Hi, I'm new to this group. Hoarding jas caused me tremendous depression & anxiety. My husband is a hoarder and I am unorganized and never put anything away. My rational is because there is no where to put anything. My husbands rational is, you can't throw or give anything away that has value. I partially agree. We are one man one woman in 2600 sq feet I have no more storage for anything. If we can't find something, we buy another. If something is broken, we keep it and buy another. Clothes are the worst. I need some help.

Karl, since I'm new, I don't know much of your story yet. Sorry about the notice. I hope in the long run it ends up working out well for you.

I did get my "have-to's" from my to-do list done, plus a few others as well. I also (after being inspired by Diane's comment) bought and ate some healthier food than what I had yesterday. I only got a little done on my papers, and I didn't get my sweeping done. I'm OK with that, because one of my to-do list items produced an unexpected twist that had to be dealt with. (Nothing bad, just something that had to be dealt with.) And now I'm going to try to hit the sack.

New twist -- the apartment complex has just served my housemate with a 60-day termination notice. (No reason given, and none is required, but it pretty much has to be because of the clutter.) I'm only surprised that it didn't happen sooner. I guess I'd better accelerate my plans to get out of here.

Hello everyone! I love to see what you're all up to and accomplishing!

Tillie, I'm sorry about the trash issue 🙁 I hope that gets sorted out quickly and trash pickup can resume. Glad to see though that your clutter free zones are still yours and you have a beautiful day to enjoy!

Day 3: I did the dishes. My to-do list includes: a little grocery shopping and working on my weekly task of curing the table clutter problem. I can clean the table but it'll just happen again so I want a better solution.

Some specific goals for today (some of which may change depending on how my foot is doing):

Check my to-do list I made yesterday for things that "have to" be done today and do those.

Spend at least 15 minutes working on some of the floors (sweeping, vacuuming, etc.).

Spend at least 15 minutes going through papers in a certain room that need to be sorted into "trash," "shred," or "keep" categories. (Most are destined for "trash" or "shred.")

I like that thought of "eating better than yesterday." I'm almost out of certain healthier foods I sometimes eat; will plan to go to the store to buy more.

Happy day, everybody.

LR good plan, sleep is so important for us. Tillie, hope you are feeling better today.
Today the sunshine is lifting my spirits, still cold out, went out and walked around, so nice having a dog visiting, although he is not a hugger, still nice having him here. He let me sleep until 7 so I am appreciative, he usually gets up at 5am with his owner. Today I will do dishes, eat better food than yesterday. take tanner and me for a walk.
I think now is a good time to finally vacuum since Tanner is out enjoying the yard. I wish you all a pleasant day, and productive day, accomplishing something to make your life better.

Spring is finally here! 😀
Good morning everybody.
BIG WAY TO GO!
for getting stuff done and making your daily plans.
There has been no progress on his end here and things are actually getting worse mainly because he can not seem to follow through with anything.
I could help him stay on track but he has been so mean & nasty that I just allow him to wallow in his own mess hoping that he will hit bottom and decide that my suggestions really do work.
My NO CLUTTER ZONES are still clear & clean so I am doing alright. 😀
He is in a dispute with the trash company over their increase in rates so he canceled the trash pick up service.
Lets see just how much worse things will get now. 🙁

Oh Well, anyways....
Since the weather is lovely, today I will do some laundry and then get outside to play.
Daffodils, grape hyacinth, wild currant bushes and dandy lions are all in bloom. Dove, Quail, Robins, Wrens and finches are all frisky.
Have a WONDERFUL first day of SPRING! 😀

Thanks, Karl, for the info on that chat time.

Following up on my goal-setting for yesterday... I did get my to-do list going. I decided to pass on working on the receipts and focus on trying to relax and get to sleep early so I could get today off to a better start. That was (mostly) successful.

I will probably post my "today" plans later on today.

LR2014, as of the official start time, I was the only one here for the Tuesday chat, and nobody else showed up by the time I had to leave, soon after that. So, unless there were some late arrivals who were patient enough to wait for each other, it's likely that the Tuesday chat didn't happen at all this week. (That's not unusual; it always tends to have a lower population than the Sunday chat.)

Day two. I did the dishes and went to the bank.

My difficult thing for the day was going to a chiropractor. I had never been to one before. I did something to my back last week and it only seems to be getting worse so I decided I should go, especially since my husband was urging me to. I was freaking out about going to this unfamiliar place and being touched and everything but I did it and I'm feeling better already.

I also made dinner but it turned out to be pretty awful lol Oh well, can't win em all.

Thanks to all of you for the welcomes and the nice comments. I look forward to getting to know each of you.

I'm keeping my decluttering plans "low key" for today. Part of the reason is that I injured a foot last week and I'm trying to be careful with it for a little while. Also, my sleep schedule has been off the past several days, and I want to try to hit the sack early tonight to try to get back on a more normal sleep schedule. My first specific goal is to just make a list of some of the things I want/need to get done over the next few days and weeks. A second goal is to spend some time this evening (I'll go for 20 minutes again, at least) getting some receipts organized for a task I need to accomplish later. No dancing tonight to celebrate successful completion, though, unless it's one-footed. Besides, I don't want to get too hyped up and then be unable to get to sleep. Is delayed partying acceptable?

