April 9 Weekly Challenge: Spring Declutterfest!
themedalist
Posts: 3,218 Member
Theme: Healthy Practices
Challenge: Spring Declutterfest!
It’s BAAACK! One of our most popular weekly challenges is back and I think just in time! Several rooms in my house are in serious need of cleaning and decluttering. I’m going to start with the upstairs bedroom. Right now, the task seems pretty daunting, but I’m ready to get started and I know I’m going to feel great after it’s done. Let’s all roll up our sleeves and take on that project that we’ve been meaning to get to. This is the week!
If you're wondering what decluttering, cleaning, and organizing have to do with better health, there are at least two interesting connections. When we're working on house projects like these, we're not sitting. We are up and moving around and this light to moderate activity has lots of health benefits. In addition, for many people, clutter is a source of stress, guilt, and can inhibit focus and productivity. Clutter becomes an array of visual cues of projects we haven't finished. The articles below go into greater detail as to how clutter affects our stress, productivity, brains, and indeed our lives. Not good. So this week.... let's bag, tag, recycle, and reorganize! We will feel great when we're done!
This Week's Challenge: Whether it's one project worked on over the week or lots of smaller projects, let's get these projects done. I'm looking forward to hearing what you accomplish this week. Post a picture of your finished project if you are so inclined!
Make it a great week!
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Suggested Resources:
Why Mess Causes Stress: 8 Reasons, 8 Remedies
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/high-octane-women/201203/why-mess-causes-stress-8-reasons-8-remedies
How Clutter Affects Your Brain (and What You Can Do About It)
http://lifehacker.com/how-clutter-affects-your-brain-and-what-you-can-do-abo-662647035
The Emotional Toll of Clutter
https://experiencelife.com/article/the-emotional-toll-of-clutter/
The Cost of Clutter: How Clutter Affects Your Time, Money, and Stress
https://www.verywell.com/the-cost-of-clutter-3144688
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And it’s Move It Monday! Post your Monday workout here:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10637806/move-it-monday-weekly-challenge
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Last week I actually decided on one strategy for some decluttering. I already keep a box available to put donations in. I'm going to pick up some empty boxes from work. On the days I need to take it easier I've decided to get rid of at least one item. Then on the less busier days I will amp it up. I figure this is a way I can keep at the decluttering even when I don't have time/energy. My first task is to complete the pink and blue quilt that's in my profile pic (almost done) then that will be off my list. Next is some boxes of things in my entry/laundry/storage area.6
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Without going into too much detail I would encourage everyone to embrace this challenge.
I used to be a tremendous hoarder until 6 years ago when I ended up living in a rented room following the breakdown of my marriage and the loss of my family home. I came to realise how all the things I had been hanging on to had done nothing to protect me from the harsh realities of life. In fact towards the end of my marriage the stuff I had kept had become links on the chain that was binding me to an unhappy and harmful situation. 'I can't go because I won't have room to take xxx with me' or 'I couldn't bear to be parted from xxx, my eldest son made it for me when he was 6' and so on. In the end I was lucky enough to be offered a garage to store some of my most treasured possessions, which I lovingly boxed up. Fast forward 2½ years and I had managed to get myself back on my feet and into my first home since the break-up. Filled with great excitement I transported my treasured possessions to my new home and started the process of unpacking them. Anticipation turned to bewilderment as I realised that, for the most part, the things that I had thought I couldn't do without, I had either forgotten about completely or had no part to play in my new life. Coursework from a degree I had taken 5 years previously and never looked at again, half finished cross stitch kits, glass paints, unfinished projects and gadgets that I had perceived as being really useful until I had to do without them. The list went on and on. Of my 'most treasured possessions' I probably kept about 3 things (apart from my books) the rest went to charity shops, was given away or was thrown away. The stuff that was really important I had kept with me all the time; that was the love and support from my children and friends. Everything else is really just dross.8 -
Jinantonix wrote: »Without going into too much detail I would encourage everyone to embrace this challenge.
