2026 DECLUTTERING CAMPAIGN Mrs SD - our Year of Redistribution

QueenJess

I hope everyone is surviving this horrible heat. I'm even struggling to eat anything due to the heat - I think my body is shutting down! I am generally taking a digital break at the moment (I get enough screens at my job), but thought I'd pop in to say hi. I'm sure I'll be properly back in August.

I am decluttering still and currently taking the slow road. Most obvious things have now been ejected from my house and it's fine, although I would prefer to have less. It's really hard to go from the middle bit of decluttering down to a mimimal level though as it's hard to spot the extras now. So slow is the way to go.

My current approach is not rigid (I like to change the rules whenever I want). The only "rule" is that I have to try to get rid of something everyday. It can be one piece of paper or a whole box of books, or maybe I was out all day and am exhausted and can't find anything to go - that's fine and I will start again tomorrow. This way I always feel like I am making some progress (however small) and not a failure and therefore give up. Timers don't work for me as I dislike the stress of having to do something in a short time and prefer to spread it out throughout the day whenever I feel like it.

As I go through the house during the day I try to pay attention every time I open a drawer or a cupboard and take a 10s maximum look to see if there is anything I am not using or could obviously go. If I am not using it, then why am I not using it? In the case of my bathroom I am not using my diffuser bottle because my reeds are too old and don't work anymore. I ordered some new ones so I can use it. My aim is to definitely get rid of the things I don't want or use, but if I will use them, then I make sure I am aware they need using up. Once used up, I will definitely question whether I like them enough to buy a replacement.

At the moment my brain seems unhappy with a few areas in my house. The kitchen is too overwhelming and I am ignoring until I feel like I can deal with it. I am concentrating on the bathroom, paperwork and books mostly (also packaging, but this is naturally disappearing as I declutter things in them). I am trying to be really aware of what is in these areas and make sure I really am using the items. If I use them and don't like them, then off they go. For books I am reading through my unread pile and just enjoying this process. Once I've read each book, then I decide if I want to read it again or not. Paperwork is harder and I've been looking through mostly the same pile most days and each day I find I am ready to let go more than I found the day before (must be an overwhelm thing because let's face it, paperwork is dull!).

I am sure I will drop some areas when I feel better about them and add more in that start to annoy me. There are no rules and I follow my instincts on what is annoying me. After all, this whole thing is about decluttering to a level where I am comfortable and relaxed and not stressed by it. I do also try to do something digital most days as well, but very, very limited as it's so dull and I would otherwise never tackle it! I am doing the same thing with work emails/files as I would never spend a whole day sorting those out - for those though I do have a target of X items from my inbox to file away/delete etc (and it's only 10). It's a nice way to start the day as it already feels like I've achieved something before I start work.

This is my stress free version of decluttering for when you are stuck in that weird middle zone of decluttering.

So, enough waffling for today and back to work. My list is now updated below. I've already surpassed my use up target for this year and am almost at my decluttering target for this year. Guess what, I am not going to set a new target to reach and am just interested where I end up at the end of this year.

Books and Paperwork
2 - book I don’t want to re-read (charity bag)
1 - book I never read (charity bag)
1 - recipe book (charity bag)
5 - paperwork (shredded)
4 - paper, reused then recycled
18 - instructions I don’t need (recycled)

Clothes/wardrobe etc
2 - items returned that don’t fit
1 - broken hairband binned
1 - DS clothes he doesn’t wear (charity bag)

Bags and packaging
2 - boxes recycled
2 - packaging reused
1 - gift wrap too torn to reuse (recycled)

Bathroom stuff
1 - hand moisturiser used up

Random stuff
10 - plant pots recycled
2 - plant pots (charity bag)
1 - egg box recycled
1 - broken bird feeder (binned)
1 - kitchen cupboard items we won’t use (Buy Nothing)

42 - photos deleted

New total 2,908
Use it up total 550

Wednesday2000

Yesterday was hideously hot! I went to a restaurant without air con and then the cinema air con didn’t seem to be working either! I decided to treat my friend to a taxi home as I couldn’t face the bus and then we were waiting in the wrong place (apparently) so we were standing out in the sun so I felt even worse. The taxi eventually turned up and I decided I couldn’t go out to the meetup I had planned for the evening.

