SurvivingInfidelity.com^®

I tend to be a non-fiction reader, and I know that my STBX and I are going to have to go through 10 years' worth of STUFF, including kids' stuff, now that we are separating. A part of me is looking forward to not having HIS stuff around anymore, as he tends to accumulate much more than me (or at least that is my impression, but maybe I just value different things). Anyway, I'm enjoying this one so far. I'm going to start with my own stuff, but I'm seeing this as an opportunity for renewal.

I loved it and my closet and dresser are wonderful now. Still can't get through some of the other things like paperwork

Clothes will be huge for me! I've been through two pregnancies in the last 5 years, so I have skinny (pre-pregnancy), maternity, nursing, post-partum and newly skinny (but different from pre-pregnancy) clothes. Everything from size 4-14, plus the maternity and nursing stuff. Then, there are the kids' clothes...

A friend just recommended this book to me---said it changed her life. And I found it today at Costco! Yeah, I put it in my cart as I was filling it up with so much other "stuff"! (Irony not lost on me).

I'm enjoying the first couple chapters, and gearing myself up. I like her firm confidence that if we do it her way (and no other), it will work its magic.

I have a couple of other "clean up your clutter" books, but they are lost among the piles (irony also not lost on me).

Last year is when I had to get all xWH's stuff out....and I spent a lot of time, sweat and tears sorting and putting it all together (including the 1000's of pictures, a feat unto its own)....and I felt so much lighter and clearer after it was done. I still visit the storage room regularly just to look at the floor, and to congratulate myself on knowing exactly where everything is, and what exactly is in every box.

I need a new beginning, and psychic room to allow my future to unfold. I like the idea that the technique in this book will allow this to happen. She seems like a wise lady (if not a little weird; I mean, what child is obsessed with organizing the bathroom drawers weekly?? LOL)

I've done my tops, pants, skirts, suit jackets and dresses. Then, I was interrupted by a bout of stomach flu! It takes a while because I have to try everything on to see if it even fits. One garbage bag for general donation and another for a place that helps women who need assistance dress for job interviews to get into the workforce.

I'm glad you were able to get your WH'd stuff out. I think that will help me feel that sense of renewal. I also have a couple of tidying/organizing books, but the last time I really did it was in 2011 when I was expecting our first child.

One (maybe) last point. I like her attitude toward material things and our relationship to them. By thanking items that I use for their service, I feel gratitude for the fact that I have clothes and a bed to sleep in and dishes to hold the food I eat, etc. Maybe I can approach my consumption habits with more social awareness if I think about the effort that went into making them.

I don't want to worship stuff. But looking at things with an attitude of gratitude and thinking about if it brings joy or that it served a purpose and was ok to go to another. That made sense to me.

I definitely have not bought as much since reading it

I just got it on audible. I'm ADD though, so many organizing techniques are too advanced for me. But look forward to reading it anyway.

Pent up: I understand what you mean about the worship aspect. The author does almost worship items.

Annanew: Good luck. I'm sure that ADD interferes with many things. Perhaps the book's approach can offer a slightly different approach. It does still require a lot of focused attention to carry out the book's plan.

I have not read the book, but I keep seeing it "popping up" as a reference when I read about tidying up, minimalism, etc. I am trying to de-clutter and asking the question "does this bring you joy?" helps me throw things away.

My daughter bought me this book recently. It's in the case with my other unread books LOL

House under major Reno... will adopt less crowded storage when returning items to the home.

Any of you that are reading/have read it, did you read Sink Reflections (ie Fly Lady)?

I read that years ago and liked it. While I did not subscribe to her stuff 100% - I was able to pick enough out of the book to make it worthwhile. Just wondering how it compares?

and I felt so much lighter and clearer after it was done

Yeppers - nothing like that feeling when you clean out!

You comment about room to breath reminds me of an excellent decluttering book I read a couple of months ago - Breathing Room: Open your heart by decuttering your hom.e

I also highly recommend SoulSpace: Transform Your Home, Transform Your Life -- Creating a Home That Is Free of Clutter, Full of Beauty, and Inspired by You. It is all about making a home that reflects who YOU are. It is wonderful!

Careful, JanetS. After our Reno last year, all that extra stuff is still sitting in our garage.

I haven't read either of the other books, although I've heard of Flylady before.

I am a fan and was in the midst of KonMari when DDay hit and then nothing was going to "spark joy".

Everything I had done (clothes, books, papers, some other) has stayed easily maintained though. I am just starting back and just did a category this past weekend for the first time since Dday.

Is this something that can be done in small chunks of time? Have small baby who doesn't sleep through the night yet, another kid, and full-time job - I could only devote 20 minutes here and there at a time - is this doable or do you have to have hours of time to use this system?

You could do it in chunks of time. I didn't pull ALL my clothes out. I did a drawer at a time (I was kind of organized before, but was starting to feel cluttered and out of control).

If you feel like your closet is really a nightmare, then it may be worth having your husband take the kids for 3 or 4 hours to get a good start.

Then it is really a mindset more than a system.

I did it in chunks. For example, one time I just did socks. Another, I did T-shirts. She actually a specific order in which you should do your clothes.