Check-in: How is Decluttering Progressing?

themedalist

For those of you participating in Declutter Fest 2017, how is it going for you so far?

SpiritHippo

I have a plan for decluttering the spare bedroom. I don't have time to start it until Saturday though. Pretty soon!

77tes

Well, I have started on my kitchen and have made some progress. I'm glad to be at work today to take a break from cleaning. Already the room looks a LOT better, and my husband is really happy that the cupboards are not so crowded. Fortunately, my grown daughters also read Kondo's book, so they were okay with releasing souvenir mugs and such. I also inspired one daughter to go through her closet (quite ruthlessly actually). I also got one day of my summer batch cooking done as well. So it's going great.

LaurieWrobo

I haven't had time except to pick up in my bedroom...im going to try to do something on saturday!

texasgardnr

I removed everything that was being stored or 'dumped' :noway: in the little back room (which is my room focus for this week) and straightened up the room.
My next task will to be to declutter and reorganize the closet.

One day this week I worked mostly in the yard and garden cleaning up and cutting back/ pruning. I hauled a large black bag to the front for the trash pickup.

Another day was paperwork day so I was able to shred or recycle current paper not needed.

I sure appreciate this challenge this week as it is a great motivator with accountability!

:flowerforyou:

77tes

I really wish I had taken before pictures.

Silinde

I cleaned our bedroom under the bed, there's a spot that's very hard to reach because of the way our bed is built (limited space below the head board) and that has been cleaned out on an evening. Furthermore I've been too tired with 2 Little Dragons in the house (although one of them did his homework! - because I threatened him that he could not play his Dragon Game but anyway, he did it), so all else is for the weekend.

themedalist

Well, Declutter Fest got off to a slow start in my household, owing largely to my mobility challenges (that my new hip will fix on July 11!). But it's picked up steam over the last few days with my daughter's help and we intend to keep the decluttering going over the summer. Closets have been thinned and we have made several trips to our town recycling center. Here's just a small snapshot of our progress. It's a great feeling!

PackerFanInGB

Due to having surgery on Tuesday, I've been pretty sedentary but feeling a little better today. Can put some weight on my leg so that's really awesome! There are some great ideas on here. Yesterday, I went through all the paper pile all over the place, paid bills and threw out junk mail or duplicates. So that felt awesome! I hate mail piles all over the house. Drives me crazy.

Today, I think I will continue decluttering the office by shredding the "shred pile" and hauling that out. Then maybe begin going through drawers in office one at a time and toss stuff. It'll be limited amounts of time because I don't want to make my recovery go backwards, but I am so bored I can hardly stand it!

@77tes I love the idea of getting rid of coffee mug souvenirs! I have a coffee mug from every single place I've ever been and we use basically the same four mugs all the time. They need to go away. Maybe if I take a picture of them I will at least have the memory of the places without the clutter of the shelf full of mugs! I'd have a whole shelf for things I currently have no room for!

I'm going to get at it today and get some of this stuff done.

Thanks for the challenge. I need this one in my life every single week for about 5 months! LOL

themedalist

OConnell5483 wrote: »

Due to having surgery on Tuesday, I've been pretty sedentary but feeling a little better today. Can put some weight on my leg so that's really awesome! There are some great ideas on here. Yesterday, I went through all the paper pile all over the place, paid bills and threw out junk mail or duplicates. So that felt awesome! I hate mail piles all over the house. Drives me crazy.

Today, I think I will continue decluttering the office by shredding the "shred pile" and hauling that out. Then maybe begin going through drawers in office one at a time and toss stuff. It'll be limited amounts of time because I don't want to make my recovery go backwards, but I am so bored I can hardly stand it!

@77tes I love the idea of getting rid of coffee mug souvenirs! I have a coffee mug from every single place I've ever been and we use basically the same four mugs all the time. They need to go away. Maybe if I take a picture of them I will at least have the memory of the places without the clutter of the shelf full of mugs! I'd have a whole shelf for things I currently have no room for!

I'm going to get at it today and get some of this stuff done.

Thanks for the challenge. I need this one in my life every single week for about 5 months! LOL

I'm also an out of control mug collector.

@OConnell5483, we will have more decluttering challenges. I like them a lot too!

77tes

@themedalist and @OConnell5483 , looks and sounds like you've been making real headway! I feel like my kitchen will take a month, but I'll keep working on it.

@themedalist , great to hear that you have a date for hip replacement. I'll be thinking of you.

texasgardnr

During the Declutter Fest I removed everything from the little back room that did not belong in there.

Then during the rest of the week I cleaned, decluttered, and reorganized shelves, drawers and flat work surfaces. I use this room to work on photo albums, read, color, Bible study etc. It is a little room so it is perfect as a little hide a way to get creative in or to read where it is quiet. Today I kept walking into the room just to look around and smile at the uncluttered spaces. I'm so happy with the room again.

My mail and paperwork are still caught up from earlier in the week so the shredder is happily getting fed. Eventually when I am brave enough I will tackle the paper tiger lurking in the file cabinet, the desk, and especially on unsuspecting flat surfaces or drawers. Lions, tigers, and bears oh my :laugh:

The garden still needs more attention, so tomorrow is another cleanup day out there. I must keep up the progress!

Later on this week I will pick another space or room to begin to work on, but for today the little back room is making me smile

Thank you for an awesome challenge as well as some very interesting and informative resources. I finished reading the last one yesterday.

:flowerforyou:

77tes

Wow @texasgardnr, you totally ROCKED this challenge!

themedalist

texasgardnr wrote: »

During the Declutter Fest I removed everything from the little back room that did not belong in there.

Then during the rest of the week I cleaned, decluttered, and reorganized shelves, drawers and flat work surfaces. I use this room to work on photo albums, read, color, Bible study etc. It is a little room so it is perfect as a little hide a way to get creative in or to read where it is quiet. Today I kept walking into the room just to look around and smile at the uncluttered spaces. I'm so happy with the room again.

My mail and paperwork are still caught up from earlier in the week so the shredder is happily getting fed. Eventually when I am brave enough I will tackle the paper tiger lurking in the file cabinet, the desk, and especially on unsuspecting flat surfaces or drawers. Lions, tigers, and bears oh my :laugh:

The garden still needs more attention, so tomorrow is another cleanup day out there. I must keep up the progress!

Later on this week I will pick another space or room to begin to work on, but for today the little back room is making me smile

Thank you for an awesome challenge as well as some very interesting and informative resources. I finished reading the last one yesterday.

:flowerforyou:

@texasgardnr, I am just thrilled that Declutter Fest worked out as well as it did for you! It does feel great to go into an uncluttered living area, doesn't it?

Well done!

texasgardnr

@77tes, and @themedalist, thank you for your kind and encouraging words! They meant a lot to me. I really needed this challenge, and especially the accountability of it, to help jump-start a long overdue round of decluttering and reorganizing my home again.

Blessings,
:flowerforyou: