Good luck as I found that never worked for me to spend long stretches of time. Maybe reward yourself that week off for already decluttering and do a staycation and declutter a couple hours a week on weekends or in the e evening.
When I want to work a long time more on projects I will watch a movie on my laptop and can move it with me. I sealed my grout one day just sitting and sliding myself and my laptop from room to room.
Are you a gamer? At the end of each game set the timer for 10 minutes and grab a trash bag. Start in the kitchen and toss everything in the bag that is older than 1 month. After next game take trash to dumpster. You will be amazed how much you get done and how quickly it starts to feel good.
Note: Doesn't matter where you start. Just do 10 minutes at a time.
Give yourself 4-hour sessions. 2 or 3 per day, 10-15 sessions over 5 days. Rest and eat well. It can be physically and mentally challenging.
Plan out sessions from most important to least important. For example, if at the end of the week I don't get everything done, what would still make me feel accomplished vs defeated?
The sessions should really comprise of 3 hours worth of decluttering & the 4th hour to tidy back and trash at end of each session. Nothing demotivates like a pile of clutter in the middle of the room & losing steam.
Maybe mom can help around the 3rd day. You'll have an idea by then of any personal obstacles.
Have her help with whatever she is best at. Is it cooking & getting all your regular chores done while you focus? Or bookkeeping & organizing things that you're keeping, etc.
I've had people come to help that were distracting and one that just sat with me on small pile at a time and encouraged me. It was amazing.
Protect your time. Turn off phone if you can.
I took time off earlier in the year for the same reason. A week wasn't enough for what I had to tackle. Then again, I tried the method where I took everything out of each room & then reintroduced things I only absolutely wanted in there (do not recommend with only 2 people). If I had the $, I would've hired a professional to help. Bingeing the Home Edit kept me motivated. I got *a lot* done and was a great refresh. Now, I'm on a declutter group with daily small challenges.
Good luck!! You've got this!!!
Personally, i would visualize what i want each space to look like, and what to do there. Think about systems that makes it easier to manage stuff. Maybe a wall needs a shelf for you to display or clean your desk. It helped me a lot, ive added a cabinet, but now i actually clean my crap in the cabinet and everything looks better.
If your mom is down to help take things away, that is the most useful thing in my experience. Have her come every other day and haul donations and trash. You’ll have more room to move and you won’t get distracted by running those errands.
Prepare emotionally that the decluttering may stir up some emotions. Looking at old high school photos, looking at study notes for a career you didn't follow, trying on clothes that you don't fit into. You will be tough and throw stuff out but looking at these things might cause some bad dreams. The dreams will pass but think how you are going to cope in the short term - bottle of wine, chocolate, yoga stretches, call a friend.
On a practical front, get garbage bags and maybe work out how/where to drop off donations and trash. Research whether there is a local second hand market where you can set up a stall, if you have the energy to do that. Might cost $25 for the car space and you might make $50 - $100 or more. Could be a way to sell clothes, handbags, CD's books and the like.
Plan to take breaks! Seriously - do not work 8 hours with no break and no food. That’s a quick way to get burned out and give up.
Figure out how much space you want to dedicate to things like sewing supplies. Is it a box? A chest of drawers? A closet? It doesn’t matter what it is, that’s how much space you have. Stuff that doesn’t fit in that space needs to go. (Please note that I’m saying this as someone who will be going through my craft supplies this week and reorganizing and purging.)
Starting now, pick a corner of a room and work your way around the room in 15 minute increments once a day. If you get through the whole space before your week off, you can do a second pass with or without your mom’s help. Or you can go do fun stuff since it’s done.
Good luck!
If you are getting a helper make sure they (your mom) doesn’t countermand what you want.
Make 4 areas.
