Am I beyond help?

[Maisiedotes]

This is more of an organizational issue than a simple living issue, but for me they go hand in hand.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a disorganized mess. In elementary school, I had papers from every subject stuffed into every book. I could never find anything. I left my stuff everywhere- homework at school, mittens at friends' houses, school lunch on the counter at home...

Now, at 31, I look around my house and it is so cluttered and disorganized, I don't even know where to begin. Do I even stand a chance, since I have always been disorganized? My filing cabinet is bulging. My bookcase is disorganized, the kitchen cabinets are a disaster. I swear I am not a packrat, but I just don't know WHEN to get rid of stuff. How long are you supposed to hang onto old pay stubs and stuff?

Just an FYI: I *lost* my Organization For Dummies book. Iroonnnnyyyy!

Thanks for any help!

[Darlene]

Not beyond help, you are a work in progress. I'm not one of the organizations mavens we have around here (they'll be by soon to help you out, I'm sure) but I did find a neat site with some info on what/where to hang onto important papers & such. Hope it helps http://www.careonecredit.com/Knowled...px?article=251

[AmyBoz]

Beyond help? NEVER!!!

Usually, people remained in cluttered situations until something happens to make them say "Enough." For some people it is when an outsider comments on the clutter. For others it is when they realize they have four of the same item because they are never able to find it when they need it, so they keep rebuying the same thing again and again. And, for some others, it is when they realize that the clutter in their life is slowing them down by making them late while they look for things, weighing them down as they trudge through the mess to get where they need to go, and holding them down as they are unable to move toward goals and dreams because they are bogged down by all the stuff.

So, too late? No way! I say, pick one tiny area to start. Devote an hour to just that one area. It doesn't even have to be a whole room. Maybe a drawer, a closet, a corner of a room. Once you've decluttered that space, move on to another. It could even be the next day. A little at a time, if you are persistent, you can declutter your home, and in the process, declutter your life.

Let us know where your struggles are as you go through the process. We'll help you find solutions, and help you let go of the things that are holding you back.

Best of luck to you!!!

[baxjul]

I agree with Amy, pick one tiny place to start, then work on something else every day. Eventually it will be organized. Here are a few links to get you started.

www.messies.com
http://www.flylady.com/
http://www.onlineorganizing.com/

[babetteq]

YOU ARE NOT BEYOND HOPE!!!!! I've always been the same way.... to the point that I used to not invite other people to my house because a) they would invariably comment, and b) I was ashamed of it.

Now, I'm never going to be a brilliant housekeeper....however, I started using some strategies to get things under control. Here are my strategies - hope they help!!

1) Be Brutal. Get rid of anything you don't really want/need/use. The more stuff you have, the more you need to clean up all the time and the harder it is to organize. Then, ONCE A MONTH (yes, put it on the calendar) go through one room and Be Brutal again.

2) Find homes for EVERYTHING. If it doesn't have a home, then throw/give it away OR make a home. I walk around cleaning up talking to the stuff "where's your home?" "Why aren't you home?" "Where's a good home for you?" Seems to work for me.

3) Pick a day a week to 'level' the place. Now, I call it levelling when I've gotten everything off the floor (now the floor is 'level' - you're starting to see how my little brain works aren'tcha?), everything off of the tabletop/countertop/desktop/dressertop etc.... If it's too to full, then I put everything on the floor, wipe off the 'top' and only put back what I really want on it. Everything else needs a home.

4) Do the dishes before you go to bed. Even if it's just a cup or a couple of spoons.... Then you always wake up to a kitchen you can use and you don't run out of mugs.

5)It's okay if you're a 'stuffer' (stuff things into here, stuff them there...)... But if you start out good and organized, then start stuffing, it makes it easier to fix it up later. Start with a GOOD system.

6)It's okay not to be a Molly Maid. I always figure there are many more interesting things to do that will enrich my life more than having a perfectly kept home. I believe it is the sign of an interesting mind.