I used to be a tremendous hoarder until 6 years ago when I ended up living in a rented room following the breakdown of my marriage and the loss of my family home. I came to realise how all the things I had been hanging on to had done nothing to protect me from the harsh realities of life. In fact towards the end of my marriage the stuff I had kept had become links on the chain that was binding me to an unhappy and harmful situation. 'I can't go because I won't have room to take xxx with me' or 'I couldn't bear to be parted from xxx, my eldest son made it for me when he was 6' and so on. In the end I was lucky enough to be offered a garage to store some of my most treasured possessions, which I lovingly boxed up. Fast forward 2½ years and I had managed to get myself back on my feet and into my first home since the break-up. Filled with great excitement I transported my treasured possessions to my new home and started the process of unpacking them. Anticipation turned to bewilderment as I realised that, for the most part, the things that I had thought I couldn't do without, I had either forgotten about completely or had no part to play in my new life. Coursework from a degree I had taken 5 years previously and never looked at again, half finished cross stitch kits, glass paints, unfinished projects and gadgets that I had perceived as being really useful until I had to do without them. The list went on and on. Of my 'most treasured possessions' I probably kept about 3 things (apart from my books) the rest went to charity shops, was given away or was thrown away. The stuff that was really important I had kept with me all the time; that was the love and support from my children and friends. Everything else is really just dross.
Thank you for posting, @Jinantonix. You are so right — our possessions become links to our past and evoke good and bad emotions for us. Objects can become visual cues and triggers to events and people in our past.
And in our world of consumption it’s ridiculously easy to think we need more things in order to be happy. Your story is a good reminder that that’s rarely the case.
Thank you for sharing.2 -
@Jinantonix , WOW! What an inspiring story!
I'm a big fan of Mari Kondo, and I've been working on reducing clutter, but it does have a way of sneaking back in. This week I plan to tidy one surface per day.6 -
@Jinatonix, thank you for sharing your story. I keep things, too, because of the connection they give me to the past. But the past is past and now its time to look forward. I’m ready to move on. I’m looking forward to this week’s challenge. Not sure where to begin but am going upstairs to make a plan this morning and get things rolling.6
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I got started a little bit this last week. I decluttered a drawer and the bottom of my pantry. I also got rid of expired food in my pantry. This was hard because I hate wasting food. It was mostly popcorn, which, sadly I forgot I had it. It's amazing how many plastic bags you can accumulate from grocery shopping, ughh! So, on another note, I will be going to paper bags and also using cloth bags for grocery shopping (I just have to remember to take them into the store). My big project is my garage, which is a catch all for so many things. I need better storage and items that are broken either to be pitched or repaired. I'll be taking a bit of a hard look at that before moving on to my clothes closet and spring deaccessioning -- a fancy word for figuring out what to sell or give to Good Will. Good luck ya'll. I have a goal in my weight loss journey that I hope to reach in the next 2 weeks.6
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I have a couple of big things I've been hanging on to for quite awhile, but they have started to show their wear. One of them is an antique vanity that my husband bought me when we first got married. It is an art deco piece empire style and came with a bed. I also have a captain's single bed that I bought when my grandson was first born. My house and bedrooms are small, so, I'm looking to replace that bed with something else.4
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My technique for decluttering is to get a large, stretchy trash bag and just walk around throwing away anything I know I don't need and have no idea why I keep it. Stuff for donation goes in a box. You'd think I'd have absolutely no clutter with this technique, but I either don't spend the time to do it or I end up thinking "it might be useful someday." I've had those days where I threw something away, and a week or so later, I needed it. Months or years without use, and after it's gone I come up with a use.
This week I will make time to declutter and no more "someday" stories.6 -
I read this challenge last night before I fell asleep. It motivated me to take action first thing this morning. I cleaned out 3 closets and took 5 bags of clothing to Goodwill. I am sure I will have more to donate once my husband and grandson go through what I was not sure I could get rid off. This is the start to my Spring cleaning. Thank you for the push and motivation to get this done.7
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Thank you for this challenge. I will get right on it. It is so sad how we can get attached to things. I want to change that in my life. I really do.5
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One of the things I've seen/heard on YouTube is to use second hand as a variation on storage. That if you need something for an occasion, e.g. a chainsaw, you can buy a used one, use it, and then resell it for the same amount. It doesn't take up space and you don't really spend anything in the end.5
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I was so excited when I found out that this week's challenge was to be the Spring Declutterfest!! I really love the encouragement of the declutter challenges.