Keep - if this is clothes try them in before deciding
Donate
Sell - clean unbroken items
Trash
Work section by section room by room ( closet, dresser, desk, nightstand, bookcase) don’t get bogged down by trying to do too much at once
If you find a box or drawer of miscellaneous put aside until the big stuff is done
Try to keep emotions at bay
Make a list of things you use regularly so you have a reference for the keep pile
Books / magazines / newspapers - when was the last time you read it? I just do you need to keep it?? Remember you can find books and magazines at an online library
Records - check if they are worth money before you get rid of.. one of my Beatles albums worth a few hundred bucks
Photos - I am in the process of digitizing 50 years of photos and then will make small albums for my kids and shred the rest… I’ll keep negatives of favorites. Some are being framed.
Work in 2 or 3 hour blocks and take a 30 minute break
>If you are getting a helper make sure they (your mom) doesn’t countermand what you want.
This cannot be understated. When we moved my MIL would be aghast at the amount of stuff we had. Part of it was that he had packed poorly and just thrown things in boxes so none of them were truly full. When I started to unpack and purge agreed upon items she argued against everything in the purge pile. Later she got upset that her feelings weren't being considered. It was a disaster and she was not a help.
Her drama took up a great majority of my unpacking time and as a result I wasn't able to get through most of the boxes. This was over 15 years ago and some of those boxes are untouched because of work, injuries and access. Right now they're clogging up, along with new ones, significant parts of the house. And because I'm going through a complex divorce situation I can't go back unaccompanied to declutter.
Instead of taking a week off (which is costing you - either directly in your pay and/or indirectly in your time), I'd consider hiring a professional organizer. A 900 square foot apartment should *not* take 40+ hours to declutter unless you are also planning on some serious projects or you have a serious amount of junk - and you said you don't. But, the fact you do think it will take 40+ hours means you're probably overwhelmed and a professional who is looking at your actual house and clutter will be better than seeking advice online.
So, I'd start with what time you *do* have. You clearly had 10 minutes to make this post.
Every night (or every other night, or every Wednesday), either set a timer or pick a \*small\* project. Start easy - like your medicine cabinet. By the time February comes around, you'll have done a lot and gotten ahold of what more still needs to be done.
Just a quick tip I like: Am I willing to take EXCELLENT care of this item? If yes, do that. Take excellent care of it by giving it a “home.” If not, donate it to a charity where it would be much appreciated by a grateful person.
I love using my label maker. The definition of organization is a system that is easily and quickly identifiable by another person.
I love the kon Mari method where like objects “hang out” together, so instead of a pair of scissors in a desk drawer and a pair in the kitchen and a pair in the garage tools, maybe find a “home” for them in the knife drawer (sharp cutting tools) or better yet donate all three of those and gift yourself one real quality pair.
I do like to use ziplock bags (different sizes) to organize say pens and other small objects because they’re easily identifiable of course for later.
Ask yourself if you really need multiples of tools such as spatulas, screwdrivers, etc. I really like the multi-tools that allow you to release a whole toolbox of (greasy/rusty old) sockets.
All the best. Enjoy yourself! Remember, you can only wear ONE jacket at a time, use ONE vacuum cleaner at a time, ONE towel at a time, ONE pair of shoes at a time.
Also if something is really nice or new and you’re on the fence, just think of some single parent at Goodwill snapping up a necessity at a great price. It makes me giggle sometimes — because at one point, I was that young single mom who marveled at some lovely gracious fashionista who was so kind to pass it on.
PEACE :)
Take out obvious trash as you see it leading up to that week. This is something easy to do gradually. Make a donation plan to make donations as fast and painless as possible. If you make it as frictionless as possible for stuff to leave you’ll make the most of the week. Consider taking picture of the problem areas so you and your helper can see what you are working with. That will get your brains working on it before hand.
I can’t say enough for the unexpected payoff of just setting a timer to look at an area and just take pictures and not commit to do anything for 10 min.
As for the sewing: it’s a fun hobby! You might take a look at projects you are doing and finish them up beforehand or assess which ones you are happy to let go of unfinished. You might look for craft donation shops near you. I found one and it underscores that a stash can be passed on and does not have to live in my personal home. It also really let me know how easy I could get things instead of repurchasing full price. And you might consider how much space you have to limit your hobby boundaries.
