Decluttering, sorting, organising and GSD in January
posted December 29, 2024 10:04 AM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Wed January 1 at 1:00 AM
Let's have a January Get Stuff Done.
Following on from previous decluttering events. People are welcome to interpret this how they would like - any attempts at organising, sorting and GSD for the new year can be discussed here. Let's plan, acknowledge our progress and encourage each other!
I'm in. I need to sit down and really organize all the stuff I've downloaded for teaching. I never seem to be able to find what I know I have.
posted by kathrynm at 2:52 PM on December 29 [4 favorites]
posted by kathrynm at 2:52 PM on December 29 [4 favorites]
We have a goal for the year to do one "get around to it" task per week, so I have a "non-recurring tasks" list started on a hall door, sorted by task length
posted by DebetEsse at 6:42 PM on December 29 [5 favorites]
posted by DebetEsse at 6:42 PM on December 29 [5 favorites]
I have approximately forty bags and boxes of stuff removed from my father's flat after his death earlier this month. (It was a one-room flat!) Mostly books, some papers, photographs, technology. Need to sort and move the books on to charity shops or eBay. My nieces are coming over to do college work at mine tomorrow for their own GSD, so I'm going to use that time to make a start. Unless I get pulled into the reasons for the Tudor rebellions, which could happen.
After that, I have stuff of my own to sort, but working on the policy of do one thing without thinking about the next.
posted by paduasoy at 12:07 AM on December 30 [6 favorites]
After that, I have stuff of my own to sort, but working on the policy of do one thing without thinking about the next.
posted by paduasoy at 12:07 AM on December 30 [6 favorites]
I'll try, my office can use a serious declutter.
posted by mmoncur at 3:57 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 3:57 AM on December 31 [3 favorites]
I know it's not actually January yet, but I have sorted a few of my father's papers (found a 21-page poem about his life and Brexit) and two bags of books. About two-thirds of the latter are for Oxfam, and the other third I want to eBay. The pile I'm working on at the moment is here. It's about a third of the whole lot, I'm doing divide and conquer. Also need to sort out his boat, but that's lower priority. Only think of the immediate step ...
Now I'm going to make soup, which feels like a good turn of the year thing.
posted by paduasoy at 11:42 AM on December 31 [4 favorites]
Now I'm going to make soup, which feels like a good turn of the year thing.
posted by paduasoy at 11:42 AM on December 31 [4 favorites]
I'm in, there are so many things to do next year! I moved to my current home in a late December, and since then have used January first as clean-the-bookshelves day. I also have stuff that needs to find new homes, a lot of tech issues to sort out, and a long list of projects.
posted by mersen at 5:23 PM on December 31 [4 favorites]
posted by mersen at 5:23 PM on December 31 [4 favorites]
I'm in. My goal is to do one inside thing and one outside thing every day (in addition to making my bed, which I do every day thanks to UFYH).
In the interest of succeeding, these things can be very small! Like, "pull a weed" counts.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:43 PM on December 31 [8 favorites]
In the interest of succeeding, these things can be very small! Like, "pull a weed" counts.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:43 PM on December 31 [8 favorites]
1st Jan:
Inside: put some medical records in a folder.
Outside: untangled and put away some pieces of rope and twine that had been lying around for months.
posted by inexorably_forward at 11:15 PM on December 31 [5 favorites]
Inside: put some medical records in a folder.
Outside: untangled and put away some pieces of rope and twine that had been lying around for months.
posted by inexorably_forward at 11:15 PM on December 31 [5 favorites]
Thank you for this thread, paduasoy!
