Project Declutter

[jaderabbit]

I read a really good article about clutter a few weeks ago. Lots of these articles either seem too peppy and unrealistic or else just don't seem to get the problem. This one worked better for me, for some reason, so I've been trying off and on to follow its advice.

The idea of decluttering a small area or spending a short length of time on it every

Comments

[platypus]

When I'm trying to declutter, I look at stuff and if I love it, if I think it's beautiful, or if I find it useful, I keep it. I don't give myself a hard time about keeping things for sentimental reasons; if I honestly want it, I can keep it. Just having to take the moment to think about it is usually enough to get the real junk out the door.

I definitely agree that doing something, however small -- one shelf, ten minutes, however you divide things up -- is the way to go. It can sometimes be frustrating not to see big changes all at once, but anything you accomplish counts. Cleaning the whole house is too overwhelming to contemplate. Twenty minutes excavating the stuff next to the bed? I can do that.

[jaderabbit]

I couldn't agree more. The point isn't to get rid of things you love, but things that don't do anything for you. It's good feng shui.

Hey, want to start some kind of Clutter Challenge? I could use some more motivation.

[cynodd]

I think 5:1 might be a little extreme with small twins. Maybe you could start smaller -- 2:1 or 3:1 -- which could still add up to serious decluttering.

Recently I had my little one sort through her stuffed animals and she volunteered an entire garbage bag's worth to be given away. Soon, if not now, your girls can join in.

[jaderabbit]

Another option: I could exempt kid stuff for now. The house was snowed under with mess before the girls arrived, so it's the grownup stuff that really needs the attention. Last night I decluttered some cassette tapes. Cassette tapes. I mean, really. I still have four boxes of them.

Where can you give stuffed animals? I haven't found anyplace that takes them. Good on HRT for doing that, though. The spirit of giving is a beautiful thing in children.

[cynodd]

Well, I haven't actually done anything with them. They're in the basement in that garbage bag. It's always possible to do a rummage sale, but I'll probably check the local domestic violence shelter first.

[cynodd]

Yeah, I would exempt kid stuff, as they really do need an enormous amout of stuff, and they're always needing new stuff, which is very different from adults.

Yeah, I have two whole drawers full of cassette tapes. :) I should go through them and find the songs I really would like to have, download them, and throw out the tapes.