The Never Ending Story

And you thought that one day the whole house would be cleaned, never to be messed up again?  How I wish that was true for me.  It really does seem to be a never ending story, so I keep removing items from the household, avoid buying anything we do not really need, and I fortify my mind and body to do more.  Or, in simpler language, I psych myself up to clean an area I have let get out of hand -- Again.

While we have been doing the first week of the November 2015 Kitchen Challenge, I have been sorting out my dining/office/craft room.  I was working on the old kitchen, also known as the breakfast room, but it ended up being a repository for things I had to get out of the way in the dining room.  Actually, it started the other way around.  I have been in this process of throw away, give away, rearrange, and I am happy with what I have in the dining room right now.

I did not take a picture of the dining room before this time, but it was unpleasant.  I had sewing things out that were not being used, because I did not even want to be in that room.  My sideboard was piled high, because I kept setting things there.  I have a great word for it: Yucky!  It looked awful.   And, I couldn't dust, because there was not any point in dusting the mess that I kept walking by.  I felt overwhelmed by it.

Here are some pictures.  I haven't done anything special to the dining table other than dust it, because I need to cut out some curtains.

November, 2015

October, 2014

If you could see the plates, you would see that they have blue, orange, red, green, and yellow in the design.  I see a rolled up wall hanging in the left corner; but quite frankly, this is an undecided item for me, which I cannot quite bring myself to let go.  I keep thinking I may have someplace to put it someday.  I could bring myself to give it away to someone who really loved it.  So yes, I do have things I am undecided on giving away.  I guess I will have to put it in the cedar chest or a closet.

On the Left:

I am so proud of my craft corner.  It has been vacuumed, dusted, and reorganized.  My paints and other small items have gone into drawers.  I used to have other things in those drawers, but I threw away the things that have been there for too long, put some Christmas towels in a giveaway bag, and I put the Christmas hand towels I wanted to keep in a closet with other towels.


 On the Right:

That is my poor breakfast room table that got things piled on it again;  however, I have been setting my timer and it is almost cleared.

Here I am viewing the breakfast room into the kitchen.  Can you see I was dusting?

The picture below shows a work in progress.  I moved my coffee maker, and I don't like the way this looks.  However, the important thing is it is clean.  While I have been working on other areas, I continue to work on the kitchen.  I am keeping up with it.  How are you doing with yours?  Do it as you go along every day, and it will be easier than letting it pile up.

Finally, I want to say a word about older kitchens versus newer kitchens.  If you are anything like me, you admire the gorgeous kitchens in magazines, as well as those featured on the internet.  The house I lived in prior to this one had beautiful granite counter tops and everything in it was new.  It belonged in a magazine.  Due to circumstances beyond my control, I had  to move.  I missed that kitchen, but I was very sick when we lived at that house and it was hard for me to clean. As lovely as that whole house was, I did not enjoy it when it was messy and cluttered.

Simplicity is the key.  
If you have all kinds of gadgets and no room for them, it merely ends up being frustrating.  If your house is full of things you have not used for years, you are doing yourself a disservice by surrounding yourself with clutter.  





Finally, this week the November 2015 Kitchen Challenge continues.  We are building habits.  Each day, I will post a new challenge on my Facebook page.  Join me at Fatigue, Creative Decluttering, and a Better Life.   

Living in My "Vacation" Home

Image Courtesy of Simon Howden
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Have you ever stayed in a hotel room, an apartment/condo, or a small house for a week while on vacation?  Or, maybe you were there for only two or three days.  Did you notice how the uncluttered rooms helped you to relax;  or, how much easier it was to pick up, because you did not have much to put away.  Also, you were really enjoying the uncluttered atmosphere, and you literally wanted to bask in it when you were resting in the room or rooms.

Image Courtesy of artur84
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I don't know for sure that everyone experiences this, but I have;  and, I have decided that I am going to make my home, which by my definition is where I live with my family now (whether I own it or not), my very own vacation spot, my bed and breakfast, and my place that I can look at with an uncritical eye, which I will always want to keep up, because it is easier to do that in my  vacation home.  It is true that I do live here all the time, unless I visit someone else or I travel to an overnight destination; however, I think this is a valid goal.  Simplicity makes life a little easier.

