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It seems to me that I never have time just to relax and enjoy the kids or have me time. Everything says to simplify, and it sounds all well and good but how? I like to be able just to everything at one time, like grocery shopping, I'd like to go to BJ's get what I need and be done with it. Laundry, I've conquered, I do it about every 3 weeks. I do it in one day, and everything gets put away. But I feel like every corner I turn to, that's piles of stuff. Now there are some things I am already working on
1. Get down to one email address- I have 6 going. 3 personal, 1 work, 1 family, and one just for saving money. I'd like to get one that doesn't allow alot of junk mail.
2. Bills. I feel like I've forever doing bills and filing, and writing checks.
3. the Mail that comes into the house. It seems endless and really no way to handle it. I just stick it in basket on top of the fridge.
I feel like I'm trying to organize my life, but it's taking longer.
I know alot of you are on top of your game, organization queens, but how do you know what to keep or toss. We have 33oo sq foot home and every room, closet drawer has stuff in it. I keep help but to keep the stuff, because 1. either cost alot of money, 2. oh, maybe someday I'll use it, 3. I'll fit back into it once I lose the weight, 4, it's one of the kids. Ex. some of the clothes Kelsey and THom got are adorable and I just don't want to get rid of. I have dolls of Kelsey's MIL bought I have no need for them.
I really need tips or organization advice.
Thanks
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Yeah, me too. I'll keep an eye out to see what others post!
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The one thing that you said that really stuck out to me was- someday this will fit- I had a problem with that a few years ago- I decided- if I lose the weight- I deserve a new outfit- I got rid of almost everything- except for my favorite pair of jeans.
I personally think what got me going was I was sick of being the only person cleaning up after everyone and felt like I was drowning in my own home. I started by setting these weekly goals for myself: I had to clean at least one room a day non stop for 15 minutes-with a timer(you'd be amazed what you can get done in 15 minutes!), had to throw out 2 kitchen sized bags of things (1 that was garbage and 1 for goodwill). Right now (besides trying to get caught back up from Christmas), for the most part I can clean our main living areas in 15 minutes- the bathroom, kitchen and living room (I usually feel like I am going to pass out after all that running- but it gets done!).
I had trouble parting with some of my childrens clothes- the only thing I kept was the outfit they wore home, fave blanket or toy and the youngest shoes (waiting to be bronzed like the oldest shoes!)- needless to say I worked my way down- their stuff fits into a rubbermaid shoe box.
I hope I was able to help you some!
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I know what you mean. I stay at home with three kids and I feel like I never get caught up. I bascially wash everyday,pay bills everyday, and always having to go to the supermarket for somthing.
Just when I think my house is free from the dust bunnies, the very next day they come back.
I would just love to have some free time just for me, but its hard and understand what you mean.
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Sorry to post again about this stuff!
If you have the money for it- pick up the January edition of Oprah magazine- it has a great article in it about a woman who had trouble throwing things away! It also has good advice in it!
I have to say that in order to get rid of things, I had to detach myself from things- if it is not played with- do I really want to pack it up and reintroduce it- nope- I am too forgetful about things like that! I just ship it off to the Goodwill (actually the Veterans box). The same with knick- knacks- I don't want to spend every Sat. dusting them- I got rid of a lot of our knick knacks for that reason. As for the mail-I seperate it as i am going through the mail. My bills- I open right away and write the due date on the outside (I write out bills when dh gets paid). I set them in a folder in my desk- so far it works well- but I am still tweaking a few things.
I was thinking about it and the Flylady actually has a lot of great tips on how to get started!
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I wanted to let you know that gmail is really great as far as email goes. It has a "spam" folder, and I've never once had a spam email in my inbox OR a nonspam email in the spam folder.
To create an account with them you have to have an invited. If you want to send me your email address in a message or PM I'll email you however many you want.... I've got over 90 invites left to give away.
Same goes for any of you ladies- I'd be glad to give you invites to use it if you are interested! I love it.