PS I would have joined the Tuesday night chat last night, but I was out of town and got home too late to do it. I logged in, but it was obviously too late. How long does it usually run?

Roxie, especially for you!!

go to youtube and in search go to ~ the pet collective pharrell happy

🙂

LR, your description of the papers and different emotions that come up really struck home. Thanks for putting it into words so well.

take care all ~~

DAVE, where are you? what are you up to? Hope a pile in the garage didn't bury you. Kidding. Miss hearing from you, just a quick hello would be great, if you are too busy cleaning to write. Think of you daily and hope for the best in the car parking garage.

Hi Roxie, we posted at the same time, fun reading your post, you really are good at supporting each person, you have a good memory, I forget who posted what by the time I start writing on here, good luck with doctor appts.

LR2014 Welcome. Good for you declining the party. I liked your clothing comment to Diane. The shredding and charity idea is great. After you get through some of those stressful chores, maybe you can spend five minutes dancing it off. I recommend a daily dose of Pharrell's "Happy" song. Hard not to dance to it! When you post here, if you don't see your post, hit "refresh" and see if it shows up.

good morning, very difficult sleeping last two nights, this is unusual for me. It is still so difficult for me to say no to people that I have felt less than, so in past always would say yes, even though it was just for their convenience. Knowing I deserve to say no when it is important to me, will become easier if I practice. Speaking of practice, back to the pile of pants. I still have the all or nothing thinking. After reading LR's post about 20 minute paper sorting, realized I will avoid it when think I have to do it all. Today will set timer for 20 minutes and try on and sort pants. Have to dog proof house and deck today, so will encourage me to take an objective view of what needs to be finished and cleaned up today. Tanner is coming tonight to stay for 4 days.
LR I appreciate your post about finding clothes that fit and how it made you feel more confident. I was talking myself into keeping the bigger clothes to use as work clothes, it would be so much better to donate them to someone that will use them to feel better about how they look. Tillie, when we don't sleep well, our minds can be a challenge to keep tamed.
Dianne, happy you and Laura got so much done.
Roxie, happy you are still keeping us updated on all that you got done. COPD is scary. In nursing school they had us breathe through a straw how it feels to have COPD. I only smoked for 2 years but it was the hardest thing to give up, it is a powerful addiction. Apparently smoking affects the brain like cocaine, so is very hard to give it up. I wish you well and happy you realize how important it is to give up smoking to save you from more lung damage, plus you will have more energy and feel better after withdrawal. With patches you will do fine. Deep breathing will be a good substitute for the ritual of smoking.
So much going through my head this morning, wishing the best for each of you today. Action leads to progress, inaction leads to failure.

On Monday, I went to the Post Office and canceled the vacation hold on my mail. They were indeed holding my housemate's as well as mine; someone said that they can't hold mail for individuals, only addresses. (If that's true, then why does the form ask which one I want??)

I haven't gone through the mail yet, but I think there should be a check in there, and some forms that I need to fill out to get a few more checks. Every little bit helps.

Thanks for the warm welcome back everybody! Good to see everyone doing their best and making progress, however small.

Welcome LR! Great job working on those papers! I have recently gotten rid of a great deal of old papers that stressed me out every single time I thought about them or saw them. Now that they're gone I feel so much better. Another great example of how facing the issue makes things better for us in the long run 🙂

Today is my new day one. I went to work earlier, cooked dinner for my husband and put in three loads of laundry. I also emptied the bathroom garbage cans a took the trash out. For the rest of the evening I'd like to finish drying the clothes, fold and put them away. Maybe read a little bit.

OK, I did my twenty minutes on papers. (In this instance, found more to trash than to shred. Either way, I made progress.) The twenty minutes spent is a good reminder of why this is (or can be) hard. These papers were from the mid-2000's. (Trust me, I have much older ones.) It was 20 min. worth of visual reminders of that time period. I found papers that aroused old anger feelings (a note blaming me for something, which in turn reminded me of an irritating person I once had to deal with), papers that aroused guilt (visual reminders of things I was supposed to do back then but for various reasons never did), papers that made me smile, and papers that reminded me of good skills I have. In short, a variety of emotions and memories got aroused in that twenty minutes. I don't feel particularly drained at the moment, but at times that drain can and does happen. That's one reason that support of one another in this is so good and so important.

Since papers are one of my big issues, one specific goal for today is to spend 10 to 20 minutes going through papers in search of ones that can be shredded. (It doesn't take long to find papers like that!) I'm fortunate to have a local shredding service that brings a big truck to a nearby location on Saturdays. You can take a box of things there to be shredded for $10, and the money goes to a charity (or at least that part was at one time the case...by now, I don't care...just want the papers gone). I have too much to shred on my own. They shred it right there in front of you, so you know it got done. Feels really good to take a load there and then leave that location with one less box of stuff!

