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Welcome to Day 1 of 7 Days To A Dramatically Decluttered Home.
Today’s task will take about 1-2 hours. Future day’s tasks will take about 1 hour. How long you spend depends on what you want to achieve.
We’re going to begin by making some life-changing mindset shifts so you can finally part with unneeded stuff. Then we’ll start clearing that clutter – and fast.
This is gonna be awesome – what are we waiting for!!
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I’m actually just beginning my 7 days today, the day before Thanksgiving. So I’m going it alone but have all of you behind me. I’ve been working on my living room for a week now prior to reading this, but it all naked sense. I’m donating a lot, but hope to finish my room today. Many thanks that I can still access the program tips!!! Joyce
Be on the lookout for:
• Magazines other than the current month’s Read Online
• Newspapers other than today’s Read Online
• Knick-knacks Only keep knick knacks that have meaning; rest of knick knacks can be donated or sold at a garage/yard sale
• Tatty coasters= Trash [unclean able or falling apart]
• DVDs no-one watches any more Sell to Half Price Books
• CDs no-one listens to any more Sell to Half Price Books
• Games no-one plays any more Be careful eliminating board games as you attend High School Reunions these can be displayed and played
• Remotes and technology no-one uses any more (including old game consoles can sold to Game Stop or donate to under privileged families.)Old computers can be donated to be repaired and resold for low fee to disabled people
• Food only if expired = trash
• Books you’ve read and won’t re-read, or will never read Keep first edition books; books that you use and autographed books. Donate to Library or sell rest of books to Half Price Books or donate to a local book club.
• Videos, cassettes, computer floppies, camera film – any storage device for which you no longer have hardware you can give to local camera club they would display from different time periods or a college for teaching purposes.
• Framed photos: Remove the photo not wanted and save the frame. Frames are expensive today.
• Dead potted plants keep the pots throw away the dirt and dead plant
• Threadbare or stained cushions, throws, rugs, etc. check local dry cleaners to see if stain can be removed at a reasonable otherwise trash
• Anything else that isn’t loved and/or used regularly. Personal choice
STUFF = Temporary or removable property
After doing research we have come up with four kinds of clutter that cost us:
1. Home clutter = wasting time looking for pertinent items when cluttered
2. Home office clutter = everything must be organized and at your fingertips
3. Digital clutter = keeping your e-mails and files maintained daily
4. Financial clutter = paying for storage is a waste of money; pay bills on time to save late fees
Questions
1. What is the clutter in my life costing me? Wasting Time looking for items when cluttered. Happiness? Can cause depression. Calm relationships? Disagree on house rules. You tried to work out a compromise but didn’t work. Decide who leaves & then choose another roommate. What else? Clutter could cost you your rented apartment [Government Housing]; overwhelmed; frustrated; can be embarrassing when company comes and do for yourself. When company comes they need to obey your house rules.
2. How would my life be different if I let this stuff go? Weight lifted off my shoulders[Sort into three boxes: 1. Keep: awards, heirlooms, high school to be displayed at reunions, diplomas, books that you use, photographs & unfinished paperwork or mail. You can also sell cd’s, videos, 45’s, LP’s, DVD’s and books no longer needed to Half Price Books 2. Donate to the library or Recycle 3. Trash]
3. How would I feel about myself if I let this stuff go? Discouraged and upset, depressed, out of sorts. We suggest a thorough cleaning room by room each month.
4. Am I prepared to sacrifice stuff for happiness? Yes and this is a personal choice or paranoid.
Stationery is a thing of the past due to computer e-mails/keep collectible figurines/random crap junk.
Questions
1. Are you holding on to things, not because you use them today, but because you might want them one day? Write about this. Camping equipment give to Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, sheets and blankets, outdated paperwork, Diabetes test strips can be resold to a Diabetes Company to pass on to the under privileged.
2. Are you sacrificing your happiness and peace of mind in the present in order to have every possible contingency for the future? Question: Do we know what we need for the future or have we set a goal for the future?
