Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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I haven't posted (in any thread) in several months, but I have been following all the comments in this none. The new format that MFP adopted few months ago turned me off completely.
My house is in order so I don't need to declutter, but I do need to continue organizing closets, drawers, and kitchen cabinets. Too many things that I don't need any more need to go to the recycle bin or to somebody that could use them.
My health has not been the greatest for several months and I got distracted, and unmotivated. But today I "attacked" several kitchen drawers and cabinets. I recycled plastic lids and bowls that didn't look to new, and the ones that are still usable but not needed, went to the donation box.
I am not done yet, but I am content that I completed what I planned to do today. More to come.
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Thank you for this. I started to get rid of toxic people in my life, and unfortunately, some of that was family members. Life has been less stressful.
I am working on getting the house decluttered now as we now have a storage spot to put some of our things until we move. I figure all the things we haven't looked at for who knows how long sitting in the closet, get rid of it, or put it in the storage spot. No need for it in our small space. ( We live in a tiny house basically - carriage house )7 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »Decluttering and throwing away or giving away the multitudes of "stuff" I have or have had for years (without using) is really helping me so much in this weight loss mind-set. What I'm doing is, ANYTHING I have, that I haven't used in 2 years or more...OUT IT GOES. Now this isn't as easy as it sounds, but as I'm downsizing my body, I'm finding tossing (or giving away) stuff that I may have an abundance of (like candles, perfumes/beauty & hair care products, books and just plain STUFF) is soooooo freeing! A lot of "STUFF" I'm getting rid of is stuff that I thought I could sell and could sell, but that is a TRAP (for me) to getting even more stuff and selling stuff is a bother/troublesome to me. I find that giving away "STUFF" instead of selling it is helping me "snap out of buying more STUFF" and helps me to not bring/buy any more STUFF (which helps me save money and time) and just use and be content with what I already have--I LOVE THAT.
I think collecting/buying more and more or having a lot of STUFF has a direct correlation with being overweight or obese. Just as it takes time and practice to walk in self-control and portion control in my eating, getting rid of stuff and decluttering in general was HARD for me at first, but gets easier and easier as I practice it. Living more simply and more minimalist is immediately rewarding, because my atmosphere become more beautiful and simple and that helps me mentally/spiritually and cleaning is exercise for me as well--it's now becoming FUN and COOL to neater and more organized! I'm NOT talking about anything weird like going overboard in cleaning and decluttering, just changing my lifestyle of having excess in my home AND on/in my body (fat).
Also, de-cluttering my life of toxic people and places (places that encourages/"triggers" me to over indulge in STUFF) is also a LOT like decluttering/simplifying my life of excess and "messy" stuff (junk and even really nice things, but things that I haven't and probably will never use and is just sitting around collecting the dreaded DUST). Cutting off and/or minimizing contact with yucky people who, like clutter...maybe nice and seemingly important to me, but are hindering me in various ways is also soooo freeing. Again, like getting rid of formerly important things, but things that are keeping my life and home filled with "mess/messiness/unnecessary problems and stress", ridding myself of people who are just not good for me to associate with is and can be REALLY difficult--but it's so doable and can and is being done, period. How? as I face the truth AND forsake any and ALL fears of loss of a relationship(s), hurt feelings, etc. I've discovered that like most fears, it isn't nearly as "scary" as I also believed. Also, ridding myself of these folks using REAL love/gentleness/kindness/forgiveness and with total FEARLESSNESS and with a I MEAN BUSINESS attitude is soooo much easier than I thought it would be. Getting rid of (or minimizing contact with ) toxic and troublesome people out of my life is TRULY so very freeing too.
If you have any Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories to share, I think it will/may help encourage and inspire so many people here. Pls. do share!
I have also just bagged up so much stuff, clothes, papers, Xmas decorations anything that has been sitting around for so long. I recently lost almost 40 lbs and love how I feel. My feet feel so much better not carrying around all that Xtra weight. I have flat feet, wear custom made orthotics, on CPAP, now alot of those issues have completely disappeared. I have ordered a few new clothes online and recently ordered something that was too big. TOO BIG. LOL!!!!!!! I have friends that say things like "I'm tired of counting calories or worrying about weight ". I don't want to be miserable anymore and love how clothes are feeling. Good luck8 -
Well we’ve recently decided that we might move. I promised my partner that next time we moved I wouldn’t pack anything that didn’t fit 😬 so I can only keep what fits me, and also I’m feeling the need to get rid of anything that’s excess and not needed6
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Planning to retire and move out of state in just under 2 years. Trying to get the weight off now. Trying to unload what won't be going. I have STUFF that sits there that I like but don't use. There's good china that hasn't been used in years. Books which realistically have to start leaving. Office supplies which someone else could probably put to good use. Last night I started going through the papers in my office (which is a mess as am also getting the master bedroom/closet/bath redone and everything from there is spread throughout the house). Figure if I spend some time EVERYDAY in office instead of TV, will see improvement. I'm using up the drawerful of body cremes one by one. Your feedback is truly all appreciated!!
@kathy8705 Bet you have alot more energy too!4 -
I thought of a new thing to do with decluttering - while at the same time, increasing my joy as well. How? I've been finally using all those little tins and bins and such, decorating them with all the art supplies that have been sitting for so long, and turning them into colorful organizers that replace innumerable small boxes and plastic bags. It's been fun, has helped me actually use some things that were just sitting, and is helping my clutter.
