Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »Since April 2015 when I started at MFP, I've lost 80 lbs and kept it off for 20 months. In that time, I've thrown out loads of old crap.
While I was losing weight, I had the pleasure of "shopping" in my wardrobe for skinnier clothes that fit me again.
I now fit all my favourite skinny clothes, and I've thrown out all my fat clothes. So many bags of clothes donated to the op shop!
I've also done a lot of spring-cleaning and de-cluttered the whole house, because I've become very active, and much less lazy.
NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis calorie-burning for the win!)
I've thrown out loads of books, and worn-out linen, and kitchen crap. The house feels so much nicer to live in.
I think my decluttering inspired my husband, as he's done a lot himself with his things since I started.
I love this thread, it's a refreshing topic!
THANK YOU ever so much for posting this. It made me smile inside and out and is so very helpful, insightful and super encouraging! I really LOVE what you've said about "NEAT" ( NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis calorie-burning for the win!) I've never heard of this before and again, I LOVE it!!! Also...just the way you've phrased everything is so powerful and joy inspiring. How I have to "blush" about "thrown out loads of books, and worn-out linen, and kitchen crap"...wow--likewise!
Lastly, my decluttering AND weight-loss quest and new mind-set as done something absolutely tremendous to my hubby and my relationship. We are soooo much closer now. We've always been very tight and deeply in love with one another, but we are just on a whole nother wave-length now and our entire way of communicating with each other is ultra FUN now and more COOL than ever. Relating to him now, our communication, respect, admiration and frankly love for each other and just our entire lives are blooming in ways that I can't fully explain here and I just love that!
Thank you again and again for contributing this most excellent reply--you so ROCK, period.
What lovely things to hear! 
Thank you.
So happy to hear about your relationship with your husband. My relationship with mine is the best it's ever been too! When we talk to each other, we talk and make jokes. We can disagree without getting upset about it.
I used to be very afraid of conflict, and imagine it where there was just a minor point of difference, and have bouts of anxiety.
Now, I'm more confident, less tied to other people's opinions of me, and less hung-up about things. I'm still working on my anxiety and fear of social situations, but it doesn't stop me attending events and talking to people.
I really feel that weight loss, exercise, and creating art and a beautiful space around me has been an immense, symbiotic change for the better.
Thank you again for helping me think about this some more!
You're a beautiful person, inside and out and I just thank you so much for adding your loveliness, inspiration and encouragement to this thread, you ROCK, period. {{{{{ Highest of fives and Hugs to you}}}}} 2 -
Roadie2000 wrote: »lately I've just been decluttering all of my bad habits.
A couple months ago at my yearly checkup with my doctor I decided to swallow my pride and face the fact that I probably needed to be on antidepressants. I've dealt with the death of my father when I was a teenager and never really had a male role model to help me grow up. I lived by myself for a long time and developed some nasty habits throughout the years and never really let anyone get close to me.
I finally met an awesome girl and got married a couple years ago, I cleaned myself up a little bit but the depression was still there and a few lingering bad habits. Then last year my mother died and had a hard time dealing with it for a while. I thought it was temporary and was getting better but I would still fall into a funk fairly often and would shut out my wife which she had a huge problem with.
So anyway a couple months ago at my yearly doctor visit I decided to actually be honest with my doctor and he gave me a scrip. And to be honest, I don't "feel" any different really but I don't have the crippling low energy and my cravings for the bad habits I had for so long faded as well.
On my 41st birthday I decided to smoke my last cigarette. It wasn't even that hard unlike every other time I tried to quit. I figured if I could do that I could give up pop that I would drink almost every day for lunch. Then I stopped playing this mobile video game I was obsessed with for like 2 years. I stopped drinking alcohol except for a small glass of wine with dinner once in a while or social occasions. Pretty much all of my bad, embarrassing habits are now gone. And now with all of my new found energy, time, and ability to concentrate I've been going to the gym regularly, brushing up on my Spanish, reading, and learning how to cook. I'm finally starting to think this being an adult thing isn't so hard after all.