3. How would you feel if you had to get by without something? Clothes! Only purchase clothes as needed. If there is a major appliance that has to be purchased on payment plan that’s fine. Would you be okay? Yes
Questions
1. Do you have stuff that’s worth more than the cost of selling? Hummel Figurines, coins, sports cards, trading cards, stamps, 14K jewelry, Antique Cars, Portraits & Paintings. Items of high financial value should be auctioned off. Are you motivated enough to organize the sale? No; Re-gift items. Then sell!
2. Is your stuff in good condition? Clothes, hobbies, house wares, 14K jewelry, CD’s, DVD’s, videos Are you happy to sort stuff for donating? Yes and Make sure the items are bug free. It depends on one’s mood. Then donate!
3. Is the thought of sorting through your stuff so overwhelming that you feel immobilized and depressed? Large amount of clutter would be overwhelming and ask for help, small amount of clutter is doable. Then toss – and do better next time.
Haven’t used in the last three years:
• Are broken and won’t get fixed (be honest)= Trash
• Don’t fit your space= worthwhile sell, donate to a needy family or trash
• Don’t match your lifestyle= Trash or donate or re-gift
• Are too much about the past= heirlooms or positive memories should be kept
• Are too much about the future= Keep antiques & valuables = can be sold
• Are ugly. Broken items, stained items, chipped items & things that don’t suit your taste
I have all the challenges mentioned in Day 1!!!! I never would have started with the Living Room because it is the least cluttered. BUT I did it and find that because it was not as cluttered I felt a quick sense of accomplishment and now while I am challenged to do every single corner and room in my house I have a place to go and relax to clear my mind of all the clutter I’m working on in other parts. I didn’t have time to completely do all I wanted. Had to go to work so didn’t have time to pull out drawers from end tables and cabinet and sort through DVD’s, etc. I want to take pictures off the wall because I have others I have bought to replace but I don’t have time to take them out of this house so I will take them down when I can remove them completely from my house. If not they will sit by the door and collect dust. I have to tell myself I am decluttering not redecorating and that can come when everything is in it’s place. Feeling empowered today to tackle this mountain. Thanks for making me start in the Living Room…it was genius. Can’t wait to see what is in store for tomorrow and what I can get done in an hour. Also is anyone posting in the event group?
Today I decluttered some old newspapers and circulars. On the weekend I set up my makeshift ‘music studio’ in a now decluttered area of my living space, as I promised myself I would. It feels so wonderful to be able to sit down and play my drum even if I just have five minutes!
I thought I would continue today to keep the momentum I got from the program (even though I won’t have the same time to devote to it) and post to keep myself accountable 🙂 I set a goal to declutter a particular area of my living space by the weekend so I can use it to set up my musical instrument (a hand drum) in that area. This is really motivating because that will allow me to play/practice more often since I won’t have to take it out of the case every time I want to play it. So I did some decluttering in that area today. I also re-read the info on mindshifts and my previous answers to the questions, which I’m glad I did because the shifts are not yet second nature, especially the one about getting rid of stuff imperfectly. (p.s. another perk of repeating this program – I’m seeing posts from other community members that I didn’t see before!)
Love the mindset – esp the “imperfectly” part. We’ve just moved into a new home along with my elderly mother-in-law. Decluttering two households and finding balance in the new location is a challenge we all expected. The kitchen is configured differently than our other 2 and has been the easiest to declutter and simplify (who knew???) Would appreciate hearing from others who have experience with combining households and decluttering as you go.
The mindset exercises were the best warming exercise to do this!!! My living room (and dining and family) are basically organized. This was easy. I am getting ready to tackle the kitchen counters, the home office and my bedroom…different story in these ones…
My living room isn’t too bad, so it was tough to find things to declutter. I did toss a bunch of garbage (mostly junk mail), and for that piece, I think I need to find a way to keep it out! I am very good about tossing my magazines when the newer issue comes in or when I finish reading it. My husband, on the other hand, has a TON of magazines he likes to keep. However, I am focusing this challenge on just my stuff – so his is safe… For now!
I already knew I hang onto stuff just in case I might need it. However, I realised is is part of my feeling independant, being prepared for the future. Thus, I believe I’ll have a long road to walk letting go of stuff…. But I also know it is suffocating me. Paper, clothes, toys, boxes, jars, buttons, magazines, candle holders etc. I’ll continue my tasks….