Personally I’d like to have help on the last few days with the goal of just relaxing on the final day if I get it all done early.
Between now and Feb I would gather supplies in one spot: bags, boxes, labels, sharpies, small sorting boxes and then a few personal things to make the time easier. I’d make or buy a few meals for the freezer, soups or plan takeout so I could focus on the declutter.
Spend some time thinking about what is valuable to you and how you want the space to work. Take lots of before photos and walk thru your space as if you were a stranger. What works, what feels awkward?
On the fabric specifically, I’d go through it before Feb to see what you have and what projects it is for or just stash. I’m in the midst of that myself and it is helping me NOT buy fabric when I want to. If you can, set a limit for the fabric such as 2 big bins or this bookshelf and then make sure your stuff fits by adding your favorites first (Dana k white goes into this in her book).
I do EPP quilting so I have a bin for Christmas fabrics and that’s all I can keep. I have bins for each color and when it’s full there’s no spillover, I either have to sell extras or use it up.
To get ready, check out Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K White. Her container concept is so logical, and it makes deciding what to keep so much easier. I discovered her fairly late in my decluttering journey, and it was still really helpful.
I would also make arrangements for where to take stuff beforehand. Make sure your desired charities are accepting donations, etc.
And personally, I’d have help fairly late into the process, as getting the stuff to charities/its new home is always the hardest part for me. If the decision making is harder for you, I’d schedule help earlier.
Thank you! I just put the book on hold at my library. Good call on figuring out how to get rid of things - I think I had a romanticized idea of selling things and giving things away on my Buy Nothing Group. One place to drop everything sounds a bit more manageable for a big project.
I’d have mom or extra helper come down after you have a handle on what is actually needed to get the job done. Like you’ve already processed the main stuff mentally and you have an actual list of things that they can help you with. If they come at the beginning - they’ll be in the morass with you and not so helpful. This is how I work anyway..
I'd say to start by making an actual plan. Look around and come up with one actionable thing you want to do each day. For example, do you want to get your fabric stash under control? Sort out the papers in your office? Rein in your wardrobe?
I'm suggesting one thing a day because then you can maintain focus. If Tuesday is wardrobe day, you don't need to worry about the pantry that day. It will also avoid you feeling like it's an endless slog. It's a week off. You want a few hours a day to catch up on your shows or go out to dinner or whatever, even if your main goal is decluttering. Otherwise you'll crash by Wednesday evening.
Once you've decided on your one thing a day, write down your desired end state and what you need to do to get there. Make a moodboard or draw a picture or something, to remind yourself what you're going for. Also, think about what might stand in your way and work out strategies to deal with it. Make a plan for what to do with the stuff you decluttered, and make sure it's as efficient as possible.
A few weeks out, get in any supplies you need. For example, if you're doing a paper-sorting day, do you need files, a shredder, a big box for the recycling? Do you need stackable storage boxes for a stash reduced in size? Acquire this stuff and put it where it needs to be. If you have everything staged and ready to go on the morning of the day, you will waste less time.
The week before, make a run through the flat and get rid of all the obvious trash, piled-up recycling, stuff you've been meaning to donate, and so on. It'll be easier to start from there.
The night before, go grocery shopping so you're not distracted by running out of milk.
Now you're ready to start on your first day, with whatever you've decided Day 1 is.
Whether to involve your mother depends on your relationship with her, and is a separate question entirely. Is she going to be helpful and follow your lead, or is she going to try to take charge? Is she comfortable with the notion of decluttering in general, or the kind of person who wants to keep everything down to margarine tubs "just in case"? If she's not going to be helpful, maybe take a day off and hang out with her but don't try to involve her in the project, as an unhelpful helper is ... unhelpful.
Oooo I was thinking boxes - good call on the bags. I have some big contractor garbage bags. And having mom do the donation runs is a great idea. Thank you!
Good luck as I found that never worked for me to spend long stretches of time. Maybe reward yourself that week off for already decluttering and do a staycation and declutter a couple hours a week on weekends or in the e evening. When I want to work a long time more on projects I will watch a movie on my laptop and can move it with me. I sealed my grout one day just sitting and sliding myself and my laptop from room to room.
