Simplifying Life - Mark II

Angel_Jenny

I need to declutter. I get far too attached to objects.

I find that the little free time that I have is spent moving piles of stuff from one place to another or attempting to clean around clutter.

I need to get this sorted as I want to spend my free time on other things like gardening, baking, photography, and writing letters to all my sponsor children. The messiness and lack of organisation is really starting to bug me now!

tori.k

Angel_Jenny wrote: »

I need to declutter. I get far too attached to objects.

I find that the little free time that I have is spent moving piles of stuff from one place to another or attempting to clean around clutter.

I need to get this sorted as I want to spend my free time on other things like gardening, baking, photography, and writing letters to all my sponsor children. The messiness and lack of organisation is really starting to bug me now!

Have you tried the dated box approach Angel J? it's hard when it's emotional rather than the "this might come in useful" stuff that we all end up accumulating maybe worth investing in some lidded storage boxes and dealing with it one box at a time.

sKiTz-0

One tip I have for any artefacts that have nostalgic value or that sit in the loft but you can't bring yourself to throw them away as you are emotionally attached - take a photograph of the item, then throw it away/give it away/whatever - just get rid of it.

That way if you stick it on your computer you can still look at your picture to bring the memories back, but you don't physically have it cluttering anywhere up.

I've also done this for all my music collection - just ripped all the CDs to mp3s and then sold the CDs to musicmagpie. Films also. Now I don't have any of the CDs or DVDs cluttering up the place but I still have all my music and films.

Just remember to keep a backup or two in case anything fails - you don't want to lose everything.

sKiTz

Angel_Jenny

tori.k wrote: »

Have you tried the dated box approach Angel J? it's hard when it's emotional rather than the "this might come in useful" stuff that we all end up accumulating maybe worth investing in some lidded storage boxes and dealing with it one box at a time.

Not tried that. I can get rid of useful stuff easy peasy .... it is the little bits of sentimental tat that I struggle with!

I don't have much space at all but I could probably be using it in a better way.

I get this urge to just throw everything out and have a hissy fit!

Rosy_Bottom

Decluttered a massive load of stuff from the house. Starting to notice a difference particularly in my bedroom that is now a peaceful haven. Taken down several shelves that were just dust and clutter gatherers and replaced them with nature paintings by OH.

Been working on the allotment and garden which I love particularly at this time of the year...harvest festival spirit and all that...I love the down to earth feeling of working on the land.

Next tasks are to declutter and organize the kitchen better. Waiting for a baking tin organizer to arrive:o

Tryingagainandagain

Rosy_Bottom wrote: »

Next tasks are to declutter and organize the kitchen better. Waiting for a baking tin organizer to arrive:o

Hi RosyBottom - I like your name.

Where are you getting your baking tin organiser from? I could do with one of these too.

Rosy_Bottom

Tryingagainandagain wrote: »

Hi RosyBottom - I like your name.

Where are you getting your baking tin organiser from? I could do with one of these too.

Hi,

It's from Lakeland. Ordered mine via Amazon.

RevolvingDoor

I had forgotten about this thread.:) I have been decluttering as I find the minimalist blogs very inspiring although it is easy to let stuff creep back in.

I've been building up my store cupboard for winter and trying to always make two meals if I use my oven, one for now and one for the next day's lunch. It really helps knowing that I have nice leftovers in the fridge and knowing that I don't have to cook.

dreaming

I thought I had pretty much decluttered everything I could but then my daughter moved house at the weekend and I seem to have inherited( or re-inherited as a lot of the stuff went from me to her originally) her unwanted bits. I am having a little bit of work done on the garden (a pergola, and some trellis put up) this week and some new curtain poles to take the weight of heavier curtains then I am all ready for winter.
Everyone keeps telling me how relaxed I am since retiring, and I have noticed I don't get so impatient when I'm driving as the time pressure is off. Still not in a routine with cooking/shopping though so shall be looking at that in the next few weeks.

Rosy_Bottom

The decluttering continues, and the kitchen cupboards are a lot easy to find things in now. Less clutter definitely = less stress.

On the craft front I have been making some bunting for Christmas from my fabric box. I want to avoid decorating the house with the mass produced stuff we are bombarded with in the shops.

Jams and chutneys have been made in the last month. Still lots more to do to set up my simpler life but I've made a start and I feel good.