You may ask what sparked this revelation.  While I was browsing vacation rentals from the quaint and vintage to the out of my ball park price, I realized that I am too critical of how my own home looks.  It hit me as I looked at the quaint and vintage, that for just a few dollars and getting rid of even more clutter than I already have, I have my own quaint and vintage place everyday.  Since I am working on  the process of making it even better, I am taking some time to review some of the items I have kept and the big question I ask myself is "Do I really love this item?".  As I set aside the items I want to let loose of, I label them with blue painter tape and a price, because I plan to have a garage sale.  Why do I use Blue Painter Tape?  It is easy to remove.

Image Courtesy of winnond
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image Courtesy of Simon Howden
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I am not going to post any pictures of areas of my house right now, because I am quite busy with the process.  But, I can tell you that it feels quite painless, and less daunting than when I had piles of clutter from being ill and too much saved from years past.  I am going for simple.  How simple?  I will decide as I go along, and I will try to remember to keep you informed.

God bless you as you work on your home.  I hope this encourages you in your quest for a less cluttered life.

Image courtesy of artur84
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Deborah

Image Courtesy of digidreamgrafix
FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Day 11, February 28 Day Decluttering Challenge

You may think it impossible to make a difference in the way your house looks in baby steps;  but, I know it is possible, because I did it.  Now, I have a new job, because I feel better.  Fortunately, I work out of my home, because I am in the health and wellness industry.  Please feel free to ask me about that.  My life is so very different, and I feel better than I ever thought was possible.  Even when I have an off-day, I feel better than I used to feel.  I am healthier, stronger, seldom in pain, and totally impressed with my wellness products.  Oh, I am making some money too.  I love them--really do.

Okay.  I guess I chased that rabbit long enough.  The point is I have to keep after the clutter.  I think I am a hopeless piler, but I am not willing to give up hope I can change.  Here is the graphic for today.  I am sorry it is late.

28 Days of Cleaning and Decluttering: Challenge, Day 3

Tuesday, 2-3-2015 I hope you were able to make progress in your bathrooms yesterday. I am giving you an easy job today, so you can finish up. If you only worked on one bathroom, we will be wiping them down later this week before the weekend.

I am not trying to take you through a cleaning schedule for the week. We are simply reducing the clutter in each room by practicing techniques for getting it done. It is your job to keep down the clutter in the rooms you work on. You will find the job gets easier as you reduce clutter in each room; and perhaps, you will be inspired to continue reducing the clutter.

Check out my Pinterest Boards. I tried to move any board I thought would inspire you in the area of organizing towards the top of my Boards.

Day 2 of 28 Day Getting Rid of My Clutter Challenge

Monday, February 2, 2015 Day 2. If you are concerned about whether or not we are going to come back to finish the bathroom in Levels 1 and 2, my plan is to vary the amount we do each day. This plan is not a comprehensive cleaning plan, it is a way to get you started you are feeling stalled in the area of organizing your home. Many of you will do more than is listed here. God bless you.

28 Days of Decluttering - Really?!

It's January 3, 2015, and I just realized I have to come up with 28 Days of Getting Rid of Clutter  that I actually had the audacity to share with you.  I even have invited you to join a 28 Day Challenge.  One good thing is I realize I have made some strides in organization:  I actually realized I had better think ahead on this thing, instead of doing it on the spur of the moment.  Now, comes the hard part--actually doing it.

28 Days.  I just perused my all of suddenly blank mind, asking myself where is the best place to start?  Is there a best place?  And, I think I have an answer, but I don't know if it will suit all of you.  However, I am going to hope that each day will have meaning for you, and I want you to know this is not an All or Nothing Event!  Idea!!!!  I am going to make an Event page on FB for this, so we can talk about it.  Alright, the plan is happening. Woohoo!

I just googled 28 Days Cleaning and came across "A Slob Comes Clean:  Decluttering."  I never call myself a slob, but I know I do not seem to be one of the "born organized" when it comes to keeping house.  And, I am good at organization, but I always have a problem with keeping it that way.  I learned to clean because company was coming over when I grew up, and it is hard to break the habit.  Thank goodness people come to visit me, or I would get to the point I feel guilty I didn't keep my house FlyLady clean.  I wonder if keeping things clean was one of the reasons Marla Cilley decided to write about it.  I know that teaching something helps me feel more like I have to Live what I am teaching.  