When I logged into the challenge there were so many wonderful and inspiring posts already, and it is only Monday!!
@themedalist, thank you for having this challenge again! And sharing more resources. I will be sure to read them this week.
@Jinatonix, I also thank you for sharing your story. It really touched my heart.
In March, before Spring Break, I completely cleaned and decluttered what I call the 'Kid's Room', which is the grand children's' combined playroom and bedroom when they come over. Also it is the room where my out of town adult children stay when they come in to visit. I gave several large boxes of things to Goodwill, as well as some books and a few art and craft things to my neighbor's child that she was happy to receive.
Last week I decluttered and cleaned out my area in the garage. I hadn't planned on doing this, but I was giving my my yard swing to my neighbor, and I couldn't find where my DH had moved some things for it. I knew where I originally put them, but they weren't there :grumble: . Then I thought maybe he put them in my area, and that they were hiding among the boxes. But they weren't there either. However, I'm glad that my not finding them caused me to completely empty out my section while looking for them. My DH shop-vac'd the empty area this weekend, and this week I will decide how to put my garden things back in there. I was really shocked at how many boxes I had actually taken out of there. I have known for a long time that I keep an excess amount of boxes :noway: . But they sure do come in handy more times than I can count
. But to see how many I actually had was a huge eye opener! My DH and I will use some of them to take the larger or thorny branches from the yard and garden clean up to the curb. I will use some to take more things to Goodwill during this week's decluter project. Some will be recycled, and I will keep a few. That is the plan 
.... Keeping a "few" will certainly be the challenge :laugh:.
For this week's Declutterfest project I have chosen the master closet. Which is my closet. It had also became another store all place when everything got rearranged and moved elsewhere when my brother was moved into the kids' playroom while he was living with us while recovering from his accident. We had to find room for all the medical equipment, bed and things like his wheelchair etc when we moved him into the playroom. Stuff got shuffled, and reshuffled, from room to room, closet to closet as time went on.
My give away boxes have already started filling up!
This project will probably take longer than the week because when we have nice days I will be working outside
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I have become a fan of Mari Kondo's method of decluttering recently, thanks to @77tes mentioning her book previously. I borrowed her books from my public library to read and listen to. Her method has already helped me give away things that I neither need nor want anymore!
:flowerforyou:5 -
I am enjoying reading your decluttering stories! And it’s great that many of you got started previously so that this week is a continuation of your earlier efforts. @texasgardnr, I can so relate to your garage story. Usually, that’s what triggers me to start decluttering. I can’t find something I’m looking for.
Last night I made my first attempt at decluttering the upstairs bedroom. I even made a decluttering playlist! My biggest challenge is I have some substantial constraints: my husband loves to go to secondhand shops and acquire the things that people have decluttered and discarded. Lovely. Fortunately, most of the things he’s picked up are confined to his office, which works well for me. But he’s also an avid book collector, and there are lots and lots of books strewn about in the bedroom I am trying to declutter. Hardback books I have no issue with, but there are lots of paperbacks that I’m not sure he will ever read again. But he can’t part with them either. Many of them are in plastic containers slid under the bed and dressers. Many years ago when our daughter became a toddler and moved out of the changing table phase, I emptied the contents of her changing table which also functioned as a bureau. And my husband immediately filled it with paperbacks. I drew the line and said, “Nope”.
I’m decluttering what and where I can. And accepting what I can’t change. He’s a wonderful guy and my decluttering doesn’t have to be his decluttering.
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One of the things I've seen/heard on YouTube is to use second hand as a variation on storage. That if you need something for an occasion, e.g. a chainsaw, you can buy a used one, use it, and then resell it for the same amount. It doesn't take up space and you don't really spend anything in the end.
