Too excited to start with the cure!

I love lists! I'm excited to whip things into shape!

So glad you brought this back. The best part of this, is that you listen to your readers and are honest is you reasoning why you dropped the cure in 2012. The Holiday video explains it well, thank you!

The January Cure has been added to my arsenal to help me kill the Procrastination Queen. And while the comment policy doesn't allow me to provide a link to the blog I began last November to help me to do exactly what this Cure promises, I will be providing a link to the Cure for my followers. Together we shall overcome!

Thanks! I have a great looking list and I feel more organized and ready to get to work!

This is great! Already I feel a sense of accomplishment by just making my list of projects.

I'm super exciteg to get things set up and organized. i have been so frustrated on how to get things started. Awesome.

As a highly organized person, you're still teaching a few new tricks (that I'm sharing).

What I did to avoid diving in was to grab a cup of coffee and sit down in a cafe (away from my house) to make the project list. Prevented the anxiety. I also just found an iPad ap called Things2 to track the project. It has a "Things" cloud to share/synch items across my apple devices. I still have to transfer over my list into the ap but I think it will be worthwhile.

Thank you so much - a sharp kick in the behind was needed to start the purge!
I've decided to weigh all the purged items removed thus far (Day 3)
Weight for it.....119lb! (Hope you like the pun) YES 119lbs
Is that a small lady or large child that will find a new home this week?
This comprised of sentimental nonsense, vampire items (you know the ones stashed in the back of cupboards unlikely to see the light of day and likely to perish if they do), things that I'd only be able to wear if it was as easy to shed **lb of unwanted fat as it has been to shed 119lb of things I no longer want or need.
The Cure? I hope so!

do you have any suggestions for those of us who have to travel during part of this month on how to consolidate chores? i will be away for 6 or 7 days toward the middle and end of the month.

TIA!

Yes, yes, please give suggestions for those of us who travel! I am a flight attendant and leaving home today after a wonderful, curative start to my new year. I am stressing a bit, knowing that I will be reading about what I should/could be doing while I am away.

rouquinne and she.knits -

Don't stress! It will all get done.

The January Cure has a mix of very busy days and not so busy days, so "making up" for a few lost days here and there shouldn't be too hard - you just won't have the benefit of some of the assignments happening in exactly the same "real time" flow as the majority of the group.

And, remember its not so much the destination as the journey - if you arrive a few days after the rest of the group, it's not the end of the world. If you need to tack a few days on to the end to complete all your tasks, that is fine.

I'd say its more important to keep up as best you can as we go so you don't feel too far out of the loop and simply make special note (perhaps on your printout of the complete cure calendar pdf?) of the things you had to skip in January so they can be a top priority one to cross off your list during the first week or so in February.

thanks, janel! i think i make things harder for myself every time i set out to do something like this by developing an "all or nothing" mentality and then sabotaging myself. i just know i can't keep living like this.

Does anyone have suggestions for doing the Cure in a house you share with roommates? Days 1, 2, and 3 were pretty easy to modify. What I consider a "problem area", though, is an area my roommate likes the way it is.

I've had roommates for years, so I'm not looking for suggestions about roommate communication, honest conflict, etc. I'm more interested in how people have meshed styles, sets of furniture, accessories, definitions of clutter. I'm going to have roommates for a while, and I want to respect their style preferences while developing my own style.

I'm basically splitting the Cure into two categories. I'm trying to do the full Cure in my room. In the other areas of the house, I'm trying to declutter, clean, etc., while not launching my roommates into an unwilling house cleaning project.

Just wondering if anyone else is doing this in a space that isn't 100% yours, and what approach you're taking.

Thank you for the perspective. Your words are simple and wise and what I need right now.

Good advice! I worked two 12 hr shifts this weekend, and didn't manage to do anything when I got home. Monday morning I got my floors done though! And I am buying flowers today instead! (never got out yesterday, as we had company). Despite being a little behind schedule, I still feel much more productive than usual. The new year is off to a great start!

I'm revamping the shelving in my bathroom. Will definitely take before and after pics. So excited!

I will be slipcovering my oversized armchair. My new apartment is a bit mismatched, so I want to make it more uniform by slipcovering both of my chairs, but I will start with one.

I would so do this but I'm getting ready for a long-distance move! Talk about a total house purge.

Is there a flickr tag for this cure? There was one for previous cures, and I found it very inspirational. Being in the very last stretches of my pregnancy (as in.. I'm due this Saturday!) I won't be able to participate that much in the cure later in the month, but in the meantime, I'll take all the nesting inspiration I can :)

In early 2012 I had a large reach-in closet built in the bedroom of my pre-war apartment, but I never really organized it properly and things just stayed wherever they landed during a rushed unpacking process. My first big project is going to be getting that monster under control.

The entry to my bedroom is a little nook that includes a linen closet but is not well-lit. My goal is to use the idea of the "landing strip" for this space, to help keep organized, clothes off the floor, and to better utilize the storage in the closet.

