UPDATE: The winner is…Jennifer Beyer!
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Office Chaos
So, if you’ve been paying attention to this blog, you know that we lost my mom on January 10th. Now, while we wait for probate to move along, my daughter is moving into the house.
We thought we’d have a little time for an organized move, which included me downsizing my footprint inside the house. I had three rooms—a bedroom/living room area, a large craft room (which was a hoarder’s dream filled with every art supply imaginable!), and an office. I am giving up my office (I volunteered it!) so that all of my dd’s children will have their own bedroom.
The problem? I have too much stuff. And I don’t want to give up a thing. Although, over the last weeks, I have filled trash bags to take to the donation center and the dump. Still, I have too much stuff.
We now have permission for my dd to move in. So she has shifted into high gear. Her first priority? Clearing my office so she can move her son’s things in. This is what it looks like when you cram two rooms of things into one when you don’t have time to skinny everything down first. My basement craft room is filled to the ceiling. The only spot of calm in the entire room is the picture my dd framed for me on the wall above my desk of “Satan Resting on the Mountain” from Milton’s Paradise Lost by Gustave Dore. It’s almost like he’s looking down at me and laughing.
But wait. That’s just one side of the room. It gets worse!
And I didn’t take a picture of what is behind me…
So, as you can see, I have an enormous problem. If I had a week of dedicated time and minions to do the physical work, I could get it done. Maybe. As it is, I have a book to finish, one editing job due by the 10th, more scheduled to come in the door soon, and stories to read for the next Bad Boy anthology. Work is priority #1.
I will only have an hour or two a day to dedicate to making my workspace liveable, and I’ve hired my dd’s oldest girl to be my minion (she’s saving for a car, so very willing!).
Today, my only goal is to clear my desk…
Contest
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card, how about you give me suggestions or calming mantras. And no, “load it into a trash can” advice, because my dd says that every time she walks into this awful space!
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That looks like one or two of my rooms… I bought a few shelving units and storage tubs to try to organize a bit… pull out things as I need them…
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My advice is this………
“it’s not about surviving the storm….
it’s about learning to dance in the rain”
And girlfriend, it is raining straight down in that room!! LOL
Do what you can when you can and don’t stress yourself out. It will all get done ~~ eventually.
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You have 3 boxes labeled, trash, save and need to decide.
Then you start in one place (your desk) grab the first item, now the hard part. Decide if you can part with it, if it’s almost gone throw it because if you need it you can get more. If you don’t like the color throw it. If you really not sure what you would do with it throw it. If you haven’t used in (determine a time period) then throw it. If you just have to have it then in goes in the save box. If you just can’t decide it goes in the to decide box. Once you’ve filled a box close it up and put it in a stack and hit the next area. Once you’ve decided on what to trash get rid of it as you go and when you get to the end go through the decide boxes and decide. Now take the stuff you saved and put it away. As you go you add the shelves you need the cabinets that would make your life easier and you may decide that more stuff can go.
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Have you ever checked out flylady.net? She has advice on how to declutter. My favorite of her tips is to set a time, then focus on a task. I admit I was stunned on how productive I was when I focused all of my time/attention to one task without interruption.
Take care my friend. *Hugs*
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Oh my! This looks like it could use something like what I have in my office. https://www.amazon.com/SimpleHouseware-Organizer-Sliding-Upright-Sections/dp/B01N9HQM9F/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=34H93QB4C0961&keywords=office+organizer&qid=1581103154&sprefix=office+or%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE5Q0FXRFFSV0RHU00mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1ODU1NTQxVU5EVERXRE1SNEZWJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2MTgxNDAzUVgwQkFXRDBXVTRFJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
This is a more modern version. Mine is at least 25 years old, solid and quite heavy. But you get the idea. Slots for all those notebooks and journals. Looks like it might fit there on the left. Maybe a shelf across the back to accommodate the nicknack holders with a smaller footprint https://www.amazon.com/Jerry-Maggie-Organizer-Adjustable-Birthday/dp/B078CQX2V5/ref=sr_1_17?crid=34H93QB4C0961&keywords=office+organizer&qid=1581103154&sprefix=office+or%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-17
And that Galileo Thermometer and those plant . . . I would be more that pleased to take those off your hands. 😀 No! Well okay. Just a thought.
With a couple of organizing tools, this can be shipshape in no time, without tossing a thing. Amazon has pages of suggestions. I so love to shop in my jammies! Check it out. Although, for me, I can shop for HOURS. So maybe not such a good idea with your deadlines. Hence the links.
Speaking of which, and idea when you get to the other side of the room. https://www.amazon.com/Seville-Classics-15-Drawer-Organizer-Black/dp/B078Y36PZH/ref=sr_1_48?crid=34H93QB4C0961&keywords=office+organizer&qid=1581103154&sprefix=office+or%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-48
You are doing great with the one area, a couple hours a day approach. It is amazing what can happen this way. And, you will be surprised just how quickly it will seem to get done. Yes, I speak from experience with that. You can do it, one corner at a time.
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Identify 10 things you know you can throw out and 10 things you know you must keep. Throw out and pack those 20 items. Then do it again. After a few rounds you will get to the middle items that require thought. At that point ask the minion to help keep you honest and get rid of the items you really don’t need. The purge will make you feel awesome!
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Try Marie Kondo?
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Break the enormous chore down into much smaller manageable tasks.
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Use it, or lose it. One item at a time, will you use it, or is it just a pretty that’s taking up space? Is it a memory? If it’s a memory take a photo with your mind’s eye and then box the item for charity. You have the memory in your head, you don’t ‘need’ the item. Is it practical and useful, but not for right now? Put it in a box labelled useful stuff. Is it just pretty? Charity shop. Clean and breathable workspace is prettier. Within an hour, working on the above premise, you should have a much clearer workspace. If you give an hour a day to the rest of the stuff in the room starting in one corner and not deviating from that space until it is sorted, using the same principle. Give yourself a month and you will have a much more manageable space. Good luck. x
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My mother’s house was on this line when she passed as well. Unfortunately she had animals and just about everything had to be trashed. I had to sit outside and go through things due to allergies. There is no easy way. Just take a deep breath and start. Good luck!
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No house looks the same as another. Don’t compare or worry about it 🙂 are you happy? Organize the heck out of it and create away!
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I suggest just starting with one or two items a day to decide what to do with and eventually you will have it all organized and not to worry over it all.
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All great suggestions for me to tackle my messy office/art room! Thank you! My SIL says he can solve everything with trash bags. Ugh. Not helpful. 🙂
The random number generator chose #6–Jennifer Beyer! Congrats, Jennifer! Email me at delilah@delilahdevlin.com to arrange delivery of your $5 Amazon gift card!