Simplify Your Life – Possessions [Organizing Mission #41]

Simplify Your Life [Organizing Mission #41]

Welcome to Mission #41 of our 52 Get Organized Missions.

After completing the last mission Get Organized Mission #40: Conquer Your Storage Space Demons you may have discovered a lot of stuff that you now need to deal with.

If you feel overwhelmed by the quantity of stuff in your life, then this mission is sure to bring relief.

Remember: you only need 30 minutes for the basic mission. Extended Options are below.
If you’re new, you might like to start here -> 52 Organizing Missions.

Get Organized Mission #41:
Simplify Your Life – Possessions

Step 1: What Are Your Ready To Release? (15 minutes)

Given our ticking clock, we’re going to focus in this organizing mission on whole categories.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, there’s a good chance you have entire classes of clutter that aren’t adding to your happiness. In fact, they may be crowding happiness out of your life, and making you feel suffocated, overwhelmed, or even stressed.

Look around your home for categories of clutter. They might include the following.

Collections

If you collect something – stamps, owls, Charlie’s Angels plates – and it gives you pleasure, then great.

But if your collection no longer feels good, or has become little more than a millstone or eccentric identity, then ask yourself if you’re ready to let it go. Freeing up the space and mental energy may even make room for something new and more interesting in your life.

Hobbies

Just because you’ve spent a fortune on all the scrapbooking, card making, or DIY carpentry accoutrements, it doesn’t mean you have to keep all that stuff long after your interest has waned.

Instead, donate it and let someone else get pleasure from it. The money is gone – don’t pay in space and happiness, too.

Entire wardrobes in several sizes

If your weight has varied significantly, then it’s understandable that you’re reluctant to get rid of clothes you may need again.

But keeping everything in your closet is bound to add stress and confusion to your daily dressing routine.

If you feel ready to let go of sizes you’re not likely to need again, then good for you. Otherwise, consider keeping only the best items from each size and donating the rest. Or box it all up and store it in your garage for 6 months as a safety net – then let it go.

The past

Do you have storage spaces full of things that belonged to your parents, or old toys from when the kids were young, or all your old schoolbooks?

Keeping a few mementos is a lovely way to honor your memories. But if you’ve kept so much from the past that it’s crowding out the present, then this might be time to say goodbye.

If you’d like some emotional support to take this step, then ask a friend to help.

Future

Keeping supplies for a project, trip or career change you’ve been planning since the mid-80s may not be the optimum use of your space.

If you’re holding on to things till ‘one day’ comes along, ask yourself if it’s time to live today instead. You can always get what you need when you really are ready. And the sheer act of making room might open you up in new ways.

Step 2: Take Action To Let It Go (15 minutes)

Now that you’ve identified blocks of stuff that you can release from your life, it’s time to take immediate action to remove them – while your resolution is strong!

Depending on the amount of stuff, and the time required, do one of these actions:

  • Pack it up and put it in the trash (if discarding), garage (if storing for the short term) or car (if donating to charity)
  • Make a call and offer it to someone  – a friend, a charity store who’ll come and collect, a buyer who’s interested in your former hobby, etc.

You won’t be surprised to find that this mission releases space and reduces stress. But you may find that an unexpected burst of energy comes with letting go of your clutter collections. Enjoy it!

Dos & Don’ts

  • Don’t focus on the cost when deciding if you want to keep something. Keep it because you love it or use it, not because of what you paid for it. By all means sell things that are valuable – but focus on reclaiming space, peace of mind, and happiness.
  • Do acknowledge that these categories of things may be tied up with an outdated sense of identity. Have a friend there to support you if you need it.

Extended Organizing Mission Options

Want to go beyond this 30-minute organizing mission?

  • Complete this mission as a family. Support one another in releasing categories of things that are no longer part of the life you live today.

Ready, Set, Go!

Remember – move quickly, act fast, don’t overthink.

Start The 30-Minute Timer

Before You Go: Check In!

Please add a comment below to say you’ve completed this week’s Get Organized Mission and you’re keeping your commitment.

And see you back here next week!

Did You Know

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Click here to sign up for 52 Organizing Missions.

[Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/aussiegall/ / CC BY 2.0]

Michele | Get Organized Gal

Michele is into writing, books, simplicity, love, TV, productivity, and staying thin in a world of chocolate.

10 thoughts on “Simplify Your Life – Possessions [Organizing Mission #41]”

  8. Marti says:

    This really works. I did it to make room for parts of different collections and kept only those items which brought back the best memories.

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