Comments on: Clutter of a spouse: how to deal with it http://www.optedmagazine.com/2009/08/dealing-with-the-clutter-of-a-spouse/ Organization, Productivity, Tasking, Exceptionalism, and Decluttering Wed, 26 May 2010 01:44:17 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Carnival of Family Life: September 2009 “Fall Into Fall” Edition | Colloquium http://www.optedmagazine.com/2009/08/dealing-with-the-clutter-of-a-spouse/comment-page-1/#comment-349 Carnival of Family Life: September 2009 “Fall Into Fall” Edition | Colloquium Sun, 27 Sep 2009 20:22:17 +0000 http://www.optedmagazine.com/?p=179#comment-349 [...] Magazine presents Clutter of a spouse: how to deal with it posted at OPTED Magazine. Good luck with [...] [...] Magazine presents Clutter of a spouse: how to deal with it posted at OPTED Magazine. Good luck with [...]

]]> By: LH http://www.optedmagazine.com/2009/08/dealing-with-the-clutter-of-a-spouse/comment-page-1/#comment-12 LH Thu, 06 Aug 2009 02:52:15 +0000 http://www.optedmagazine.com/?p=179#comment-12 Our issue is the garage. What drives me nuts is the lack of order causes some things that might be worth saving to be wrecked because they're in boxes with no lids, etc. The thing that's helped the most is that I retired 37 days ago (!) after years of us both working, raising 2 great kids and having lots of fun. Now I feel like I have more time to tackle these things and I'm less stressed when I talk to him about it. His response? He's made more progress in decluttering in the last month than he did in the previous 5 years at least. And much of it isn't my talking -- it's that I can focus on the decluttering more now, too! I share your very terrific interest in how GREAT folks can feel when the crap is taken care of. My own creativity flows so much easier when the mess is gone. Because, we, too, have a solid relationship, I remind myself that this guy makes so many things we've used joyfully (sports equipment, toys) that I can compartmentalize my discomfort. Doesn't mean I don't wish he and I could work more as a team on this decluttering - I've managed to come up with a way to live with joy in spite of an imperfect system. Our issue is the garage. What drives me nuts is the lack of order causes some things that might be worth saving to be wrecked because they’re in boxes with no lids, etc. The thing that’s helped the most is that I retired 37 days ago (!) after years of us both working, raising 2 great kids and having lots of fun. Now I feel like I have more time to tackle these things and I’m less stressed when I talk to him about it. His response? He’s made more progress in decluttering in the last month than he did in the previous 5 years at least. And much of it isn’t my talking — it’s that I can focus on the decluttering more now, too!

I share your very terrific interest in how GREAT folks can feel when the crap is taken care of. My own creativity flows so much easier when the mess is gone. Because, we, too, have a solid relationship, I remind myself that this guy makes so many things we’ve used joyfully (sports equipment, toys) that I can compartmentalize my discomfort. Doesn’t mean I don’t wish he and I could work more as a team on this decluttering – I’ve managed to come up with a way to live with joy in spite of an imperfect system.

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