Do you ever ask yourself how you can get so busy with some things in your life, that you neglect others?  For me, that is what happens with cleaning house and keeping it clutter-free.  It doesn't matter how good I feel, so I cannot blame all of it on when I felt fatigued all the time.  I want to be neat and always ready for company, but I am a piler.  I have little piles here and there, then they attract more.  It would be nice to lick this once and for all, so I keep trying.

Maybe, that is the Key!!  Don't give up.  Believe you can become a person that has no problem keeping after the mess in the house, and make your home look good most of the time.  (I stuck some realism in there.  I still have a hard time believing anyone's house looks picture-perfect all of the time.)

The Plan

I will try to post here each day before the day in February that is listed.  So today, I will do another post for February 1.  I am trying to be there for all the time zones.  If you miss a day, just jump in where you are or pick up on the day you missed.  If it takes you a little longer than 28 days, that is okay.  The point is we are encouraging each other to do some cleaning in our homes.  If you tend towards getting so busy that you put off cleaning, you understand what I am dealing with.  Not that all my busyness is the best.  I need to organize that better too.

God Bless You!  I feel better now I am thinking how I can stay at least a week ahead on planning for this.

Come over to Chronic Fatigue and Creative Decluttering.  We are hoping to make 2015 a year of accomplishment in the areas of organizing that escape us at times.

The Tangle

Since today is October 31, it seemed that it might be a good time to come up with a "habit of the month."  It was my screen saver that reminded me, because that is what I see every time I turn on my computer.

This morning I was thinking about my problem areas in the house.  As you know, I am far from perfect, but that is alright, because I am going for reasonably clean.  My worst habit is that I am a piler.  I have little piles here and little piles there -- books, magazines, cards, mail -- you name it, it may be in my pile.

Some people call these hot spots.  However, I have come up with a new name, that fully describes the maxim of clutter attracts clutter.  It is like a spider web:  everything that lands there sticks.  Or maybe, it is more like briers   things get caught in there and stay.  Ooh!  Doesn't that sound painful?

We have a new term to learn, and our habit of the month for November will be to work on making these areas go away.  So, let me introduce to you The Tangle.  The Tangle is the clutter that attracts clutter. 

It is our little piles that seem to magically grow, as we put things down we intend to use but don't get around to using or we forget to put them away.  It is the books and mail that need to be filed, the medicine bottles we knock off the table--because they are in the way, and it is the rubber-bands or pencils that need a home.  It is the dust that collects, because it is too hard to dust there.

When we are truly organized, we learn to put items where they belong.  If we do not use, need, or love the things causing our tangle -- then, these things need to be donated, recycled, or thrown away.  

Remember, baby steps will get us where we want to go.  

The habit of the month for November will be to clean up your Tangle for 15 minutes a day.  Work at your own pace.  If you need to, divide this job into smaller segments, such as five minutes for three times a day.  

Using The Principle of Three

The Principle of Three is one way I have of listing particular things I need to get done in a day.  If you don't have a regular list of things you do on certain days, this is very helpful.  You can break one job into three timed sessions or do three different things.  Nobody knows what needs to be done at your house better than you.

Moreover, I have noticed that some days just don't work out the way I plan.  Having a Weekly Cleaning List is nice, but being flexible is a must.  This week I need to be flexible, because I have been dragging the last couple of days.

On the Chronic Fatigue and Decluttering Facebook page,  I am going to list three things on which I am working:  I am asking you to do the same.  This Principle of Three List is for Friday through Monday.  If you have done your three, we would love to congratulate you.  If you were able to do part of your list but could not finish, we still want to hear from you.  Also, I want you to remember there is No Judging here.  I like to aim for 5 to 15 minutes working on each thing;  however, some people are not strong enough for that.  I wasn't when I started.  If you are trying to gain back strength, your three might be to spend one minute three times working on one job; or it could be putting away three items.