Dianne: You're welcome!

Tillie, your kitties must be sending me their jumpy/twitchy vibes thru the moonlight here. What thoughts and emotions are running wild thru your brain? Could it be I'm getting those vibes too?

Thanks LR. That's very helpful for me to hear as I struggle with opening my greedy little fists. 🙂

Good morning everybody! 😀
Clear skies & lots of sun today but it's cold and breezy.
Got some laundry hung out on the line anyway.
Was up most of the night because the cats were all jumpy & twitchy because of all the moon light.
Spent yesterday afternoon trying to sew and Scooter helped me a lot.
Will try sewing again today after I get the usual daily tasks done.
Still have so many thoughts and emotions running wild through my brain.
It is so very very true that if a hoarder does not want to change, they won't.
Keep up with all the GREAT work you all have been doing. (((hugs)))

Oops... that was supposed to be a comma after "confidence." Yes, perfectionism in certain areas has been one of my issues that has contributed in various ways to my clutter problem. 🙂

Thanks for the welcome, Dianne. I do have some old clothes to get rid of, but excess clothes are not my issue as much as other things. As a matter of fact, one of my problems is that I hate to go clothes shopping for a variety of reasons (in part because of the cost of nicer clothes, in part because of past difficulties getting things that fit, and for other reasons). Over the past few years, two people have given me some of their excess, and I also picked up a few things at thrift stores. Finding items from those sources that seemed to fit and that helped me look and feel more professional once again helped me overcome some big inner barriers. For instance, this past fall, I attended a conference for people in a profession I was once involved in (and might be again). Because of these clothing gifts (and a few things I purchased on my own), I was able to go to that conference with much more confidence. feeling appropriately dressed. So if it helps your joy, think about people like me as you pass these items on. The clothing items I received free (or was able to purchase at a reasonable price) were big blessings for me!

Good morning everyone. It is sunny here today and I really want to finish some out side projects but have to wait until it warms, still only 25 degrees, with wind chill, 18 degrees. Frozen toes, so have to do some stuff in here. I hauled all the pants out here in living room, and there is a tall pile. It is good to have all in one place so I can see the extent of the excess. I have a full length mirror ready for fashion show, it is too cold in here to take off clothes, so thought I would write on here for a minute. I keep having the visual of Dianne fist clenching things that could be shared with others, and slowly letting the clench relax and choosing joy and not anxiety over letting go of excess clothes. Helps to visualize people finding my good clothes at thrift store, and helping them to have good wearable clothes. We will see----------very difficult to let go, it just takes effort to change my thinking.
Having so much stuff takes too much time, to find what I want, to shuffle it around, and this is after I have gotten rid of so much stuff, time for another round of give aways.

Hi LR, welcome!

Congrats on breaking an old pattern! The ability to do that is a very big deal. 🙂

Hi everyone, yes LR that is a big deal not buying things to be nice to yourself. Tillie I missed you too, and am with you on staying inside, kept trying to go out but wind was too much. I did put the new gutter up on the wall over deck that I painted, looks so much better than the duct taped plastic thing I had up before. Did a few other small things outside. Got all dishes done and put away. Cooked chicken breasts today, enough to make soup, eat some today. Hauled lots of firewood up to deck, have a fire going now.
Tillie, in your honor started fashion show. Picked all the scarves I still like and hung them neatly on scarf hanger by color. arranged all tops in closet by color, spring, summer. Took all pants out. Most are too big now. It is difficult to decide on what to keep, not knowing if this unexpected weight loss is permanent or temporary. My plan is to try to find some that fit well enough to have some pants to wear. I have only been wearing yoga pants and athletic pants that stretch, so when tried on pants to wear in public, had trouble finding anything to wear. By separating them by size, I won;'t waste time looking for pants in future. My plan is Nito sort ones I like and have been wearing up until this winter, by size and store the ones by size, and after 6 months or a year, if I still can't wear them, will donate. I will either toss or donate the ones I am going to get rid of tomorrow when I finish trying on. Nice reading what you have been getting accomplished.

Good. That worked. So here's my post. Since it's late, I'll say something I did rather than what I plan to do. I was invited by a friend to one of those home parties where you get the chance to buy something from a certain company's product line. (I like the company's products.) I can't go to the party. In the past, I would have ordered something anyway "just to be nice." But I decided to be nice to myself and not follow that old pattern. I don't really need anything new from that company, and I don't need to add to my "stuff" just to "be nice." I can be nicer to everyone in the world (including myself) when I get to the point of having far less stuff.

For me today, this was a big deal.

Hi. I'm one of the "new faces" from Sunday night. And "what I am doing today" (at least right now) is learning how to use the message board I was told about last night. Thanks to those of you who pointed it out to me. Since this type of thing (chats, message boards) is new to me, I want to make sure this goes through before writing more.