Yea!!!! I LOVE declutter-fest! I've actually been doing it this weekend on my own because since we started doing these in this group, I've gotten so I can't stand clutter! LOL! This weekend I emptied a whole cupboard that had just crap thrown in it and now I have a place to move my cookbooks! That will open up an entire shelf in my big dishes/glasses cupboards so I can shuffle some of the stuff from my tupperware cupboard...well, you get the idea...

For this challenge, I plan to spend time every day decluttering my basement! Half of our basement is finished but has a ton of stuff stored down there in no particular order. I plan to make that space into livable space by Christmas! Then when we have the whole tribe over for Christmas, we can split up between the two floors. It's a big undertaking but I am determined!

I'll work on my desk. Already ordered some organizing trays and rearranged some things, but also need to clean out a few files so there is a place to go with incoming stuff so it doesn't get so messy again in the first place. I have a whole basket full of miscellaneous folders to sort. I'll use the Ten-Minute Rule to help me get going (set the timer for a short length of time to get started; when it dings, allow a break . . . but sometimes can even keep going a bit once over the hump of starting )

Wow! I just spotted this! Like @PackerFanInGB I also have been doing a lot of this recently!! I also no longer like clutter! Pretty cool!

A. I got our bedroom in a verrrry nice state yesterday, but have a couple more hot spots to do
* go through some folders of nutrition info to see what I really want to keep
* a binder of some dr appt forms to move to my filing system
* Shred some papers
* Go through bin of clothes that are too worn/too large/unflattering & see if I can give them away now.

B. Go through stack of items to go to Charity. Put items in boxes & hire neighborhood to take them over.

C. Recycle old batteries Thursday

D. Dispose of old prescription meds of son’s when air is healthy again.

E. Research if anyone picks up e-waste for recycling in our area.

F. Art Studio
I’ve been working a LOT in here. Getting rid of things I don’t love. Lots of re-organizing based upon how I really use things. Set up a stationery area that is out of sight yet accessible for back up copier paper, envelopes, pads of paper etc. please.

* Clear tops of drawer units.
* Finish going through writing drawer & filing cabinet, purge, put in labeled folders ...
* Finish labeling all drawers
* Go through container of misc & give away most?
* Give away art supplies I don’t want anymore to artist friends or save to give to them when they come over?

G. Figure out how to organize my finished artwork that I’ve decided to keep in a way I can access it. (Probably won’t get that done this week, but it is a goal!

Reward: Purchase magnetic glass or whiteboard for large wall above drawer units to place work in process, display finished pieces, and/or create/put ideas for future projects. Vision board. Inspiration!

nebslp wrote: »

Closet complete! Still need to go down and find my winter gloves, scarves, etc., take things to my car for a Good Will and wildlife rehab center trip, and dump some old cat food where the raccoons will have a feast out in the field. I'll have to set up my wildlife camera to see the fun. I'll pick something new to declutter tomorrow.

WOW!!! You’re on a ROLL, @nebslp !!!
It’s so satisfying, isn’t it, when we’re in the right mood for it!!! Congratulations 🎉

Today I am decluttering a drawer in my kitchen,✅ mail and cards that I need to deal with, and back entry.

I am doing the same...clearing horizontal surfaces. Yesterday, I worked on a huge pile of papers on top of the file cabinet. I filed, shredded, recycled and worked my way through the whole mess. Also straightened the bookshelf beside it. Looks so much better & I feel more peaceful just looking at it!

@nebslp, LOVE that profile picture - Is that your own photograph?

@RetiredAndLovingIt , How do those paper piles happen? I swear gremlins sneak into my house and pile up papers! Kudos for handling that file cabinet top!

@prgirl39mfp , photos are quite an issue. (Turns away from the photo boxes.....)

Quick update!

My Declutterfest is going Great!
Our bedroom is now a sanctuary! DONE!

ToDo’s for Art Room:
1) figure out a storage system/method to store the art I’ve made & decided to keep, 2) Decide on the final couple of boxes of misc. items! 3) Order & install board for displaying final & in-process work

@MadisonMolly2017 I like your ToDo plan for your art room. It's overwhelming to walk in a room to organize it without having a plan. You will get this done! This week I got an article in my email by James Clear on making changes sustainable. One thing (clothing item) at a time. Good plan!

MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »

I’m still plugging away on my list I got through the nutrition info the last stack of it ended up taking me two or three hours but now it’s all organized and I refreshed my memory of the course I took so that was good!!

