It’s been over 3 years since I began our journey toward a family life simply done.
I’m still decluttering.
Is this possible?
It would appear so.
Decluttering is a bit like trying to lose weight. It’s easy to gain, not so easy to lose.
So, as a non-believer in crash diets, I’ve taken the slow and steady approach to stuff reduction.
What I’ve found as an ex-hoarder is that my mindset has changed gradually. My habits have changed also. As I said above ‘easy to gain, not so easy to lose’, for me anyway. So I’ve stopped acquiring. This has suppressed the growth of items in the home significantly. But there was always going to be the backlog to deal with.
My initial impetus was to reduce my sentimental hoard. But what I found, once I started the simplification process, was that actually I needed to do the ‘easy’ decluttering first, until there was little left to purge apart from the things I held the dearest.
I’m at that point. The wardrobe’s gone, the books have gone, most unnecessary items have been removed.
I’m still however left with this:
There’s little left to hide behind. It’s time to get ruthless.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Let’s see eh? Can I do it?
Are you struggling to make that final push, are you nearing the finish line? Is there a finish line? Please share…
our problem seems to be keeping stuff from coming into the house. we have a lot less stuff that we don’t use, but we seem to have replaced stuff we didn’t like with things we do like. So our net amount of stuff hasn’t gone down much!
Can I say how much I love your No Waste Tastes Great? I reorganized our fridge based on some of your ideas and it is really reducing the amount of food we toss. I can’t wait to post on it and I’ll point to your blog. Thanks for all of your posts and good luck as your journey continues!
Joanna – I’d say replacing unwanted items with necessary items is definitely going in the right direction. I’ve decluttered many areas of the home, but one that’s actually increasing is my kitchen items – things such as cookie cutters etc… these items I use – so I’m not going to minimise those!
Thanks for the feedback on NWTG, it’s great to hear that it’s helping, because that’s the point. It’s to keep me (and you) on track! Thanks again!
This was a good comment to run into on my first poke-through of the site; it’s a mark of balance. On the web, it is too easy to run into a “weird” minimalist who takes the concept of not owning things a bit too far. Yes, it is possible to make tea in a saucepan, but a whistling kettle is so convenient and a good teapot is nicer. Forget about the people who don’t or barely cook.
our problem seems to be keeping stuff from coming into the house. we have a lot less stuff that we don’t use, but we seem to have replaced stuff we didn’t like with things we do like. So our net amount of stuff hasn’t gone down much!
Can I say how much I love your No Waste Tastes Great? I reorganized our fridge based on some of your ideas and it is really reducing the amount of food we toss. I can’t wait to post on it and I’ll point to your blog. Thanks for all of your posts and good luck as your journey continues!
Joanna – I’d say replacing unwanted items with necessary items is definitely going in the right direction. I’ve decluttered many areas of the home, but one that’s actually increasing is my kitchen items – things such as cookie cutters etc… these items I use – so I’m not going to minimise those!
Thanks for the feedback on NWTG, it’s great to hear that it’s helping, because that’s the point. It’s to keep me (and you) on track! Thanks again!
This was a good comment to run into on my first poke-through of the site; it’s a mark of balance. On the web, it is too easy to run into a “weird” minimalist who takes the concept of not owning things a bit too far. Yes, it is possible to make tea in a saucepan, but a whistling kettle is so convenient and a good teapot is nicer. Forget about the people who don’t or barely cook.
Well done Jo! That certainly looks manageable.
I’ve always been ruthless with stuff (as you know) but I have a shelf full of paperwork that I need to sort through. Having dealt with immigration for years, I have kept everything in case it was needed for evidencing. But I’m filing my citizenship application soon and then we’ll be done, so I can get rid of all but the critical paperwork. There’s just little motivation to do it when I don’t actually need the space for anything else.
And that box under the bed. 😉
Yay – soon to be a fully fledged Brit eh Lauren? We’ll be very glad to have you! You’ll certainly remember the year you been a UK citizen with all the red/white/blue that’s going on at the mo. Good luck with it all!
Now that box under the bed….
Well done Jo! That certainly looks manageable.
I’ve always been ruthless with stuff (as you know) but I have a shelf full of paperwork that I need to sort through. Having dealt with immigration for years, I have kept everything in case it was needed for evidencing. But I’m filing my citizenship application soon and then we’ll be done, so I can get rid of all but the critical paperwork. There’s just little motivation to do it when I don’t actually need the space for anything else.
