New Member desires input from the community!
I'm a mess. Well a little messy, but a MESS in the way you know what I mean. I need some advice, and encouragement. The following statements will surprise readers: I am a "do-er", I am not a hoarder, I'm of average tidyness, neither a neat-nick, nor a slob. So why am I having such problems? So much so that I really did hire professional organizers (more on that later).
I am middle aged female - well older than middle age as I do not expect to live to 92. I have two little kids (the youngest is in Kindergarden) and both leave, what I can only call a "debris field" of legos, clothing, paper, crackers....A husband who does not see messiness, or extraneous paper junk, both my husband and I work from home so there is a lot of paper stuff around, both business and personal.
The zinger is that I have a rare type of autoimmune arthritis (the medical name is tongue twisting, so let's call it AS). It means I am in pain and lack energy, both of which I take medication for, but it only helps so much. Also the medication cannot elongate the day.
Even if I had the physical ooomph, I wonder where would I find the time?
I hired a pro organizer who trashed my "storage room" so I could not find anything and used my guest room as a "staging area" then left it all there. A week later guests arrived. Hmmm
It was quite a time before I had the nerve to try that again. But I persevered. I have found a nice one, but every time we schedule a time, I get a "disease flare" or have to have some medical thing done to me, or have a professional or personal emergency - really, not excuses. Really since March we have had 2 deaths and one near death in the family.
So all this is indeed as bad as it sounds, however, the MESS and disorganization, makes it harder to deal with the big issues of work, family, illness and death..
Oh, we are also dealing with having some lousy "home renovation" fixed, including replacing doors, windows, shelving...Ahhhhh.
PLEASE, TIDY PEOPLE OF THE CYBER WORLD HELP ME! I'M NOT JUST A PERSON WHO COLLECTS TOO MANY HUMMEL FIGURES, OR OLD COUPONS - I'M REALLY AT THE END OF MY ROPE!
I admit this is my first "group" on the computer, so forgive me if I mess things up on the technical end - take no personal offense.
Oh, I just saw the time, in about 30 min I pick up my kids, and everything stops except, laundry, homework, meal preparation....and checking on my mother in the hospital. IF I can wade through all the stacked up stuff in the house to get out the door!
Comments? Suggestions?
I am middle aged female - well older than middle age as I do not expect to live to 92. I have two little kids (the youngest is in Kindergarden) and both leave, what I can only call a "debris field" of legos, clothing, paper, crackers....A husband who does not see messiness, or extraneous paper junk, both my husband and I work from home so there is a lot of paper stuff around, both business and personal.
The zinger is that I have a rare type of autoimmune arthritis (the medical name is tongue twisting, so let's call it AS). It means I am in pain and lack energy, both of which I take medication for, but it only helps so much. Also the medication cannot elongate the day.
Even if I had the physical ooomph, I wonder where would I find the time?
I hired a pro organizer who trashed my "storage room" so I could not find anything and used my guest room as a "staging area" then left it all there. A week later guests arrived. Hmmm
It was quite a time before I had the nerve to try that again. But I persevered. I have found a nice one, but every time we schedule a time, I get a "disease flare" or have to have some medical thing done to me, or have a professional or personal emergency - really, not excuses. Really since March we have had 2 deaths and one near death in the family.
So all this is indeed as bad as it sounds, however, the MESS and disorganization, makes it harder to deal with the big issues of work, family, illness and death..
Oh, we are also dealing with having some lousy "home renovation" fixed, including replacing doors, windows, shelving...Ahhhhh.
PLEASE, TIDY PEOPLE OF THE CYBER WORLD HELP ME! I'M NOT JUST A PERSON WHO COLLECTS TOO MANY HUMMEL FIGURES, OR OLD COUPONS - I'M REALLY AT THE END OF MY ROPE!
I admit this is my first "group" on the computer, so forgive me if I mess things up on the technical end - take no personal offense.
Oh, I just saw the time, in about 30 min I pick up my kids, and everything stops except, laundry, homework, meal preparation....and checking on my mother in the hospital. IF I can wade through all the stacked up stuff in the house to get out the door!
Comments? Suggestions?
Tags: Mom, Sick, Stressed, advice!, needs
Views: 17
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marilyn (Meme) on
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I will help you by saying that - I understand the AS that you are speakiing of-
today I had biopsy on lymph gland so can only write and let you know I care
I am not allowed to do anything until Sat. due to the extent of biopsy but I will be thinking
how to encourage you- I will pray also if you desire-
nothing is impossible- just have to change the plan of attack and adapt for your needs
hugs from Canada
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Permalink Reply by LZ on -
Small steps. That is my solution to tackling my messes when they get out of hand. Sometimes I even set the timer in the kitchen for five, ten, fifteen minutes because it is easy to stay "on task" for a few minutes.
You say you have thirty minutes. Can you work on something for twenty minutes and make some headway on it? It always amazes me what I can get accomplished in a few minutes when I try this approach.
Very often when I look around my house I get overwhelmed by all the things I see that need to be done. But you just have to break them down into manageable size and take on one thing at a time. I may not get everything done, but I did accomplish something toward my goal and I feel better about what I did get done.
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Permalink Reply by Gail Blanke on -
Wow, you've really got your hands full. It's easy to understand why you feel overwhelmed! But I agree with LZ's advice below. Start small. Really small. And as she suggests, maybe keep it small. Don't think you have to tackle the WHOLE room or closet or bureau. Just do 10 minutes' worth. You'll feel energized, in control and maybe even optimistic... The good news is - a little here, a little there - and pretty soon you can see daylight. We're not aiming for the perfectly organized, tidy house here. All we want is to begin to break free of anything that weighs us down or holds us back. In this case easy does it.
Oh, and just for the record, it sounds like you're got a terrific sense of humor - which helps enormously...
Gail
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Permalink Reply by LA on -
Small is indeed beautiful. Don't be shy to ask for help, especially from the kids, and you just may live to 92! Take care!
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Permalink Reply by Daisy Bloom on -
Start training your kids to pick up the Legos, clothing, paper and crackers. Give them a small bag each and tell them to fill it with things that need to be thrown away from their room or play area.
That's a start!
Let me know what happens.
janice
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Permalink Reply by B A Simons on
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Hi! Thanks everyone for your kindness! I've been "offline" so I do not want you all to think I do not appreciate your thoughts and goodwill. Since I posted the question, we have had both a death in the family, and another very serious illness with my mother - who is still in hospital.
So my cup continues to runeth over. I am of the mind that I do not need a professional organizer, but rather a voodoo priest to get rid of all this bad mojo!
Anyway, thanks everyone. I'm still puzzled about how to navigate the site and what is a discussion or thread or what. Some things, seem to get a lot of info and banter, and others like mine are a little less appealing! Oh Well!
I will ask one more question of anyone out there: Do you think that my problems in organizing are practical (ie a professional organizer should be able to sort this out), or do you see a larger psychological effect here? As I read a little on "clutter" I see there are at least two camps, the practical and the psychological.
Thanks!
B
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