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Sandra de Helen's avatar

I've written before how I don't have total control over my home because it is also my daughter's home and we have different approaches about how to live. We do not argue or fight. We love each other and co-exist easily and happily. So, I just declutter when and how I can. I clean when and how I am physically able. I focus on keeping the bathroom clean, keeping the dishes and countertops clean, and my own areas manageable. What is true for me is while I'd love a clean organized home, if I have to make a choice, I will choose living with my daughter every time.

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Rebecca | Your House Machine's avatar

I feel the same way -- I can fantasize about how my house would look if I lived alone, but I'd choose the mess and my family over that every time.

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Readerwoman's avatar

My clutter mostly comes from a big push to redecorate. June brings me to the two year mark of my hubby’s death, so I decided to declutter and redecorate at the same time. Idiot. My craft cave is so bad that I can barely walk in there. Overflow of that in my bedroom. Living room dining room and bathroom done!✅

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Rebecca | Your House Machine's avatar

Oof, yes I know this feeling well. I get energy to declutter when another project is on the horizon and then I have double the work. I try to remember to declutter whenever I see clutter rather than then I HAVE to because another need demands it.

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Valerie Savage's avatar

I’ve been on a “declutter 5 things a day” kick - the babiest of baby steps, but that keeps the momentum going when I know I can do it every day!

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Anastasiia's avatar

If my husband was reading an organizing Substack, he would 100% agree :) I am a perfectionist (and often am paralyzed by it) and he’s very much “something is better than nothing” type of guy. I’m trying to adopt more of this approach, while getting him to create some sort of system / strategy other than random.

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Rebecca | Your House Machine's avatar

Sounds like you could be a good team -- chipping away at it with different approaches.

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Jen's avatar

I’ve done chaos method but for small areas - an underwear drawer or a few drawers in the kitchen. I could never for a whole room. I’m stressed just thinking about it.

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Elle Penner's avatar

I'm all for the chaos method! But personally, I prefer organized chaos. 😂 I keep a note on my phone of random areas of our home or categories I want to declutter. Then, when I have the time and the urge to purge, it's easy for me to pick one and dive in.

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Rebecca | Your House Machine's avatar

Ha, I do the same thing! I don’t think this is normal behavior but I’m happy to know I’m not alone at least 😝

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Cassandra U's avatar

I’m pretty sure it was in the comments here I learned about Dana K White and I’ve really enjoyed using her Decluttering at the speed of life approach. A coworker and I just tackled the storage room at work and it started with just working for one hour.

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Rebecca | Your House Machine's avatar

I learned about her in the comments here too. She's so great!

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