View Full Version : Another 40 Hours of Decluttering Using Flylady's Timer Method: July 8-August 31, 2020
Hi All,
I'm a teacher who is on a reduced schedule for about four months a year, mid-December through mid-February and mid-June through mid-August. I also have a REALLY cluttered home. In the past, I've had some success with setting myself a goal of doing a certain number of hours of decluttering during my periods of reduced work. I set one overall goal (usually 40 hours), then chip away at it in smaller increments of time. Some days I aim for an hour; others for four hours (with breaks!). I basically use flylady's timer method described here, but with longer periods of time than 15 minutes:
http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-sta...ng-15-minutes/ (http://www.flylady.net/d/getting-started/flying-lessons/decluttering-15-minutes/)
This past winter, I stumbled a bit and didn't finish that 40 hours until a few days ago (July 4th)!
In any case, since I started these batches of 40 hours of decluttering in winter of 2017, I've made a lot of progress. My home isn't perfect, but it is MUCH less cluttered than it was three years ago. And recording my progress here has really helped.
So today, I started another 40 hours which I hope to complete by Monday, August 31 when my full-time teaching schedule starts up again.
My daughter and I did an hour today going through her books and made piles of about 20 to give away.
If anybody else wants to join in with a decluttering goal of their own for a certain number of hours, that would be great!
In any case, thanks for "listening" and for the encouragement so many of you have given me over the years.
Did more purging of my daughter's books. I can't believe how many we culled! Fortunately, my brother's girlfriend is an elementary and middle school principal and said she could pass them on to her students.
Can't wait to get them out of the house!
New total: 2 hours.
Teacher Terry
7-10-20, 12:40pm
You are making great progress!!
Thanks, Teacher Terry!
This morning I finally tackled a corner of my yard where I've been throwing flower pots and other items I didn't know what to do with. I took a LOT of stuff to the trash but also made a pile of pots to be given to Goodwill. I also ordered a little low bench that will fit there on which I can organize the pots I end up keeping.
I spent an hour on it, but there is still more to do. But I feel like the hardest part was getting started. I'm actually looking forward to doing more out there tomorrow.
New total: 3 hours.
I did two more hours this weekend - but not outside because it was too hot!
New total: 5 hours.
I did an hour out in the backyard this morning, continuing to weed out all the flowerpots I don't need and other clutter. In the last week, I've gotten rid of a lot of junk from out there! Still a lot to do, but I'm seeing progress.
New total: 6 hours.
My daughter and I did another hour in the backyard yesterday morning - throwing out more junk, dusting off the pots we decided to keep, and doing general organizing.
New total: 7 hours.
I did two more hours this past weekend, mostly tackling "hot spots." The first floor of the house is slowly starting to look better, which is doing wonders for my mood.
New total: 9.
I did 30 more minutes yesterday on "hot spots."
New total: 9.5.
rosarugosa
7-22-20, 5:33am
Glad you are seeing progress, EJ! It's nice that you and your daughter can work together on this.
Glad you are seeing progress, EJ! It's nice that you and your daughter can work together on this.
Yes, I'm really hoping she can see organizing as fun. It's challenging to declutter with her - much slower, so I really have to remind myself to be patient and keep things light - but I also try to set really reasonable goals, just an hour or so at a time - for both our sakes. She does say she's good at organizing and that she likes cleaning, which makes me super-happy. So far, we've done pretty well.
Still putt-putting along here. One hour on Thursday and one on Friday. New total: 11.5.
Two hours today going through my daughter's dress-up rack with her. Found a lot of stuff to throw out or give away. New total: 13.5.
Two more hours today. New total: 15.5.
EJ- You are doing so well! That constant plugging away ALWAYS gives good results. You inspire me mentally-though I haven't acted on it!
EJ- You are doing so well! That constant plugging away ALWAYS gives good results. You inspire me mentally-though I haven't acted on it!
Thank you, nswef! The support I get here really helps keep me motivated.
I did 2.5 more hours today, and it felt really good.
New total: 18.
mschrisgo2
8-21-20, 2:00am
Good going, ejchase!
Teacher Terry
8-22-20, 6:16pm
It appears that my son won’t be going back to Vietnam to teach any time soon. So he is going back to being a self employed IT person. So I emptied the closet for him and removed my stuff. It was my office and guest bedroom. It’s been 4 months and he needs space to store his work tools, etc. It’s a small room. So I threw a bunch of stuff away and have my trunk filled with stuff to donate. One thing led to another and I went through other parts of the house. Wish I could get rid of my husband’s junk.
happystuff
8-22-20, 8:46pm
Wish I could get rid of my husband’s junk.
