Just saw your post, Diane. It makes a world of difference for me already to have people like you all around for help and support! Many thanks.

Yes, Tillie, this month has gone by amazingly fast!

Jess, I'm sorry about the OCD stuff. Glad you were able to get the appointment! Yea! As I just mentioned on a post on another thread, OCD seems to run on one certain side of my family. I have my own share of OCD-type issues.

As for today, I have (as I've said) gone light when it comes to housekeeping tasks. Ran dishwasher and have done some of the laundry. I'm glad I reread my post from this morning... I need the reminder to take some mental breaks and do some writing, because this tax stuff really stresses me out. :(

Today I am realizing I can not do this alone. I have to be on this site to get back on track and not give up. Currently cooking soup, have not been eating enough again. Going to finish dishes today.
Clean sheets on bed. Shower, washed hair and curled it, trying to look better so can feel better. going to bring more wood in when rain stops.
Organized garden storage shed this morning before rain started. So grateful rain is here to keep me inside so have to deal with piles that have accumulated.

Okay, appointment set for April 4th. Until then I'm going to do some reading in my OCD books and try to stay focused on my techniques.

Thanks for being here guys :)

Hi everybody :) Sorry for not really being around. I'm fine and generally happy but I'm having some problems controlling my OCD lately. I've just been focusing on getting myself together.

Since I hurt my back I haven't been able to workout at all and I think that's one of the things that helps me stay in check. I've been struggling without that outlet.

I've been able to keep the apartment pretty clean and have not fallen back into creating a clutter room. Still all clear! I have, however been checking and rechecking. I've been putting off doing basic human things like going to the bathroom or sleeping because I'm trying to feel "right" first. Sigh. I'm tired and frustrated. I promise to make an appointment with my therapist when I'm done typing this. Avoiding dealing with it won't do me any good.

Good morning,
Really missing you all who haven't posted lately. :(
Winter is back here for a while so no playing outside again today.
Working on a quilt today. Basting the top, batting and backing together now.
Really miss having trash pick up service. Makes things difficult. lol
So very thankful I have burn barrels and am able to burn anything burnable.
This month has gone by so fast!
Have a wonderful Wednesday everybody. :D

I'm holding my housekeeping goals rather loosely today, given that yesterday afternoon I wasn't feeling well and might experience the same today. I do plan to continue working on organizing my financial papers, with a view toward my meeting tomorrow with the income tax lady. Since the taxes are stressful to me (especially this year, with a lot of unknowns involved for me at this point), I'm not going to make any other specific housekeeping goals for today (other than do some laundry and run the dishwasher). Rather, I'm going to try to take extra good care of myself. Among other things, that means taking breaks when I need to (including mental breaks), eating what I need to, doing some reading and writing (especially writing about my feelings), and above all reminding myself that life is about more than income tax!!!

Good idea, Roxie. Maybe I need to post my note inside my glasses. Nah, I'd miss it there, too. Ha. Hope your repair person finally shows!

Happy day to all.

Following up on my goals for today:

I got a satisfactory amount of "financial organizing" done. The most significant thing from that endeavor was getting some papers copied/organized that I will need for my Thursday appointment (the appointment to have my taxes looked at). I dropped those copies off today at that lady's office so that she could look some of them over before Thursday (if she wishes). Getting that much done felt very good.

I didn't get as much stuff "sent out the door" as I'd hoped, but I did get some. I started having some physical problems (a foot problem, for one thing) that slowed me down this afternoon, so I'm "OK" with what I did get done along those lines. I think I did the best I could for today. And I got a small section of my living room looking much better (and that wasn't even on my list).

Thank you all for the encouraging words. It really helps to hear the "rah, rah's" (especially while having to deal with the income tax blah-blah's).

Hope you all have had a good day.

Good morning :)

Hi LR2014 :)
WAY TO GO!
for getting stuff accomplished! :D

Hi Karl :)
WAY TO GO! for checking out that recycling center!
Get out there and check out the other rentals and keep/start checking other sources looking for leads.
GOOD LUCK! :D

Hi Roxie :)
Wishing you GREAT luck getting your washer fixed!
Hoping it is something very simple and that the repairman has any needed parts right there on his truck.
Hyacinth is my favorite flower scent, carnation is my second favorite. :)
WAY TO GO! getting stuff done and making plans for future tasks to accomplish! :D

Yesterday after I got some stuff done inside I went outside and watered and did some pruning.
It was so beautiful and got hot, 74 degrees.
Was planning to go back outside today but the winds are raging and a snow storm is brewing.
We have a saying here in Nevada...
"if you don't like the weather just wait five minutes, it will change." :D
Soooo, anyways...
Today I am going to do some ironing and sewing.
Fun inside stuff.
But first I will do the usual, every day, daily stuff.