Don't forget to rest in between.  Also, you need to hydrate:  drink your water.  And, don't forget to rest!

Perfectionism, Procrastination, or Both?

Image Courtesy of [scottchan]
/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Sundays, I usually wait until the last possible moment to think about what I am going to do on Monday.  Do any of you do that?  Maybe, that is a remnant of wanting to savor the last possible moment of weekend family time or not wanting to face going to work or to school the next day.  Or maybe, it is my propensity for procrastination raising it's little head and saying, "You don't want to do that now, do you?  Come on, let's do something fun!".

At any rate, I am breaking the mold today, and popping procrastination's little balloon.  I was thinking about what to suggest for Chronic Fatigue and Creative Decluttering this week.  I still have jobs that are not finished yet, but it may not be accurate to think you are as slow at getting things done as me.  Even though, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/ME have similar symptoms, not all people who have these debillitating symptoms have exactly the same ones at the same time.  Therefore, according to age, other illnesses that affect you, life stresses, responsibilities, flare-ups, or coming out of a flare-up, we are not experiencing exactly the same things on any one day.  Sometimes, we do, because of weather or whatever, but there are multiple variables.

Because of the variables, I feel a responsibility to suggest areas to work in that we have not recently touched;  so I decided to look at FlyLady  on Facebook for inspiration.  I ran into a neat little article called Ducks in a Row,  that had neon words flashing themselves at me.  Marla had written, With our ability to hyper-focus and our perfection thrown in to boot, we have a tendency to want every thing perfect before we even start. How about that control journal of yours? You want it absolutely perfect before you begin to even think about establishing your routines. This is another excuse for not getting started. 

Again, I have been enlightened and reminded by Marla Cilley of some of the important things that most clutter-challenged people can learn to apply in their lives:

• Routines are a good thing, thus she helps people to establish a control journal.  My routines are in a plastic sleeve in my control journal and one on my bathroom wall.  Unfortunately, I cannot always stick to my routines, but being aware and having worked on them in the past helps me to get back on track.
• Perfectionism can be something that keeps us from even getting started.  Is this true in your life?  Does it keep you from getting dressed in the morning, tackling the mess in your bedroom, the spare room, or another area of the house?  Does it keep you from making a short list of things to be done in the house?  Does it keep you from your family or friends?  Or writing in your journal, writing a poem, or painting a picture?  What does perfectionism keep you from? 

Just a reminder: I know the chronic illness is often the thing that gets in the way.  When we are in pain and unrelenting fatigue assails our bodies, our routines often fly out the window.  We wonder how to get started up again, as we compare what we used to do with what we get done now.  I understand.

The best example I can think of right now comes from my own personal life.  About a month ago, I started getting rid of the clutter in my dining room, which is also my  workroom, and the most used entry into our house.  I had a goal, which included having the table and sideboard decorated for Easter.  However, as I worked, I realized I needed to organize my arts and crafts supplies or box everything;  also, I was working on a couple of blog posts for Deborah Lynne's Inspirations.  I had other things that had to be done too:  laundry, bathrooms that needed to be cleaned, blogs and Facebook pages to tend to.

 "What's the point?",  you may ask.  The point is not finishing the dining room did not kept me from working on it a little bit at a time.  I have done the necessary everyday things, which I can rarely finish in one day.  I do what I have learned from FlyLady.  I jump in where I am.  I try to do a little bit everyday.  On the days I feel better, I may do a little more.

An example would be the bathrooms I cleaned on Saturday.  I cleaned the sinks and counters in both bathrooms, and in one I wiped down the toilet.  I had done the inside and outside of the half bath toilet two nights before, so I concentrated on the things that needed cleaning the most.  I didn't do the shower in the big bathroom, because  it was too big a job for me to tend to that day.  Nor did I do the inside of the toilet bowl in the master bath, because I was plumb out of energy.  I thought I might get back to it, but I haven't yet.

The point is I have not let perfectionism keep me from cleaning my bathrooms.  It is not an all or nothing thing.  My house is cleaner than it was a month ago.  In fact, I was able to rest comfortably when I needed to, because I had cleaned the toilet bowl  less than a week ago.   I feel good about what I'm doing, because I am making progress.  Truthfully, I doubt my house will ever be as clean as I used to keep it when I was healthy.   But, that does not mean I have to give up.  Nor do I have to compare myself with people that are physically able to do more.  I am doing what I can do, baby step by baby step.

