1 STEP FORWARD 2 STEPS BACK

That is how I feel at the moment. I worked so hard. Then life got in the way. Now I start over.  Of course not all the way. But the abominable pile doubled in size again as I had the need for an emergency clean up and those 4 baskets filled with "miscelleaneous" all ended up in my bedroom. I am back to climbing into my bed over the footboard. I feel incompetent and overwhelmed. I fell like I let everyone in the household down. I know how much time it will take to clear out those 4 baskets. Once more I feel like I can never tackle this mountain. At the moment I lack a vision. Maybe tomorrow will be better.

THE IMAGINEARY LINE

The Imaginary Line is an approach for helpless situations. When the task is too big. Just draw the line ;) Oh, I am so witty. How it works? It's quite simple. You look at the mess you have to clean up and in your mind, draw a line. Everything that's between you and the line gets cleaned up. So be careful where you put that line. The line can be horizontal, or vertikal. It doesn't matter. The line doesn't even have to be straight.

Picture a room so full of stuff that, you can't even move the door. You could draw the line in a semi circle and tackle everything that is in the way of the door. And you don't just pick up things. You go all the way. You even vacuum or sweep the floor. (Which ever you prefer). Why? Because vacuuming is best saved for last. Which means, once you vacuum, you are done. It will give you a feeling of accomplishment. Plus the free space will look even cleaner. You might feel silly at first vacuuming such a small area. But give it a try. It sure adds to your feeling of success.

When you have cleared all between you and the line, you move the line. As far as you want, it is up to you and the situation. If you are done for the day, that's okay.

The rules are simple. Draw the line. Work towards it. There is only one thing you MUST NOT do. Under no circumstance will you move something you do't know where to put, behind the line.

This is were I draw the line! Where do you draw yours? 

ONE BY ONE

This approach is a very slow, tidious way of tackling things. If you don't watch it, it might turn into the "headless chicken" before you know it. I rarely use it, as it is very time consuming, but sometimes it is the only way to go.

It only works for a restricted area. Like a dresser top. Or a drawer. You pick up one piece. You stare it down until you know what to do with it and where to put it. Then you go and put it there.You will not rest until it is were it belongs, even if it is just the trash. Now here is the tricky part. You go back to your little area and take the next item. Until every single one of them is taken care of. If you fail to do that and just pick up a random item anywhere you are already on the headless chicken path.

As I said. It is slow. Tiresome even. You don't see progress fast. But that is why it works. Because you aren't sorting or resorting. It isn't about restacking or finding a "place to put it until you know where it goes". You actually put things were they belong and they won't resurface somewhere else 3 days later.

So when you are battling a small area full of clutter. One by one might be the way to tackle it!

BE KIND

Especially to yourself. I don't know about you, but I am my harshest critic. It is hard to be a better person if, no matter what you do, it's never enough. Calling yourself to stupid/lazy/unorganized to EVER get a grip on life will not help. And even though I know that, I do it again and again. Especially when I am not feeling good about myself and what I achieved. On days like this, it does help me to at the end of the day list my accomplishments And I will list everything. EVERYTHING. And then I remind myself I can do even better tomorrow!

SMALL VICTORIES

Today I tossed a bag full of plastic bags. I was about to dig through them to sort them into "still usuable" and trash. The first one was sticky, the second one smelled kind of musty. When I pulled out the third I asked myself:"What on earth are you doing?" I stuffed the first 2 bags back in and tossed the whole lot. I reminded myself that I have a whole drawer full of perfect plastic bags that I can turn to when in need of one.

2 days ago I had a bag with 20-30 batteries that had accumulated after going through a fair amount of boxes. I looked at them. They all appeared to be used. I knew I had to check them all to see if any of them were charged still. "You know what," I said to myself. "You don't have to do that. You really don't. They are obviously all used and it would be a perfect waste of your time." Off to the correct recycle bin they went.

I AM MAKING PROGRESS!