Let it GO! Decluttering (simplifying) your life of (people, places or things) success stories?
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Going to re read this thread as we prepare for a move. We've been in our apartment for a little over 3 years and have stuffed it full of things despite my best efforts. We've slowly been thinning the pile - but I know that this is going to be a daunting task. Any tips for moving would be greatly appreciated!
I moved recently (into a smaller Brooklyn apartment than my old one). If possible, moving in chunks really helped me. I took the stuff I knew I wanted first and arranged stuff in the new place. That way, I was really able to see what worked in my new apartment before moving more stuff. Good luck!10 -
Last year, I decluttered my linen cupboard so that it was no longer overflowing, but crowded.
Today, I cleaned it out some more, and now it's not crowded, but has extra space.
I got rid of doona/sheets etc that I haven't used for years. Life is too short to see the same patterns year in year out.
I've bagged up the old linen for the op shop who will either sell it as linen or cut it up and sell as cleaning rags.
Yay.7 -
When scrolling on Facebook and you see something or someone that always annoys you, let it go and just Unfollow them.6
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I have been working on cleaning out the basement today. It's raining so I don't feel as if I'm missing out on the sun. I have been finding a lot of empty boxes my family must throw down here. I'm being ruthless with decluttering, even throwing away stacks of pictures. Since I scrapbook, I have many memory books, so it's ok to throw away loose pictures. My husband would disagree, but he's still on a trip, so I am feeling happy to make my own decisions without his input.5
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WandaVaughn wrote: »
Oh. What so what do I do with all the half empty bottles of shampoo hanging around my bathroom?7 -
Checking back in after months off this thread and MFP (which hasn’t been good for the clutter or the weight). Trying to get back on track. This thread will help on both accounts.
One tiny bit of progress I’ve been working on is the clutter in the freezer and kitchen cupboards. Got rid of all the expired stuff. Been planning meals according to what I already have and buying just enough of the other ingredients to complete the meal. It’s a slow, but still progress.11 -
Checking back in after months off this thread and MFP (which hasn’t been good for the clutter or the weight). Trying to get back on track. This thread will help on both accounts.
One tiny bit of progress I’ve been working on is the clutter in the freezer and kitchen cupboards. Got rid of all the expired stuff. Been planning meals according to what I already have and buying just enough of the other ingredients to complete the meal. It’s a slow, but still progress.
Sometimes, this is better when needing to learn new habits.
I started by simply doing my bed every day. It wasn't much, but it was something with a measurable progress. After having felt like a failure for so long, succeeding at something (anything!) was really refreshing
So keep up the good work, no matter how slow15 -
Checking back in after months off this thread and MFP (which hasn’t been good for the clutter or the weight). Trying to get back on track. This thread will help on both accounts.
One tiny bit of progress I’ve been working on is the clutter in the freezer and kitchen cupboards. Got rid of all the expired stuff. Been planning meals according to what I already have and buying just enough of the other ingredients to complete the meal. It’s a slow, but still progress.
I think you ROCK, period. Starting off slowly is the stuff champions are made of. "Slow and steady wins the race".
I love you "choosing" to work on the clutter in the freezer and cupboards. You've inspired me to get rid some of my excess mugs. I've been thinking about ridding myself of some and now, today I will thanks to you. I have a few favorite mugs that have chips on them, I have plenty and don't need the chipped ones (no matter how "cute" they are) so THANK YOU so much for coming back and you're an inspiration already.
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I did a very large purge over July 4th and ended up processing some old emotional baggage as well as the physical. It lasted about 10 days and I'm better for having processed both. I went through my workout stuff yesterday which I never give up. Very happy to say I did let some go. In a few weeks, I'll start on the paper. There's no room for the new with the old taking up so much space. Well done, everyone and thanks for the tips.8
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peggym4640 wrote: »I did a very large purge over July 4th and ended up processing some old emotional baggage as well as the physical. It lasted about 10 days and I'm better for having processed both. I went through my workout stuff yesterday which I never give up. Very happy to say I did let some go. In a few weeks, I'll start on the paper. There's no room for the new with the old taking up so much space. Well done, everyone and thanks for the tips.
