THE GREAT DECLUTTER SERIES
This is a bonus update to the 6-part decluttering series. Below are the links to the posts. If you want to read the whole thing in one post, head over to this page.
Overview | 5 Steps | 6 Options | Programs | Tools + Tips | Reminder
Our group took one week to prep our heads and hearts to declutter. More about our group: We are young and not-as-young, married with very little ones and others with grown ones, some empty nesters, others with those who come and go, we work full-time or from home or part-time or give of our time, we live here and there in the US, we have plans to dig into our community and get rooted, we have plans to do missions work overseas, some of us have moved around a lot and others of us have lived in the same home for over 4 decades…as you see, the members of our small but mighty group are all on a different journey in life and we are also all in a different place in our decluttering journey. It has looked different for us – some of us have just 5 minutes each day devoted for the tasks, some of us have an hour or two, some of us are finding that it is more about having a place for everything and having everything in its place, and others are dropping off carloads of items to donate. We will have until the end of the month together but I’m so proud of each of my friends, of the transformations that are not only taking place in their homes but in their hearts – of seeing things from a different perspective – how we use things, consume things, share things, give things.
Image Source: Becoming Unbusy
LESSONS
This whole decluttering thing may seem so silly to many people and if you’re one of those people, you can pass on this post…we can still be friends though. :p But we are having a wonderful time in our decluttering group…processing the things and the thoughts. I wanted to share some of what my friends have learned just from this past week about decluttering and stuff:
- The process for me has been easier than I thought. It’s easy to let things go. It’s a relief. This journey will make possible to use things I really like because they will be within easy reach. I’m learning about priorities. Life is not about stuff. It’s about relationships.
- My biggest realization this week is that many things become clutter because they are projects that need attending to. Other things come along that are more urgent, so the less urgent becomes clutter.
- It’s awesome to go through the things you have in a space so that next time you need something you know just where it is!
- I learned that a) I don’t have to read every article. b) Without reading it all, I can get through what I want … and get on with life.
- 10 minutes makes this thing feel doable to me. And I see how much more at peace I feel when I have finished an area. Less cluttered space makes me feel more at ease.
- What have I learned is slow and steady progress is good. Short spurts of time. Moving around and getting up helps! Taking a load to Ecothrift felt good. It doesn’t have to be a lot but once it is in the to-go bag, it goes!
- I’ve learned over and over again. I can do more than I think I can in 5-10 minutes. I just need to start and not get bogged down in my excuses.
- Guests make things happen!
- Every day it seems to be getting easier and easier for me to get rid of stuff. The challenge for me is remembering that just because I’m ready to purge everything except the essentials that doesn’t mean everyone else in the family is. It’s hard to be patient when there is just so much to do.
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My Before and After Photos
The following are some before and after photos plus my comments/notes that I shared as I decluttered a spot each day last week. I’m following along with the Declutterathon checklist (from Happy Organized Life) but a week after that group/challenge started.
The timer has been a good friend for many members in the decluttering group. Whether you have 5 minutes or 55 minutes, use it to set some boundaries to avoid overwhelm and/or burnout.
Day 1: Spot to Gather Donations
I always use the top of this area for CV Swap + Sell and/or Buy Nothing items that are leaving my house. Now I have an eviction deadline for my items and a checklist of places to send them once the date arrives, yay!!
I worked on this area for about 10 minutes. I started a bag for donations and posted one item. Bubbles were moved to a lower shelf…neighbor kiddos come over to do bubbles and sidewalk chalk at our house so we always have a lot of it!
Day 2: Spot to Gather Donations
On the checklist is decluttering the donations gathering area which I mostly did yesterday but since I list items to sell or give away and do my planning at various desks/tabletops around the house, I will clear off a pile of stuff from 3 areas after lunch for 10 mins and around 3pm for 10 mins.
The girls were working independently earlier so I got my first 15 minutes in already. A few things went into a drawer next to the desk and a few things went into recycling.
Same for the pile on the sliding keyboard tray…majority of the pile which is a discipleship Bible study with the girls went to the small side shelf of the desk and a few papers into recycling.
More things into recycling but most of this is school work, school books, and arts/crafts stuff so the girls will have to go through it themselves.
Day 3: Kitchen Cabinet
We are out of the house most of today. After dinner I will declutter a kitchen cabinet/cupboard for 10-15 minutes. I snapped this pic while we were home for a moment and I told one of the girls I would look at it a bit more to decide if this is the one I will work on. 😛 It’s between this and another one…this one I hardly look at so not sure what’s happening and the other I look at too often so there’s always a rotation of too many items…
My timer was defaulted to 10 mins so I just went with that. I was tempted to clean and wipe down the areas but remembered to focus…I think I would have ended up finding more things to clean so I’m glad I didn’t get distracted. There are a few things in here that still need to be rehomed to other areas…or to other homes but the other area needs to be decluttered first and I have a number of things I need to post first.
Day 4: Nightstand
This afternoon (3:30ish) I will declutter my nightstand for 10-15 minutes. I think I know what needs to be moved elsewhere and what needs to leave. I might see if the girls want to work on the area next to their beds too.
Put the books back, got rid of the receipts and bunch of other little random doodads…went through the drawers a bit but I usually keep that to the basics…didn’t take more than 10 mins
Day 5: Condiments
Love having the list so I don’t have to think about what’s next…I don’t think I slept well last night. Oy!
At lunchtime I will declutter the condiments in the refrigerator for 10 minutes…will probably take a look at the whole fridge door.
Just kidding…I wasn’t feeling well and had to go lie down…but felt much better after. Got to the condiments after all of that…fridge organization is not my strength and I also don’t do the grocery shopping so I never know what’s in there except for what I need to cook/heat up for each day. I need to be better about this because I would love to move toward as little waste as possible…which means using packets of stuff. Luckily, the round didn’t have too many things but sadly, more things than I wish to toss. I did find 2 things we need to finish up..so it’s good to be mindful to use them.
Day 6: Shoes
We are out of the house most of the day as Norm is home while some house stuff is getting done…good thing because he said there’s lot of noise. I did snap a pic of some shoes which is the task for the day. The girls will probably work on their own stuff but like I was saying yesterday, those are all the shoes I have. Probably don’t need the sandals and flip flops for bit..but who knows? 😛🤷🏻♀️☔☀️🌪️
I really only wear these all winter. (ignore the dusties)
The sandals and dress flats can probably go elsewhere but it’s much better…shoes are in a bag for donation and since they don’t take boots, I might have some to sell or give away…need to check what’s left from last season again.
Day 7: 1 Clutter Hot Spot
(We had a busy, out-of-the-house day so I switched the task which I think will take longer – under the kitchen sink.) I started on this hotspot but maybe under the kitchen sink would have been easier. 😂 Oh well…will keep on while the laundry is going and other things before we have to head out again.
Still not how I want it (tricky to figure out as it is really deep…) and there are a few more things that can go
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