And that box under the bed. 😉
Yay – soon to be a fully fledged Brit eh Lauren? We’ll be very glad to have you! You’ll certainly remember the year you been a UK citizen with all the red/white/blue that’s going on at the mo. Good luck with it all!
Now that box under the bed….
Can you do it? Yes you can! 🙂
As little as I know about you suggests that once you take the plunge, you actually will enjoy it. 🙂
(maybe you can start by making a pretty little box to keep all the necessary paperwork in?)
Thanks for the vote of confidence Laura – it’s very kind! I’m sure I can rustle up a box (or two)… 😉
Can you do it? Yes you can! 🙂
As little as I know about you suggests that once you take the plunge, you actually will enjoy it. 🙂
(maybe you can start by making a pretty little box to keep all the necessary paperwork in?)
Thanks for the vote of confidence Laura – it’s very kind! I’m sure I can rustle up a box (or two)… 😉
You can do it Jo, that’s a pretty small pile. Your right though, you have too keep your eye on the ball otherwise that stuff breeds. We are pretty minimal round here (i love it) Yet we spent Saturday having a clear out, nothing major, i was switching my wardrobe (typical, weathers useless) and threw away some tatty stuff. I sorted the medicine box and had out of date stuff, and Hubby got a small pile of unwanted books and a couple of dvds. We probably do this once every other month, but seriously we don’t have a lot of possesions as we are good gatekeepers 🙂
I don’t know if this helps but i have a A4 ringbinder with my utilities and paperwork that is needed on a weekly basis. Anything else, such as mortgage passports insurance details in a fireproof box under the stairs. I also have a small shoebox with envelopes, stamps, hole punch and money bags. It works for us, i also took myself off mailing lists, and receive most statements online, keeping what i have to sort at a minimum. I’m all about an easy life 🙂
Sharron x
Sharron – how lovely to be in the position where a major clear-out consist of the wardrobe and the medicine cabinet! Sounds like heaven. I’m not quite there yet, but my wardrobe and the bathroom cabinet are most definitely sorted. It’s actually fun decluttering the areas where there is hardly any stuff, makes me want to redcuce further!
Paperwork I have to be careful of, it breeds (as you say)!
You can do it Jo, that’s a pretty small pile. Your right though, you have too keep your eye on the ball otherwise that stuff breeds. We are pretty minimal round here (i love it) Yet we spent Saturday having a clear out, nothing major, i was switching my wardrobe (typical, weathers useless) and threw away some tatty stuff. I sorted the medicine box and had out of date stuff, and Hubby got a small pile of unwanted books and a couple of dvds. We probably do this once every other month, but seriously we don’t have a lot of possesions as we are good gatekeepers 🙂
I don’t know if this helps but i have a A4 ringbinder with my utilities and paperwork that is needed on a weekly basis. Anything else, such as mortgage passports insurance details in a fireproof box under the stairs. I also have a small shoebox with envelopes, stamps, hole punch and money bags. It works for us, i also took myself off mailing lists, and receive most statements online, keeping what i have to sort at a minimum. I’m all about an easy life 🙂
Sharron x
Sharron – how lovely to be in the position where a major clear-out consist of the wardrobe and the medicine cabinet! Sounds like heaven. I’m not quite there yet, but my wardrobe and the bathroom cabinet are most definitely sorted. It’s actually fun decluttering the areas where there is hardly any stuff, makes me want to redcuce further!
Paperwork I have to be careful of, it breeds (as you say)!
I dunno… I’ve been at it for years and I’m sort of coming to the conclusion that “done” is a mythical concept. I mean, priorities change, people change, technology changes… it’s just inevitable that things will require re-evaluating and purging from time to time. Of course, I still have backlog to deal with, but the more I let go of, the easier it is to let go of even more.
I think the key for me is to get better at not “stocking up” on stuff that I’m “sure” I will “need” eventually. Like as I’ve been cleaning out my desk, there are just tons and tons of pads of paper that I acquired over the years because I was just sure I’d use it. I mean it’s paper, EVERYBODY needs paper, right? I sorta didn’t count on the whole world going digital. The other thing I have TONS of are greeting cards. I used to keep them on hand at work so it would be easy to grab a thank you note or a birthday card for a co-worker. But now, I don’t work, and if I want to send a card, I generally send it electronically.