That’s a really interesting idea!4 -
themedalist wrote: »I am enjoying reading your decluttering stories! And it’s great that many of you got started previously so that this week is a continuation of your earlier efforts. @texasgardnr, I can so relate to your garage story. Usually, that’s what triggers me to start decluttering. I can’t find something I’m looking for.
Last night I made my first attempt at decluttering the upstairs bedroom. I even made a decluttering playlist! My biggest challenge is I have some substantial constraints: my husband loves to go to secondhand shops and acquire the things that people have decluttered and discarded. Lovely. Fortunately, most of the things he’s picked up are confined to his office, which works well for me. But he’s also an avid book collector, and there are lots and lots of books strewn about in the bedroom I am trying to declutter. Hardback books I have no issue with, but there are lots of paperbacks that I’m not sure he will ever read again. But he can’t part with them either. Many of them are in plastic containers slid under the bed and dressers. Many years ago when our daughter became a toddler and moved out of the changing table phase, I emptied the contents of her changing table which also functioned as a bureau. And my husband immediately filled it with paperbacks. I drew the line and said, “Nope”.
I’m decluttering what and where I can. And accepting what I can’t change. He’s a wonderful guy and my decluttering doesn’t have to be his decluttering.
How appropriate. Today’s Daily Calm was on aversion and acceptance. Thank you to the Calm enthusiasts who recommended the app several weeks ago during, I think, our deep breathing challenge. I’ve used it daily since then and I love it.3 -
themedalist wrote: »One of the things I've seen/heard on YouTube is to use second hand as a variation on storage. That if you need something for an occasion, e.g. a chainsaw, you can buy a used one, use it, and then resell it for the same amount. It doesn't take up space and you don't really spend anything in the end.
That’s a really interesting idea!
Agreed!
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My husband love Goodwill and he shops for a lot of stuff there. UGH!!
My house has 4 closets. My husband occupies 60% each. Clothes, shoes, more shoes, uniforms, stuff and more stuff, so I do have to accept that he does not like to get rid of things and I deal with what I can. It is what it is.
Cleaning out the linen closet, I found lots of my mom's old family pictures. I cried like a baby. I guess this declutterfest has become an emotional declutter event as well.6 -
Jinantonix wrote: »Without going into too much detail I would encourage everyone to embrace this challenge.
I used to be a tremendous hoarder until 6 years ago when I ended up living in a rented room following the breakdown of my marriage and the loss of my family home. I came to realise how all the things I had been hanging on to had done nothing to protect me from the harsh realities of life. In fact towards the end of my marriage the stuff I had kept had become links on the chain that was binding me to an unhappy and harmful situation. 'I can't go because I won't have room to take xxx with me' or 'I couldn't bear to be parted from xxx, my eldest son made it for me when he was 6' and so on. In the end I was lucky enough to be offered a garage to store some of my most treasured possessions, which I lovingly boxed up. Fast forward 2½ years and I had managed to get myself back on my feet and into my first home since the break-up. Filled with great excitement I transported my treasured possessions to my new home and started the process of unpacking them. Anticipation turned to bewilderment as I realised that, for the most part, the things that I had thought I couldn't do without, I had either forgotten about completely or had no part to play in my new life. Coursework from a degree I had taken 5 years previously and never looked at again, half finished cross stitch kits, glass paints, unfinished projects and gadgets that I had perceived as being really useful until I had to do without them. The list went on and on. Of my 'most treasured possessions' I probably kept about 3 things (apart from my books) the rest went to charity shops, was given away or was thrown away. The stuff that was really important I had kept with me all the time; that was the love and support from my children and friends. Everything else is really just dross.
SO SO true! Decluttering is about SO much more than a tidier, better functioning home (but that is awesome too!) For me, it’s about having a future-orientation, not weighed down by the past. By giving away books I thought I “should read or finish someday” to the Library and only keeping the ones I truly LOVE, I could clearly see my interests and passions! Now, when I look at my bookshelves (I have two now), I see books I love & want to read or re-read. It makes me feel happy.