Thank you for your honesty - this post really touched me as I see a lot of myself in it....3 -
NewLIFEstyle4ME wrote: »jrowden0711 wrote: »It's funny that I am reading this now. I actually just spent the evening trying on clothes and bagging up the ones that don't fit anymore so I can donate them. I have been maintaining my weight for a bit now and didn't see any reason to keep clothes that were too big and served no purpose. It felt good to declutter my closet and felt like I was accepting this body I have worked for and the person I have become. The only downside is my closet is a bit bare and my winter clothes selection needs beefing up a bit.
Donating clothes (especially nice ones, maybe even with the tags still on them) to homeless shelters, places for abused women and even just plain giving things away to neighbors, family, friends is so rewarding. At first, it hurts (helped me understand the old saying "give until it hurts" new meaning), but then it (giving stuff and/or throwing "EXCESS" stuff away) does something wonderful in and to me...breaks the chain(s) (stronghold) of resistance to/from so many other things and issues in my life that were "holding me back or hindering me in one form or another from either moving on or just simply changing for the better--wow.
Also, for those of us that don't care to be "bothered" with selling their stuff, consignment shops are another option too--for the nicer items that are just "hanging around" and collecting dust.
How uplifting and powerful you are to realize and know that you are "accepting" your new body and embracing the transformation/change in your lifestyle. How very cool--how FUN! Congrats on your victories and thank you so very much for taking the same to share on this thread--you ROCK, period.
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I am bumping this again because I spent just an hour sorting out the house and throwing away some stuff that had been cluttering the spare room and I just feel so so much better. Mentally it's like a huge sigh of relief has gone through me.
Wonderful feeling and now I have space to show off my pirate chest and put some pictures on the walls from GCSE art haha16 -
Ran 22 km this morning, and this afternoon I painted all the edges & joins in my room ready to do the walls tomorrow.
Productive day!
If Old Me could see me now!
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I have a bit over a week off starting a week from Thursday. I'm planning on decluttering that last bastion of clutter in my room: the left side of the wardrobe and the 'junk' shelf.
I'll probably end up with one less shelf and loads of space in my closet, considering all the things I'm already mentally tagging for removal.
I still can't believe that I've gone from 3 full sized bookshelves and 3 half sized ones (and heaps of boxes underneath the bed), to 1 full sized and 3 half sized (those three I'm keeping since they act as room divider between my sleeping area and my living/working area), with that last full sized one tagged for removal and no boxes underneath the bed.
I'll try to post some pictures of the finished product if I think of it. Sadly, I have no before pictures. But needless to say, there wasn't much free space
It's been a long journey (going on 3 years this May), but slowly my whole life is starting to head in the direction I'm wanting it to 8 -
Great posts!!!!0
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I have a ton of pictures too. I'm thinking about getting them scanned and giving the family digital albums.DebLaBounty wrote: »Somehow I ended up being the designated Keeper of Memories. When my great uncle died, I was given all his photo albums. When both sets of grandparents died, and my mom downsized, I got the boxes of generations of photos. Then my mother in law insisted I accept a box of loose unorganized pictures of my husband’s entire life. Ugh!! I don’t scrapbook, but I have over time made some photo albums for myself and thrown away boxes of pictures. There were dozens of duplicates and scores of pictures of people nobody in the family could even identify! There were so many pictures of landscapes that were taken on other people’s vacations . None of these had dates on them. Now I’m left with just one storage tub, and have room finally for my own things in my sewing room closet. Such a huge relief!!
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I managed to paint one coat on all my bedroom walls over Easter. Since then I've done other coats, and the trimmings and wardrobe. Mr O also stepped in and helped when I was feeling discouraged about how long it was taking and he did the second coat of the wardrobe and window frame. So grateful!
