Ok. We’ve made a plan (see here). We’ve armed ourselves with six questions that will focus our decluttering energy so that we can achieve the desired results. We have made a Keep vs Throw list. And we have got some basic principles to keep us grounded (in case we were getting too heady with all this romantic tidying up talk).
Now it’s time to implement the plan, use the questions, and actually
do some work. I know, I know. This is the hard part. But I do believe there are ways to make it
easier so that even we, the chronically ill people of the world, can make a
noticeable difference in this direction.
 |
| Declutter around your bed first. |
Last week we discussed the first five steps. Today we discuss the remaining 10.
Six: Declutter the area around your bed. Or wherever you spend the most
time (couch, desk, kitchen counter, whatever).
This is a good place to start. We
are not talking about the room itself.
We are talking about the specific area you inhabit most frequently and
the two (or four) areas that abut to it (i.e. the tables, floor, and other
things right beside your bed). You can
often do this in a relatively short period of time, maybe even without having
to vacate your spot. (However - don't get rid of things you really need right there - like meds and books, etc... That doesn't make life easier. )
Seven: Try clearing out one shelf or drawer. You can even just do half of
the shelf or drawer. Sit down while you
work. Try not to exceed more than 20-30
minutes on this project. Then try to
maintain it. Every now and then do a
quick tidy up of that area (2 minutes).
Trust me, this leads to bigger things.
When you are able move to the next drawer or shelf.
 |
| Give yourself five minutes. |
Eight: Give yourself five minutes. Work on one area for five minutes. Then stop.
Work on it again another day for five minutes.
Nine: Get rid of one thing every day for a month. No limits on what this means. Just get rid of one thing. Keep it going past the month marker if you
can. (You don’t have to actually give it
away that day. You could just put it in
a box for that purpose.)
Ten: Fill one trash bag. Just grab a bag and see how quickly you can fill it. It’s Ok if it takes you a few days or
weeks. We are ill. We don’t move as fast as other people. But, if you get it done quickly without
crashing, more power to you.
Eleven: Start with the easiest spot. When you are done, stop.
Another day move on to the next easiest spot. When you are done, stop. And so on.
 |
| Pack like you are going on vacation. Get rid of everything else. |
Twelve: Pack a suitcase like you are going on
vacation. Get rid of everything else.
(OK, this is a little extreme for me. But I will admit that I love, love the feeling of being on vacation with
so few possessions. It is always one of
my favorite parts of the trip – as long as I pack wisely. So I can see where this suggestion comes
from.) At least, start seriously
evaluating everything not in your bag.
Do the same thing for every room in your house. The suggestion is to do one area at a
time. So, do your wardrobe first. Then unpack your clothes and pack all your
books and papers. Etc…
Thirteen: Focus on one room at a time, and one area in
that room at a time. Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Focus only on the space currently before
you. Taking on the whole room or house
at once is far too overwhelming and leads to failure. It is a form of self-sabotage. Restrain yourself. (I’m talking to me here, not you.)
Fourteen: Create space for things you are discarding. It’s really not reasonable to think that we will head to
goodwill every day we do some declutter work.
So, create a space for things you are getting rid of. When it gets full either drop it off, ask
them to pick it up, or get someone else to drop it off for you.
 |
| Enlist Some Muscular Help |
Fifteen: Enlist help off and on. You may not (probably will not) be able to do it all alone. Get family members to help if you can. If you can’t, ask for some support from friends. This may require more mental work from
you. You will need to have clearly in
mind what you are getting rid of and you will need to make your instructions
clear. But it can also be a huge help.
For
More Ideas:
I borrowed several suggestions from this post: Creative Ways To Declutter but
there are several more good ideas in there that I did not steal. You can check them out. (Disclaimer:
I am not a minimalist and I do not advocate minimalism. But I do appreciate simplicity. This post has some good information.)
See these blog posts:
Energy Economy – Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill – part1 and part 2. These posts give good
suggestions on clothing and living with less of it.
And that’s me done.
Coming up: Energy Economy – 10
Ways to Organize while chronically ill.
I would really love some further suggestions from the
chronic illness point of view – so if you have anything to add please comment!
More from Laina Laughing
Coping With Chronic Illness posts:
It's OK to grieve your losses
Knowledge is power
Do not eat, breathe, and sleep your illness
Part 1 - Friendship is a basic human need (the dilemma)
Part 2 - Friendship is a basic human need (who can be a friend?)
Part 3 - Friendship is a basic human need (10 ways to be a good friend while chronically ill)
Part 4 - Friendship is a basic human need (How to be a friend to a friend who is chronically ill)
2 Reasons why lying keeps you sick
Let go of the dream, accept reality, and be happy (it breaks your heart and then rebuilds it)
Accepting reality - what it does NOT mean
3 Ways to advance in a new direction
18 Ways to ward off sadness
I Can't Do It Alone
Talk. And Talk Some More.
You Do Not Need To Justify Your Existence
Coping with Chronic Illness - Dealing with Its Unpredictable Nature
Coping With Chronic Illness - Other People Have Problems Too It's OK to grieve your losses
Knowledge is power
Do not eat, breathe, and sleep your illness
Part 1 - Friendship is a basic human need (the dilemma)
Part 2 - Friendship is a basic human need (who can be a friend?)
Part 3 - Friendship is a basic human need (10 ways to be a good friend while chronically ill)
Part 4 - Friendship is a basic human need (How to be a friend to a friend who is chronically ill)
2 Reasons why lying keeps you sick
Let go of the dream, accept reality, and be happy (it breaks your heart and then rebuilds it)
Accepting reality - what it does NOT mean
3 Ways to advance in a new direction
18 Ways to ward off sadness
I Can't Do It Alone
Talk. And Talk Some More.
You Do Not Need To Justify Your Existence
Coping with Chronic Illness - Dealing with Its Unpredictable Nature
When I have no brain and no body
Caring too much what people think keeps you sick
Caring too much what people think - how to overcome it.
Coping With Chronic Illness Exercise - Part 1 - Is it Good or Bad?
Coping with Chronic Illness Exercise - Part 2 - 5 Myths and Facts about Exercise While Ill
5 Ways to Maintain Independence While Chronically Ill Coping With Chronic Illness - Part 3 - How to Build Strength while Chronically Ill
Energy Economy posts:
How to get food into our mouths while chronically ill part 1 Food part 2 Food part 3
Grocery shopping and chronic illness
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 1
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 2
15 suggestions for Leaving the house while chronically ill
14 suggestions for cleaning the house while chronically ill
Personal hygiene and chronic illness Dealing with people while chronically ill
12 Ways to simplify your grooming and dressing routines
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 1
Wardrobe considerations for the chronically ill - part 2
15 suggestions for Leaving the house while chronically ill
14 suggestions for cleaning the house while chronically ill
Personal hygiene and chronic illness Dealing with people while chronically ill
12 Ways to simplify your grooming and dressing routines
10 Ways to COPE with Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog)
10 Ways to COMBAT Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog)
How To Attend Important Events While Chronically Ill 10 Ways to COMBAT Cognitive Dysfunction (Brain Fog, Fibro Fog)
How To Declutter While Chronically Ill - Part 1
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