I have had the space to discover new interests & hobbies. I believe it has helped me to lose weight. We spent about 6 hours Marie Kondo-ing our kitchen Xmas 2015 & reduced eating out, as I was able to cook at home. We had been eating out almost all the time due to lack of time, wanting to relax, and as I realize now I had an addiction to the salt, sugar, fat. As of summer 2016, we only ate out 1-3 times a week. As of fall 2017, we stopped eating out altogether. Having a kitchen where you can find things easily makes all the difference!
The past is past. I so resonated with your message, @Jinantonix. Thank you SO much!!3 -
@Jinantonix , WOW! What an inspiring story!
I'm a big fan of Mari Kondo, and I've been working on reducing clutter, but it does have a way of sneaking back in. This week I plan to tidy one surface per day.
@77tes Yes, I agree, but I also think it’s an iterative process. I find as I time goes on my definition of “what I love” is getting to be more selective! I figure eventually what I love will be balanced with my available storage! #AlmostThere6 -
@MadisonMolly , so true.
I'm starting to use the little hint I picked up from our tiny habits challenge here. When I put my sweater away as soon as I get home, I reward myself with a fist pump or an "Awesome!"
I need to sort lots of stuff, but the big jobs don't get done. Still little bits at a time make a difference. 4 -
Well, I'm starting late but I started the decluttering process. We live in a tiny two-room cabin that is about the size of a 2 car garage so it clutters fast but also declutters pretty fast. The problem is it's dark out, the garbage can is about 500 yards up the road and my husband has my car. So there are piles throughout my bedroom/foyer. Lol. I'll have to remember to take out the bags of trash tomorrow morning. I have a few things to drop off at goodwill and a few things to drop off at a thrift store near me. I can also donate a handful of books. I have been holding on to the wedding dress that I borrowed for my wedding 4 years ago. So I think it is time that I return that to my neighbor. Lol. We dont have a garage...or even a closet. But we do have two bikes that need to be kept somewhere and the DH is hellbent on not letting them sit out in the rain. So I will probably get a small cloth shed with a zipper. There really isn't anything else that is going to go in it except the bikes. My back deck is covered in leaves and sticks and some things that need to be thrown out. So I will probably tackle that on Saturday or Sunday.5
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@MadisonMolly , so true.
I'm starting to use the little hint I picked up from our tiny habits challenge here. When I put my sweater away as soon as I get home, I reward myself with a fist pump or an "Awesome!" I need to sort lots of stuff, but the big jobs don't get done. Still little bits at a time make a difference.
Such a great idea, @77tes. Celebrate the little habit successes. Little habits can have a big impact! Living a healthy lifestyle to me is nothing but a bunch of little habits practiced every day.4 -
Hi! What works for me for decluttering (if I only do it!) is to set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and do the decluttering in chunks based on what is bothering me the most. So yesterday I decluttered our attached garage for 10 minutes, and it looks so much better. I also decluttered in our bedroom for 10 minutes, and it was contagious! My husband, who never buys anything but also never gets rid of anything, spent some time last night getting rid of stuff in our bedroom! Yay! Now I'm going to do more decluttering in there so that it becomes a peaceful room.7
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littlebear0121 wrote: »Hi! What works for me for decluttering (if I only do it!) is to set a timer for 10 or 15 minutes and do the decluttering in chunks based on what is bothering me the most. So yesterday I decluttered our attached garage for 10 minutes, and it looks so much better. I also decluttered in our bedroom for 10 minutes, and it was contagious! My husband, who never buys anything but also never gets rid of anything, spent some time last night getting rid of stuff in our bedroom! Yay! Now I'm going to do more decluttering in there so that it becomes a peaceful room.
A great point, @littlebear0121! On the surface, 10 or 15 minutes may not seem like enough time to accomplish anything. But it is and that’s because most of us can find 15 minutes a day. And if we find that same chunk of time everyday, and do that thing that we want to accomplish, it starts to snowball. 15 minutes a day spent decluttering (or doing anything important to us) becomes 91 hours a year.
