Declutterfest 2019!
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Book declutter... finished 1984 and will most likely give it away. It’s an hardback book and in good condition so I’ll think about it. Started Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy and decided to not read it all. It has a daily message for one year, most on being authentic and living your best life. At first I thought I had progressed past the messages and I was going to give it away, but when I browsed through it today I found so many nuggets of wisdom and encouragement I can’t decide what to do now🤔😲🙄. Another dilemma, my sister is moving and gave me 4 more books to read. So it’s been teeter-totter like progress with decluttering books!
This caught my eye because I absolutely love Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy! I read out of it almost every night for the next day's reading. It helps me go to bed on a good positive note. I am on my 3rd year of reading it and I get something out of it still. But that's me! I have had a lot of stressful and emotional situations over the past 3 years that I needed to get perspective on and work though, and I truly believe this book helped me make some pretty important changes in my life.
That particular book is certainly not for everyone, but I get so much inspiration and insight from it that I don't think I could get myself to part with it. LOL! (I'm a book and magazine hoarder, so it's hard for me to get rid of ANY of them...)2 -
I plan to give decluttering a whole new meaning around our house beginning in September. Our granddaughter moved out into her own apartment after living with us for about 5 years. That means we have bathroom supplies, cosmetics, sheets, towels, even food, that my husband and I won't use. We also have an open room to paint, tear carpeting out of and fix wood floors, and decide what to do with! So, I'm pretty excited to start on that.
It has to wait until the dust settles with my parents a bit first, though.
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Decided to spend 5 mins per day on inherited old family photos, writings, etc.
(They are taking up approx 6-8 banker’s boxes.)
10/5 “5 mins” turned into 35
10/6 “5 mins” turned into over an hour
It is emotional difficult. I will take a break if I don’t feel up to the “unexpectedness” of finding photos (mixed in with the rest) of my family members who died wayyyy too young.
I know once I get through these & have sorted them, this will be much less of an issue because I’ll be able to choose who I’m going to look or read about.
Hugs,
Maddie2 -
I spent 15 minutes yesterday decluttering a drawer in my kitchen and lining it with shelf paper, and another 15 minutes decluttering the top drawer in our bathroom and linking it with new shelf paper. Small things but oh boy does it make me feel good to open those drawers and have them clean and not cluttered!2
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PackerFanInGB wrote: »I spent 15 minutes yesterday decluttering a drawer in my kitchen and lining it with shelf paper, and another 15 minutes decluttering the top drawer in our bathroom and linking it with new shelf paper. Small things but oh boy does it make me feel good to open those drawers and have them clean and not cluttered!
@PackerFanInGB
It sure does, doesn’t it! Good for you!!
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MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »Decided to spend 5 mins per day on inherited old family photos, writings, etc.
(They are taking up approx 6-8 banker’s boxes.)
10/5 “5 mins” turned into 35
10/6 “5 mins” turned into over an hour
It is emotional difficult. I will take a break if I don’t feel up to the “unexpectedness” of finding photos (mixed in with the rest) of my family members who died wayyyy too young.
I know once I get through these & have sorted them, this will be much less of an issue because I’ll be able to choose who I’m going to look or read about.
Hugs,
Maddie
I decided to do another “5 mins.” This one turned into about 30-45 mins. I think I will set a max time of 45 mins, and use a timer on my watch!2 -
An update:
Completed organization of all fiber arts supplies (and catalog)!
Completed setting up organizational system for my collage materials & magazine clippings (for collage, inspiration, and reference photos.)
Repurposed an old laptop bag as my on-the-go Sketching kit!! (Was about to take it to charity.)
Set up a watercolor kit in a Michael’s suitcase. I will probably find something waterproof!
Will set up a stitching/weaving kit in the other laptop case.
Created a second art area (with a large table) for nature sketching as a daily meditation out the window...& storing all completed works. Each morning I go there with my tea, open the blinds & add leaves, lemons, branches, and squirrels (blind contour drawing practice.)
Now I’m turning the past week’s drawings into a piece of art with paints, fiber, etc!
TAKEAWAY: The organizational activities, which I thought might be procrastination, weren’t. I’m able to find what I want to use instantly & clean up is SO FAST!!!
Worth it!
Also it is saving me tons of money because I don’t need to buy things since I can find them. 💕1 -
Great accomplishments, @MadisonMolly2017 ! I know when you’re in the thick of cleanup and organizing it sometimes feels a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like giving up midstream. That’s when I have to continue to visualize the end product. I’ve been working on the play room upstairs and am excited about the changes that are happening there. I took a big load of things to good will today. Also recycled an old printer and ink cartridges that we no longer use. I will get $30 back for those so that was really exciting😃 And my husband and I decluttered our (my🤭) cup collection and dishes...together😯!
Enjoy your new found inspiration all around you. Having your things in easy reach will be so liberating. Have fun creating!1 -
Great accomplishments, @MadisonMolly2017 ! I know when you’re in the thick of cleanup and organizing it sometimes feels a bit overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like giving up midstream. That’s when I have to continue to visualize the end product. I’ve been working on the play room upstairs and am excited about the changes that are happening there. I took a big load of things to good will today. Also recycled an old printer and ink cartridges that we no longer use. I will get $30 back for those so that was really exciting😃 And my husband and I decluttered our (my🤭) cup collection and dishes...together😯!
Enjoy your new found inspiration all around you. Having your things in easy reach will be so liberating. Have fun creating!
Wow @nebslp! I’m sorry I didn’t respond earlier to this - busy with family visiting
Great job with the printer gear! We can’t find anyone who will take the cartridges here
Wow my husband and I did the kitchen & dishes/mugs together too! What a difference, right?
I stopped midstream were organizing my turn out photos from magazine for collage and/or inspiration
AND several times I have stopped with sentimental- I get too sad However over time I’m Making real progress.
I re-circle back to areas, and cull them
Further sometimes.
Big hugs!1 -
@MadisonMolly2017 Do you have a Staples store near you? I took my old printer there during a special offer and got $10 for it and got double dollars for recycling my old cartridges. They always take used cartridges and I get $2 for them.1
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@nebslp
Thank you I’ll check that out!!0 -
So I began decluttering Fall of 2015, and except my husband’s things, and some old photographs, I’m pretty much done. Now just maintaining & sometimes reorganizing an area to support how we use it now!
My husband worked some on the garage last year. Yay! It’s not done, but I remind him it’s his space, donor in his time.
Agreeing to my assistance, he moved the rest of his things from his old office desk to his new one. Now, I see him regularly clear off much of his desk as a re-set. (Used to pile up.)
Well...this weekend, (drumroll) I noticed he was in our guest room going through boxes of tech cords, power supplies, etc. and some old work papers & books, which I’d put in there for him to do “someday.”
SO grateful that he wants everything organized, too, but on his own time schedule!
It will likely take another 3-5 years, but that’s fine!
♥️2
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