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I am going to go the first of next week and SERIOUSLY clean out closets. All clothes..and I do mean ALL clothes that we don't wear, whether they are too small, not my favorites so they are always bypassed, whatever...they are out of here. Same for shoes. Then, I am going from there!
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For email, I have several accts too. I have 2 at yahoo and 1 at hotmail. I must say, I REALLY like yahoo as far as the spam filter goes. I never get any junk in my inbox and they are really good at catching the junk and spam. I use Hotmail for internet stuff, like if I need a email to register for something, that way all the junk I don't care about goes to one email. I check it and empty it a few times a week. I have 1 yahoo one for loops and ebay, then I have 1 yahoo one for like you said, friends and family.
As far as mail goes, I usually end up with a collection going as well. I have found that if i go through it before bringing it in the house that helps. All the junk and CC apps go right in the garbage. Bills go in the bill folder till I have time to orgainze them.
The time is a great suggestion, I need to try that one myself!
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I'm guessing you have two kids and you said you have a 3300 sq ft home. Is that right? Also you said you have an e-mail for work, is it full time, part time or work at home?
The hardest part about OUR job as mothers is it never ends. As soon as you cook lunch its time to start dinner. Just vacuumed? Now you need to go wash pee pee sheets. Laundry gets done and now little billy just woke up with a fever and you have to call the doc and take a trip to the pharmacy and make a deposit into the bank on the way back. When all thats done, you still have to put the finishing touches on dinner, serve it, do the dishes, give the kids a bath, give them a snack because they didn't eat their dinner, put them to bed, check you e-mail and go write a check to the light company because there was a reason you had to go to the bank?
Sound familiar ladies?
ALL the things that you mentioned are cyclical in nature. They come back around and need doing just as soon as you thought you had got them done!
Even decluttering is cyclical. You can never really be finished unless you never buy or recieve anything ever again.
I've been using the flylady system, which teaches you how to maintain your home through routines and decluttering, for FIVE YEARS. I am in no way, shape or form an organization queen, but I have learned a few things along the way. Do I have clutter? After five years the answer should be no, but of course I have clutter. But I have a lot less than I would if I didn't work on it at all.
#1 Be brutal with stuff. Its just stuff. You can get more stuff. Grab a box and fill it up with stuff. Do this everyday for 15 mintues. Only 15 minutes. You don't want to use all your time sorting through stuff do you? Put it in your hubbys car trunk and ask him to go to goodwill once a week for ya. This is hard because of the what if questions you ask yourself. Just do it.
#2 Take time for fun (for you and with the kids) and don't feel guilty about. If you wait until your done with all your chores it'll never happen. Chores never end. Take care of your life.
3. Be happy that you try everyday to maintain your home and be happy that you love yourself and your family everyday. All you can ever do is work hard and try your best and if you are not perfect then oh well.
If you have two kids, a job and a 3300 sq foot house then honey you have your hands full! Don't beat yourself up over drawers and laundry and mail! Life is way too short for that.
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Lots of good advice so far- my 2 cents are-
Bills- if you can pay them when you get them and then file.
Mail- when you pick it up- go thru and toss out the junk and put the other stuff were it goes- do not make an extra step by putting it in a pile on the refrig only to have to go thru it again and again to get the refrig pile down.
Clothes- the old saying- toss what you have not worn in a year- chances are the clothes that do not fit you now will be long out of style when you can wear them. Your kids clothes- if you are done having kids- no matter how cute they are- give them to someone or an organization. Just think- what would you do if your mother saved your clothes would you wan them now with all the stuff you have to get rid of??
Toss out toys that are missing parts. Donate toys that are to young for your kids or things htat they do not play with- kids get overwhelmed as well. Too much for them to choose to play with is IMO a big problem with sensory overload!
HAving too much- makes it hard to clean- we really do not need all the knick knack and stuff we have lying around.
Good luck