Today: My kitchen looks like someone has thrown a party there and I wasn't invited. So this morning it's dishes, counters, and mopping the floor. Also need to decant the giant dog food bag into manageable containers. Stretch goal is washing the shower curtain and rug.
posted by mochapickle at 7:25 AM on January 1 [6 favorites]
Today: My kitchen looks like someone has thrown a party there and I wasn't invited. So this morning it's dishes, counters, and mopping the floor. Also need to decant the giant dog food bag into manageable containers. Stretch goal is washing the shower curtain and rug.
posted by mochapickle at 7:25 AM on January 1 [6 favorites]
Have been out most of the day, but since I got in, have sorted a box (smallish) and a bag and most of a bag of my father's stuff (mfs). Results, a bag and a bit for Oxfam, a few books for ebay and a bag for the bin. Put a few things, mostly notebooks, aside for later sorting. Also took apart a sympathy flower arrangement and redid with the surviving flowers. So that's good, and I wouldn't have done it without this thread and seeing it on the banner (get us!).
Got a life-planning session with a friend tomorrow, so need to do some pre-planning for that this evening.
posted by paduasoy at 9:17 AM on January 1 [4 favorites]
Got a life-planning session with a friend tomorrow, so need to do some pre-planning for that this evening.
posted by paduasoy at 9:17 AM on January 1 [4 favorites]
In steps back, I broke (fused?) my oven yesterday and can't work out how to sort it, and missed a blood test appointment - it was in my diary but I didn't check and completely forgot. So those things need to go on a list at some point.
posted by paduasoy at 9:19 AM on January 1 [3 favorites]
posted by paduasoy at 9:19 AM on January 1 [3 favorites]
Sorry to hear about your father, paduasoy .
I am trying on some old clothes and taking most of them to Goodwill.
posted by NotLost at 12:15 PM on January 1 [6 favorites]
I am trying on some old clothes and taking most of them to Goodwill.
posted by NotLost at 12:15 PM on January 1 [6 favorites]
I have tidied up half of my desk, which also involved reorganizing the charging cables attached to my desk. Also replaced the shower curtain upstairs.
posted by nuclear bessel at 3:34 PM on January 1 [5 favorites]
posted by nuclear bessel at 3:34 PM on January 1 [5 favorites]
I swatched all my full ink bottles and tidied them away. Tomorrow: mail samples to penfriend!
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 4:43 PM on January 1 [5 favorites]
posted by Nancy_LockIsLit_Palmer at 4:43 PM on January 1 [5 favorites]
2nd Jan:
Inside: put some other medical records in a different folder.
Outside: pulled weeds around spa pool.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:05 PM on January 1 [3 favorites]
Inside: put some other medical records in a different folder.
Outside: pulled weeds around spa pool.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:05 PM on January 1 [3 favorites]
I'm copying inexorably_forward and doing one "inside" and one "outside" thing per day. Outside is mostly the detached garage I use for workshop and storage.
1 Jan
Outside: Brought in some xmas decoration boxes
Inside: Put away some decorations
posted by mmoncur at 4:41 AM on January 2 [4 favorites]
1 Jan
Outside: Brought in some xmas decoration boxes
Inside: Put away some decorations
posted by mmoncur at 4:41 AM on January 2 [4 favorites]
JAN GOALS
Cleaning/Clutter Removal (inc go through all boxes and go through all clothes), 10 minutes with hand weights daily, paint daily.
1 Jan: sorted lots of clutter from two kitchen counters and kitchen table, 10 min. with new hand weights, started a painting.
posted by Glinn at 6:44 AM on January 2 [5 favorites]
Cleaning/Clutter Removal (inc go through all boxes and go through all clothes), 10 minutes with hand weights daily, paint daily.
1 Jan: sorted lots of clutter from two kitchen counters and kitchen table, 10 min. with new hand weights, started a painting.
posted by Glinn at 6:44 AM on January 2 [5 favorites]
I've sorted another 2.5 bags of books. Now have four bags to go to Oxfam and a pile for ebay. I do need to remember that sorting is only the first step and does not actually get things out of the house (except in the case of a small number of pieces of actual rubbish, or books too far gone). I also moved a laptop from the primary sorting area to the secondary or waiting area, to be with the other 8 laptops. Somewhat wishing I had done some sorting of my father's technology devices whilst he was still alive, so that past me could have benefitted present me. It also makes me want to throw everything of my own away - I'll get to some of that eventually, I hope.
posted by paduasoy at 12:02 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]
posted by paduasoy at 12:02 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]
My house is an avalanche of crap that I cannot clean up or organize. My place is too small for me, really, but that's not fixable. I have to drive the electronics to the landfill (sigh), donate stuff to SPCA, and generally muck out EVERYTHING because I haven't really cleaned out or gotten rid of anything in probably about 2 years.