Keep up all the great work you all have been doing. :)

I have one main goal for today, and that is to continue to work on getting some financial papers in order.

I will also make a short list of things that I can send out the door (to trash, to shredding, or elsewhere) and plan to spend at least 20 minutes actually sending those things on their way.

I usually like to make my goals more specific than this, but I'll leave it like this for today.

Oh. and if things go according to plan, I will probably be at the chat tonight.

Thanks, Roxie. I already had the dust mask in the vehicle the other day (and in a prominent place), but I didn't even think to put it on. That outdoor place where I was working has a gate with a lock on it. Maybe I can find some way to put my reminder note on or near that lock! Then I'll have to see the reminder note!

Following up: I did my three goals. (Have appointment Thursday with tax lady.)

I must say that I'm really glad I'm posting these daily goals. I got really discouraged earlier in the afternoon. If I hadn't posted goals, I probably would have skipped the last two for today just because of being bummed out.

I did get on the computer and read some other people's posts in various threads to help me get "back in the spirit." Thanks to all who post.

Good morning :)

Attempting to do some laundry today.
Yesterday I was able to do 2 of his loads of laundry with the control panel sort of opened on the washer.
The knob unit has malfunctioned and can be manipulated to get it to work.
We are looking into finding a new knob/control unit to install.
The house is a mess. The winds have been blowing in LOTS of dust so everything is dusty but that is the way Spring always is out here in the desert off a dirt road.
My garden hose was properly drained and stored over Winter but somehow it developed a leak. He fixed that yesterday for me so today I want to get out and water the trees & bushes & other stuff.

Diane, hope you are just absent because you are playing with the dog. (((hugs)))

Monday! A fresh new week to make a fresh new start. :D

Oops. I meant to put "goals for today" at the beginning of that last post.

Make a good-faith effort to set up an appointment with a certain person I've used in the past regarding income tax.

Spend time working on organizing some receipts.

Spend ten minutes scanning (and then trashing) some papers in my to-scan pile.

Roxie, I used to have off and on problems with migraines, but I have had far fewer over the past year or so. I have a lot of allergies, fyi.

I'm pretty sure what set this one off. On Thursday, I spent a fair amount of time working outside in a rural area, and silly me forgot to put on the dust mask that she keeps inside her vehicle for such purposes (nor did I take any allergy medicine). You'd think I'd "live and learn," because it isn't the first day I've had a migraine after one of those trips. Maybe I can keep some of my allergy meds in the car, and maybe I can put a reminder sign in a key location to wear my mask when I'm out there working!

Thanks for your concern.

Today is my "off" day... not setting a goal, other than to join the chat tonight (headache permitting...Friday's headache still isn't all gone, it seems).

Good morning.
Hope you all can make it tonight to Sunday night online support group.
He said he will start today on that fixing the washing machine issue.
Well, anyways...
I'm off to take a shower & get dressed.
"IF" he does attempt to do this he will be turning off the water to the whole house since he did not install an interior turn off valve when he did the plumbing for the bathroom sink and washing machine.

Thanks for that info Dave. :)

Barb, Hope you are feeling all better today. :)

LT2014, WAY TO GO! for getting those things accomplished! :D

Roxie, please find your flash light and put it near your bed. If there were to be some sort of emergency you would be trapped in your home.

Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday. :)

I was able to get some of my vehicle cleaned out (enough to satisfy my goal on that for today), and I got a little done on my paperwork goal. Yea!

Yesterday started well. The weather was warmer; the sun was shining; the birds were singing and i woke with enthusiasm and renewed vigor.
While I was working, I had decided to keep hydrated with a vitamin water. Big mistake. The company has changed the formula by adding sorbitol, a type of artificial sweetener. No warning on the label. I just assumed it was the same as I had purchased before. I was very sick all afternoon and into the evening. I thought I had the flu but then checked all the labels of everything I had consumed. It was my old enemy sorbitol.
Although I am a relatively healthy person, I have to be very diligent about reading labels anymore. I am finding that I cannot tolerate aspartame, sorbitol, or carrageenan. Food companies are sneaking these chemicals into all sorts of foods that you would not expect.
Today I am feeling much better. I will start in again on the cleaning and decluttering and try to update you all tomorrow night on the chat line.
Karl-best of luck on finding new housing.
Tillie--sorry about your setbacks and hope things get repaired to your satisfaction. Going to the laundromat is a pain.
Have a great day, everyone.

