One of the big issues I’ve got in my life is a tendency to clutter. I’m an at least third generation Piler and Stacker, and my husband has the same pedigree. This means that we’re both packrat types that like to amass stacks of magazines, books, papers, ephemera, and what I affectionately like to call “doo-dads.” Also, I must admit that we’re terrible at getting our dirty clothes into the hamper, so that will heap until I wash, then the clothes themselves will roost in the baskets until we get to hanging them up where they belong.
*sigh*
My mantra of late has been to simplify throughout as many aspects of my life as I possibly can… one of the most important places to achieve this needs to be my home, because the clutter mentally holds me back from all the things I could be doing with my mind, my thoughts, my time. I spend too much time fussing over the state of my abode, and cleaning up things inefficiently… whereas if I just removed some of the nonessential stuff, life could be a lot easier.
I’m attempting this in slow, non-stressful steps. First, I’ve cleaned out my old clothes, and the clothing that I don’t wear on a regular basis. That includes some things I’ve purchased and never even worn, mostly because they don’t fit now or don’t work with my style. Someone else will love them, though, so I will be donating them. I’m slowly clearing out magazines and passing them along to other interested readers, or using them for collage.
The next step is coming up with the necessary organization to keep the clutter from reappearing. I have been working to incorporate some of the suggestions that I’ve seen online, but if you would like to share your favourite de-cluttering or organization tips, I would be super grateful… in fact, I think this could be the perfect time for a GIVEAWAY.
Share your de-cluttering or organization tips with me, or post and tell me how desperately you need help in this area… and I’ll pick one commenter randomly to win a free copy of Sink Reflections, by Marla Cilley, aka The FlyLady. This is a great book if you are one of those folks that need a system to get you started!
I’ll leave this contest going over the weekend, and I’ll post a winner on November 24th – make sure you leave a blog link or email for me to contact you!
Reference and inspiration:
http://zenhabits.net/2008/11/living-simply-the-ultimate-guide-to-conquering-your-clutter/
http://unclutterer.com/2008/03/12/creating-a-minimalist-workspace/
10 responses so far ↓
1 karen duby // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Good luck.
2 Beth // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:18 pm
My fave method of decluttering (and I need to do it again, soon!) is to tackle just one small area at a time and use the 3 box method: put three boxes in the area I am working on. 1 box is for “keep”, 1 box is for “donate” and the 3rd box is usually trash (and really, the 3rd “box” is generally just my trash can.) I then immediately take out the trash, find somewhere to put away the “keep” stuff, and post the “donate” stuff on freecycle. If it doesn’t get taken by someone on freecycle, I take it to Goodwill.
Good luck with the decluttering effort!
3 Shower Treat Soap // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:19 pm
A few of my favorite de-cluttering tips, clearing out can be overwhelming but freeing, too.
Fifteen minutes a day, little chunks. Set the oven timer and stop when it goes off. One pile for trash, one for recycle, and one for sell/donation. When time is up, take out the trash, recycle what you can. Freecycle.org is a wonderful way to pass along goodies, you post what you’ve got and people email back for a convenient pickup time. It’s amazing what you can do in 15 minutes a day!
*Hugs*
Laura
4 Megan // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I’m a big fan of flylady’s fifteen minute cleaning sessions — you can get a ton done and it doesn’t feel so burdensome. And I like the 27 fling boogie idea too. Been a while since I was a rabid flylady follower but I still do those two things.
5 Jessica // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Buy a house. I threw lots of stuff away when I bought a house. ( I know, that’s so lame but I just don’t have anything…and I NEED THAT BOOK!lol)
6 June Shin // Nov 21, 2008 at 9:57 pm
My problem is that I’m the clutterer and my fiance hates clutter. We desperately need a bigger space, but can’t afford it right now, so we basically drive each other crazy. More him than me, cuz I’m the mellow one. So I can’t give any advice, but I can probably get good use out of the book.
Ok, off to drink more wine!
7 Svasti // Nov 22, 2008 at 5:51 am
I’ve just moved house and everything I own has been in storage for months!
Its been quite liberating to feel unattached to my worldly goods. And so I vowed that once I moved, I’d use this feeling of being unattached to be ruthless with all my stuff.
I mean, I have crap I think I’ve been carting around in the same boxes each time I’ve moved for years now! They aren’t the first possessions that will be demolished under my wrathful gaze, but they certainly won’t escape!
I intend to throw out all clothes that don’t ‘excite’ me any longer – so all my random casual clothes I don’t wear, and those that simply aren’t ‘me’ any more… no sympathy – they’re gone!
I notice I’ve also kept stuff kind of out of good manners – things other people have given me that I don’t want, need or use. Everything from stuffed toys, to crockery, to whatcha-ma-call-its that people put on stuff…
Its all going? All my stuff is either getting assigned a place in my new home or its out the door – to charity, to the trash or whatever!
8 MaryBeth I // Nov 23, 2008 at 1:15 am
I clean constantly. I am very organized – even have my kitchen cabinets labeled. It is a lot of work but I cannot stand living in a mess. I clean everyday and that really helps with the clutter.
9 maya // Nov 23, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Crazy! I am on a “cleaning out the house/clutter” kick too.
The only tip I have is to have no emotional attachment to a material item. For me this has become so much easier since I have studied Buddhism and gotten older. I get rid of anything that I do not need or will not use.
If I see things getting messy I attack that area first. Then it seems to spread and before I know it the place is clean. I also have containers for some things and if those get full I weed out the things I no longer use.
I do have a bit of guilt as far as trash goes. Maybe not quilt but awareness…so I give, donate, freecycle, and sell as much as possible. The rest is recycled or last resort tossed in the trash.
My main problem is my hubby…he is so messy. I try to restrict him from my studio area. He has his own space to mess up. That kinda works.
10 heather // Nov 23, 2008 at 5:30 pm
I like to set the timer and do things in 10 min increments… it helps me stay on task to set a timer.
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