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A Bag A Day Keeps The Clutter At Bay

September 17, 2014 by SimplyBeingMum

It doesn’t matter what size bag.

ABagADay.jpg

It could be a bin-liner, or a small paper gift bag.

What matters is that each day decluttering happens. Not as an afterthought, or as a ‘might get round to’.

When looking to reduce clutter, momentum is important. If overwhelmed with where to start or feeling daunted, it’s unproductive to set yourself unrealistic targets.

By just filling one carrier bag with unwanted items, to be re-homed at the local charity shop, that very first day and then each day after, you’ll be on the road to an uncluttered home. It’s that action of constantly moving forward that ultimately achieves results.

“It does not matter how slowly you go, as long as you do not stop” Confucius.

Unsure if it works? It does. This is what I have done. I’ve been doing it 5 years.

I’m not a natural-born-minimalist. Nor am I a tidy person. It takes work. But as with any skill, the more I practice the better I become.

Some days I play ‘Declutter 20 things in 20 minutes’.

2020.jpg

Some days I just grab a bag and fill it.

And that’s what I’d suggest to anyone to do whether they be at the start of their declutter or living an almost clutter-free life.

For as we know decluttering never ends.

(Full disclosure – I have something I need to share, and will share on a decluttering post next week. There’s a skeleton in my closet.)

If you’d like read more on decluttering, I’ve written quite a few posts on the subject and below are a selection of them:

Engaging Children In Decluttering

Make Decluttering A Daily Habit

Declutter 20 Things In 20 Minutes

Declutterers Indecision / Missed Opportunities

Decluttering / The Feel Good Factor

Is It Useful? Is It Beautiful?

The Cost Of Storage

The Definition Of Clutter

When Scrapbooking Goes Bad

The Things You Own End Up Owning You

Let Me Introduce You To The Clutterfairy

Time To Move On? Sell it!

Letting Go Of Clutter To Become Who You Now Are

Please feel free to share your own decluttering tips in the comments section below!

Filed Under: Decluttering Tagged: clutter free, declutter 20 things, Decluttering, donating to charity shops, reducing clutter

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joy @ Joyfully Green says

    September 17, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    That’s funny–I just posted today at my blog about decluttering and owning less stuff! It’s so true that it is an ongoing process, due to the constant influx of stuff–the mail, the kids’ backpacks, unwanted gifts…the list goes on! I love the idea of just grabbing a bag and filling it. Sometimes, we overthink these things, don’t we?

    Reply
  2. Joy @ Joyfully Green says

    September 17, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    That’s funny–I just posted today at my blog about decluttering and owning less stuff! It’s so true that it is an ongoing process, due to the constant influx of stuff–the mail, the kids’ backpacks, unwanted gifts…the list goes on! I love the idea of just grabbing a bag and filling it. Sometimes, we overthink these things, don’t we?

    Reply
  3. simplybeingmum says

    September 17, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2014/09/3-books-3-lessons-on-owning-less-stuff.html

    I’ve been over!

    Reply
    • Joy @ Joyfully Green says

      September 17, 2014 at 10:10 pm

      Thanks, Jo! I appreciate the visit and the link!

      Reply
      • simplybeingmum says

        September 18, 2014 at 10:28 am

        My pleasure Joy – I will definitely be checking out that first book!

        Reply
  4. simplybeingmum says

    September 17, 2014 at 5:59 pm

    http://www.joyfullygreen.com/2014/09/3-books-3-lessons-on-owning-less-stuff.html

    I’ve been over!

    Reply
    • Joy @ Joyfully Green says

      September 17, 2014 at 10:10 pm

      Thanks, Jo! I appreciate the visit and the link!

      Reply
      • simplybeingmum says

        September 18, 2014 at 10:28 am

        My pleasure Joy – I will definitely be checking out that first book!

        Reply
  5. Claire/Just a little less says

    September 17, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Whilst I don’t manage to declutter every day I like the one bag at a time approach. One bag of less stuff still feels like an achievement and I get that wonderful feeling of lightness and positivity as I walk out of my favourite charity shop having done a good deed for others (and me).

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      September 18, 2014 at 10:29 am

      Yes totally agree that’s how you feel ‘light’! Its a fab feeling. And like you say, it helps someone else. Win-Win!

      Reply
  6. Claire/Just a little less says

    September 17, 2014 at 7:10 pm

    Whilst I don’t manage to declutter every day I like the one bag at a time approach. One bag of less stuff still feels like an achievement and I get that wonderful feeling of lightness and positivity as I walk out of my favourite charity shop having done a good deed for others (and me).

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      September 18, 2014 at 10:29 am

      Yes totally agree that’s how you feel ‘light’! Its a fab feeling. And like you say, it helps someone else. Win-Win!

      Reply
  7. Vee@VeesEasyVegan says

    September 17, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    Like you I am not a natural minimalist nor am I tidy…but I am much more these days. I have a bag going which receives unwanted items regularly when it is full off it goes.

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      September 18, 2014 at 10:30 am

      I too have a ‘regular’ bag. It sits in the bottom of my Son’s wardrobe, I fill it with hand-me-downs for a friend. Then she passes the bag back and we start again.
      It’s all about habit and having a ‘system. As boring as that sounds 😉

      (Glad to hear I’m not alone in my ‘untidiness!)

      Reply
  8. Vee@VeesEasyVegan says

    September 17, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    Like you I am not a natural minimalist nor am I tidy…but I am much more these days. I have a bag going which receives unwanted items regularly when it is full off it goes.

    Reply
    • simplybeingmum says

      September 18, 2014 at 10:30 am

      I too have a ‘regular’ bag. It sits in the bottom of my Son’s wardrobe, I fill it with hand-me-downs for a friend. Then she passes the bag back and we start again.
      It’s all about habit and having a ‘system. As boring as that sounds 😉

      (Glad to hear I’m not alone in my ‘untidiness!)

      Reply
  9. amyleebell says

    September 20, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    Great idea! I was going to say that I would try to do this today. But I know myself, so…I am going to grab a bag and begin right this minute! Once begun is half done, lol.

    Reply
  10. amyleebell says

    September 20, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    Great idea! I was going to say that I would try to do this today. But I know myself, so…I am going to grab a bag and begin right this minute! Once begun is half done, lol.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Do You Feel The Urge To Purge? | Simply Being Mum says:
    February 23, 2015 at 10:13 am

    […] More gradual approaches, but a good daily habit, is to fill a bag a day to keep the clutter at bay. […]

    Reply
  2. Do You Feel The Urge To Purge? | Simply Being Mum says:
    February 23, 2015 at 10:13 am

    […] More gradual approaches, but a good daily habit, is to fill a bag a day to keep the clutter at bay. […]

    Reply

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