If I've calculated correctly, there are 19 working days left in the month of April (excluding Sundays).
One of my desires in life is to SIMPLIFY. And in order to do that, I must declutter. And that doesn't just happen on it's own, as unfortunate as that is for cluttery-types like myself.
But I have a plan.
Tackle one room/closet/area per day for the rest of the month. All of us. (Well, me and the kids. Mark is at work, of course.)
Tonight after we discussed it over dinner, I drew up a calendar on our dry-erase board and assigned a room/closet/area to each day, and we're beginning tomorrow.
But just because I was so excited to get started, I actually worked on the Hallway Closet tonight and FINISHED it. :) And that wasn't even on the calendar until Saturday. So I'm already ahead. Which is a nice feeling. And I got rid of so much stuff from even just that one closet that I'm motivated to press on. Now let's just hope Addie and Isaias and Isaac and Ella are just as motivated. (HA!)
Tomorrow's assignment: The living room and the living room closet.
Three big boxes await. One, for TRASH. The second one, for GIVE AWAY (ie: Goodwill). The third one: TO KEEP. I'm hoping the first two boxes will be rather full. (And-- is there anything I'm missing, for those of you who do this kind of thing on a regular basis?)
My blogging here may be a bit hit and miss for the next few weeks. I have to get moving on these things when the vision is there because it's really so fleeting.
If you have any decluttering tips, though, I do want those.
Or any great plans for bribing my kids? I'll take those, too. (So far I've said things like, "This is going to be SO fun! We'll play some music, take everything and stick it in the middle of the room, and GET.RID.OF.STUFF!" Ella is quite thrilled with the whole plan. Isaias seems clueless. Isaac said, (and I quote): "I want to keep everything in the house." Okaaaay. Super. And Addie? I'm pretty sure she said that she's going to be really really good and flexible for the next few weeks.
Oh. Michelle? Remember how you wanted to visit? Now would be a GREAT time. I could use your expertise. On second thought, NO WAY do I want you seeing all the junk we've been holding onto for *years*. So neveryoumind.
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Oh. You are so inspiring! I want to do it too.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to tell you one tip that I thought was a good one.
After you have gotten rid of the clothes that you know you want to. Put all the hangers facing the wrong way. Then after 3, 6, 9 months (whatever time you set) if the hangers are still the wrong way, then you know you don't wear that thing (no matter how much you wish you did!)so purge!
Happy decluttering!
And, I so relate to the feeling of happiness due to being "ahead!"
We're doing the same thing! My house is out of control!!!! I have five very able bodies to pitch in and help. We're having a family meeting to discuss "we're all a team" talk. Maybe we can motivate each other :)
ReplyDeletekeep up the good work!
Blessings,
Missy
Kudos to you. Having a plan helps. Now don't get bogged down. Remember anything you do is better than nothing!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I want to do too! But I'm adding "spring cleaning" to the mix, like washing baseboards and stuff I don't do often. So far my dining room and living room are done. Today or tomorrow I tackle the master bedroom. Oy.
ReplyDeleteHave fun!!
Black plastic bags! For all those things that Ella and the boys see and think that they may not want to get rid of but they haven't even seen before or used for a very long time, but it would just be so hard to part with because you never know when "I may want to play with that or wear that dress that is 5 inches too short"!! Trust me on this one, no matter how excited they are now it all changes when they see their stuff in the bag!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Michelle is not allowed to visit until my house gets completely painted, so that should give you plenty of time :)
Carrie
Oh, I'm so proud of you! We are doing this same thing right now! The subdivision we live in has two huge garage sales each year, one in the spring, one in the fall. The spring one is coming up May 2&3, so I have a deadline.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally into organization and decluttering. (so much that my sister dreaded me coming to help her move because I was *always* asking what she could get rid of...) As much as I love it, I'm sorry but I can't give you many pointers. My mind set is in this mode pretty much all the time and I suppose I may have some good tips, but I automatically assume it's normal everyday thinking. I'm sure I'm not making any sense, so I'll just shut up now. ;-)
But keep up the good work!!
Stac --
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous!!! I SO want to declutter my house! GRRRR!!! We're working on it...we're going to have a garage sale at my Mom's this summer and our office is HORRIFIC....it has everything under the sun in it! I'm not kidding...let me know how it goes. I've heard that hanger trick before...sounds good!
Loving you,
April
I've been in the midst of that CLEAN UP phase for the past little while. but mine is in preparation for a yardsale. ...I like having some extra money to help around the house. (ie. buy much needed grass seed this summer!) :)
ReplyDeleteSo for me, this helps b/c I can go through the house and compare in my head. Do I want GRASS SEED more...or this thing? Or do I want to be out of debt more...or keep this thing?
Because for me, it IS about selling things in order to be able to do something "bigger" in the overall picture. That's just how I do it. :D
One thing I do with the kids is give them a choice between two specific toys (which does mean that I have to be more hands-on with them). "Do you want to keep this one or this one?"
Usually that helps them see what I'm thinking. That the option is NOT to keep everything, but to choose the thing that they want most. Oh...and to tell them that nothing else comes into the house before lots of stuff goes OUT. ;)
Happy cleaning!
Hi Stacy :) Cheering you on as you go, go, go!
ReplyDeleteA hint about the children's things: Do theirs twice - once without them and once with them (maybe Mark could get them out of the house for a little while for your first run through).
Go through first and get out all that little "stuff" that accumulates, as well as anything you KNOW they aren't using anymore.
After that, go through with them
giving them the oppty to choose some things that they want to share with others.
This worked wonderfully well for us. Love to you! Q
I am doing the same thing ....but I am not motivated...I'm moving!
ReplyDeleteIt's not too bad considering this is the third time in 18 months. I don't really have much junk because we haven't lived somewhere long enough to collect it. I even have gotten rid of all my baby stuff but will start collecting again now that we have our litte surprise package on the way!
I secretly love to purge and organize...it FEELS SO GOOD!
If I could only keep it that way...oh well can't have it all :o)
Stacy,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great Spring activity!
I have two ideas:
First, give the kids a set amount of stuff they can keep (like one shelf or toy bin each, or whatever you decide) and then if they keep more than is on the shelf, they have to take something off it to fit the other keeper.
Second, don't keep anything that doesn't have a home, even if you think you might want it someday. Make sure everything that stays in that closet has a home somewhere, or it's into the black trash bag.
Happy purging!
Annie
Oh, I so need to do this at our house and have been saying that for quite a while. Perhaps it's time to start. I like your idea of breaking it down into rooms. That'll make the task seem less daunting.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!