7) If you ever get a comment on your place, invite them to come and clean it up for you. "If it bothers you, you are welcome to tidy it up....I just have more interesting things to do". Problem solved... they won't be bugged by it and it's not your problem...it's theirs.

Hope it helps.

[lottaLove]

I just went through my filing cabinet the other day! For me, once I have filed my income tax return for a particular year, I trash all of my paystubs for that year. Unless you have a discrepancy, all of the information you require is on your T-4 (I think in the States it's a W-2?).
I only keep receipts for items that I may still return, and for major purchases such as electronics or anythign that comes with a warrantee. Month old food receipts go straight into the trash on cleaning day.

Once my next month's bank statement is in, if it is all in order, I trash the previous month. I do the same with my cable and phone bills, unless I have a discrepancy.
I never throw away anything that could be considered a contract, and never throw away any type of warranty service record. You never know when you might need these. I also keep all medical records, receipts, everything relating to my car (service records and receipts) and home insurance.

I could be wrong, but I don't see any reason to hang on to old bills that have been paid, and old bank statements if there is no discrepancy. Just make sure when you get rid of anything that has your name, address, or any personal information you shred it before throwing it away. Even some store receipts might have your bank account number or credit card number if you charged it. Crazy people these days can take your identity with a single piece of paper.

[Sari]

Check out www.squalorsurvivors.com Even if your situation is not as bad as some, there may be some information to help you.

[Early Bird]

Are you familiar with flylady? www.flylady.net

She has a lot of sensible rules, like

* you are not behind; just jump in where you are now.
* baby steps.
* etc.

[Paquita]

I too am a 'messie'. There is hope for all of us! I got my 'push' to get started decluttering a few weeks ago. My mom said she would pay to have our house pressure washed (vinyl siding) if we would clear off the screened in front porch first. The porch was a disaster, filled with JUNK mostly. I was ashamed to have anyone even come to the front door, never mind actually IN the house! We threw away empty boxes, papers, assorted junk. I found a pair of shoes in a bag that I have been looking for for NINE years. Now the porch looks almost normal (still needs to be swept). Now to work on the rest of the house, one room at a time.

Ann

[autumnlynn]

Check out www.squalorsurvivors.com Even if your situation is not as bad as some, there may be some information to help you.

OMG!! I couldn't even bear to look at those pictures. I have never seen anything like that in my life!!

[chatterweb]

I am in the same boat! I have a 3 bedroom home here, and each room needs work! I am better about shredding papers, but my file cabinet is a mess!

I also have minimal furniture, and my hubby is a saver. Our place does not look too cluttered, but, still, it needs some work!

[nwmissourigal]

No one is beyond help. You just need to do a little at a time. Don't overwhelm yourself that will always get you in trouble. Just pick a area and give yourself 15 to 30 minutes in that area and you will be suprised what you can get done...good luck and let us know how it's going!!

[Goodwin17]

I can totally relate to this. My husband and I are both messy which doesn't make the best housekeeping combination. I don't like people coming to my door, nevermind any friends coming over. Sometimes it does help to know you aren't the only one. I believe some of it is genetic (my father and his mother are both messy like me). I hope someday to be a much better at keeping everything clean.

[kittyrose]

i thought i was messy...oh my!...
we are a family of pack rats... and we have thrown away about 75% of our stuff but we could stand to throw away another 75%...
its hard, i know... but sometimes, i just wish i was more organized like my mother, sisters and sis in law...
this was one of my 2006 resolutions, too... to declutter... i did well but i am still working on this, little by little...

[foxxyroxie]

Are you familiar with flylady? www.flylady.net

She has a lot of sensible rules, like

* you are not behind; just jump in where you are now.
* baby steps.
* etc.

I agree with Early Bird. Flylady.net is an EXCELLENT site. She will encourage you beyond belief and her motto is any improvement is worth celebration.

Good Luck

(PS. I too am a packrat. I am a bit better now since I've moved into smaller living quarters).