So, I want to say thank you to FlyLady, who reminded me  routines are good, I can have a cleaner house by taking baby steps, and I will enjoy the results as I gradually take control of my life again.

Positivity for the New Year

Dear Readers,

I hope your Christmas was wonderful, despite the inevitable fatigue and aches so many of us deal with.  I am learning to separate the good from the bad:  maybe, it is simply a more philosophical approach to dealing with pain and fatigue.  I know it is going to slow me down and keep me from doing some things, but it doesn't control my life.  However, it does slow me down, and that is not always a bad thing.  

Now that I have to slow down, I don't have to worry about things being perfect, which never worked that well for me anyhow.  My family still knows that I love them and that I do the best I can.  They also are incredibly helpful.  God bless you all, and as the new year approaches may you find ways not only to endure, but to enjoy your life.

Image Courtesy of [Idea go] / freedigitalphotos.net

One of the things I want to continue is my mission to declutter my house; because it less stressful to have less stuff.  It seems that for years most people were on a mission to get more things, but I think many people are realizing it is easier to live a simple life.  However, that seems nearly impossible.  We really do live in an information age, and I think that makes life more complicated if we don't control how much comes into our lives.  So I suppose I am talking about control of items or things, as well as control of how much "world noise"  I allow in my life.  I am not talking about hiding or being a hermit, but to be healthier, we need to seek the positive not just look at the negative.  One of the nice things about Christmas is I think the news stations actually look for some positive news.

Many blessings to all you precious people.  God loves you and so do I.  Happy New Year!

Simplifying, A Process

Is there anyone out there that has ever been good at multi-tasking?  I used to be, but I look at that as a thing of the past now.  Occasionally, I seem to manage it on a one day basis, but my brain doesn't seem to work that way anymore.  My mother used to say, "I have a one-track mind."  It seems I have inherited that with all my wisdom and maturity.  I'm writing this with a smile on my face:  it is true, and I have to smile and know I am not beat.  So I am tackling one space at a time.  Today, it has been the guest bedroom.  I am emptying a file cabinet, so I can move it or get rid of it. 

I did all those days with FlyLady and I am still dealing with clutter, less, but it is still here.  However, it takes time to organize and go through things.  I am not going to let it spoil the holiday season, which is oh so close.  I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week. I wanted to have it here, but I know I can't because I have been sick on top of the chronic illnesses.  I am finally starting to have more energy and my joints are not aching like they were.  It is hard to believe a simple infection could have affected so many parts of my body, but so goes life with fibromyalgia and CFIDS.  I am glad I got the UTI, because the antibiotic is clearing up my sinusitis too.   I honestly think the sinusitis is what began my downhill spiral.

For some reason, I am also dealing with an unusual amount of itchiness, which makes wearing a bra uncomfortable.  I can keep it on for a while, but then it has to go.  I might have to consider changing detergents:  I just thought of that one.  Anyhow, I never cared a whole lot for bras, but the girls look better when I am wearing one.  I am sure you know what I mean.  Ooh!  That was private.

Yesterday and today I have been cleaning out a file cabinet.  Sometimes, it is hard to believe I didn't do this sooner.  Simple is my goal.  And I plan to enjoy the process as much as possible.  So with a smile on my face, I return to some of the necessities of simplifying and also sticking some fish in the oven.  I think my husband would enjoy supper tonight.  God bless you all and good night!

An Atmosphere That Promotes Peace

Have you ever had a moment where you breathed a quiet, "Ahh"  to yourself, because you felt peaceful in your home?  I have had that experience happen two days in a row, because my house looks more like a home to me.  

Is it perfect?  NO!  And it probably won't ever be, but that feeling of being home happens more when one is not surrounded by clutter.  Furthermore, one of the wonderful things that is happening is that my routine is beginning to feel more natural to me.  Day 17 and 18 in FlyLady's 31 Beginner Babysteps is working for me.  And if it wasn't for you, I don't know if I would have kept doing it.  I might have said this is not going to work for me, because of some little setbacks I had.  However, I have felt encouraged to keep going and not give in to moments of doubt.