Oh, do I share that wish!!! LOL.
Teaching has started up again, and I have not met my deadline for this goal. But I'm going to keep working towards it anyway.
Work is extremely busy, but I think I can reach this 40 hours eventually by keeping up with the baby steps.
I did 30 minutes last Wednesday tackling papers that had piled up on the dining room table. New total: 18.5.
Teacher Terry
9-13-20, 12:06pm
I didn’t think I had anything left to get rid of but ended up with 3 big bags.
I didn’t think I had anything left to get rid of but ended up with 3 big bags.
Wow, Teacher Terry, you're an inspiration.
I did another hour this morning. New total: 19.5.
Teacher Terry
9-18-20, 4:08pm
I ordered some new pictures for the kitchen so am getting rid of the ones that are there.
I'm moving very slowly over here, but I did 30 minutes last night. New total: 20.
I'll be getting new flooring in our house in the next couple of months. That means I'll be packing up a lot of the little stuff so that big pieces of furniture can be moved more easily. I expect I'll declutter as I go.
30 minutes on Saturday: 20.5.
rosarugosa
10-13-20, 6:16pm
I did the seasonal closet cleanout and culled a bit of stuff: 5 prs pants, a sweater, 2 belts, a hatbox and some garment bags from me, and a jacket and a shirt from DH.
Teacher Terry
10-14-20, 12:56am
Sold a bookcase today on Craigslist.
Teacher Terry
10-15-20, 1:38am
Going to the thrift store to donate tomorrow. Since I lost 18 pounds I have clothes to donate plus other items. I also have the garbage can filled up with stuff not in good shape. My stepson has been nagging his dad to get rid of his junk and he has done some. I can tell the difference in the garage.
iris lilies
10-15-20, 9:43am
I did not donate this: a tall Victorian secretary that is too tall for our Hermann house.
Because our neighborhood association is having an auction and it wants furniture for that, I decided I would donate my beautiful Victorian secretary to that auction if it did not fit in my new condo. The ceilings in this condo are 8‘10“. My secretary is 8’ 9.5” so it will stay with me for a while longer.
Teacher Terry
10-15-20, 11:38am
It’s good IL that you can still enjoy your secretary. Did you try to attach a picture?
iris lilies
10-15-20, 12:38pm
It’s good IL that you can still enjoy your secretary. Did you try to attach a picture?
I didn’t attach a photo above but here is that secretary. The top lacey part comes off so I can always store that and still have the piece of furniture without the top finials and Wood lace. But I’m happy to report that the entire piece fits in my condo just barely. There is also a wall that’s perfect for it and has an inch on either side to spare.
3461
This is my only piece of Victoriana moving to my condo.
My condo has as a decorating theme light woods, lacquer, Lucite finishes, clean lines with some hints of French influence. But I am trying to keep in mind what this 1920s building is and it is solid simple German aesthetics, nothing outre or cheap.
Heavy dark Victorian pieces do not work there, they are too old.
Teacher Terry
10-15-20, 12:54pm
That’s really beautiful!!
Those pink accents! I wouldn’t be that brave but I love it.
love the walls and the fireplace. Trim color very nice!
Nice, Iris Lilies!
I did an hour on Friday before the housekeeper came - just getting rid of clutter that might get in her way.
Then yesterday, I did an hour decluttering the car (going to get it washed today!) and cleaning out the guest bedroom. I've been meaning to get rid of the double bed in there and replace it with a sleeper sofa, and it turns out a guy from our church needs a bed, so someone's picking it up for him today. Then there will be space for both a (small) sleeper sofa and the treadmill I ordered.
New total: 22.5.
mschrisgo2
10-19-20, 5:45pm
Nice win-win, ejchase!
that's great EJ. Glad IL you were able to figure a way to keep the cupboard. We got rid of 2 dead humidifiers and a broken chipper shredder. Our mower guy took them for scrap and to maybe fix the chipper shredder..said he'd take our brush as well when we need him!!!
Teacher Terry
10-20-20, 9:49am
RJ, it’s nice that you can help someone out and also get rid of things!
I did an hour tonight, so new total is 23.5.
I'm going to try to do an hour a day for the next ten days if I can. Things have gotten a little out of hand around here - I think in part because knowing no one is going to see the inside of my house for another six months (we're pretty much on lockdown here) has made me a bit less vigilant about tidying up. But I KNOW that is not good for my mental health or my daughter's. Work is incredibly busy right now, so an hour a day for ten days might not be realistic, but we'll see.
nswef, you're reminding me I think I have a couple of dead humidifiers to get rid of too. :)
rosarugosa
10-24-20, 5:57am
Good luck, EJ. Lockdown > spending more time at home is a great reason to make home the nicest place possible!