I’m glad you started with the living room since it’s the area that needs the most work in my home. I spent 45 minutes decluttering and putting things in their proper places and it has made a difference. But I still have much to do, including unpacking boxes of things I got tired of packing and unpacking after repeated renovations (although right now I don’t have a place for them – some kitchen stuff, and books and other office stuff. Hopefully by the end of this program!). I do think I need to work/declutter faster 🙂 I will continue to work on my living room while doing the upcoming daily tasks. The mindshift questions were helpful and gave me some interesting insights. And I really appreciate your tough-love approach, Michele 🙂
I have no idea if this is unusual among the cluttered or just me: I don’t have an issue with parting with stuff. In fact, if someone else could come in and do it for me perfectly, I’d be stoked, I’m not attached to “stuff” (have moved So.Many.Times). But yet my home IS cluttered. I really resonated with mindset shift #3. I realize much of the clutter is here because I was hung up on separating the stuff into goodwill, trash, give away to X who might like it. i grabbed a trash bag and went to town! I kept 3 things to sell/give away. It’s awesome! And when i was done, my husband came in from working late and saw it, he got excited and went and changed all the lightbulbs that were out or not bright enough etc. throughout our house (about a dozen). So extra stuff got done because I made the space nice which motivated others. Looking forward to tomorrow. I am a little worried coz I have more than 7 cluttered rooms. Great start…one last thing…I never would have started with the living room, but it was perfect!
I have no idea if this is unusual among the cluttered or just me: I don’t have an issue with parting with stuff. In fact, if someone else could come in and do it for me perfectly, I’d be stoked, I’m not attached to “stuff” (have moved So.Many.Times). But yet my home IS cluttered. I really resonated with mindset shift #3. I realize much of the clutter is here because I was hung up on separating the stuff into goodwill, trash, give away to X who might like it. i grabbed a trash bag and went to town! I kept 3 things to sell/give away. It’s awesome! And when i was done, my husband came in from working late and saw it, he got excited and went and changed all the lightbulbs that were out or not bright enough etc. throughout our house (about a dozen). So extra stuff got done because I made the space nice which motivated others. Looking forward to tomorrow. I am a little worried coz I have more than 7 cluttered rooms. Great start…one last thing…I never would have started with the living room, but it was perfect!
I wrote the mantra on an index card to hang in every room when it is in progress. So if I get weary or can’t decide, the card is nearby to remind me to keep going. I like the ease of the program; this one speaks to me because there aren’t a million details which makes it much easier. A non-debilitating stroke several years ago requires ease and not being overwhelmed easily. I don’t sell “stuff”
because it’s easier to donate. Goodwill is on the way to the grocery store with a drop-off door that’s very handy. Thanks Michele, I am looking forward to the rest of the Days.
Just the kick in the pants I needed. Feels great to have a clean place to sit and enjoy.
My living space is full of papers, normal paperwork along with papers from a recent divorce. I just never know where to put this paperwork. I really would love to throw away all papers but the idea of trying to recreate all of that makes me sick to my stomach ;'( Generally, I have no problem getting rids of other “stuff”, but paperwork and/or pieces of paper run or ruin my life.
I loved this challenge and actually got rid of my Wii (which I’ve had 5 years and probably used 10 times). I never thought I”d be able to do it because it was so expensive at the time and somehow with this exercise it was easy 🙂 Now I have loads more space in the lounge (not only is the step, base and Wii unit gone – I also had an UNOPENED Zumba (must have really wanted that) and a heap of other games! Phew …
omg this is perfect…am cleaning out and up to get the house on the market and it has felt totally overwhelming. I’m down to a few rooms to clean out but the house now (with boxes and odds and ends I don’t know what to do with) to clean up!
Here’s one of my main decluttering challenges dealt with on Day 1! Mindset Shift #3 gives me permission ‘to dispose of my stuff imperfectly’. I’ve always felt obliged to make sure my stuff goes to a good home, so I put it in piles and hang on to it – and every time I pass those piles I feel frustrated and stymied. But I’ve learnt today that sometimes it’s OK just to toss it. So out go those piles of videos no-one will want and books no-one will ever read!