OT Daunting Tasks How Do You Handle?

[EthansMom]

I like a lot of the information from Flylady, but have never subscribed to her emails because I heard she sends out soooo many emails each day. Some of my favorite tips from Flylady:

Don't pull out more than you could easily put back. I used to take an entire box and empty it all over the floor to pick out the garbage. After an hour, I would be bored/tired/etc. and stuff the remainder back in the box. This method would get rid of some of the clutter, but it left the remaining clutter in worse condition than when I started. Now, I just flip though the clutter while it's in the box/pile/whatever and throw out some, save some, and file some. I immediately throw out anything that needs to be tossed and immediately file whatever needs to be filed. I'm still spending the same amount of time, but my clutter is better off when I'm done than when I started.

You can do anything for 15 minutes. Really, it's true. You can do any disgusting or draining task for a short while.

Good Luck with your organizing! And don't beat yourself up if you don't accomplish everything -- as long as there is less clutter and more organization than when you started, you've done well.

 

[jeancbpugh]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I will go to flylady's site and check that out. About two years ago my immune system went nuts, attacked my optic nerve, lost my vision for a couple of months and now I don't drive (which I hate!). It seems to be worse (still no diagnosis on why or what happened, just know my IS is still out of kilter) and I think it is because I have no sense of refuge (crazy job, parents elderly, DH's business ups/downs, DS teen-age angst). A neat, organized home with all the "stuff" in its place would be wonderful.

Any other ideas, please help!

Thanks.

Sharon

I understand. When all else goes crazy, it is nice to have control over some aspect of life!

 

[pjlla]

Do you have anyone close to you (Mom, Sister), who might be looking to give you an unusual Christmas gift? You could ask for a gift of "time" (as in, time to help you sort this out!). I gave my Mother a "time" gift for Mother's Day. I sorted, organized, and labeled 80 years worth of photos! I originally told her I would give 6 hours, but sort of wanted to finish the project, so it turned into 60 hours++! But the sense of accomplishment when I handed her eight LARGE FULL photo albums was GREAT!

If you are talking mostly about paper, I would start by setting up file folders (as you mentioned) in those open crates. If you feel it is necessary, you could even go further and divide each file folder by year. Probably sit at a table or on the floor with a box/folder/bag of papers to sort. Each paper either goes in a folder or in the trash/shredder.

Only haul out one bag/box at a time.... otherwise you could feel overwhelmed.

Find out the laws about tax papers (I believe you should keep for 7 years).... anything else you can TOSS!!

Keep some paper clips and a stapler handy to keep multiple pages of one document together.

Good luck!.....................P

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Thanks everyone for all the great ideas and advice. Right now, I think I will make lists for both jobs, basement and paperstuff. If I segmentize (is that a word?) the basement, it will be much easier, especially if I can have someone help me this weekend get the big (arminnie's 5 items) out before I get started on all the smaller things. I do have a file cabinet in the top of my garage (old, wooden, bought at an antique auction 20 years ago, but never used) and I was thinking I could use that (thanks for mentioning that mickeyluv'r). I work tomorrow and after next week I will be off, so I am hoping to psych myself up with all the great encouragement you all have provided and get it done.

Still hoping for more good tips!

Sharon

 

[DisneyMomOK]

Pjlla Thanks for mentioning the stapler and paper clips. Obviously, I need a list for supplies: file folders, stapler, paper clips. Anyone think of anything else that is good to have on hand before you deal with mounds of paper? I know I have a large (27") TV box full in one closet and probably that much if not more in couple of other rooms and one closet is just shelves of old paper work. I am going to use the great advice on the trash sacks and keep one just for the stuff that needs to be shredded and do that later.

Sharon

 

[flagdaytwins]

Treat yourself to a small reward when you do, say 15 minutes of cleaning, or fill up a trash bin -- you deserve it! I'm going through the same thing and food motivates me -- I buy some good chocolate and reward myself when I've cleaned clutter.

Regarding Fly Lady -- I didn't like all the e-mails she sent, as I spent more time reading/deleting them than actually doing any constructive.

Perhaps you have a friend who can send you a daily e-mail to remind you of your task at hand?

 

[jeancbpugh]

Regarding Fly Lady -- I didn't like all the e-mails she sent, as I spent more time reading/deleting them than actually doing any constructive.

Perhaps you have a friend who can send you a daily e-mail to remind you of your task at hand?

Flylady can be annoying, but there are some very good ideas in there. You don't have to get the emails if you don't want to. You can also join her Yahoo group, and specify you want to receive digests. That's what I do. You get about 2 emails a day, that you can skim at your convenience.

 

[rie'smom]

For large tasks that overwhelm just looking at them here's some things that work for me.

Break the task down into teeny tiny sections and make a list. You'll feel you accomplished something each time you can cross something off.

Schedule what days you can work on it each week whether that's 1 or 2 days or you want to work on it every day and a time to start. Then get your favorite upbeat CD out and play it nice and loud when you start working. When the CD ends you're done and you've worked for about an hour. It's amazing how much you can get done in that time and how it adds up if you do this a few times a week and the music helps get you motivated to start.

Team up with a friend for a declutter session, this works great with online friends. Set a time to declutter together and check in with each other about 15 minutes before the start time to motivate each other with what you want to accomplish. Work for 1 hour then check back in with your declutter partner to compare notes of how much you each got done.