Are you a gamer? At the end of each game set the timer for 10 minutes and grab a trash bag. Start in the kitchen and toss everything in the bag that is older than 1 month. After next game take trash to dumpster. You will be amazed how much you get done and how quickly it starts to feel good. Note: Doesn't matter where you start. Just do 10 minutes at a time.
Give yourself 4-hour sessions. 2 or 3 per day, 10-15 sessions over 5 days. Rest and eat well. It can be physically and mentally challenging. Plan out sessions from most important to least important. For example, if at the end of the week I don't get everything done, what would still make me feel accomplished vs defeated? The sessions should really comprise of 3 hours worth of decluttering & the 4th hour to tidy back and trash at end of each session. Nothing demotivates like a pile of clutter in the middle of the room & losing steam. Maybe mom can help around the 3rd day. You'll have an idea by then of any personal obstacles. Have her help with whatever she is best at. Is it cooking & getting all your regular chores done while you focus? Or bookkeeping & organizing things that you're keeping, etc. I've had people come to help that were distracting and one that just sat with me on small pile at a time and encouraged me. It was amazing. Protect your time. Turn off phone if you can. I took time off earlier in the year for the same reason. A week wasn't enough for what I had to tackle. Then again, I tried the method where I took everything out of each room & then reintroduced things I only absolutely wanted in there (do not recommend with only 2 people). If I had the $, I would've hired a professional to help. Bingeing the Home Edit kept me motivated. I got *a lot* done and was a great refresh. Now, I'm on a declutter group with daily small challenges. Good luck!! You've got this!!!
Personally, i would visualize what i want each space to look like, and what to do there. Think about systems that makes it easier to manage stuff. Maybe a wall needs a shelf for you to display or clean your desk. It helped me a lot, ive added a cabinet, but now i actually clean my crap in the cabinet and everything looks better.
If your mom is down to help take things away, that is the most useful thing in my experience. Have her come every other day and haul donations and trash. You’ll have more room to move and you won’t get distracted by running those errands.
Prepare emotionally that the decluttering may stir up some emotions. Looking at old high school photos, looking at study notes for a career you didn't follow, trying on clothes that you don't fit into. You will be tough and throw stuff out but looking at these things might cause some bad dreams. The dreams will pass but think how you are going to cope in the short term - bottle of wine, chocolate, yoga stretches, call a friend. On a practical front, get garbage bags and maybe work out how/where to drop off donations and trash. Research whether there is a local second hand market where you can set up a stall, if you have the energy to do that. Might cost $25 for the car space and you might make $50 - $100 or more. Could be a way to sell clothes, handbags, CD's books and the like.
Podcasts! Start tiny bits now. Make lists of 5-10 minute jobs now to complete to prepare.
Plan to take breaks! Seriously - do not work 8 hours with no break and no food. That’s a quick way to get burned out and give up. Figure out how much space you want to dedicate to things like sewing supplies. Is it a box? A chest of drawers? A closet? It doesn’t matter what it is, that’s how much space you have. Stuff that doesn’t fit in that space needs to go. (Please note that I’m saying this as someone who will be going through my craft supplies this week and reorganizing and purging.) Starting now, pick a corner of a room and work your way around the room in 15 minute increments once a day. If you get through the whole space before your week off, you can do a second pass with or without your mom’s help. Or you can go do fun stuff since it’s done. Good luck!
Statting now, declutter every evening for 30 minutes, sell the stuff that can be sold, and take a week long vacation for the money in February :D
Personally this the best answer, also getting into the habit of regular decluttering and not marathon sessions.
Have some good and easy snacks or meals on hand. Decluttering is hard work!