(By the way, I don't do social media either except for MFP and DeviantArt. But no FB, no TikTok, no Twitter, no Instagram, etc.)3 -
I did something pretty fun- I sold my car lease for positive equity late july and will be without a car until late december (ordered a 2023 230i). So far its been very awesome! bless walmart+5
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@Sand_TIger I have an embroidery project that has been floating around in a ziploc bag for years (because I only work at it on rare occasions). I should totally put that thing in a nice box or tin!! Then it could sit on my coffee table and maybe I'd pull it out more often.
Also, what is DeviantArt?6 -
I have decluttered my living room. I live on the harbor so I redid it as the ocean theme, but didn't put up to much, removed furniture I wasn't using. Now people walk in, sit down and I usually hear right off "Its so relaxing in here! I could stay here forever!" LOVE THAT!! LESS IS MORE!! I too, walk in here and instantly relax. The bedroom is done as if it's a spa. Instantly relaxing! There is one stand, one dresser that's not big and my full size bed for furniture. I got RID of the exercise bike etc. etc. Its so freeing. I hadn't realized clutter or extra stuff was helping me to not instantly relax and now I go right to sleep.13
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@Dianedoessmiles1 - it 'extra stuff' sure does detract from a sense of calm. I too find that all extra furniture is really draining. 'Stuff' holds energy (positive and valued or not) Makes sense when one thinks about it...Zen- Japanese gardens and Danshari/Indian Mosques/Embracing 'Ma'/ Scandinavia-Dostadning5
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I went on a massive declutter at the beginning of the year. It definitely felt cleansing but I was in a constant struggle with my proto-hoarder husband. I won some battles and lost others. His Dad was a big hoarder and I definitely don't want our place to end up like that. "It's still good, we could still use it" was countered with "Yes but someone else needs it more" and generally he agreed and it got put in the donate pile. So far we've only had one instance where something I threw/donated was looked for/missed. Not bad for an entire house declutter! It's still not as decluttered as I'd like but it's his home too and we've found a balance we can both live with12
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bobsburgersfan wrote: »@Sand_TIger I have an embroidery project that has been floating around in a ziploc bag for years (because I only work at it on rare occasions). I should totally put that thing in a nice box or tin!! Then it could sit on my coffee table and maybe I'd pull it out more often.
Also, what is DeviantArt?
Fantastic idea! I love that. DeviantArt is a website that's been around a while (22 years) and is a place where artists of pretty much every stripe share their work. Everybody has their own profile and gallery pages. A lot of really lovely images can be found there.
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When I clean and organize, I use zones in my house. I focus on one zone at a time so I don't just flit around here to there. I learned this on a website from "fly lady".
http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2017/06/11/please-explain-the-zones-6/
We cleaned out our closet and I donated a ton of sheets that I just don't like or use. I donated towels. I do know that the local animal shelter uses old towels.
I also try to get books from the library instead of buy them. (for my book club)
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RubyRed427 wrote: »When I clean and organize, I use zones in my house. I focus on one zone at a time so I don't just flit around here to there. I learned this on a website from "fly lady".
http://www.flylady.net/d/br/2017/06/11/please-explain-the-zones-6/
We cleaned out our closet and I donated a ton of sheets that I just don't like or use. I donated towels. I do know that the local animal shelter uses old towels.
I also try to get books from the library instead of buy them. (for my book club)
Flylady saved me years ago. I'm having a heck of a time getting back on the system, but setting a timer for fifteen minutes, decluttering, and "Do it now" still keep me from utter CHAOS.6 -
I've since made efforts to move things out of my life. While its slow going, it is going, and I feel better knowing its not been dumped in landfill but has gone where someone can use it6
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Yes! There's this song by Dave Matthews Band called "Too Much." Part of it goes, "I eat too much, drink too much, want too much, too much!" I call this song the theme to my life before this weight loss journey. I wanted it all! All the food, all the things, all the money, all the glory and success. I could not stop attaining! It was Ariel in the Little Mermaid with my little hordes of whos its and whats it, snacks and teas. I started with material minimalism, which led me to see I was eating like it was going out of style too! So cool to hear someone else make that connection between material goods and eating habits. I hope you continue to let go and let us know how it's going along the way.7
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I recently went to a garage sale and they had hundreds of Precious Moments figurines for sale $3 each. I mean hundreds!!! I'm sure they brought someone joy but I also can't help but think how much clutter figurines are. Hard to dust around, etc. The lady passed away and they were selling all of her things. I also imagined the cost of each figurine back in the 80s. Anyway, I'm not judging her because I'm sure they brought her joy. But I also know as I grow older, I need to declutter for my family. I don't want them to have to deal with all of my things.
My friend who is a minimalist once told me "the more stuff you have, the more money you have to spend on containers to store them...."10 -
I'm doing double the decluttering. My husband and I inherited the house he grew up in. We've been emptying it out for 2 years.(complicated by his sister who thinks everything is worth a fortune and has a hard time letting go). We are going to renovate the house and move there. So I also have to clean out MY house to prepare for the move. We've lived in this house for 40 years. That's a lot of life to downsize.11
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RubyRed427 wrote: »
My friend who is a minimalist once told me "the more stuff you have, the more money you have to spend on containers to store them...."
This is so true. The boyfriend works for a moving company, and the more stuff you own the more you pay to move it from house to house as well 😬
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I like to call it purging and I do it regularly. I've had a very busy spring and summer so I did not clean out as much as I usually do. I needed this post to remind me how much lighter and happier I feel when I have less things and they are organized. Best of luck to all you who are purging as well.6
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