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A while back I mentioned that I would post tidbits from Let Go Of Clutter when I got the chance.
Here are the first few that seemed particularly useful:
Decluttering versus Organizing
Organizing your stuff is different from decluttering. They're both fine to do, but if you need/want one, don't trick yourself into accepting the other. (I have SO done this! Probably because I need both.) Organizing can hinder decluttering. It helps you pack stuff into small spaces more efficiently, it helps you procrastinate yet still feel like you're doing something, and sometimes it encourages you to go out and buy more stuff (boxes and labels and organizer trays)...
Clutter
So what's clutter? One person's memorabilia is another person's junk. When YOU say "clutter", what does it mean to YOU? I like this question and will have to think more on it.
Some people say "Stuff that gets in my way when I'm trying to do something else", others say "Boxes of 'Miscellaneous'", or "Anything I don't know what to do with", or "Too much stuff in the garage so I can't put my car in there". For me, I think the answers involve cabinets or drawers so full that it's hard to get at what I want, flat surfaces that are more populated with things than empty, anything I trip over, and anything I haven't unpacked since the move (five years ago).
For specific types of objects, the author gives a "clutter categories checklist" to help the reader zero in on things that are particularly bothersome. Some of the items on here weren't things I had consciously regarded as clutter, but were bothering me in the way clutter bothers me. I have way too many old towels, for example, and greeting cards that were bought without a recipient in mind yet, and receipts/bills, and old cassette tapes. I could do with half the gift wrap stuff I now own, there are two largish boxes of extension cords gathering dust in the storage room, and my office supplies will easily see me through to the next century. I'm okay with this unless they're in my way. Time to get them out of my way.
Here are the first few that seemed particularly useful:
Decluttering versus Organizing
Organizing your stuff is different from decluttering. They're both fine to do, but if you need/want one, don't trick yourself into accepting the other. (I have SO done this! Probably because I need both.) Organizing can hinder decluttering. It helps you pack stuff into small spaces more efficiently, it helps you procrastinate yet still feel like you're doing something, and sometimes it encourages you to go out and buy more stuff (boxes and labels and organizer trays)...
Clutter
So what's clutter? One person's memorabilia is another person's junk. When YOU say "clutter", what does it mean to YOU? I like this question and will have to think more on it.
Some people say "Stuff that gets in my way when I'm trying to do something else", others say "Boxes of 'Miscellaneous'", or "Anything I don't know what to do with", or "Too much stuff in the garage so I can't put my car in there". For me, I think the answers involve cabinets or drawers so full that it's hard to get at what I want, flat surfaces that are more populated with things than empty, anything I trip over, and anything I haven't unpacked since the move (five years ago).
For specific types of objects, the author gives a "clutter categories checklist" to help the reader zero in on things that are particularly bothersome. Some of the items on here weren't things I had consciously regarded as clutter, but were bothering me in the way clutter bothers me. I have way too many old towels, for example, and greeting cards that were bought without a recipient in mind yet, and receipts/bills, and old cassette tapes. I could do with half the gift wrap stuff I now own, there are two largish boxes of extension cords gathering dust in the storage room, and my office supplies will easily see me through to the next century. I'm okay with this unless they're in my way. Time to get them out of my way.
no subject
Flylady also has something a little like that. She calls it the 27 Fling Boogie. Run around the house with a trash bag and find 27 objects to throw away, as fast as you can. I have to cheat and pitch papers to reach 27, but hey, whatever works.
no subject
I read what you said about Flylady's 27 Fling Boogie and looked around, and my eye fell on this pipe-cleaner person and her horse (http://flyaway.smugmug.com/gallery/112289/1/4009437/Medium) that I'd made in the creativity class last spring -- it was just lying around, a bit smushed up, on the edge of the desk. I thought, "I can do this!" I grabbed the pipe-cleaner thing, picked up another couple of things in here, and headed into my bedroom.
I decided that of course papers count -- every single thing I can get rid of counts! Old Newsweeks, the plastic shell my phone headset came in, assorted papers, four cases of eyeshadow (I haven't used eyeshadow in a decade at least, and even if I did decide to use it again, I doubt this ancient stuff is safe), and a bunch of other stuff are all now in the trash or the paper recycling bag!
It's not much -- it hardly made a dent, and a lot of it was easy stuff that I obviously didn't need any more, but it's a start! It sounds weird to be so excited over throwing a few things away, but you know that my issues on this border on the pathological (if indeed they haven't crossed the line), so this is a major accomplishment. I thought about trying to do this every day, but that might be pushing too hard too fast. Maybe I can try a 5 Fling Boogie every day, counting not just trash but anything that I get rid of. It sounds reasonable to manage, and that would be 35 things out the door one way or another every week. It shouldn't matter if it's trashed, recycled, freecycled, given away, or sold ... as long as it's out of the house!
That's just the beginning, of course, but my pack rat/hoarding tendency is the worst problem. Organizing will be doable if I can just get rid of those damn piles of STUFF!
Thank you!!
no subject
It's great that you have a photo of the pipe-cleaner equestrian, 'cause that sure does make it easier to let go sometimes, doesn't it? I think I will take a photo of a weird geometric thingy my dad made out of pencils and do the same... 8-)