My Dining Room/Work Table After

My Dining Room Table Before

This morning when I got out of bed, I actually made it right away -- before breakfast, before I took my medicine, and before I got dressed. The surprising thing was I thought it was easy.  More ahhs occurred when I worked at my dining room/work table  today. I have before and after pictures for you, like I promised.  It isn't magazine new, but it is usable now, and I intend for it to stay that way.  I have worked at my grandmother's old dining room table for two afternoons, and I have enjoyed being able to use it again.

Finally, it is important to tell you that removing clutter seems to have a very positive affect on one's psyche.  It feels liberating.  Even on the days I feel more fatigued, I don't feel as overwhelmed, because I am seeing what 15 minutes here of picking up clutter and 5 minutes of clearing my accumulated piles can do.  I knew in my heart I could get rid of the clutter, but now my mind has been convinced.  

If you are in a situation where clutter has overwhelmed your life, I highly recommend FlyLady's methods.  Because of moves and my illness, I have had to rework those habits several times.  You may find yourself having to work on habits over again, as I have done.  FlyLady knows that we have to keep working our habits, and she has a system that allows people to "jump [right] in" (Please read You Are Not Behind by Susan Lamonica.  It will bless your heart).  Every month there is a habit to work on for the whole month. These repeat every year.

The point is that whether you use FlyLady's system or find another system of keeping up with the clutter, when you do this on a regular basis, it makes life more pleasant.  In the testimonies I read in the emails I have received from FlyLady, I have read how people's lives are improved and how their homes have an atmosphere of peace.  That is what I want for myself and that is what I want for you.  

Peace be with you and many blessings,


Deborah


P. S.  One thing I have learned from FlyLady is that I cannot organize my clutter.  Clutter is the stuff you don't need, you don't like, and you don't use.  Of course, one has to make their own decisions regarding what is clutter in their own lives. However, am finding I want to simplify.  I remember those early days of keeping house.  I did not have all the wasted paper that comes in the mail, nor as many items to put away.  My wardrobe was limited:  I didn't have years of accumulation (the things I might use again).  Having moved many times over the years, I might have less than some people.  But it is still more than I want to deal with.  Have you ever been on vacation, and enjoyed the simplicity of a small kitchen and a home where there was a place for everything?  My goal is to make this home my own vacation spot, the Bed and Breakfast, that I live in everyday. 

The Process: Freeing Myself

One of the bad things about not having to get up and go to work is the temptation to goof off.  Ooh!  Did I actually admit to that?  Yep!  Today, I did get dressed in regular clothes after much contemplation on the subject.  I even had a list of things I did, but I have sat at the computer too long.  I just finished playing a rousing game of bursting bubbles, which I am sure must be good for the brain -- so many angles to shoot, as well as choosing colors.
 

As far as Day 3 goes in The Challenge, I already told you I wasn't going to be reading the suggested link, so all I had to do was repeat shining the sink and dressing to the shoes.  And since I have been making myself a To-Do list, I have some things checked off on that.   Also every month, Flylady has a monthly habit to work on for a few minutes every day, at least it will be a few minutes for me while I go through more paper clutter.  This is something I have been working on, off and on since last June or July.  You may ask, "How much can you have?".   A lot, when you have been married as long as I have.  I finally asked my husband if I could throw away some of the stuff he has boxed for years.  He was happy with that, and he is eager to get rid of the clutter too.  Word of Caution:  if you are freeing yourself of paper clutter, read FlyLady's List on what to do with it.  You don't want to throw away important papers.  Also, remember to work for only the amount of minutes you can work.  That may be anywhere from 1 minute to 15 minutes, depending on your health on any given day.   I found that starting gradually increased my strength.  Also, I am not losing as much this flare-up, because I have made an effort to do something physical each day.

How will cleaning up the clutter affect my illness?  I will feel freed, and I will be able to put my energies elsewhere.  I hope you are able to do the same.  And if you have no clutter, congratulations.  I wish I could say that.

The principle here is basically the same as my earlier recommendation:  build on the strength you have.  Start with baby steps.