Tillie

I have purchased dryer parts several times from eBay vendor supplystuf. They do not sell the genuine Maytag parts, rather parts made by others to fit the machine. It has saved me money and things seem to work well-the place I really saved money awhile back was on a replacement motor.

Just wanted to toss that one out in the event you need a part and don't have another way to get it.

Good morning :)

Thanks Roxie :) (((hugs)))

Managed to get through yesterday a lot better than Thursday.
Got the daily maintenance stuff done then played with the cats outside.
Really have to get some food today. Have my list all made up.
He said he will help get the control panel on the washing machine off, this means pulling the washer out from the wall, something that I can't manage to do myself.
I believe the problem is with the knob somehow not making the connections to make the machine function. It is manual and not a computer control.
Neighbor was going to the dump yesterday anyways and took my garbage too. :D So nice of them!
Went through things yesterday and managed to fill a bag for the thrift shop, will drop that off on the way to the grocery store today.
He needs to get 3 long fence posts to replace the ones broken yesterday when he hit the fence with the truck. Fortunately, only minor cosmetic damage was done to the vehicle.
Time to start thinking about doing Spring cleaning but for now I will just enjoy the Spring time. :D

Hoping you all have a GREAT Saturday. :D

Congrats, Karl, on getting some of the sorting done at your storage unit. Yes, what works for me to "motivate me" kind of varies. In some areas of my life, a deadline helps, but in other areas of my life or at other times of my life, a deadline may do just the opposite. There have been times that I "freeze up" with a deadline.

For this week, I'm glad to say that creating my own small, seemingly do-able goals and posting them here has been helpful to me. So here goes: first goal is to spend ten minutes working on papers in a certain room, with an eye toward what can be tossed or shredded. If I have enough in my to-shred bag, I can take it today to that place I mentioned in an earlier post and get it shredded. If not, I'll save it for next week's "shred day."

A second goal is to work on my vehicle. I have a lot of "stuff" in there. I am supposed to give someone a ride someplace later today. I didn't physically feel like working on it yesterday, so I'll plan to work on that today. It's supposed to rain off and on and I don't have a garage, so timing on working on that might be tricky. I want the person to have a decently-clean place to sit!

So far, I'm not setting any goals for today in terms of my clutter. Am having a migrainish type headache which is very irritated by lights. Even being on the computer can aggravate it. So for at least part of the day, my "goal" is to give my eyes and brain some R and R. If I get better by evening, I might post a simple goal or two.

Candace, I relate to a lot of the things you are saying. Welcome. (I'm new as of this week, too.)

Good morning?

Thank you Diane :)
Happy you have your loaner dog back to keep you company. (((hugs)))

Hi LR2014 :)
WAY TO GO! making plans and accomplishing your goals. :D

Hi Jess :)
Thank you and WAY TO GO! for getting so much done. :D

Hi Karl :)
Wishing you the best of luck finding a good place to hang your hat. :)

Welcome Candace :)
Read around on this message board and you can learn some very good ways to improve your situation. :)

Yesterday the washing machine broke.
Then a bunch of other things also broke or went wrong.
This morning while he was leaving for work I heard a terrible scrunching sound, turned on the outside lights and saw he had backed the truck into the fence, knocking it down.
Pretty sure there is also damage to the vehicle but did not bother to go outside to see.
Decided not to make any plans today, just sit tight and wait out Murphy's law.

Have a nice day ;/

Hi, I'm new to this group. Hoarding jas caused me tremendous depression & anxiety. My husband is a hoarder and I am unorganized and never put anything away. My rational is because there is no where to put anything. My husbands rational is, you can't throw or give anything away that has value. I partially agree. We are one man one woman in 2600 sq feet I have no more storage for anything. If we can't find something, we buy another. If something is broken, we keep it and buy another. Clothes are the worst. I need some help.

Karl, since I'm new, I don't know much of your story yet. Sorry about the notice. I hope in the long run it ends up working out well for you.