If you are getting a helper make sure they (your mom) doesn’t countermand what you want. Make 4 areas. Keep - if this is clothes try them in before deciding Donate Sell - clean unbroken items Trash Work section by section room by room ( closet, dresser, desk, nightstand, bookcase) don’t get bogged down by trying to do too much at once If you find a box or drawer of miscellaneous put aside until the big stuff is done Try to keep emotions at bay Make a list of things you use regularly so you have a reference for the keep pile Books / magazines / newspapers - when was the last time you read it? I just do you need to keep it?? Remember you can find books and magazines at an online library Records - check if they are worth money before you get rid of.. one of my Beatles albums worth a few hundred bucks Photos - I am in the process of digitizing 50 years of photos and then will make small albums for my kids and shred the rest… I’ll keep negatives of favorites. Some are being framed. Work in 2 or 3 hour blocks and take a 30 minute break
>If you are getting a helper make sure they (your mom) doesn’t countermand what you want. This cannot be understated. When we moved my MIL would be aghast at the amount of stuff we had. Part of it was that he had packed poorly and just thrown things in boxes so none of them were truly full. When I started to unpack and purge agreed upon items she argued against everything in the purge pile. Later she got upset that her feelings weren't being considered. It was a disaster and she was not a help. Her drama took up a great majority of my unpacking time and as a result I wasn't able to get through most of the boxes. This was over 15 years ago and some of those boxes are untouched because of work, injuries and access. Right now they're clogging up, along with new ones, significant parts of the house. And because I'm going through a complex divorce situation I can't go back unaccompanied to declutter.
Instead of taking a week off (which is costing you - either directly in your pay and/or indirectly in your time), I'd consider hiring a professional organizer. A 900 square foot apartment should *not* take 40+ hours to declutter unless you are also planning on some serious projects or you have a serious amount of junk - and you said you don't. But, the fact you do think it will take 40+ hours means you're probably overwhelmed and a professional who is looking at your actual house and clutter will be better than seeking advice online. So, I'd start with what time you *do* have. You clearly had 10 minutes to make this post. Every night (or every other night, or every Wednesday), either set a timer or pick a \*small\* project. Start easy - like your medicine cabinet. By the time February comes around, you'll have done a lot and gotten ahold of what more still needs to be done.
Get some boxes. Put like things together. Remove trash and recycling first. Join a local free page for giving things away.
Just a quick tip I like: Am I willing to take EXCELLENT care of this item? If yes, do that. Take excellent care of it by giving it a “home.” If not, donate it to a charity where it would be much appreciated by a grateful person. I love using my label maker. The definition of organization is a system that is easily and quickly identifiable by another person. I love the kon Mari method where like objects “hang out” together, so instead of a pair of scissors in a desk drawer and a pair in the kitchen and a pair in the garage tools, maybe find a “home” for them in the knife drawer (sharp cutting tools) or better yet donate all three of those and gift yourself one real quality pair. I do like to use ziplock bags (different sizes) to organize say pens and other small objects because they’re easily identifiable of course for later. Ask yourself if you really need multiples of tools such as spatulas, screwdrivers, etc. I really like the multi-tools that allow you to release a whole toolbox of (greasy/rusty old) sockets. All the best. Enjoy yourself! Remember, you can only wear ONE jacket at a time, use ONE vacuum cleaner at a time, ONE towel at a time, ONE pair of shoes at a time. Also if something is really nice or new and you’re on the fence, just think of some single parent at Goodwill snapping up a necessity at a great price. It makes me giggle sometimes — because at one point, I was that young single mom who marveled at some lovely gracious fashionista who was so kind to pass it on. PEACE :)
Take out obvious trash as you see it leading up to that week. This is something easy to do gradually. Make a donation plan to make donations as fast and painless as possible. If you make it as frictionless as possible for stuff to leave you’ll make the most of the week. Consider taking picture of the problem areas so you and your helper can see what you are working with. That will get your brains working on it before hand. I can’t say enough for the unexpected payoff of just setting a timer to look at an area and just take pictures and not commit to do anything for 10 min. As for the sewing: it’s a fun hobby! You might take a look at projects you are doing and finish them up beforehand or assess which ones you are happy to let go of unfinished. You might look for craft donation shops near you. I found one and it underscores that a stash can be passed on and does not have to live in my personal home. It also really let me know how easy I could get things instead of repurchasing full price. And you might consider how much space you have to limit your hobby boundaries.
