Comments on: Rearranging the piles http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/ Sat, 11 Feb 2012 02:15:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Revenge of the piles at Kindly Póg Mo Thóin http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-3006 Revenge of the piles at Kindly Póg Mo Thóin Tue, 27 May 2008 03:57:07 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-3006 [...] when I wrote this?  How I thought I’d conquered my paper [...] […] when I wrote this?  How I thought I’d conquered my paper […]

]]> By: PurpleGirl http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2460 PurpleGirl Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:52:05 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2460 I'm also doing a decluttering of my home. A little bit each day is my goal. Today I made a donation at Housing Works of a portable charcoal grill (which I wasn't using and was in a plastic bag in the living room under a chair) and a bunch of other things. I’m also doing a decluttering of my home. A little bit each day is my goal. Today I made a donation at Housing Works of a portable charcoal grill (which I wasn’t using and was in a plastic bag in the living room under a chair) and a bunch of other things.

]]> By: Stacey http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2451 Stacey Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:41:31 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2451 I typically move residences every 2-3 years and take those opportunities to declutter. Two years ago we moved from a four bedroom house (2700 sq. ft.) to a two bedroom apartment (1,010 sq. ft.) and I did some ruthless decluttering just to be able to get in the apartment. And generally, after the move and everyone has put their stuff away, I wait a year and whatever is still packed in a box sitting in the garage gets looked through and tossed. I actually didn't buy my dining room table to eat on. :) I bought it because I homeschool my daughter and I am also a full-time student and we like to work together at the table. So the table is generally cluttered with half-finished assignments, notes and texts for the better part of whatever semester we're in then it gets cleaned up during our breaks. And we eat at the computer desk. :) We do 10-minute cleaning sprees daily and that keeps the rest of the clutter under control (and being in a really small apartment helps, because it becomes impossible to move). We live in Texas so we try to pick a couple of weekends a year when its not too hot and "spring clean". I typically move residences every 2-3 years and take those opportunities to declutter. Two years ago we moved from a four bedroom house (2700 sq. ft.) to a two bedroom apartment (1,010 sq. ft.) and I did some ruthless decluttering just to be able to get in the apartment. And generally, after the move and everyone has put their stuff away, I wait a year and whatever is still packed in a box sitting in the garage gets looked through and tossed.

I actually didn’t buy my dining room table to eat on. :) I bought it because I homeschool my daughter and I am also a full-time student and we like to work together at the table. So the table is generally cluttered with half-finished assignments, notes and texts for the better part of whatever semester we’re in then it gets cleaned up during our breaks. And we eat at the computer desk. :)

We do 10-minute cleaning sprees daily and that keeps the rest of the clutter under control (and being in a really small apartment helps, because it becomes impossible to move). We live in Texas so we try to pick a couple of weekends a year when its not too hot and “spring clean”.

]]> By: Zuzu http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2432 Zuzu Fri, 25 Jan 2008 15:04:53 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2432 The worst thing is, I lost momentum because I got sick. Hopefully, that's all done now. I even have a checklist of tasks that need to get done. ;) The worst thing is, I lost momentum because I got sick. Hopefully, that’s all done now. I even have a checklist of tasks that need to get done. ;)

]]> By: tigtog http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2431 tigtog Fri, 25 Jan 2008 05:30:56 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2431 Thanks for this. I'm taking it (although I know that wasn't your intent) as a small kick up the backside, and am about to go and tidy 5 things RIGHT NOW. Thanks for this. I’m taking it (although I know that wasn’t your intent) as a small kick up the backside, and am about to go and tidy 5 things RIGHT NOW.

]]> By: Jenonymous http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2417 Jenonymous Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:23:49 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2417 I, too, have major craptastic problems. Over Xmas, a very close friend of mine helped me at least de-crappify/de-paperize my kitchen/living room so that I wouldn't set the place on fire. It's hard keeping up with de-cluttering and household chores in general, especially if your job leaves you exhausted on many levels--when the weekend comes around, all I want to do is sleep, fuck around on the computer, and play video games. Anything else feels too taxing. Even now, I am taking a break from unloading laundry out of the bag and putting thing away--I picked up both loads from the laundromat last week. Le sigh. I, too, have major craptastic problems. Over Xmas, a very close friend of mine helped me at least de-crappify/de-paperize my kitchen/living room so that I wouldn’t set the place on fire. It’s hard keeping up with de-cluttering and household chores in general, especially if your job leaves you exhausted on many levels–when the weekend comes around, all I want to do is sleep, fuck around on the computer, and play video games. Anything else feels too taxing. Even now, I am taking a break from unloading laundry out of the bag and putting thing away–I picked up both loads from the laundromat last week. Le sigh.

]]> By: Kristen from MA http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2413 Kristen from MA Fri, 18 Jan 2008 22:21:50 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2413 Glad to know that I'm not alone in this. I frequently look around at my piles of crap and think, 'No one else lives like this! You're a freak!' I'm now inspired to go home and clean at least one surface, possibly my beautiful kitchen table (purchased when I finally bought my own place, which I have never eaten or even sat at!). Glad to know that I’m not alone in this. I frequently look around at my piles of crap and think, ‘No one else lives like this! You’re a freak!’

I’m now inspired to go home and clean at least one surface, possibly my beautiful kitchen table (purchased when I finally bought my own place, which I have never eaten or even sat at!).

]]> By: Chicklet http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2412 Chicklet Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:57:01 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2412 Excellent! Paper clutter is my waterloo. Crap - bills, magazines, etc. - just end up everywhere. Excellent!

Paper clutter is my waterloo. Crap - bills, magazines, etc. - just end up everywhere.

]]> By: Zuzu http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2411 Zuzu Fri, 18 Jan 2008 18:42:09 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2411 I'm actually amazed at how well that kind of 5 items/5 minutes approach is working. Stuff is actually moving off the surfaces, and the surfaces are now clean. I got the living room cleared out yesterday, and today I'm working on the hallway/foyer, which is where I tend to throw all my mail and shoes. I’m actually amazed at how well that kind of 5 items/5 minutes approach is working. Stuff is actually moving off the surfaces, and the surfaces are now clean.

I got the living room cleared out yesterday, and today I’m working on the hallway/foyer, which is where I tend to throw all my mail and shoes.

]]> By: Chicklet http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2410 Chicklet Fri, 18 Jan 2008 17:35:23 +0000 http://kindlypogmothoin.com/2008/01/17/rearranging-the-piles/#comment-2410 Zuzu, I've talked with a lot of professional organizers for my job. As one said, "The clutter didn't happen in one day, it won't be gone in a day." You're taking the right approach - one drawer/surface at a time. Someone else I've talked to is household hints columnist Heloise, who advocates a 5 things/5 minutes approach to tasks. Take 5 things that are lying around and put them in their proper place (closet, drawer, cabinet, garbage) or take 5 minutes and do one task such as sorting through one small pile of papers, filing what needs to be filed and throwing away the unnecessary stuff. After you're done with the 5 things or 5 minutes, you can start again or come back later. Zuzu, I’ve talked with a lot of professional organizers for my job. As one said, “The clutter didn’t happen in one day, it won’t be gone in a day.” You’re taking the right approach - one drawer/surface at a time. Someone else I’ve talked to is household hints columnist Heloise, who advocates a 5 things/5 minutes approach to tasks. Take 5 things that are lying around and put them in their proper place (closet, drawer, cabinet, garbage) or take 5 minutes and do one task such as sorting through one small pile of papers, filing what needs to be filed and throwing away the unnecessary stuff. After you’re done with the 5 things or 5 minutes, you can start again or come back later.

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