We’ve just completed week two, we are half way there! Today I watched the first of Oprah’s two part series on hoarding and while I have never experienced this myself my heart did go out to the family. What a tremendous burden to carry. Two things Professional Organizer Peter Walsh said on today’s show really stood out to me.
Have a clear vision for your space ~ if you don’t have a clear vision for the life you want to be living, the clutter will always creep back in. Discuss what you want the final outcome of your cleanup to be. Agree on ground rules and return to this initial conversation when things get difficult or uncomfortable.
Peter also discussed the importance of setting limits for your stuff to keep it from taking over your lives. For me containers serve to provide me with a visual boundary allowing me to set limits according to the amount of space I have and what is reasonable to keep.
Peter suggests asking yourself these questions as you encounter each piece of clutter:
Remember: The objective is to get stuff out of your home, not to move it into another room. You will be amazed by the sheer volume of unused and unneeded items in your home. Don’t spend time inventing reasons to keep these things.
I wrote notes the last two times Peter appeared on Oprah and those can be found here and here.
Also please refer back to my post titled The Power of the Purge where I tackle many of the common excuses people give for not being able to let go of their clutter. You might be able to identify with some of them and didn’t even realize you were doing it.
I just really want to encourage you this week. Many of you mentioned feeling overwhelmed. Is it time to call in a friend or family member to help you? Some of you mentioned feeling excited at being able to see the floor again. Yeah! Hopefully each small accomplishment along the way will be the push you need to keep going.
If you would like to share pictures of the progress you’ve made over the last week please post about it on your blog and link that particular post up directly to the Mr. Linky below. It would be really great if within your update posts you also linked to your original post. Thanks!
Here’s to a great and productive next week!
AnneMarieZ says
What a difficult task!! I saw it and know people like this and it is so difficult. I also know someone who has purged but can’t get to bring herself to clean behind what she purged… a double edged sword. I often wonder why my mom does it.. I think it’s because she is a “Depression Kid”- you know – they didn’t have a lot and what they did have they would recycle or save for the war effort.. she never left this mentality in a lot of ways.
I wonder if these people that Peter helps get counseling after the fact so they DON’T go back to their ways.. it is so easy to get back into that groove of shopping for nothing, brining home everything and doing nothing with it…
Marilyn says
Setting limits and using containers. Two basic and simple ideas for relieving our homes of clutter. I liked the questions he said to ask about each thing we are trying to get rid of. I don’t think we have to be perfect in having no clutter. The important thing is to realize we are getting clutter and then take steps to get rid of it. Without the guilt. Things just get undone.
joyful says
I won’t do a whole post for an update since not much has changed. We had to do quick work at the beginning because of guests, and now we’ve been having fun with our guests. But I’ve gotten a couple of colored tabs for updating my filing system. The guests have enjoyed the nice room, though!
Mindy @ She Said says
Thank you for this challenge! It’s given me the perfect “excuse” to get my bedroom in order. A deadline and a challenge really helps to keep me from putting it off.
Jennifer, Snapshot says
My space looks better. I don’t if it’s prize-worthy, but I am so happy with the changes that I’ve made and have been maintaining!! I still have a bit more work to do.
Forgetfulone says
I’m joining the challenge late! I didn’t know your website had changed. Sorry! I’m not sure what I have to do except post the “before” pictures to my web site. Please let me know any other directions I need to follow. Good thing I had already taken my pix and started some minor organizing. Now I’m ready to REALLY tackle it!
Diana
Lori - Queen of Dirt says
Well, so far I don’t know if I’ll be participating in the challenge. I’ve made progress in my house overall, but keep diving into projects without taking BEFORE pictures. I think my biggest challenge right now is my desk area, but I’m doubtful that I’ll make enough progress on it before the end of the month.
Nevertheless, I am encouraged and proud of my progress! Thanks for being such an encouragement!
Lindsey says
Oh my goodness, my heart was absolutely breaking for that family on Oprah! I can’t even imagine how they got that way! There must have been some truly traumatic events that caused her to need to hoarde like that. And the warehouse at the end with all that stuff!!! It was just absurd.
Workin’ away over here and making some GREAT progress. I thought I wouldn’t be able to finish in time since I work and am a full-time student, but now I’m thinking it’s really going to come together well!
Forgetfulone says
I posted my update with a couple of “after” pictures and a step-by-step of what I have done so far.
Twisted Cinderella says
My update is posted today. I am having fun!
Rebecca says
I SO wanted to finish my project but went out of town last week & won’t be back home until after all the holidays. I did get started though so even though I can’t participate in the challenge I have benefitted from it & will continue working on it when I get home. Great tips! I’ll have to refer back to your many posts when I get back and start a purge on the whole house. I just purged before moving but I don’t feel like it’s enough.
TaderDoodles says
Ok, I know there’s only three days left but I couldn’t find anywhere else to post this 🙂 I’M DONE!
Check it out!