I moved back into the room last night:
When I got it all set up, I had a bath and washed my hair, and I got to sleep in clean sheets, clean nightie, totally clean room! So happy!31 -
@Orphia that looks lovely!2
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I had huge amounts of ‘stuff’ in my life; I like buying things, I like books, and when I bought my first house my parents gave me all my childhood possessions. I was living in a three-bed house, alone, just to have enough storage; and failing to keep it in order or clean
...and then I decided to go back to university to do a Masters, which required me to move an hour away and into somewhere much smaller in order to release funds. So the grand decluttering began.
I approached it from the perspective not of ‘what can I throw away’ but ‘what do I absolutely have to keep’. So five and a half floor-to-ceiling bookcases of books turned into one. All my soft toys went (except for, at the last minute, my oldest and favourite). Most of my kitchen gadgets. Boxes of candles and candle holders and ornaments and half my yarn stash and the tools from hobbies I got tired of and camping gear and... you get the idea.
I am now living in a one-bedroom housette (it’s the corner of a larger original property, converted into starter homes). It’s tidy, because there is now room for everything. It’s easy to keep clean, because the surfaces aren’t completely covered in clutter and there are no storage boxes blocking parts of it off. I have lovely, expensive but small furniture designed for small spaces, so it doesn’t feel cramped; the open-plan downstairs is positively spacious.
I wish I’d done this years ago.36 -
Me, too...I like that line....what do I absolutely have to keep? I think it would help with a lot of items.3
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@ceiswyn
Lovely story indeed. I didn't know what a housette was in the UK so I asked Mr. Google. I saw lovely indoor and outdoor pictures as well. I was familiar with the architecture but not with the name. I loved it, and I am happy that you found the right approach to simplify your life and possessions.. Well done.2 -
I've gone through all of my clothes and the file cabinet. When I get back home in June, I will be going through my kitchen. I heard that soup kitchens will take pots, pans, and the like, so I'm hoping to donate there.5
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Start of spring cleaning on Monday! I’m so glad I found this thread. It’s given a lot of motivation. Just wish my partner wasn’t such a pack rat. He keeps most of it in out buildings on the property. My first husband was a saver too and when he passed I was stuck with the headache and cost of sorting and cleaning up all his stuff.
I will never do that to my partner or kids. 6 -
amberellen12 wrote: »Start of spring cleaning on Monday! I’m so glad I found this thread. It’s given a lot of motivation. Just wish my partner wasn’t such a pack rat. He keeps most of it in out buildings on the property. My first husband was a saver too and when he passed I was stuck with the headache and cost of sorting and cleaning up all his stuff. I will never do that to my partner or kids.
Have fun! I can't continue until June, I'm almost jealous. Lol1 -
I've gone through all of my clothes and the file cabinet. When I get back home in June, I will be going through my kitchen. I heard that soup kitchens will take pots, pans, and the like, so I'm hoping to donate there.amberellen12 wrote: »Start of spring cleaning on Monday! I’m so glad I found this thread. It’s given a lot of motivation. Just wish my partner wasn’t such a pack rat. He keeps most of it in out buildings on the property. My first husband was a saver too and when he passed I was stuck with the headache and cost of sorting and cleaning up all his stuff. I will never do that to my partner or kids.
Ooh, exciting!
Don't forget to update us on your efforts! Post pics if you can! 2 -
Recently, I've been able to give away two cupboards that were cluttering up our "Outside Room of Crap".
On Sunday, I then went in there and got rid of stuff that could be recycled, wood that could be burnt, garbage, and stuff for the tip.
