not allergic to than to list what I am.
And the allergy list gets longer with every passing year because I keep changing physically.

Yesterday I washed the dishes! YEA! me! 🙂
Weren't many to wash but it took a while cause I had to keep stopping to sit for a few minutes.
Have no real plans for today, will just see if or what I feel up to.
This past week the weather has been pleasantly cool. Lower nineties but mostly eighties and over night down to the fifties or sixties.
Still no rain. 🙁

Take care 🙂

Just checking in. I have been making a lot of progress with my health issues the last few months.

Before I even start on hoarding issues, I have to have food that is good for me to eat. I have been experimenting with my diet for about 30 or 40 years, and still have not found a strictly nontoxic food source for myself. I tolerate a very few foods well, but have bad allergic reactions to most (e.g., grain starch gives me coughing and anaphylaxis at night). I'm also having a bad reaction to some foods I always considered OK, such as nuts. Additionally, I'm allergic to unspecified pollens, etc., etc.

Anyone else having this kind of severe problem with allergies?

Hey everybody! Today I didn't have lot of cleaning time, so I did things I knew I could do quickly. I wasn't planning to do any cleaning today until I logged in and saw all that you guys did today. Way to go!!!

-I added a few books to my donate box (and found a few I've been looking for)
-Put away a load of laundry and tossed another in the wash
-Gathered another bag of trash
-Tossed my dead plant 🙁
-Replaced the dead flowers on my kitchen table
-Started (just barely) washing walls. Actually, it was one door frame, but that totally counts!

That's enough for today. Tomorrow is bathroom day. I'm so not looking forward to it!

Sorry to post and run, but I have to get to bed. Talk to you all tomorrow 🙂

Indoor challenge part 2:

Emptied dishwasher
Cleaned bathroom sink and vanity
Cleaned toilet

This challenge is helping me a lot, Diane.

Hello everyone! Good to hear from you, Tillie, and no forgiveness is needed--along time ago I think you told us all to just post if we can--no need to first read the other posts or to apologize for being gone. So that goes for you, too. I do hope you continue to be on the road to recovery.

Indoor challenge:

Multiple loads of laundry, including cat blankets. All folded and put away.

Cleaned litter box

Garbage up and out

New placemat and cleaned around the areas where kitty eats

Swept the living room and the hallway.

Ran dishwasher (have not yet emptied)

Heat is heading my way and I know having my house cleaner will help me get through it better.

Missing you all! Keep up the good work, Anony.

Welcome back, Tillie! Im so glad youre feeling better! 😀
Tatoulia & Tess, yes, i cleared several more areas & let it sort of soak in & i much prefer the areas being clear, even tho it exposes the yuckiness of the walls, etc.!!! I have gotten over a certain hump on that subject & im excited to continue!
Im taking a break from clearing weeds today to go into the city & get some natural remedies for my lungs from the cough ive gotten from it. I think ill get some dust masks, too.
Thank you all for your encouragement! Im really needing it right now! I am impressed & inspired by how much you all are getting done!
Kitty is much better today, which indicates it was a bite of some kind, rather than an injury. I am so glad shes ok!
~May you each fulfill your hopes & challenges for today!~ ~☆~ 😀

Good Morning Everybody 🙂

I am finally feeling much better now although still weak and tired.
I have read all the posts, so much has happened while I've been away.
WAY TO GO!!! Everyone! 😀
Please forgive me and grant me amnesty for not replying to them all. (((hugs)))

Congratulations Tess on getting the rug down! Good work! You've been doing a great job and I am impressed with how much you are doing! Please don't overdo--your health is important.

Anony, good to hear that your cat is better. I agree with Tess's excellent observation--yes your cleaning and clearing is revealing damage to your home but the damage is there no matter what. So keep moving forward!

We celebrated my brother's birthday one last time tonight-- family dinner--delightful evening. I'm already in my pjs and I think I'll go relax

I'm stopped by mom's before our dinner and I brought her groceries, did a little clearing out of her fridge and changed her sheets. During dinner she mentioned looking forward to getting into her nice clean bed. I also cleaned her cat's dishes. Mom's cleaning lady comes tomorrow and she will take care of the litter box.

Keep up the good work!

I agree about the bedroom being important! I think, at least for me, its the first thing i see upon awakening, which is when im most prone to depression & anxiety. For many people, that is at night. Either way, its an important image to have be tranquil in and out of our sleep & resting state.
The thing about trying to 'improve' my current home inside, is that its an old dilapidated trailer. I plan to get a tiny house to live in. Its seeming to me a more pressing priority as i try make this mess better. If i can just move my essential items in there, i then plan to simply decorate the outside of the old trailer & other outbuildings with some colorful painted trim & then lattice with vines & flowers! It doesnt sound logical in some ways, like the saying, 'putting lipstick on a pig', but given the situations involved with it, it might be best?! They cant be hauled off, so maybe make into pretty garden centers? ha ha
Im aiming to toss a garbage bag a day, as well!