I would like to note that the landfill and SPCA only taking stuff on Saturdays is a problem since those are the days I'd be using for cleaning. But January is a shitty crappy month without much going on, so I should stay home and clean things out.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:03 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]
I would like to note that the landfill and SPCA only taking stuff on Saturdays is a problem since those are the days I'd be using for cleaning. But January is a shitty crappy month without much going on, so I should stay home and clean things out.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:03 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]
1 Jan: cleared out the corner of the kitchen counter that was accumulating.... stuff.
Which makes it possible to have the main counter clean, literally empty, from the stove to the sink and past that to the wall. Usually there are some dishes drying but when I want to start something challenging I can do it on a clear bench. WONDERFUL.
(I need the one inside/one outside rule! Adopting.)
posted by clew at 1:27 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
Which makes it possible to have the main counter clean, literally empty, from the stove to the sink and past that to the wall. Usually there are some dishes drying but when I want to start something challenging I can do it on a clear bench. WONDERFUL.
(I need the one inside/one outside rule! Adopting.)
posted by clew at 1:27 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
Does reading this thread count? I'm realizing that my biggest hurdle with the boxes and piles and bags of stuff from parental home is that I don't have places to put the things I want to keep. And so I keep going through things and pitch a fair bit, but then the "keep" pile just gets added back into my piles.
So maybe I'll empty household appliance manuals from the filing cabinet (at least have a drawer) and make some geneology files. Maybe that's first.
posted by ldthomps at 1:38 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]
So maybe I'll empty household appliance manuals from the filing cabinet (at least have a drawer) and make some geneology files. Maybe that's first.
posted by ldthomps at 1:38 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]
Yeah, I have a ton of "I can't figure out where to put it" stuff and I really, really don't have great options in my small space. I don't want to get rid of enough stuff to fit the space, but rent will only get more expensive as life goes on, so getting a place that fits me and costs more is out of the question. Also, if I put it Nice, Neat, Tidy, and Away Out Of Sight, I LOSE it entirely, never to be found again. I NEED everything to be out and see-able.
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:48 PM on January 2 [3 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:48 PM on January 2 [3 favorites]
Seems to me that anything counts if you decide it counts!
posted by inexorably_forward at 5:36 PM on January 2 [2 favorites]
posted by inexorably_forward at 5:36 PM on January 2 [2 favorites]
I'm in! Just had the basement partially refinished, which is awesome for storage potential but awful for storage currently since everything just got put in one massive pile for the work to get done. So my January goal is: dismantle the pile and designate homes for everything that will live in the basement, reassemble some shelving, and once that all gets done, put down some flooring in some of the spaces.
posted by donnagirl at 5:45 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
posted by donnagirl at 5:45 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
I washed the towels, did the dishes, practiced my singing, grabbed some items and threw them in a donation box, and threw some items in the trash. Good job, me!
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:45 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:45 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
3rd Jan:
Inside: removed a bunch of no-longer-edible stuff from the fridge, took it to the compost, and cleaned the containers it was in. I can't say that I completely mucked out the fridge as I ran out of steam at the condiments, but it's much better.
Outside: Pulled up a sapling that was growing where I don't want a tree.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:05 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
Inside: removed a bunch of no-longer-edible stuff from the fridge, took it to the compost, and cleaned the containers it was in. I can't say that I completely mucked out the fridge as I ran out of steam at the condiments, but it's much better.
