Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

[Dimity]

Hello @NatureLover I hope the big occasion went well and you enjoyed it. I trust you came through unscathed despite your phobias and fears. It would be a colossal achievement.

I've been working consistently on the house and garden for over a fortnight now. I'm still averaging only 3 hours a day actually working so I need to do more. It's mostly in 25-30 minute stints with long breaks in between. I can't see many differences but I know the effort isn't wasted, it's just that the baseline is shifting. The green bins and shredding and cleaning are proof, and I have the boxes of old household chemicals. The visible difference is clearer surfaces. But as the saying goes, Nature abhors a vacuum and some things have come out of overfull cupboards. It's a work in progress. 

I have a Council occupational health and safety check tomorrow and I hope they find nothing untoward. Big hope.

[Dimity]

What a lovely surprise to hear from you @NatureLover . I'm so glad the wedding went well. As I said in my post that crossed yours, a colossal achievement. 

[NatureLover]

Oh gosh, @Dimity  - a Council OH&S check today! I hope it goes well 🤞

You have been doing so well, working 3 hours a day for over a fortnight. I'm glad you can see some clearer surfaces, however temporary. 

Thank you for saying it was such a big achievement to get through the wedding. I really appreciate that ❤

I woke at 8.30am then went back to sleep and woke at 12.30. Need recovery time so just reading today and maybe a laundry wash. 

I hope you have a successful day...

[Dimity]

Time to relax and recover @NatureLover .

I just had the OHS check. Verdict: the smoke alarm isn't working and the house is "a little cluttered" (but she didn't see the spare room). Gosh I guess she was being kind. But now having got this far I really think I'll have to start over. I'll try to rethink my approach.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

[NatureLover]

Sounds like you passed the OH&S check, @Dimity ?

But what do you mean, "start over"? 

[Dimity]

The smoke alarm needs to be fixed or replaced before they can start. Otherwise yes I passed the rest of the OHS check @NatureLover .

The house is as clean as I could manage, which is an achievement and now hopefully I can maintain that going forwards. But I'm obviously going to have to reassess the clutter. It feels as though I'm going to have to start again with a different approach. Starting home help seems to reset my deadline - it's now open-ended again. It's yet another new beginning.

[NatureLover]

Well done on getting the house as clean as you could manage, @Dimity . 

Do you mean your different approach needs to be stricter with clutter? 

[Dimity]

@NatureLover sorry to be obtuse but I really don't know what being 'stricter with clutter' means. I stopped accumulating new stuff years ago, I try to keep up with chores now although I'd slacked off when my depression was worse, and I've made a big effort over the last few weeks to get to where I am now. I realise it's not enough but being stricter - more disciplined? punitive? is a bit triggering. I've been desperately hoping to discover things that "spark joy" or suggest new possibilities by chipping away everything extraneous, but it's a bitter struggle as I see so much of my life's work was worthless. 

I've done necessary chores today but nothing more. On reflection the assessment was quite stressful, and I was pressured to sign forms I couldn't read. I didn't have the presence of mind to get a magnifier. It's an odd feeling to have suddenly 

hit this wall - I'd been banking on working for the remaining 3 1/2 weeks before my procedure, but I don't know what to do next.

Actually that's not quite true. It does feel intimidating but for 3 days or so I've been writing a task list, rather than just working to the timer. I should probably call it a day, and look at the task list tomorrow. 

Enjoy your weekend. 

[NatureLover]

@Dimity I'm so very sorry to trigger you, please forgive me 😥

I was only worried that you might be harder on yourself than you already were, due to the pressure about the upcoming Council visits. Hence my questions. 

I was not at all thinking it wasn't enough, what you've been doing. I think that your best effort, which you've been doing, is enough. 

And I'm sorry to hear you feel a lot of your life's work was worthless 😥🫂

Sending care...

[Dimity]

Thanks @NatureLover . I apologise if I upset you by saying I was a bit triggered. Strictness carries a bit of baggage for me.

I don't really know how to move forward with decluttering other than by persevering with daily efforts and trying to spend more time on it. I didn't do any yesterday, and did only a token amount today. But I did quite a lot of gardening today. I've decided to clean and maintain the birdbath again, and was thrilled when a magpie and noisy miner.

found it. Well the magpie pleased me more than the noisy miner. I also seem to have a blackbird looking into the backyard, after years without them. 

I'll try to resume decluttering tomorrow. I'm not sure what to do or where to start...