Tatoulia, its so nice to hear a happy cat story AND a happy-soon-to-be-ex-hoarder story!!!
You seem to be really staying on top of things!
Im trying to resist a melt down. When i look at my list of obvious things to do, i do get more grounded. I just need to do the things ive decided on already & not look any further.
My kitty is feeling better today, too. She is still limping, tho.
I really wish i could hire someone. There is no one.....hopefully that will change. Im not use to needing help with things.
Im looking forward to being a 'good' housekeeper...'keeper' being the operative word! ;D

Hi everybody!

Welcome, Avery! You've come to the right place for support and motivation. I honestly don't know if I would have come as far as I have without the people here. I'm so thankful! Good luck with your bedroom. That seems to be the hardest room for me. I keep all of my favorite things in there. I agree with Anony's advice....start tossing the obvious stuff. Especially if you get stuck. It seems to make the harder decisions a little easier. I guess because you're on a roll.

Anonymoniker, I'm sorry you're running into problems. Especially inside the house. I don't know if this is going to make you feel better or not, but keep this in mind...the problem is there rather you can see it or not. Keep clearing. Once you discover the problems, hopefully you can figure out a way to repair them or prevent them from getting worse. Please don't let this stop you or get you too down.

Tatoulia, I think I'm all better. Thanks! I have a follow up appointment tomorrow, but I feel great so far. I'm so glad the cat is feeling better, too. Both of you have to be relieved!

Tillie, Diane - hope both of you are doing well.

I didn't achieve my goals yesterday, but today was a productive day for me. I did everything I wanted to do yesterday, plus:
-added an additional load of laundry
-prepared 5 more bags of garbage to go out
-added 3 more things to my donation box
-started a recycling system (again)
-cleaned more of my bedroom
I'm really excited because I finally laid an area rug I've had for 2 years! The floor was never clear enough. So that's my big win today.

Indoor challenge:
Recycling out
Dishes done and the one clean kitchen counter is wiped clean
Returned a suit at Lord & Taylor

Area in living room that is generally an unexplained magnetic field for piles of junk remains clear and open. Ditto coffee table.

Hoping everyone is well. Sending special thoughts to Tillie and Tess--hope you ladies are on the mend. And hoping to hear from everyone when you can. I'm looking at you, my dear Diane!!!!

Ps cat update--she lost her tooth yesterday afternoon. Has been jumping around, meowing with joy and otherwise looking well ever since!!!

Good morning all!
Im having a really hard time. My efforts keep bringing new problems. The dried weeds ive been clearing are causing a scary cough. I finally tossed an enire surface & wall of junk & all it did was expose the dilapidated wall & counter. There doesnt seem to be obvious answers as to how to improve this mess.
Avery, one thing that has helped me in the past, is to first throw away.the most obvious stuff, with the least amount of decisions involved. Sometimes, when graduating to bigger decisions of things, it helps me to be in a strong mind frame. If im feeling weak or sentimental, it doesnt work as well.
Im also looking back at my Dad & his Mom that i take after, genetically & they were the same way with this stuff....they just had spouses that kept it up...

Hey Avery, I'm home on a Saturday night and I'm doing some laundry and cleaning up a little. All of my garbage is where it belongs, and I'm working on sweeping the floors, a little dabbling in the kitchen and some other puttering. I know you mentioned having trouble with your bedroom. What types of things seem to mess it up? Clothes? Food wrappers? Papers? Junk? I know with clothes I've finally conquered that problem. I try to hang up my clothes as soon as I take them off, and anything that will need to be washed I put in a pile/laundry basket.

I find getting garbage and recyclables together also makes for a sense of accomplishment. It is much easier than trying to get rid of treasures like books and gifts and pictures and cards, etc. let us know what you are doing and what you are trying to accomplish!

Right now I am working on getting maintenance activities to seem like second nature, like keeping my bathroom clean, not leaving dishes in sink, folding and putting away my laundry. But before I got to this point, I had to learn to let a lot of things go. Treasures and presents and things and books and dishes, etc. can be tough but can be done!

Hi everyone, I'm fairly new here so I need all the support I can get, I've started on my bedroom today, just throwing out a few things, it surprisingly feels pretty nice to get rid of somethings! Would love to hear from you guys!