I guess my point is that I have to get better at planning for the unforeseen, if that’s possible. Or maybe it’s just NOT planning for the future to look exactly like the present does, and approaching it all with the attitude that in a year or two everything could be different.
“What if” is a difficult one… I know I’ve been there. Apparently creative people are also more likely to retain things as they can see untapped potential in redundant items. Life certainly moves on, and you do need to move with the times. It does make certainly things no longer of use. Moving on is one area I need to conquer as this is why I keep certain sentimental items.
Hope that spinach is reducing?
Eee Gads! Seeing the untapped potential in EVERYTHING is sort of the bane of my existence! I look at spent candles and think “oh I could save these and melt down the wax and make new candles!” And don’t even get me started on the scraps of fabric. I just have to get more realistic about which projects I’m actually going to take on.
The spinach has long ago bolted as we’re now enjoying weather that somewhat resembles a blast furnace. And I FINALLY cooked up the last of the pie pumpkins last weekend. I re-arranged the freezer and discovered that I have SIX GALLONS of pumpkin puree down there! Oy vey! But you’ve inspired me, and I’m totally on a mission to use up the food in my pantry. I’ve got all of the cans that need to be used up sitting on the kitchen counter, and I’m trying to include at least something from the pile in each meal. I’m even making the cats eat through the cans of food that aren’t their favorite flavors… and they’re surviving it just fine. Slowly slowly making progress, and my grocery bills are sure smaller!
🙂 I totally relate! I have to be really careful after I’ve ‘discovered’ I can make use of something that is seemingly redundant, else I end up hoarding the item. For example yoghurt pots to hold paint, I had to cull them last weekend, they were breeding. Shoeboxes, I have so many I’ll never get around to decoupaging them all, so again I need to start refusing them from the kind people who give them me (for a while anyway!).
ps – I’ve just started my fabric hoard!!!!
Glad to hear the Spinach has gone. As for the puree, my Big Sis spent an awful lot of time last Autumn pureeing pumpkin and freezing it only to have her freezer go kaput, and it all go to waste! That’s something insurance money can’t cover – out of season fruit and the blood, sweat and tears that went into producing it for year round supply!
Glad to hear your grocery spend is reducing – hooray!
“I’ve been at it for years and I’m sort of coming to the conclusion that “done” is a mythical concept.” …this sentence made me think, EcoCatLady.
I have always been a kind’; minimalist, still, when I look around here in my kitchen, I see a few things that we don’t use and want any more.
I dunno… I’ve been at it for years and I’m sort of coming to the conclusion that “done” is a mythical concept. I mean, priorities change, people change, technology changes… it’s just inevitable that things will require re-evaluating and purging from time to time. Of course, I still have backlog to deal with, but the more I let go of, the easier it is to let go of even more.
I think the key for me is to get better at not “stocking up” on stuff that I’m “sure” I will “need” eventually. Like as I’ve been cleaning out my desk, there are just tons and tons of pads of paper that I acquired over the years because I was just sure I’d use it. I mean it’s paper, EVERYBODY needs paper, right? I sorta didn’t count on the whole world going digital. The other thing I have TONS of are greeting cards. I used to keep them on hand at work so it would be easy to grab a thank you note or a birthday card for a co-worker. But now, I don’t work, and if I want to send a card, I generally send it electronically.
I guess my point is that I have to get better at planning for the unforeseen, if that’s possible. Or maybe it’s just NOT planning for the future to look exactly like the present does, and approaching it all with the attitude that in a year or two everything could be different.
“What if” is a difficult one… I know I’ve been there. Apparently creative people are also more likely to retain things as they can see untapped potential in redundant items. Life certainly moves on, and you do need to move with the times. It does make certainly things no longer of use. Moving on is one area I need to conquer as this is why I keep certain sentimental items.
Hope that spinach is reducing?
Eee Gads! Seeing the untapped potential in EVERYTHING is sort of the bane of my existence! I look at spent candles and think “oh I could save these and melt down the wax and make new candles!” And don’t even get me started on the scraps of fabric. I just have to get more realistic about which projects I’m actually going to take on.