Lots of room in there now! Hope to do more this weekend.3 -
I love this thread! My husband and I are gearing up for a spring clean again and I’m so excited to start decluttering and organizing. I’ve already decluttered 30lbs off my body.11
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It is a different type of decluttering than most here, but I feel much freer since letting go of worries, anger, etc, toward certain extended family members. There are a lot of people in my family such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and step-family who just aren't that important to me but I used to allow them too much power over my thoughts and put too much energy into trying to please them, impress them, and/or stay in contact with them. This has been a gradual thing for me over almost 20 years (which I know is nuts) but finally I feel I've reached a point where I don't wish any of them poor fortunes but I also just truly do not care what they think of me or if they think of me at all. It's been a very liberating feeling. Some say it is cold hearted or callous but I don't feel that way at all. These aren't people who have ever gone out of their way to show me kindness or attention. I am better off not seeing or talking to them.29
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seltzermint555 wrote: »It is a different type of decluttering than most here, but I feel much freer since letting go of worries, anger, etc, toward certain extended family members. There are a lot of people in my family such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and step-family who just aren't that important to me but I used to allow them too much power over my thoughts and put too much energy into trying to please them, impress them, and/or stay in contact with them. This has been a gradual thing for me over almost 20 years (which I know is nuts) but finally I feel I've reached a point where I don't wish any of them poor fortunes but I also just truly do not care what they think of me or if they think of me at all. It's been a very liberating feeling. Some say it is cold hearted or callous but I don't feel that way at all. These aren't people who have ever gone out of their way to show me kindness or attention. I am better off not seeing or talking to them.
I completely understand. I think we all have family members like that, just no one really talks about it. If I haven't seen them, other than funerals, for 20 or 30 years, I don't know them.
You are better off, and I would count that as decluttering. Congratulations!5 -
I approached it from the perspective not of ‘what can I throw away’ but ‘what do I absolutely have to keep’. So five and a half floor-to-ceiling bookcases of books turned into one. All my soft toys went (except for, at the last minute, my oldest and favourite). Most of my kitchen gadgets. Boxes of candles and candle holders and ornaments and half my yarn stash and the tools from hobbies I got tired of and camping gear and... you get the idea.
I totally get that. When I moved back to Europe from NZ I did something similar. I knew what the maximum volume was of what I could take back (the volume I ordered in the shipping company)
Had one suitcase additionally for my own flight and that was it.
So furniture and large items were out. As most was 10+ years old that was not a big deal. Other stuff I gave away to friends or neighbours and my furniture was sold to a couple that had nothing and had just moved in together for a song. They insisted on paying something so I had some change from that (It included a 3 year old frontloading Washing machine that really made them happy)
For the rest
I had a piles; must come with me, will come if volume permits, could come maybe, not important and last Potential for wrapping/stuffing (mostly my fabrics and some maybe clothes) I ended up taking even less volume than I had ordered.
It felt liberating to be honest.
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seltzermint555 wrote: »It is a different type of decluttering than most here, but I feel much freer since letting go of worries, anger, etc, toward certain extended family members. There are a lot of people in my family such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and step-family who just aren't that important to me but I used to allow them too much power over my thoughts and put too much energy into trying to please them, impress them, and/or stay in contact with them. This has been a gradual thing for me over almost 20 years (which I know is nuts) but finally I feel I've reached a point where I don't wish any of them poor fortunes but I also just truly do not care what they think of me or if they think of me at all. It's been a very liberating feeling. Some say it is cold hearted or callous but I don't feel that way at all. These aren't people who have ever gone out of their way to show me kindness or attention. I am better off not seeing or talking to them.
I completely understand. I think we all have family members like that, just no one really talks about it. If I haven't seen them, other than funerals, for 20 or 30 years, I don't know them.
You are better off, and I would count that as decluttering. Congratulations!
Thank you! I quite agree with what you said about not seeing people for 20-30 years meaning you really don't know them. This is something I've had to explain many times to my mother, who struggles with a lot of the same individuals I did...she finally seems to understand that people who were important in my life in the 80s aren't necessarily people I even remember now, as I was a child back then! In fact I believe that she is coming around to my way of thinking also, as she recently spent time with some of her previously estranged siblings and told me "they just aren't people I like".
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seltzermint555 wrote: »It is a different type of decluttering than most here, but I feel much freer since letting go of worries, anger, etc, toward certain extended family members. There are a lot of people in my family such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and step-family who just aren't that important to me but I used to allow them too much power over my thoughts and put too much energy into trying to please them, impress them, and/or stay in contact with them. This has been a gradual thing for me over almost 20 years (which I know is nuts) but finally I feel I've reached a point where I don't wish any of them poor fortunes but I also just truly do not care what they think of me or if they think of me at all. It's been a very liberating feeling. Some say it is cold hearted or callous but I don't feel that way at all. These aren't people who have ever gone out of their way to show me kindness or attention. I am better off not seeing or talking to them.