Little actions done repeatedly grow into big impacts. Plus, little actions are sustainable.
Thanks for posting!3 -
I'm late to this one, but this is my favorite challenge! I plan to start with my closet, as it's a total catch-all right now. Then I plan to set out a Donate Box and let my DH and GD know to throw anything in it that they don't need, use or want anymore if it is still in decent shape. I never thought about decluttering books before! Great idea. I think I will try to sort through those also. I have some very old books that I could possibly put on eBay. I need to dig through my spring stuff in the basement and find my purses, shoes and clothes to swap out with my winter sweaters. 4
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I’m making good progress on the upstairs bedroom and already thinking about decluttering past this week. My basement also needs attention. I can pitch things that I’ve acquired over the years and let them go if I no longer have a need or want for them, but it’s much harder for me to let go of the things that my parents and inlaws have given my husband and me. Such as china. My mother has given me two sets of her china and they’ve stayed in the basement for 20 years. For women in my mother’s generation, I think their china set was among their most prized possessions? It defined entertaining. If you were having a dinner party, you brought out the good china.
I certainly remember Thanksgiving and Christmas meals with these dishes, but I don’t have a strong attachment. And something that has stayed in boxes for 20 years isn’t likely going to have a starring role in my life anytime soon.
My husband and I are both in our 50s and are fortunate to have our parents still living. And both sets of parents are actively decluttering and giving their children their possessions. I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but it does stress me out. And I’m trying to embrace the principle that just because someone gives me one of their cherished possessions, doesn’t mean I have to keep it in my life.
Is anyone else struggling with this issue?5 -
@themedalist what a joy to have your parents alive. I totally understand about getting their valued possession. My mom was like that. Until eventually she just stopped compulsive purchases then there was nothing else to give.
I am onto the second closet ( yes, I am taking my sweet time) and have found lots and lots of things from my kids from when they were in school. Journals, homework, drawings. I am keeping some and getting rid of most. This morning, while looking for some hair products, I decluttered the bathroom cabinet. Tomorrow I am tackling my dresser and my closet. UGH there is so much crap in there. LOL!5 -
themedalist wrote: »I’m making good progress on the upstairs bedroom and already thinking about decluttering past this week. My basement also needs attention. I can pitch things that I’ve acquired over the years and let them go if I no longer have a need or want for them, but it’s much harder for me to let go of the things that my parents and inlaws have given my husband and me. Such as china. My mother has given me two sets of her china and they’ve stayed in the basement for 20 years. For women in my mother’s generation, I think their china set was among their most prized possessions? It defined entertaining. If you were having a dinner party, you brought out the good china.
I certainly remember Thanksgiving and Christmas meals with these dishes, but I don’t have a strong attachment. And something that has stayed in boxes for 20 years isn’t likely going to have a starring role in my life anytime soon.
My husband and I are both in our 50s and are fortunate to have our parents still living. And both sets of parents are actively decluttering and giving their children their possessions. I don’t want to seem ungrateful, but it does stress me out. And I’m trying to embrace the principle that just because someone gives me one of their cherished possessions, doesn’t mean I have to keep it in my life.
Is anyone else struggling with this issue?
I saw an article on a site I frequent that had this statement above the article. "Your kids don't want your stuff." Bald, but true.
"And I'm trying to embrace the principle that just because someone gives me one of their cherished possessions, doesn't mean I have to keep it in my life." Absolutely.
After my Mom died, my Step-Dad insisted on giving me my Mom's sterling silver flatware. We never used it. In fact, I don't remember it ever being used when I was a kid. So all this time, it's been in it's nice wooden box. And it's not going to see the light of day now in 2018 either. Ha-ha. I do still have it, but every time I look at the box, I think I could be using that space for something I like. I think that will be my mission today to let it go. It does bring back memories of my Mom and life back in the 50's and 60's. But it's still just a thing-the memories are in my head and aren't going anywhere, I hope.
Saw an idea that I'm using when I found something that is difficult to let go. Take a picture of it. (I haven't read all the post here yet, so forgive me if this idea has been mentioned already) It's easier to let go then.5