Ok. I am doing the cure but the outbox is weird. I have so much crap in my outbox already that all I am looking at now is a pile of stuff that needs to be weeded through which is totally taking me off my game. My outbox has 12 boxes of photos that I want to digitize (so I can get rid of the actual photos and negatives). Now I have added paintings that need framing, office and crafting supplies that need to get organized and put someplace ANNNND I still have the how do I want my house to feel list going on. I laid a new floor in a guest bedroom and I spent last night caulking the nail heads and gaps in the finish molding. So while I am doing it in small steps this is getting nuts. Do I deal just with the outbox issue (because I a not putting anything else in it) or do I go with the house vibe part of the cure. Help please.

Also one project a month. I want to do 10 a month because... well because I am OCD and life is too short to leave stuff undone.

Where do I post this.... Not sure this meets criteria as a "green" cleaner , but rubbing alcohol is incredibly cheap and makes a terrific surface cleaner for non-painted surfaces. Just dump some on a sheet of paper toweling, or a rag, and wipe away. Leaves no filnm, and It kills the flu virus too.

Day One - My list is HUGE!
Day Two - My Outbox is my entryway so that I can't miss the pile I want to get rid ot
Day Three - Brought home a tiny cactus garden from my vacation in the desert
Day Four - Sat in my reading chair in my bedroom, and now I see what has to change in that room
Day Five - Finish building the shelves in my "nest" (office? den? retreat? computer room?)

1greatkid - Sounds like you're using your outbox for "future projects" instead of a spot for things you think you want to get rid of. I suggest leaving your undone projects wherever they are in the house for now since I assume you wrote them on your list and know that you'll be getting to them at some point, and only use the outbox for things you intend to discard (trash or donate) - for example, if you intended to part with those paintings rather than keep and have them framed, then they'd belong in the outbox.

Scrabulous! You saved my fat from falling in to the fire. I now have 2 piles my future do pile and my out the door pile. Goodwill is coming on Monday for the old glider, dvd's, stereo and armoire. The photos can sit for a bit more. Thanks

Four hours later I've cleaned the inside and of the refrigerator and freezer. The top still needs to be cleaned and something done with the dishes that have migrated there. But for now, I'm done.

"inside and outside"

I wonder if roses are to fancy for just everyday flowers? Can plants be sub for flowers?
.

I'm following the daily emails, but they do not seem to match the calendar dates. Am I missing something?

In any case, I love how this is set up with easy-to-tackle tasks, not grueling marathons, while still making a real difference at a fundamental level. My bedroom is has recovered its original simplicity, and is a pleasure to walk into now, and I even scanned the last 2 months of tax receipts without feeling overwhelmed, as a by-product of that list of priorities we made. I am inspired without being exhausted. Thx, this is fun!

I want to thank you and tell you how much I appreciate the January cure.
It's the 1st time I see/try anything about organisation/clutter free that I can actually do and follow.
I love the rhythm - throwing everything out in 1 week-end is simply not realistic and won't happen - and is often was is proposed.
I have already given away what was in my outbox area, I think because I had the freedom to keep it a week, not the pressure to give it right away
(I don't do well with pressure, so I'd feel like a failure, give up and stay in the pretty much same clutter situation - has not happened with you
I knew it would be different when it didn't start on January 1st but gave us January 1st and 2nd.
ok, I realize this is long, I guess I could sum it up in 2 words: THANK YOU, but I wanted to truly understand how grateful I am :)

I needed to say thank you so much for this series! I was skeptical of how much I would get out of this, and already I'm so happy with what I've been able to do with a fresh pair of eyes and perspective! I've gifted an old laptop I'd forgotten about to my mum and too-small work clothes to my sister. I've even set up a sewing area in my spare room, where I honestly thought I had no space and gotten organised to paint the bathroom! New eyes on and options abound! Thank you so much for this, I'm so happy with it all!

@HaironFire You beat me to it! I used rubbing alcohol on the tops of my sisters cupboards and they cleaned up in no time and looked spectacular. So much better and quicker than the All Purpose spray I used on my own.
Just make sure the room is ventilated. That alcohol smell is strong!!

And rubbing alcohol removes gummy residue! I like the smell - maybe I have some sort of medical fixation?

haha that is weird it burns my nose but it works wonders on really any kind of gunk.

I water it down use it to get grease/goo off my appliances and cabinets.

Is anyone blogging their Cure diaries? I've found a few threw the individual posts but link it here so we all can check it out!

Joining a week late, but I will be FINALLY finish the pillow cases I have been putting off for my couch. The cincher. Purchase a sewing machine. Done and done.

I continue to deep clean the kitchen. Two more kitchen cabinets cleaned and organized which includes cleaning the dishes therein. Also pitching Tupperware and replacing with glass storage containers. My outbox is getting full.

