I have a problem with clutter.
It hangs out in my car and my house and I'm sick of it. I'm fed up. So I'm making a stand.
Clutter and me are going to have a show down at high noon and only one of us will come out alive. It's time for me to start removing the unnecessary, the untidy, and the unorganized-ness in my life. And I know removing the clutter will help me live a more balanced life and hopefully give me more peace of mind.
More and less is what I want
Yes more balance and clutter-free rooms
Yes more healthy habits and efficient uses of time
Yes more space that's clean and open
No more rushing to find things
No more tripping over stuff
No more creating and feeding the clutter monster
Start it up
Make a proclamation. Alas. I've said all this before. But THIS time will be different. Last evening at Toastmasters, I volunteered to answer a table topics question about New Year's Resolutions and that's when I made the announcement. Now that the whole world knows I have others to motivate me to keep going.
Identify the reasons why you are removing clutter. I know that the parts of me that hold onto clutter also hold onto rushing, carelessness and counter productivity. And as I say goodbye to a clutter-free life, I'm excited to welcome new habits that put me in a grateful, productive, and creative mindset.
What got you clutter in the first place? Most of the stuff I've moved over from past places have stayed in the same box. I haven't even opened it. Why am I moving stuff I don't open? In a small way I'm a hoarder. I keep old bank statements, check stubs, and books I've never read. I've got trinkets and lava lamps, boxes upon boxes of clothes I never wear.
Paint the Vista
No more rushing. Imagine a world you can find everything you need without moving a bazillion other little things. The biggest reason I'm choosing to remove clutter is because I feel so rushed all the time. I need some relief. And I'm pretty sure that cleaning up some messy habits will help me achieve more balance in my life.
I keep books I don't read. Why do I do this? Someone somewhere could find value in these dusty pages so I'm going to donate them to the library.
Half of my clutter problem would be solved with a coat rack. Hanging stuff up quickly or grabbing my coat when I'm headed out would save a ton of time. I would benefit SO MUCH from knowing where my coat and shoes are consistently.
Outta sight laundry and trash. I intend to designate a spot for these items that is sepearte from my living space. There is no reason I should walk around all day looking at dirty laundry and trash.
Up off the floor. Shoes aren't going to be on the floor anymore. I'm going to get one of those hangy things that attach to the back of your door so you can hang your shoes neatly.
Donate the clothes I don't wear. This will remove 2 huge bins from my basement and free up an entire drawer in my bureau.
Identify obstacles that hinder clutter removal
It's emotional. Letting go of things you have kept all your life is an emotional trip. It takes courage to close these chapters in our lives but the physical 'stuff' isn't what matters anyway.
Perceived Value. We may hold onto things longer than necessary because we are convinced of it's eventual worth. I have a treasure trove of old baseball cards sitting in my parents attic. The only reason I hold onto them is because my dad said they'd be worth something some day. He said the same thing about Hess trucks, so I believed him. Is it worth it to make room for old cards for 50+ years in the hopes that someday they may be worth something?
Procrastination. I'm really good at inventing reasons why not to do things. The junk I'm suppose to sort through ends up going into a box and down into the basement. I convince myself I don't have time to sort through everything now-even if it takes an extra 10 seconds! No wonder I'm rushing all the time. Perhaps going a little slower will help me think a little clearer.
There will be a Part 2, 3, and 4 to this post I'm sure. And as I dive into a clutter free life I'm excited to develop a fresh perspective on living and a cleaner mindset for creating.
Simplicity. Clean rooms. Table space. Natural light.
These are some of the things I desire when I think of clutter-free living. For me, it's about getting rid of things I don't need and just take up space. Join me and say goodbye to clutter.