The spinach has long ago bolted as we’re now enjoying weather that somewhat resembles a blast furnace. And I FINALLY cooked up the last of the pie pumpkins last weekend. I re-arranged the freezer and discovered that I have SIX GALLONS of pumpkin puree down there! Oy vey! But you’ve inspired me, and I’m totally on a mission to use up the food in my pantry. I’ve got all of the cans that need to be used up sitting on the kitchen counter, and I’m trying to include at least something from the pile in each meal. I’m even making the cats eat through the cans of food that aren’t their favorite flavors… and they’re surviving it just fine. Slowly slowly making progress, and my grocery bills are sure smaller!
🙂 I totally relate! I have to be really careful after I’ve ‘discovered’ I can make use of something that is seemingly redundant, else I end up hoarding the item. For example yoghurt pots to hold paint, I had to cull them last weekend, they were breeding. Shoeboxes, I have so many I’ll never get around to decoupaging them all, so again I need to start refusing them from the kind people who give them me (for a while anyway!).
ps – I’ve just started my fabric hoard!!!!
Glad to hear the Spinach has gone. As for the puree, my Big Sis spent an awful lot of time last Autumn pureeing pumpkin and freezing it only to have her freezer go kaput, and it all go to waste! That’s something insurance money can’t cover – out of season fruit and the blood, sweat and tears that went into producing it for year round supply!
Glad to hear your grocery spend is reducing – hooray!
“I’ve been at it for years and I’m sort of coming to the conclusion that “done” is a mythical concept.” …this sentence made me think, EcoCatLady.
I have always been a kind’; minimalist, still, when I look around here in my kitchen, I see a few things that we don’t use and want any more.
I don’t see that I’ll ever be done decluttering or minimizing as my needs change all the time & what I “need” today – I may not need (or want) 2 years from now.
My lifestyle went from needing to wear scrubs to work everyday. Then I “retired” from healthcare & no longer needed scrubs anymore. Now that I own my own biz – I need different things.
So lately I declutered a bunch of garlic-related utensils as I just don’t care anymore to have unitaskers laying about when pre-minced garlic is fine for my cooking “expertise”. But now I need reading glasses laying all over the place as my 45 yr old eyes can’t see dinky stuff anymore. Garlic presses & reading glasses have nothing in common yet I cleared out one & freed up some kitchen drawer space but bought 5 or 6 reading glasses for every room it would sem.
Decluttering is a dynamic thing that is ever changing & evolving. It doesn’t “end” it just morphs & evolves as our needs & wants changes.
I love your comment Jane, it sums up what I tried (not so successfully) to explain above in previous comments. You free up space (cash, time whatever) to make room for what you do need (desire, enjoy etc…)
Decluttering for the sake of it is pointless, it’s about eradicating the junk to make room for the worthwhile!
Wow I love your quote “it’s about eradicating the junk to make room for the worthwhile!” it should be written in glowing neon on every wall
I have very little motivation at the moment and that’s not like me By chance I stumbled across your inspiring words.
I do believe special writing and people come our way if we keep our eyes open I have a hall way full of my beloved stuff eg books charity finds It confronts me when I arrive home from work or worse open the door to greet people Micro steps is what I need Little actions that build into big ones which wont put such a strain on me I look forward to reading your life tales you are such a guiding light to us all
Dont get too tired yourself I cant imagine you will however some days can feel like hurdles to us all. There my first contact with you Kind regards to you and your family
Welcome Sue…glad you’ve found the blog! Your comment really got me thinking earlier. In fact, I’m going to do a post on ‘hoarding’ soon. It’s very different (in my eyes) to simplifying or minimizing. Reducing collected items that we have attached too much emotional value to can be daunting. Interestingly you refer to getting tired. It is tiring as well as overwhelming and draining. The problem, I believe, with hoarding is that so much is accumulated that there are certain things amongst it with ‘true’ value and therefore it isn’t as easy as chucking it all in a skip. Even things without true value can still be difficult to eradicate. I know my weaknesses and as such have stopped acquiring items that I know I’ll struggle to part with. They are things with no value in monetary terms. I find it easy to part with jewellery for example, I don’t attach to it emotionally. However tags of my Kids first sleepsuit, or even car-park tickets – not so easy. Like I said, I no longer acquire. But there’s still the backlog to deal with.
Stick around, there will be more about this subject, it may be of interest.
Also I’m not sure whether you are from the UK, but ‘The Hoarder Next Door’ series was very good on Channel 4. For those with ‘hoarding tendencies’ it can help to see others deal with it. I particularly related to Tina http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-hoarder-next-door/4od#3340755
There’s a few days still left to watch this episode (you may be able to view it overseas).
ps – there was a great series years ago called ‘life laundry’. One episode can be viewed on You Tube.