Good 4 you because it does release you for more important and lovely areas of your life
Life IS too short for people and things that don't matter!
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This is why I choose not to get involved with facebook and other social media of the like. I do not want to feel beholding to people and relatives of my past. They are in my past for a reason. I only wish to hang onto precious memories 14
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seltzermint555 wrote: »seltzermint555 wrote: »It is a different type of decluttering than most here, but I feel much freer since letting go of worries, anger, etc, toward certain extended family members. There are a lot of people in my family such as cousins, aunts, uncles, and step-family who just aren't that important to me but I used to allow them too much power over my thoughts and put too much energy into trying to please them, impress them, and/or stay in contact with them. This has been a gradual thing for me over almost 20 years (which I know is nuts) but finally I feel I've reached a point where I don't wish any of them poor fortunes but I also just truly do not care what they think of me or if they think of me at all. It's been a very liberating feeling. Some say it is cold hearted or callous but I don't feel that way at all. These aren't people who have ever gone out of their way to show me kindness or attention. I am better off not seeing or talking to them.
I completely understand. I think we all have family members like that, just no one really talks about it. If I haven't seen them, other than funerals, for 20 or 30 years, I don't know them.
You are better off, and I would count that as decluttering. Congratulations!
Thank you! I quite agree with what you said about not seeing people for 20-30 years meaning you really don't know them. This is something I've had to explain many times to my mother, who struggles with a lot of the same individuals I did...she finally seems to understand that people who were important in my life in the 80s aren't necessarily people I even remember now, as I was a child back then! In fact I believe that she is coming around to my way of thinking also, as she recently spent time with some of her previously estranged siblings and told me "they just aren't people I like".
Haha, yes, so true. I don't add many relatives at all on Facebook, because I don't believe people are friends just because of blood or marriage, or even school "friends".
That's what Kurt Vonnegut called a "granfalloon":
"a group of people who affect a shared identity or purpose, but whose mutual association is meaningless."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon
It's a "false karass". A karass is a group of people linked in a meaningful manner, even when superficial links are not evident.
I like to think my friends are in my karass.
I've reconnected with some friends who I knew 30 years ago, and we seem to have more in common now. But there are lots of others that it would be phony to believe I have any connection with.
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Clutter is a huge issue with me, my family, my house. For me it's just pure laziness and I'm trying to get over it. Like when I'm in a cleaning mood ill just go at it crazy, throwing stuff away getting stuff done. If I'm distracted for 1 second, the mood is gone and I don't feel like it any more. Trying to stay inspired and motivated is one of the hardest things I have tried to do.5
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Love this thread! I’m getting ready for a garage sale this weekend. I am finally going through boxes we packed when moving here 10 years ago. I convinced my 23 year old son to sell video games and boyhood stuff. Feeling very empowered and have been on point with my weight loss quest this week4
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Gingergal12 wrote: »Love this thread! I’m getting ready for a garage sale this weekend. I am finally going through boxes we packed when moving here 10 years ago. I convinced my 23 year old son to sell video games and boyhood stuff. Feeling very empowered and have been on point with my weight loss quest this week
Great! Hope the garage sale goes well. Be prepared to throw out, give away, or recycle the stuff you decided you didn't need that doesn't sell. No takies-backsies!
One thing I was going to mention in here (unrelated to the above but no need for a new post) is that I read an article a few years ago that I've always remembered.
It was by a woman in her sixties who'd been left the estate of her remaining parent, full of clutter.
So much stuff she couldn't find room for. She already had too much stuff of her own.
It made her realise she would never want to burden her child with so much stuff, so many things. She then did lots of work and kept only her necessities.
Since reading that, I don't want my house to ever be in a state where it would be a nightmare for my next of kin.
I also want it to be lovely for living in.8
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