Wow, I REALLY appreciate your post so much. Something about you using/experiencing the term "process/processing" send a kinda joy/delight/understanding/light bulb moment to/for me. How ultra cool of you to "purge" your heart/mind/life/surroundings of a lot of excess/unnecessary/nice but I won't use it/space devouring/extra/old/it's time to let it GO "stuff"--that's just powerful. To "process" the old baggage, instead of just pretending/ignoring/down-playing it is the stuff wise champions are truly made of or at the very least, learn and do. Thank you ever so much for contributing to this thread--you ROCK, period.
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I'm cleaning our loft and found a lot of kids duct tape, art supplies, and paints. So, I looked up online where to donate arts and crafts things, and it turns out there are a lot of places. Some of the most noticeable ones are to rape crisis shelters and Domestic Violence shelters but also art therapy places.
I also scheduled a donation pick up from Vietnam Veterans website. And it was as easy as entering my address online. I'm making great progress de-cluttering.10 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »I'm cleaning our loft and found a lot of kids duct tape, art supplies, and paints. So, I looked up online where to donate arts and crafts things, and it turns out there are a lot of places. Some of the most noticeable ones are to rape crisis shelters and Domestic Violence shelters but also art therapy places.
I also scheduled a donation pick up from Vietnam Veterans website. And it was as easy as entering my address online. I'm making great progress de-cluttering.
What kind of donations does the Vietnam Veterans website take/need?
I need some of your ambition!0 -
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JulieAL1969 wrote: »I'm cleaning our loft and found a lot of kids duct tape, art supplies, and paints. So, I looked up online where to donate arts and crafts things, and it turns out there are a lot of places. Some of the most noticeable ones are to rape crisis shelters and Domestic Violence shelters but also art therapy places.
I also scheduled a donation pick up from Vietnam Veterans website. And it was as easy as entering my address online. I'm making great progress de-cluttering.
What kind of donations does the Vietnam Veterans website take/need?
I need some of your ambition!
I am on Summer break so I have the time. I also have been purposely avoiding shopping because I don't need one more item in my life. So cleaning is a great alternative. VV take clothing especially - I'm giving them some books too, sheets and towels. On their site, they state what they need.3 -
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!!
I have inherited all of this from 2 set of grandparents, 2 sets of Great Grandparents, 1 Great Uncle and my parents. It is such a daunting task! I did the same with a lot of pictures, I have more to go. I got rid of the old parades, landscapes, horse and tractor pulls but I'm having such a hard time with the old people that I don't even know who they are!3 -
Snowflake1968 wrote: »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!!
I have inherited all of this from 2 set of grandparents, 2 sets of Great Grandparents, 1 Great Uncle and my parents. It is such a daunting task! I did the same with a lot of pictures, I have more to go. I got rid of the old parades, landscapes, horse and tractor pulls but I'm having such a hard time with the old people that I don't even know who they are!
Some local museums/historical sites like old photos, might be worth looking into.3 -
Snowflake1968 wrote: »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!!
I have inherited all of this from 2 set of grandparents, 2 sets of Great Grandparents, 1 Great Uncle and my parents. It is such a daunting task! I did the same with a lot of pictures, I have more to go. I got rid of the old parades, landscapes, horse and tractor pulls but I'm having such a hard time with the old people that I don't even know who they are!
Some local museums/historical sites like old photos, might be worth looking into.
That's a good idea - thank you.2 -
JulieAL1969 wrote: »Decluttered my clothing in all the drawers and closet of bedroom. Made a mountain of donations. This morning, I woke up, and I opened all the drawers to admire them. Everything was folded neatly and in order. I'll keep going ... not to part of the basement.
I did the same thing in April. Now i keep a garbage bag in my laundry basket. When I fold something I don't like, or doesn't fit, it goes in the bag. When the bag is full, time to donate. Helps me stay on top of it.
I have been doing that for a couple of years it makes a big difference!3 -
Snowflake1968 wrote: »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!!
I have inherited all of this from 2 set of grandparents, 2 sets of Great Grandparents, 1 Great Uncle and my parents. It is such a daunting task! I did the same with a lot of pictures, I have more to go. I got rid of the old parades, landscapes, horse and tractor pulls but I'm having such a hard time with the old people that I don't even know who they are!
Your town newspapers and libraries and historical societies may want the pictures for their archives. They may even be able to identify people or occasions.
CJ3
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