I don’t see that I’ll ever be done decluttering or minimizing as my needs change all the time & what I “need” today – I may not need (or want) 2 years from now.
My lifestyle went from needing to wear scrubs to work everyday. Then I “retired” from healthcare & no longer needed scrubs anymore. Now that I own my own biz – I need different things.
So lately I declutered a bunch of garlic-related utensils as I just don’t care anymore to have unitaskers laying about when pre-minced garlic is fine for my cooking “expertise”. But now I need reading glasses laying all over the place as my 45 yr old eyes can’t see dinky stuff anymore. Garlic presses & reading glasses have nothing in common yet I cleared out one & freed up some kitchen drawer space but bought 5 or 6 reading glasses for every room it would sem.
Decluttering is a dynamic thing that is ever changing & evolving. It doesn’t “end” it just morphs & evolves as our needs & wants changes.
I love your comment Jane, it sums up what I tried (not so successfully) to explain above in previous comments. You free up space (cash, time whatever) to make room for what you do need (desire, enjoy etc…)
Decluttering for the sake of it is pointless, it’s about eradicating the junk to make room for the worthwhile!
Wow I love your quote “it’s about eradicating the junk to make room for the worthwhile!” it should be written in glowing neon on every wall
I have very little motivation at the moment and that’s not like me By chance I stumbled across your inspiring words.
I do believe special writing and people come our way if we keep our eyes open I have a hall way full of my beloved stuff eg books charity finds It confronts me when I arrive home from work or worse open the door to greet people Micro steps is what I need Little actions that build into big ones which wont put such a strain on me I look forward to reading your life tales you are such a guiding light to us all
Dont get too tired yourself I cant imagine you will however some days can feel like hurdles to us all. There my first contact with you Kind regards to you and your family
Welcome Sue…glad you’ve found the blog! Your comment really got me thinking earlier. In fact, I’m going to do a post on ‘hoarding’ soon. It’s very different (in my eyes) to simplifying or minimizing. Reducing collected items that we have attached too much emotional value to can be daunting. Interestingly you refer to getting tired. It is tiring as well as overwhelming and draining. The problem, I believe, with hoarding is that so much is accumulated that there are certain things amongst it with ‘true’ value and therefore it isn’t as easy as chucking it all in a skip. Even things without true value can still be difficult to eradicate. I know my weaknesses and as such have stopped acquiring items that I know I’ll struggle to part with. They are things with no value in monetary terms. I find it easy to part with jewellery for example, I don’t attach to it emotionally. However tags of my Kids first sleepsuit, or even car-park tickets – not so easy. Like I said, I no longer acquire. But there’s still the backlog to deal with.
Stick around, there will be more about this subject, it may be of interest.
Also I’m not sure whether you are from the UK, but ‘The Hoarder Next Door’ series was very good on Channel 4. For those with ‘hoarding tendencies’ it can help to see others deal with it. I particularly related to Tina http://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-hoarder-next-door/4od#3340755
There’s a few days still left to watch this episode (you may be able to view it overseas).
ps – there was a great series years ago called ‘life laundry’. One episode can be viewed on You Tube.
I am no where near being done! As soon as I get a closet cleared out, someone else fills it back up. I’m fighting a losing battle here. It’s 4 against 1! Good for you, though! That’ll inspire me to keep working at it.
At least you’ve decluttered it before it gets piled back up! That must help a little 😉
Eventually they learn by your example, it will rub off!
I totally identify with this… desperately trying to get Husband to sort through his 100+ Metal band tees. When I suggested today that we need to keep out the ones that fit and merely box up the ones that don’t I was met with a blank stare…. ahhhh… it’s not like I asked him to burn them….
I am no where near being done! As soon as I get a closet cleared out, someone else fills it back up. I’m fighting a losing battle here. It’s 4 against 1! Good for you, though! That’ll inspire me to keep working at it.
At least you’ve decluttered it before it gets piled back up! That must help a little 😉
Eventually they learn by your example, it will rub off!
I totally identify with this… desperately trying to get Husband to sort through his 100+ Metal band tees. When I suggested today that we need to keep out the ones that fit and merely box up the ones that don’t I was met with a blank stare…. ahhhh… it’s not like I asked him to burn them….