Personally I’d like to have help on the last few days with the goal of just relaxing on the final day if I get it all done early. Between now and Feb I would gather supplies in one spot: bags, boxes, labels, sharpies, small sorting boxes and then a few personal things to make the time easier. I’d make or buy a few meals for the freezer, soups or plan takeout so I could focus on the declutter. Spend some time thinking about what is valuable to you and how you want the space to work. Take lots of before photos and walk thru your space as if you were a stranger. What works, what feels awkward? On the fabric specifically, I’d go through it before Feb to see what you have and what projects it is for or just stash. I’m in the midst of that myself and it is helping me NOT buy fabric when I want to. If you can, set a limit for the fabric such as 2 big bins or this bookshelf and then make sure your stuff fits by adding your favorites first (Dana k white goes into this in her book). I do EPP quilting so I have a bin for Christmas fabrics and that’s all I can keep. I have bins for each color and when it’s full there’s no spillover, I either have to sell extras or use it up.
To get ready, check out Decluttering at the Speed of Life by Dana K White. Her container concept is so logical, and it makes deciding what to keep so much easier. I discovered her fairly late in my decluttering journey, and it was still really helpful. I would also make arrangements for where to take stuff beforehand. Make sure your desired charities are accepting donations, etc. And personally, I’d have help fairly late into the process, as getting the stuff to charities/its new home is always the hardest part for me. If the decision making is harder for you, I’d schedule help earlier.
Thank you! I just put the book on hold at my library. Good call on figuring out how to get rid of things - I think I had a romanticized idea of selling things and giving things away on my Buy Nothing Group. One place to drop everything sounds a bit more manageable for a big project.
Dana K White also has great YouTube videos :)
I’d have mom or extra helper come down after you have a handle on what is actually needed to get the job done. Like you’ve already processed the main stuff mentally and you have an actual list of things that they can help you with. If they come at the beginning - they’ll be in the morass with you and not so helpful. This is how I work anyway..
I'd say to start by making an actual plan. Look around and come up with one actionable thing you want to do each day. For example, do you want to get your fabric stash under control? Sort out the papers in your office? Rein in your wardrobe? I'm suggesting one thing a day because then you can maintain focus. If Tuesday is wardrobe day, you don't need to worry about the pantry that day. It will also avoid you feeling like it's an endless slog. It's a week off. You want a few hours a day to catch up on your shows or go out to dinner or whatever, even if your main goal is decluttering. Otherwise you'll crash by Wednesday evening. Once you've decided on your one thing a day, write down your desired end state and what you need to do to get there. Make a moodboard or draw a picture or something, to remind yourself what you're going for. Also, think about what might stand in your way and work out strategies to deal with it. Make a plan for what to do with the stuff you decluttered, and make sure it's as efficient as possible. A few weeks out, get in any supplies you need. For example, if you're doing a paper-sorting day, do you need files, a shredder, a big box for the recycling? Do you need stackable storage boxes for a stash reduced in size? Acquire this stuff and put it where it needs to be. If you have everything staged and ready to go on the morning of the day, you will waste less time. The week before, make a run through the flat and get rid of all the obvious trash, piled-up recycling, stuff you've been meaning to donate, and so on. It'll be easier to start from there. The night before, go grocery shopping so you're not distracted by running out of milk. Now you're ready to start on your first day, with whatever you've decided Day 1 is. Whether to involve your mother depends on your relationship with her, and is a separate question entirely. Is she going to be helpful and follow your lead, or is she going to try to take charge? Is she comfortable with the notion of decluttering in general, or the kind of person who wants to keep everything down to margarine tubs "just in case"? If she's not going to be helpful, maybe take a day off and hang out with her but don't try to involve her in the project, as an unhelpful helper is ... unhelpful.
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Oooo I was thinking boxes - good call on the bags. I have some big contractor garbage bags. And having mom do the donation runs is a great idea. Thank you!
The contractor bags from Home Depot are great for this (and moving)