Good point, rosarugosa!
I did another hour tonight. New total: 24.5.
iris lilies
10-25-20, 9:21am
I made contact via email with a local, long term term used bookstore to ask if they wanted my illustrated children’s book collection. She will take it as a donation, no more than 5 boxes at a time. This is a general store, and she knows a bit about children’s books, so she might be able to squeeze a few dollars out of this collection. A couple of these volumes came from her store to begin with.There are around 1200 volumes, and I will keep the best 200.
I took photos of my Chinese pots and emailed them off to random decorators in the region listing prices. We shall see if that yields any interest.
I have had no luck in stirring up interest in my old Chinese robe that I wanted to sell. I’ve been watching similar products on eBay, and they are not moving whether priced at $99 or $990. So I think maybe I will frame it, but it will have to be folded and put into a large poster frame. If I spread it out in its full unfolded glory that would take up way too much room. This is a very pretty textile and also has major sentimental value to me, so hanging it on the wall would not take up a lot of room.
I love that idea of framing the robe, Iris Lillies. I have a monogrammed onesie with a monkey on it my sister got made for my daughter when she was born that I've thought of framing.
I did another hour tonight. New total: 25.5.
If you frame the robe, IL, can you share how you did it and what size frame you ended up with? I have an antique Chinese robe but no good place to hang it at present. I'd be interested to see how this project works out, thanks.
iris lilies
10-26-20, 8:39am
If you frame the robe, IL, can you share how you did it and what size frame you ended up with? I have an antique Chinese robe but no good place to hang it at present. I'd be interested to see how this project works out, thanks.
Yes, will do. I don’t want to devote more than poster size wall space to it, so I’m thinking 24“ x 36“? I hope I can fold it in that small of a space to show the good bits.
An article from Christie’s says you should fold your antique clothing on the seam lines if you are displaying them in a frame. But I can’t do that with this robe, it’s just too big. I don’t think it’s an important Chinese robe. My gut says it is post world war I but prior to World War II era But that is just my wild ass guess. It is certainly silk, that I know.
Thanks, I did worry about degrading the fabric by folding. Thank you for referencing the article from Christie's, that is helpful. Mine is from my grandmother, who got it from her uncle who was in China in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion.
iris lilies
10-26-20, 9:35am
Thanks, I did worry about degrading the fabric by folding. Thank you for referencing the article from Christie's, that is helpful. Mine is from my grandmother, who got it from her uncle who was in China in 1900 during the Boxer Rebellion.
Photo! Show photo!
My daughter is on a kick to get rid of her "little-kid things," and I am trying to seize that opportunity!
Yesterday, we spent 30 minutes going through the toy shelves in our living room and filled up two boxes for Goodwill and another bag for some friends with younger kids. New total of hours: 26.
Spent 2 more hours today on my daughter's toy shelves which have been in pretty bad shape for a while. We got rid of a LOT of stuff, and they look great now. It makes me so happy. She and I also carried out to the driveway the old falling-apart outdoor chairs that the Sanitation Dept. will pick up on Tuesday along with her old dollhouse (also falling apart) and an old outdoor rug. I'm very excited that I learned the system for bulky item pick-up! That will be very useful.
There is so-o-o much more to do around here, but those were two big steps.
New total of hours: 28.
I did 30 more minutes tonight. New total: 28.5.
I did another hour yesterday cleaning off all the papers and books on the dining room table which is my work space right now. I cleared out a shelf on a nearby bookcase, so I have a place to put all my work materials at the end of the day so that the table can be clear for dinnertime.
This is one of the busiest times of year for me work-wise, but I keep reminding myself that one of the best ways to take care of myself and my daughter during this stressful time is to just keep doing the decluttering little by little, and I can feel its positive effects already.
New total: 29.5.
Teacher Terry
11-4-20, 1:19pm
Wow E you are killing it!
mschrisgo2
11-4-20, 9:04pm
This is one of the busiest times of year for me work-wise, but I keep reminding myself that one of the best ways to take care of myself and my daughter during this stressful time is to just keep doing the decluttering little by little, and I can feel its positive effects already.
New total: 29.5.
This is a very valuable insight. Good for you!
Thanks, Teacher Terry and mschrisgo2, and all of you who have been cheering me on - it really helps!
I did another hour yesterday - half of it with my daughter decluttering the top of her bureau.
I also passed on a play fridge with play food and play dishes to another mom in the neighborhood.
New total: 30.5.