Oh, as part of my goal project I've chosen the paint colors fo the bathroom.

unfortunately, i am away through Sunday and won't accomplish any tasks for the remainder of the week. however, i did buy an organizer for my sewing/crafting area that will free up shelves for books - books that are still in boxes since i moved 4.5 years ago. while unpacking, i can figure out which to keep and which to take to the reseller.

i am picking up the hardware for my Ikea Rast dressers at Lee Valley Tools this weekend! beautiful ring pulls and fancy corners to dress them up after lacquering them in black! :-)

I've only done one blog post, but I have outed myself on my Business Page (Decorator! Heal Thyself!). Once I put it out there, I feel like I HAVE to follow through.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Simply-Sophisticated-Spaces/323593106170

i am having a blast with this cure!
as a long time unclutterer and minimalist, i have a lot of areas trimmed of all fat already.
but it is always good to re-examine things periodically and that is what the cure list has forced me to get on with.
there is always a little more stuff that can be released to a new home!

pale pinky lavender coloured roses for my flowers this week....beautiful.
and my list of projects was actually so long and involved that i ended up calling a builder.
i am awaiting quotes now, amd thrilled to be Getting Things Done at last.

thanks for the cure....it is great!

In some of the posts, under some of the activities, it seems like people are taking this way too seriously. is there going to be an inspection? I'm enjoying the process as guidelines and suggestions, and a little bit of accountability, but if I don't have the time to complete a task, or the money to go out and buy flowers, I don't feel like it's a total loss and I should quit. This is an ongoing process, and breaking it into pieces like this makes it less daunting. And reading others' comments is helpful too. I feel really inspired and unstuck!

Dot, I agree! If someone from AT would come to inspect me, they'd never suspect I'm doing the Cure! But in fact I know this project has been inspiring me to get things done. I've repaired a bookshelf, deep-cleaned under the kitchen sink, bought cute fabric bins to organize my linens, dragged out cactus soil to re-pot needy plants, and more. Doing ANYTHING is better than letting your to-do list stagnate, right? :)

Cranky Gerd - I promise, no inspections are planned! And, yes, it's all good - every bit counts.

Janel - How about a 'AT rescue team' to come help me finish up!!? That would be great!

Janel, even though I haven't managed to do everything on my list I am NOT giving up!

I'd like to put by vote in for doing these more often. We definitely get more done. The sense of community is invaluable. It seems like I've been waiting forever for this... but it could be only 6 months since the last one.

That's an entirely different A-Team show. ;)

I haven't started - do I have to wait another year?????

LoveDecor start day one today and move at your own speed. Just begin, it feels good to get started.

Does the February cure look any different. I love this January cure, but it seems like it applies to just about any month of the year!

PLEASE don't remove this January Cure... I joined a little too late, and REALLY don't want to miss all this inspiration!! The flowers in my house - what an amazing feeling! I move the vase to whichever room I'm working in!
this is one amazing community! LOVE apartment therapy!

I love the sense of doing those tricky, dirty, unfun household jobs in company. Fallen behind because of flu but feeling good about what I've achieved so far.

Thanks to the January Cure, I finally finished the seat for the willow chair that my daughter and I made 12 years ago! Sweet Victory over the Procrastination Queen.

We finished the Cure! I'm so happy that we did it, the apartment feels and looks better and I hope to continue to purge, clean, and organize (on my own schedule :))
Woooo January Cure!!!

http://shoes-off-please.com/2013/01/31/we-are-cured/

that's an inspiration, PQ!

i am woefully behind on the cure; just got back from yet another trip a short while ago and off again on Saturday morning - no get-togethers Chez rouquinne... :-( however, i feel more confident in my ability to complete the tasks on my list, taking one step at a time when i am home in order to reach Home Nirvana!

my house is less cluttered and more asthetically pleasing thanks to this exercise. I did not do everything on this list, but the stories of others encouraged me to get around to languishing projects.

This is an exciting list, I am so looking forward to all of the above, but I will definitely prioritize and start with no 5- 4-16 and see how it goes. Everytime I had great expectation, nothing really got accomplished. So wish me luck with these 3 chores.

All the best and thanks again for the Inspiration and constant stimulation.

decogirlmontreal

SO much accomplished this January - finally got my little studio looking like home (9 months after I moved in, mind you!)

Just a quick THANK YOU. Excellent program. My house is far from cured, but the patient is out of ICU ("ICU should probably get rid of that ... ICU finally cleaned out that closet ... ICU hung that painting your picked up two years ago ... etc.")

I'm not embarrassed to say, my house embarrasses me. It is far from House Beautiful; at least it is now House Clean and Clutter-Free (mostly...). I'm even having company over, which I haven't done since, well, I liked my house. So, maybe this exercise has helped the introverted me more than just keeping my computer cords tamed ...

I'd happily sign up for a 12-month cure ... y'know, a once or twice a month assignment ... hint, hint, HINT.

Thanks, again!

I started the January Cure very late.This was my first Cure.It has made a difference in my day to day lifestyle.Now my pantry has no expired items,I cook more frequently,finally tried out Mrs.Myers products for "green"cleaning.Also,I completed a goal project by re-hanging a cabinet door in my kitchen.Thanks for the motivation!