Update on The Purge

Well, it’s been three weeks since this post. How’s it working out for me?

First, a room a week just has not been feasible. Not only with work and volunteer stuff eating my time, but not having a vehicle means I have to ask for help to transport garbage or items for donation, and I hate asking for help. But I’m chipping away and finding things working for me. Here are some areas, both from the book I mentioned and my own trial and error that help.

Kitchen

If I don’t use it, I got rid of it. This includes paring down dishes, minor appliances, and random things that are supposed to make life easier but don’t (I have legit never used a pineapple core thing, a knife works as well). There are still a few cupboards to go through but it’s a lot easier to manage.

I also got a few dollar store items for organizing–plastic bins for spices/baking supplies, towels/clothes–that I can throw things into without thinking, and some vertical organizers for pans. I am one of those people who leaves pots and baking sheets all over the place because I haaaaaate nesting things for storage. So now I don’t nest; I stow everything either vertically for easy removal/clean-up or commonly used pots are sitting by themselves in the cupboard. I am not stacking shit EVER AGAIN.

I also got rid of my dishrack. I don’t have a dishwasher so clean by hand–I got a microfiber dishmat and that keeps me cleaning dishes regularly otherwise the kitten knocks them over.

Bedroom

What really kicked me into gear with my bedroom is that my poor old dog has taken to wandering at night. She’s deaf, partially blind, and has many of the usual old lady maladies, although her bloodwork’s been great. She’s been getting herself trapped in corners and, at one point, I woke to a yelp and couldn’t fucking find her despite sleeping with both doors closed. Turns out she got herself stuck between the bookcase and laundry hamper, and some of the giant pile of laundry fell on her. It was a terrifying few sleep-deprived minutes, and I knew I had to get serious and purge more stuff.

Unfortunately, again, no laundry facilities, but I’ve made a few shifts and I’m purging as I go. If it doesn’t fit in my wardrobe or dresser, it has to go.

It also has given me space to get a new super fancy bed for Sophie.

Took her awhile to understand it’s hers but she’s settled in to sleep. Great bed, highly recommend. pic.twitter.com/9QN671qFPV

— Skyla Dawn Cameron (@skyladawn) November 6, 2017

I’m hoping it’ll help her settle at night. It’s good quality, easy to assemble, and once she got settled she passed out cold for two hours without moving.

Living Room

I haven’t actually tackled this room yet, but I looked at my space and what I needed and started making some changes. My couch was getting super uncomfortable and I rarely have guests anyway, so I bought a new-to-me loveseat and it totally changed the space. Gave me more room to use a second end table that can hold my work notepad, medications, etc, and it’s been much easier on my back. Eventually I’ll make my way south through the apartment and start tackling my bookshelves and other items, but already that’s made a big difference.

I’ve also added a small recycling bin (just a blue plastic tote from the dollar store) next to the waste basket in the living room for papers/notes and plastic bottles/cans so I don’t have to sort the garbage later. I’ve done the same thing in my room, and I would in my bathroom too if I had more floor space. SO much easier to sort when you’re tossing something rather than later.

So that’s where I am with purging thus far. I’ve had several boxes of goods donated, bags of clothes (with more to go), and a dozen bags of garbage.

The end result is space that’s much easier to keep clean, or–if I’ve had a few rough days and haven’t cleaned–is much less daunting to play catch up with.

I highly recommend the ADHD method if you have a mental illness that shares similar traits. Really, if you find yourself overwhelmed and in tears over organizing and cleaning, this is one way of doing something about it.