I did another 1.5 hours this morning before the housekeeper came - just decluttering different spaces to make it easier to clean before I vacated. The deadline of her coming always is a motivator. New total: 32 hours.
ej I'm so excited for you, making all this clear space!!
Thank you, nswef!
Yesterday was a stressful day for a number of reasons, and the sanest thing I did all day was take 30 minutes to declutter some of the most obvious "hotspots" on our first floor. New total: 32.5.
Teacher Terry
11-24-20, 12:08pm
With losing weight I went through my closet and took out the big clothes for the thrift store. My best friend is on the same journey and gave me 12 shirts that are like new. She is short so no pants for me. I did buy 2 new pairs of jeans. P
early morning
11-24-20, 12:08pm
ejchase - you are my hero and inspiration, lol! I don't post much because my decluttering ebbs and flows according to our antique/flea-market sales but has been flowing a bit more of late, as the mall shops are fuller (I'm conflicted about that!) and people seem to be buying again. I'm still trying to get a dedicated space for storage but it's slow going. Still, chipping away bit by bit, cheered on by the progress of others. We do try to work on clearing/organizing every day. Today, there are Christmas plastic blow-molds everywhere, but tomorrow, hopefully, they will be elsewhere! Thanks so much for keeping this thread going.
With losing weight I went through my closet and took out the big clothes for the thrift store. My best friend is on the same journey and gave me 12 shirts that are like new. She is short so no pants for me. I did buy 2 new pairs of jeans. P
Great job, Teacher Terry!
ejchase - you are my hero and inspiration, lol! I don't post much because my decluttering ebbs and flows according to our antique/flea-market sales but has been flowing a bit more of late, as the mall shops are fuller (I'm conflicted about that!) and people seem to be buying again. I'm still trying to get a dedicated space for storage but it's slow going. Still, chipping away bit by bit, cheered on by the progress of others. We do try to work on clearing/organizing every day. Today, there are Christmas plastic blow-molds everywhere, but tomorrow, hopefully, they will be elsewhere! Thanks so much for keeping this thread going.
Oh thanks, early morning. It is not an exaggeration for me to say the community here has changed my life. I really appreciate all the support.
It sounds like you are making progress too. A little bit every day is great!
I did 30 more minutes today. New total: 33.
I did an hour last weekend. New total: 34.
My daughter and I did 30 minutes in the backyard yesterday, getting rid of a lot of clutter back there. New total: 34.5.
Teacher Terry
12-17-20, 11:00am
Went to the thrift store last week and this week with stuff.
I turned in my grades on Monday, and yesterday, Wednesday, I looked around at our messy first floor and said to myself, "Just start with the easy stuff." And that worked. I actually did 2.5 hours, and the first floor is SO much better. Last night, I turned on the Christmas tree lights and was really able to enjoy the living room for first time in a while. Neat spaces feel good!
New total: 37.
rosarugosa
12-24-20, 5:26pm
What a nice Christmas gift to yourself, EJ!
What a nice Christmas gift to yourself, EJ!
Thanks, rosarugosa!
I managed to turn off the news today, and my daughter and I spent two hours cleaning out our storage shed in the backyard. We didn't go through all the boxes (which would have made it an 8-hour job), but there was plenty of stuff that clearly needed to go. We found lots to recycle and lots to give away, and now there is space in there for her bike AND my new bike! It was a good lesson in giving myself permission to tackle a big job without being a perfectionist about it.
So proud of us! New total: 39!
Teacher Terry
1-7-21, 12:50pm
Great echase! It’s nice to make room for the things you use. I have taken carloads of stuff to the thrift store about 6 times in the last 2 weeks.
Wow, Teacher Terry, it sounds like you are getting rid of a LOT!
Well I did one more hour this morning and am now DONE with this 40 hours - which I intended to finish last summer :). But better late than never, I suppose. Thanks so much to all of you who have cheered me on along the way. I really appreciate it.
And I will start another 40 hours later today or tomorrow.
Teacher Terry
1-8-21, 3:06pm
Considering that everything is packed except for my clothes and I only own 20 plastic tubs of stuff I think I have successfully decluttered:)).
Considering that everything is packed except for my clothes and I only own 20 plastic tubs of stuff I think I have successfully decluttered:)).
Wow. That’s great.
Considering that everything is packed except for my clothes and I only own 20 plastic tubs of stuff I think I have successfully decluttered:)).
Amazing. You are an inspiration!
Teacher Terry
1-9-21, 1:35am
I am actually shocked at how little I have and wouldn’t have realized it if I wasn’t moving by myself. I haven’t felt like I have been lacking anything. I will easily fit in a one or two bedroom condo now.
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