Over two months ago, BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I started decluttering, reorganizing and cleaning my house in preparation for my in-laws to stay with our kids. And this weekend, after cleaning the floors and bathroom downstairs, I finally feel done. Are there still drawers that need to be organized? Definitely. Are there still bags of junk to get ride of in the garage hallway? So many. But all the projects I set out to complete are now finished and I think the house is clean enough for my in-laws to stay. Their house is pristine – literally there is not a spec of dust in a corner of their garage – and now my house is clean enough that they will feel comfortable there for three days (even though there is still dust and lint in all corners of my garage).
This was a big project for us. Massive. The last time we cleaned our house like this was when we had AirBnB guests in the summer of 2018. Some areas of my house (under certain large pieces of furniture) haven’t been cleaned since then. Other areas have only been cleaned sporadically. But probably the biggest transformation has been the organizing. We Marie Kondo’ed the house years ago (maybe 2015?) and got rid of a lot of stuff, but the junk drawers that inspired me to declutter and reorganize this time existed back then. Some of them have been housing random stuff since we moved in almost 12 years ago.
It feels really good to be done with this project. And it feels really good to be in a house that is clean and tidy. The best part is feeling like maybe, just maybe this time we can keep it up. If we can, it would literally be the first time I’ve found a system for maintaining a tidy living space. I have never, in my 43 years, managed to do that consistently. It’s one of the main ways ADHD impacts my life.
Of course, I can’t know yet if I really will be able to maintain this new level of tidiness. I do know I put some new systems into place and that seems to be helping. I’m realizing I wrote a post about that in January and never posted it. I should finish that and put it up…
We need to head to the airport on Friday morning, after taking the kid to school, and there is still so much to do. Tuesday and Wednesday I plan to be at the dojo until late, so I really need to use my time wisely on Monday and Thursday. Oh, and I need to have sub plans ready for Friday too. It’s a lot, but with the 7th graders gone at school I think it’s doable.
Whoohoo! So proud of you. What a great feeling. Enjoy your trip!
Congratulations!!! That’s very inspiring. I need to keep going with my efforts as well.
I am so proud for you! You worked really hard and your family pitched in. It is a joy and delight to read you acknowledging and self-praising your efforts and accomplishments! If you do the post you mention I will very much appreciate it.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!
That is a massive job, well done. I hope you can keep it up this time. Even if some things don’t work, I’m sure there will be a lot that do. You must feel great achieving what you set out to do, especially as it was such a big thing. What a way to go into your holiday.
We are trying to work with our son to help him find ways to keep his bedroom clean and his life admin done. He has ADHD and it is so hard, but we are working with him to try different things. All I know is it has to be one step to get things done and super, super easy. Automating also works for him. If he tries something and it doesn’t work we just try to get him to not get too down on himself and encourage him to try another way.
Congratulations! I can’t maintain a tidy space either. It’s awesome you pulled this off.
Congrats! It’s always so lovely to have a clean, organized space.
Hey that’s wonderful, good job!
I’d love to read about the systems you put into place, too. We’re always battling the creep of chaos here.
Yay, all the hard work paid off. I am sure you must feel so elated!