HTH, Calie

Make a list!! Start with ten things. As you accomplish each task scratch it off. Keep the list with you and each time something is scratched off you feel so good. I began doing this several years ago and now I never feel overwhelmed(not counting kids and hubby LOL). AFTER you finish the ten things on your list add ten more. Keep 5-6 years of tax stuff for dear old Uncle Sam. Hold onto cherished keepsakes and pitch the rest.

 

[gobledygook]

Hi! I know everyone is mentioning Flylady, but there is a site I go to every day that I love. The site is organizedhome.com. Their message boards are broken down into decluttering (you can't organize clutter, you have to get rid of it), organizing, cleaning, and simplifying. They also have a lot of articles and links to other useful websites. Everyone on the boards there is very supportive, because everyone has been in the position of needing help in one area or another (or all!).

 

[graygables]

Hi, Sharon!

My Dad is a prof at OSU Tulsa!!!

OK, now that's out of the way... I cannot emphasize the FlyLady system enough. I have been signed up since almost the beginning and it has changed my life and my home! I am still very much a FlyBaby and I still have a very long way to go, but just knowing there is a fresh start every day, every moment, really has been a huge encouragement to me.

I will say that I am not a fan of 15 minutes, so I have made it 30. I can't accomplish much in just 15, but that's just me. Read over the site and tweak where you need to (I don't wear lace-up shoes either! ) to make it fit YOUR life. You will be amazed at what clutter reduction can do for you!

Good luck and go Cowboys!!!

 

[graygables]

Another thing about paperwork...I hate filing. Passionately. BUT, I started dealing with it like my scrapbooks. Keep current things current and deal with the backlog as I get a chance. One way I've started doing that is by setting up a thick binder with page protectors and a pocket folder. As bills come in, they go in one side of the pocket, the other is for misc coupons, mailings that I need for sales, etc. As I pay the bill, I move it to the back to one of the page protectors. At the end of the month, I pull the papers from the page protectors and drop those in a file box. I have a receipt drawer that I cull weekly, only keeping receipts I need for taxes, warranties, or possible returns. At the end of the month, that gets emptied into the files.

Also, I am a stacker, I've discovered, and vertical files are NOT working that well for me (esp for the backlog), so I have ordered a literature sorter for my desk that I will label each "cubby". It also has an adjustable place to store my bill-binder. I'm hoping that will help clear some of the stuff off my desk and get me a little more motivated to deal with my backlog.

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

Baby steps.

If you have stacks of old papers (utility bills, credit card offers etc...) take a small stack, park yourself at the table, on the couch, wherever you're comfortable with a shredder and a trash bag. Any utility bill over 6 months old goes in the shredder. Take more and more stacks, you'll slowly chip away at it.

Receipts. Do the same thing but you don't have to shred them if the cc number isn't on there. If its an item that you don't have any more, don't need to return, doesn't have a warrenty just trash the receipt. Items that you need to keep the receipts for should go with the manual.

For the clutter, get boxes or bags and put anything you consider "clutter" in it. Set the boxes or bags somewhere for a month or two. If you don't go looking for it take the bag sight unseen to donation. If you think you can have a garage sale or ebay it do that.

Clothing. If you haven't worn it in a year (sans the dressy outfits) it goes. If it doesn't fit perfectly it goes. If you don't think you can part with it try and remember the last time you wore it.

 

[DisneyMomOK]

All of the suggestions are great! I am starting to make my lists, bougyt a couple of extra laundry baskets to sort the discard paperwork into (one for shred, one just trash) and will make my dining room table (with all the extensions) my headquarters. I have decided I am going after the paper first, then deal with the basement. Since I have a deadline on the basement (need the junk out in order to accomodate DS's weight bench for Xmas), hopefully for the Holidays I will have a decluttered home. Thank you so much! And, please everyone have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Sharon

 

[can'twait]

Um, denial?!

Seriously, I like the sorting suggestion. I do that with the kids' stuff - I go through their rooms with a toy box and 2 garbage bags - keep, garbage and sell/give away. A second suggestion is to stop buying more crap. We buy more crap we don't have use for or room for. And then we get more for Christmas. Ugh! We don't have room for it and I end up throwing stuff out. Try not to buy or hold onto stuff in the future. After you clean up, you don't want to find yourself back in the same situation again before you know it. Try to keep it from piling up again.

As far as reminding yourself about things, do you have Outlook on your pc? I have EVERYTHING in there! From Birthdays to when to send a check in for school lunches to when to change the Brita filter. You can make appointments (really reminders for yourself) that have windows that pop up when the appointment/reminder is due. You can make recurring appointments every day, once a week, etc. to help you remember what you need to work on. You can also delay the reminder or reschedule the appointment to push them back. If you don't have Outlook, maybe you can find a free online calendar.

Good Luck!

 

[Debbie]

you can't organize clutter, you have to get rid of it

No truer words were written. It's hard-I'm a teacher, and throwing out books/files (even if I haven't used them in 20 years ) was hard. In the end though, the sense of calm that you get without clutter is unbelievable.

 

[DiznEeyore]

(you can't organize clutter, you have to get rid of it)

OMGosh!!! That is *perfect*!!! I'm going to print that out in big letters and put it on my fridge!! It'll be a great reminder for everyone in the house!