It is much cooler today, thankfully. I just went through my husband’s wardrobe so I have another bag to donate. He can take it and pick up my prescription as I still feel tired from yesterday.🤪

Soontobeoap

Hygienist yesterday. Better cleaning has actually stopped 3 bottom teeth wobbling! Who even knew that could happen 8 years ago we discussed having them out and replacing with dentures and I said I would carry on as long as I could! Money for that decluttered.Tip run today with garden rubbish, yearly blood test at Drs this morning, old photos and videos deleted off phone yesterday, Email deleted and I unsubscribed from a lot of websites. Also did a couple of rapid health forms for minor problems that need sorting , did a self referral to physio for my shoulder pain,and booked my shingles jab. Trying to look after myself more as I move into my next decade. Counting as 3

EnergyShifter

Thanks for lovely comments - waves to all. 👋

I feel so much better today! I slept really well last night for the first time in while. Completed day 10 of the Minimalist Game - 55 items so far this month. Every day I think there's no way I will find enough things but somehow I have so far - not sure for how long though….

DS has gone off to Paris for a few days as one of his friends is getting married. I was a little anxious because its the first time he's been away since he was last ill - but he is meeting up with 2 other friends and they are both reasonably sensible. I'm starting to appreciate having the house to myself for a few days.

Returned some items today - 2 pairs of Birkenstocks that I bought from 2 different sellers on eBay that both turned out to be fake (thankfully I have a genuine pair to compare them with ) - plus they both smelled strongly of chemicals !! I won't be trying to get a bargain that way again…. Also returned some trousers for my son to TK Maxx. It feels particularly nice to get the Birks out of the house!

Wishing everyone a good night's sleep and a lovely weekend ☀️

BlueJ94

Its currently 28 degrees in the bedroom im not sure if i should laugh or cry 😂

suzeesu2000

I thought the gloss painting would be the hardest…….but it’s so not. I’ve got to look up whether emulsion can “go off” as the tins I’ve got have been in the yard store for about 3 or 4 years. It seems very watery and I’m wondering if the decorator we had then added water.
I did manage to do a very small bit of emulsioning this morning, wasn’t much at all.
Yesterday was monthly bill paying day. OUCH! But that’s it now til next month.
Yesterday I received a letter that I had sent to my cousin in Spain, it didn’t reach him before he sadly passed away. So silly as it made me feel very sad. All better now though.

Dinner today was freezer. The little space there was has been filled with some picky bits from the fridge.

We bit the bullet and bought two new AC units. One for DHs room and one for sitting room. We are not getting any younger and our disabilities are not getting better so it seemed like a good idea to get them now. I’ve had my bedroom one for about six years and I would not cope without it. DH has certainly felt better since his was fitted up.

I’ve been working on my family tree, of course I have 🤣, and found a newspaper article on my great great great granny with a photo! Oh I was like a dog with two tails. She looks just like a proper granny should. I also found the census which showed my daddy was living in her house so answered the question of whether he knew her. I am so happy.

Hope everyone is coping with this heat, lots of fluids and lots of sunscreens.
Have a good night all, sweet dreams xx

Florenceem

Courier came to collect the invoice book that was left here.

Young J came and put the drainpipe back in place after painting the woodwork outside the front area.

Eating from stock again - the black pudding was M & . - it had been in the freezer quite a while but was delicious.

Carpet fitter arrived after 3pm.

I had my first day at home for 11 days.

Floss

@Soontobeoap I bought a new Oral B i0 toothbrush a month ago, and I'm amazed at the difference in my teeth since I stopped using my old Oral B brush. I'm at the dentist again in September so will see what she says!

@suzeesu2000 have you given the paint a really good stir? I often shake the tin before opening & stirring if it's been used before.

Florenceem

Decluttered - sheet, pillowslip, net curtain x 2, shirt, skirt, 3 x bra, cloth mat, baby dress & pants set, bridesmaid dress, 2 door mats and a cardigan.

Finished Anthony.

TC77

I dont think I've ever done as little as in the last couple or days except when v ill.

28 in coolest room and much higher in bedroom. Dd2 has gone to her dad's.

A little digital declutter and some bank stuff sorted yesterday. Dd2's old duvet in the black bin so full for the first time for a v long time. I recollection a chat here about how filling the bin is satisfying!

Decorator here for the morning , managed to sort through a folder and thin it out and through a notebook keeping some pages which need filing. Listed a hat then decided to out in cs bag and took photos of a top and before listing decided for the cs bag along with some stationery.

Someone was meant to collect things via a free site but failed to turn up.

Sleeping bag out downstairs to go out but will count once its left.

More digital decluttering so 1095.

Could find clothes I like to wear this morning as less cluttered, putting spring/ autumn clothes away and items in cs bag.

Hoping Cooling over the weekend so I can get more done!