I have separated the last few remaining tasks into Saturday Sunday and Monday so that I don’t get overwhelmed but I did get a lot done this week - kind of amazing

So as I’ve been walking around my house to stay out of the smoke outside I had an idea popinto my head. Which really kind of surprised me that I had never thought of it before. And I went around the house I went into a room and I walked around it

@OK if I was going to only keep the things I absolutely love what would I keep in this room?”

The answers really shocked me. I realizedthat most of the things that are in my house are no longer things that I like/love.

And I started imagining a home where everything in it was just just what I love, just what makes me feel good or makes me feel refreshed/inspired...

interesting thing was in my bedroom and in my art studio which is where I put most of my attention past few years I would keep almost everything. And my guess is that’s why the idea popped into my head was I finally got those places to that LOVE point and now I feel like I need to get the rest of the house there!

(BTW, in the bedroom & art Studio I decluttered & used existing furniture/storage...so it wasn’t because they were newly furnished, it was the high percentage of things I Love not all the stuff I thought I should keep)

I’m going to ponder this a little bit and see if it’s just being cooped up in the house giving me cabin fever or if it something I really want to take some action but I thought I’d share it with you guys

Would you keep everything that you have ? how much of it would you keep?

Wow, that was a thought-provoking question!

In recent years, a lot of what I've had in my cupboards or closets for years has gone to Good Will. Sometimes I ask my kids if they want it, sometimes it just disappears in a bag and goes away. They almost always said "no" anyway and I don't want to fill up their houses. I used to feel that if someone gave me something, I had to keep it forever. I think it was Marie Kondo that said the giving and receiving was the purpose for the gift, and you shouldn't feel obligated to keep it once you've enjoyed it and it's purpose was served. That's been pretty freeing.

I hang on to all of my parent's jewelry and prayerbooks and any other historical items. I have a box for each of my kids' school things that I should just toss because they don't care about them. My sewing room holds all the old relics that I love from my mother and grandmothers...old fabric and lace, old tools, patterns, and sewing/needlework books. I will keep those forever, if I can, even though they're pretty useless, practically speaking. And my pictures...I just need to get those organized, and maybe stop taking so many!!

And I take after my mother and I love boxes! Crazy, huh? Or so thinks my husband! I have a daughter who is the same way. I guess there are worse things keep. After all, you never know when I'm going to need just the right box and it will be there waiting! I try to keep the number below 10 and they fit inside each other and they're hidden away, so I really don't see a problem😉😊🙃

@nebslp
And sometimes it skips a generation & grandkids are interested!

I’d keep the things YOU would enjoy sharing with grandkids!

@gojolida I had never heard of thought about the number idea and my first thought was...what would I have 30 of? Then I remembered the hundreds of paper clips, pens, markers, and crayons that probably need to go away and realized the idea might be fun to try! It would be like a challenge game of sorts.

@MadisonMolly2017 I hadn’t thought about keeping my kids’ school stuff for my grandkids to look at, but you’re right. Sometimes things mean more to later generations.

@gojolida ohh, that sounds like fun! Thanks for mentioning! I could at least do it with the dastardly photos ... Haha!

@nebslp that’s what I did with son’s toys/books. And some of my teaching supplies. Just kept what I’d have fun doing with grandkids...

BTW- as I near the 3.5 year mark of my Marie Kondo-ing the house (off & on), I am truly amazed at how I have changed.

I find myself examining all aspects of my life, really thinking about what it is that I love. I mentioned the furniture the other day. But it’s also applied to my art room I’ve really thought about what art supplies I enjoy using and which ones I don’t want myself using and then I got of those. Ditto my clothes I just went through all my clothes.

I had to chuckle because as you do this and you have less and less stuff it becomes easier and easier to go through a whole category. When I started with my clothes I had to break into all the different subcategories like scarves and hats and jackets etc. but now I can go through all of it in one fell swoop because I don’t have that much I just have things that fit and that I love. Yesterday I went through a whole lot of the art I’ve made over my lifetime and weeded out some things that weren’t worth saving - But it was easy because I had earlier about a year or two ago going through all of it and purged massive amounts.

So what I’m trying to say is as you get further along in the process it becomes infinitely easier and less time-consuming. And I can see why her clients don’t think back into the clutter overfilled home. I have to say I’m really sold this.

The other thing I remember reading in the book was to not give away any of your storage containers until you’re all done and to not buy any. She could not be more right. I have a dining room table filled with empty storage containers right now. As you do clutter you basically we reclaim boxes, etc. So I’m really glad I followed her advice. I have a feeling that by the time I’m done with the photographs of me memorabilia the containers on the dining room table (soon to be in a closet) will all be in use and I will not have spent more money.

This processed really does help you figure out where you are and how we want to be.