I did get my "have-to's" from my to-do list done, plus a few others as well. I also (after being inspired by Diane's comment) bought and ate some healthier food than what I had yesterday. I only got a little done on my papers, and I didn't get my sweeping done. I'm OK with that, because one of my to-do list items produced an unexpected twist that had to be dealt with. (Nothing bad, just something that had to be dealt with.) And now I'm going to try to hit the sack.

Hello everyone! I love to see what you're all up to and accomplishing!

Tillie, I'm sorry about the trash issue :( I hope that gets sorted out quickly and trash pickup can resume. Glad to see though that your clutter free zones are still yours and you have a beautiful day to enjoy!

Day 3: I did the dishes. My to-do list includes: a little grocery shopping and working on my weekly task of curing the table clutter problem. I can clean the table but it'll just happen again so I want a better solution.

Some specific goals for today (some of which may change depending on how my foot is doing):

Check my to-do list I made yesterday for things that "have to" be done today and do those.

Spend at least 15 minutes working on some of the floors (sweeping, vacuuming, etc.).

Spend at least 15 minutes going through papers in a certain room that need to be sorted into "trash," "shred," or "keep" categories. (Most are destined for "trash" or "shred.")

I like that thought of "eating better than yesterday." I'm almost out of certain healthier foods I sometimes eat; will plan to go to the store to buy more.

Happy day, everybody.

LR good plan, sleep is so important for us. Tillie, hope you are feeling better today.
Today the sunshine is lifting my spirits, still cold out, went out and walked around, so nice having a dog visiting, although he is not a hugger, still nice having him here. He let me sleep until 7 so I am appreciative, he usually gets up at 5am with his owner. Today I will do dishes, eat better food than yesterday. take tanner and me for a walk.
I think now is a good time to finally vacuum since Tanner is out enjoying the yard. I wish you all a pleasant day, and productive day, accomplishing something to make your life better.

Spring is finally here! :D
Good morning everybody.
BIG WAY TO GO!
for getting stuff done and making your daily plans.
There has been no progress on his end here and things are actually getting worse mainly because he can not seem to follow through with anything.
I could help him stay on track but he has been so mean & nasty that I just allow him to wallow in his own mess hoping that he will hit bottom and decide that my suggestions really do work.
My NO CLUTTER ZONES are still clear & clean so I am doing alright. :D
He is in a dispute with the trash company over their increase in rates so he canceled the trash pick up service.
Lets see just how much worse things will get now. :(

Oh Well, anyways....
Since the weather is lovely, today I will do some laundry and then get outside to play.
Daffodils, grape hyacinth, wild currant bushes and dandy lions are all in bloom. Dove, Quail, Robins, Wrens and finches are all frisky.
Have a WONDERFUL first day of SPRING! :D

Thanks, Karl, for the info on that chat time.

Following up on my goal-setting for yesterday... I did get my to-do list going. I decided to pass on working on the receipts and focus on trying to relax and get to sleep early so I could get today off to a better start. That was (mostly) successful.

I will probably post my "today" plans later on today.

Day two. I did the dishes and went to the bank.

My difficult thing for the day was going to a chiropractor. I had never been to one before. I did something to my back last week and it only seems to be getting worse so I decided I should go, especially since my husband was urging me to. I was freaking out about going to this unfamiliar place and being touched and everything but I did it and I'm feeling better already.

I also made dinner but it turned out to be pretty awful lol Oh well, can't win em all.

Thanks to all of you for the welcomes and the nice comments. I look forward to getting to know each of you.

I'm keeping my decluttering plans "low key" for today. Part of the reason is that I injured a foot last week and I'm trying to be careful with it for a little while. Also, my sleep schedule has been off the past several days, and I want to try to hit the sack early tonight to try to get back on a more normal sleep schedule. My first specific goal is to just make a list of some of the things I want/need to get done over the next few days and weeks. A second goal is to spend some time this evening (I'll go for 20 minutes again, at least) getting some receipts organized for a task I need to accomplish later. No dancing tonight to celebrate successful completion, though, unless it's one-footed. Besides, I don't want to get too hyped up and then be unable to get to sleep. Is delayed partying acceptable?

PS I would have joined the Tuesday night chat last night, but I was out of town and got home too late to do it. I logged in, but it was obviously too late. How long does it usually run?

DAVE, where are you? what are you up to? Hope a pile in the garage didn't bury you. Kidding. Miss hearing from you, just a quick hello would be great, if you are too busy cleaning to write. Think of you daily and hope for the best in the car parking garage.