Outside: Pulled up a sapling that was growing where I don't want a tree.
posted by inexorably_forward at 8:05 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
Is it too late to join declutter club? If not, my goals include 1) dealing with the stuff to donate pile and 2) the pile of clothes on the shelf, 3) throwing out the trash in my closet, 4) returning things, 5) putting things on my new shelves, 6) finding something I misplaced and 7) getting rid of an unnecessary piece of furniture in my bedroom.
posted by kat518 at 9:42 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
posted by kat518 at 9:42 PM on January 2 [4 favorites]
It's never too late to join declutter club!
Linking this recent Ask with some thoughtful ... thoughts (it's early here, vocabulary is not yet fully engaged): I want to end the cycle of managing my living space.
posted by paduasoy at 10:50 PM on January 2 [3 favorites]
Linking this recent Ask with some thoughtful ... thoughts (it's early here, vocabulary is not yet fully engaged): I want to end the cycle of managing my living space.
posted by paduasoy at 10:50 PM on January 2 [3 favorites]
That ask had some really useful advice even though the original question didn't feel relevant to my situation! Definitely worth a read.
posted by donnagirl at 6:04 AM on January 3 [2 favorites]
posted by donnagirl at 6:04 AM on January 3 [2 favorites]
Dropped off one bag of clothes at nearby school’s clothing donation bin. Taking care of slow leak on car tire.
Paduasoy, I am sorry for your loss, and had something similar when my dad passed several years ago. It was impressive what he fit in his efficiency apartment, and then his landlord mentioned his storage area. Mercifully it was boxed VHS (commercial)movies, which were easy to review and donate. Lots of nostalgia and memories with sifting his flat, so that was slower. Glad you are making progress!
posted by childofTethys at 6:27 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]
Paduasoy, I am sorry for your loss, and had something similar when my dad passed several years ago. It was impressive what he fit in his efficiency apartment, and then his landlord mentioned his storage area. Mercifully it was boxed VHS (commercial)movies, which were easy to review and donate. Lots of nostalgia and memories with sifting his flat, so that was slower. Glad you are making progress!
posted by childofTethys at 6:27 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]
Jan 02: Washed all dishes. (One person with dogs uses more dishes than seems reasonable. Also, I don't use my dishwasher but keep thinking I may start.) Front entry clutter removal.
Also, 10 minutes hand weights and did some painting.
posted by Glinn at 7:09 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]
Also, 10 minutes hand weights and did some painting.
posted by Glinn at 7:09 AM on January 3 [3 favorites]
Well, the only tidying I've done is of the sort before the cleaners come, but that's not nothing (taking out compost, combining some piles, taking out recycles). But! I called and got a furnace guy out to mom's house Same Day, and then they guy who wants to buy it met them and paid for it? I texted mom's elder social worker about how she fell out of bed Again, and she recommended a hand rail for the bed that I'll order if her PT agrees. I called and scheduled my own PT. I talked to an older friend who'd asked for a favor yesterday but I didn't get the message till late. And I'm starting to feel better from the stomach bug I've had since NYE. Heck, just listing all of these accomplishments makes me want to go move those things from the files like I proposed yesterday. Thanks for the work-buddies, mefi!
posted by ldthomps at 1:49 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
posted by ldthomps at 1:49 PM on January 3 [2 favorites]
Hah, I know what you mean about more dishes than seems reasonable! I mostly live by myself and rarely do complex cooking, so why are there so many dishes so quickly?
Also I would like to take this opportunity to grumble about how things have so many dependencies. Like, I couldn't deal with the stuff in the fridge without first putting away the dishes from the drying rack so I could wash the dirty dishes and set them to dry so I would have room to wash the containers I was going to empty out. Grumble grumble.
posted by inexorably_forward at 4:38 PM on January 3
Also I would like to take this opportunity to grumble about how things have so many dependencies. Like, I couldn't deal with the stuff in the fridge without first putting away the dishes from the drying rack so I could wash the dirty dishes and set them to dry so I would have room to wash the containers I was going to empty out. Grumble grumble.
posted by inexorably_forward at 4:38 PM on January 3
posted by nuclear bessel at 2:45 PM on December 29 [5 favorites]