I need to get rid of stuff. I keep out of season clothes under the bed and every year I find stuff I haven't even worn for over a year. Dumping everything out and sorting between keep, donate and toss seems like the best way but I'm scared I'll take it all out and never put it away. I also want to weed out some of my books and toss a bunch of old papers that I probably don't need, but I always get stuck. There's also stuff I don't want that just collects dust but it was a gift or a reminder of an event or trip so I don't get rid of it. How do you get over that hang up?
1. Dumping everything out and sorting between keep, donate and toss seems like the best way but I'm scared I'll take it all out and never put it away.How much clothing can you possibly keep under your bed?:)Relax, we've all been there and yes, it is easy to blow it out of proportion in your mind - stop procrastinating! That little ole pile of clothing is nothing you can't handle in an afternoon or evening.
You can do this!
The answer is JDI - just do it, darling - it is easy.Before you start:
Here is what you do - set a timer for fifteen minutes - you can deal with fifteen minutes right?
Set up two trash bags or two cardboard boxes.
Turn on your favorite music...
Pull out only one bag or drawer at a time.
Focus on "why haven't I worn this shirt in two years?", be honest!, why lie to yourself or hem and haw about how you really feel. This clothing is taking up precious space in your home - does it really deserve to be here any longer?
Try each item on and really look at yourself in the mirror. Is it a keeper?, does it still look good on you, is it a winner or a loser, is it torn or stained? - get rid of it - now!
Does it still fit you? Too tight? - donate. "Gee what was I thinking?" - donate quickly:).
Think about how much better you will feel, once you tackled that monster under your bed.
Sort until your timer goes off - how did you do?
Ready to put it all back or ready to set your timer for one more round? or call it quits for today?
It is all up to you - there is no law that says you have to do it all in one sitting. Pace yourself if that works better for you.
The all or nothing people, like me:) and maybe you too - we are the ones who get stuck, because we want to do it perfect and all at once of course. Then our time is up and life keeps us from ever getting back to it - so back in the corner it goes.
Sometimes I do have a hard time, I become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of clothing. I simply can't decide, whether something is worth keeping.
I read in a de-cluttering book that we should have a maybe bag for any items we can't decide on and put it somewhere for a month. Bad advice for people like me, heck I'll find that bag six months from now and then I'm stumped again about whether I should keep it or not or I am brave and let it go - only to wonder forever what was in that bag?
Music helps me and sometimes a good friend can help you make decisions when you are stuck. It can become fun and be almost an enjoyable project when you have the right person by your side. Alas, that is a luxury we seldom have. So do the best you can and move on.
More often than not, we surprise ourselves by getting more done than we ever thought we could - the trick is to tackle it in a positive way. Think about the end result, promise yourself a treat, envision how wonderful it will be to have easy access to your freshly organized wardrobe.
You are in control of this process and you can do it. Since when do used clothes under your bed get to make you feel bad or apprehensive? Sort out those devils, pronto.
Rejoice in all the pretty things you own and be ruthless about that top or pant or dress that cost a fortune, but never looked right on you... maybe it will be the right fit on someone else. Let it go to them!
I also want to weed out some of my books and toss a bunch of old papers that I probably don't need, but I always get stuck. How do you sort books? Easy - one shelf at a time! Sort - wipe shelf, keep - donate or trash.
Got time for one more shelf? Do it.
See - you are not stuck, you did one shelf and now you are taking a break:) - or go pfffft, now that I started, I want to finish this. Totally doable:)
If I have enough time and oomph - I start from scratch, take out all the books - reorganize them all. Donate and toss. Then clean bookshelf and repopulate with books.
Yes, I know, it is easy to get stuck reading and reviewing, instead of keeping to your task. It's OK - allow yourself to pull out five books max for later, then get back to work.
Next step, look at the knick-knacks and decide which ones, if any, to keep, donate the rest. Dust, rinse off, re-decorate your now perfectly clean and organized bookshelf. Yay!
Best tip ever - once you cleared your bookshelf - institute a one book in and one book out rule.
It's not easy for a book lover like me, but I've managed to whittle down my bookshelves from six to three.
It only took me three years to get there.
That paper clutter? Don't ask me - I've never discovered the secret of keeping my paper clutter organized. That paper tiger still has me by the tail:)
All I can tell you is that I've reduced it by more than 70%.
Wonder of wonders, two years ago I finally managed to find and stick with a filing system that works for me for all those important papers.
Nobody is perfect.
Eventually, we all find systems that work of us - like keeping a box handy for (ongoing) donations we realize that purging and reorganizing will forever be a part of our lives.
Minimalism starts to look like a good idea - for about a minute:).
There's also stuff I don't want that just collects dust but it was a gift or a reminder of an event or trip so I don't get rid of it.Gifts - if I like it, I will display and enjoy it - otherwise I have become ruthless, I re-gift to someone else or donate.
Why does it have to clutter up my house and take up storage room when it is a perfectly good item someone else would really enjoy? It makes me happy to see it gone - and will give joy:) to someone else, that's a win-win in my book.
Things I don't want anymore or do not need anymore? They get purged, I never hesitate on those anymore.
One time I held on to some pricey items, because I wanted to sell them.
Never happened - so one day, five years later, I finally donated it all.
Excellent decision - so freeing - don't know why that took me so long.
Reminders from a trip - I like rotating some of my decor and I like having a few mementos of good times to cheer me up. The trick is - leave enough room for something new and exciting to come your way. Limit the space you are willing to allocate or it will overtake your home.
If you travel a lot, you could have one travel drawer and display two items at a time. Some souvenirs are just silly junk, enjoy them for a while, then let them go. Find a way to limit your mementos and travel stuff that makes sense to you, but don't let it take over your house.
My motto is:
Have nothing in your house that you do not love or use.
Trouble is, it is very hard to live up to that ideal, but I do try - with mixed success.