Clearing the Way to Spring: Jan 1/Mar 20, 2013 Decluttering Challenge/Support Thread
 

:welcome3: to the New Year, with its :dust:New Hope &
:cheer:New Energy to keep us, or start us, moving forward with our decluttering plans.

Imagine getting to "spring cleaning" season only to discover a lot of it is already done.

If we make a plan and set some goals we can turn any stuation around.

All are welcome to commit to changing and rearranging their environment(s). Beck says it is essential for our weightloss success to deal with our environment.

And if your environment is a cause for concern join us to lessen the stress and support the feelings of success and confidence as we experience things changing and we maintain those changes.

Please feel free to post your goals for this first quarter of the year and/or your daily progress.

My Year to Move Mountains
 

Hi Everyone:

I come to 2013 knowing I have some serious issues to tame. At the end of this year I hit the half century mark and I am completely unwilling to get there with a mountain of moving boxes in my dining room, or a home that has no comfort or joy. It's just not acceptable. It's also something I have never managed to do: deal with the clutter and KEEP IT dealt with. Much like losing the weight and keeping it off if you ask me... which is another old issue I have to get serious about this year.

Last challenge I made some progress. Much of it is an interior shift. Though I am sitting on a couch that's cushy as I write this and my living room has several seating areas now. And I have a new bedroom that's cleaner.

Having these things come true, I now truly know I want this and don't want a messy uncomfortable makeshift home anymore. It was okay for decades. I'm not interested in the feelings of shame and depression and guilt and inadequacy that my home brings up in me when I think of people dropping by. I can do better. I have to put the work into it to bring it into my life.

Thanks OnebyOne for starting this 2013 thread. I am grateful for a place to share my process. I am picking one area to work on for the month of January. It is my office.

I am going to let go of stagnant, draining things that are of no revelance. That means separating books, teachings, files, cd's and some leftover craft items.

The questions I am asking myself...."Will this help me or give me energy for the future"? Does it have true value for my life now. The last consultanting project I completed, examined a part of self called "conceptualized self". Getting stuck in "an old story" and not living in the moment----connected to specific values. I cared for other parts of my house but not this specific area. It is my catch-all of things that I don't want to deal with.

I am enough without having to keep some of these stagnant boxes of ????? I found it interesting yesterday as I journaled about my word for the year.....It ties directly into this new discovering and letting go of what doesn't fit for me anymore.

Looking forward to moving a bookshelf today.
Planning on purging 4 more boxes and moving a 3 drawer storage unit into the utility room that is very spacious.
Planning a birthday dinner for my DH and trying to figure out where to put my kitchen appliances that I use. I am making homemade pasta with my pasta maker. I also received a new food processor from my sister and I love it. I think the cookbooks need a new location if I am going to use the processer often. I store the pasta machine in the utility room as it isn't used as much.

LEXXISS: I received this post today and it reminded me of your process :

Freshly Organized added a post from January 1, 2013 to their timeline.
Today's GO (Get Organized) Month Tip: Write down your top 3 tasks to do each day and tackle them. Nice short to-do list are much easier to accomplish. If you get those three done you can repeat or you can be done for the day. Up to you :-)

Intending on having a successful first quarter with declutter, organizing and re-authoring some parts of my life and home.

This is just what I need. I have 2 rooms upstairs that have become very cluttered. My dh was very ill and I was his sole caregiver for 6 years and I just stuck things in these rooms that I didn't want to deal with right then. He passed away 5 years ago and I still haven't dealt with the situation. I have made a little progress, but there is a lot to go. It will be good to deal with the clutter while I am dealing with my weight.

Welcome QuilterinVA: Looking forward to hearing about your decluttering journey.

Hello declutterer friends!

:welcome2: QuilterinVA! We'll be here to support you as you open those rooms and go through your process from start to finish!

Tami(helping rachel), great new goals! Yippee! I think I'll go check out the website you mentioned.

My sister reappeared in my life and she wants to use one side of my Grandmothers little houses. That might mean a very specific declutter is in my very near future....I'll wait and see.

In the meantime I will continue my 1-2-3 dance since I have found that the day to day consistency (very Beck) works really well for me, in that the daily routine is about forming a lifetime habit.

We traveled over to our other home this morning. We'll just be here two days then back. We got up early but it was important for me to leave a tidy home.
1. old clutter-put away all photo project items
2. new clutter-folded and put away laundry, did dishes, picked up around the house
3. clean-cat box, upstairs bathroom sink, kitchen sink

Thursday 1-2-3 :dancer:

1. current clutter-Picked up!
2. old clutter-went through some more old photos, pulled several small drawers (looking for something) and pitched as I went.
3. clean-washed and treated my leather couch and chair...vacuumed inside the couch then took the hand vac to my bathroom and did corners.

Ok, now I'm motivated to "keep looking" when I get home (and continue pitching/organizing). What I can't find is a little marking stick for the leather couch. I could go buy another one but I know I have one here. It came with the couch and we've never used it. It will motivate me to look in some of the cubbies I just never get to.

:dance:Hey Debbie: What ever it takes to motivate us. I feel that same way about not buying something new.

Laundry done, Son #1 packed to go back to school

Bookshelf was moved yesterday. I took a picture of my office that is so cluttered so you can see what I am dealing with. Will post later when I figure that out.

Purged 4 boxes, cleaned and dusted top of desk.

Off to work so I will check in later.

01-03-13
 

Hello

Welcome all you guys to the new thread. So happy to read that people are just moving right along.

I am feeling great reluctance to *just start*. I think what happens with my thinking is that I get this thought: "once I start I cannot stop until it is done (right/perfectly/completely)" and that thought makes me feel defeated before I have even begun. So I stall, until I am motivated by anger at myself for not doing what I know I need to do and then I just start and then I am going along again.

I'd like to skip the 2-3-4-5-6-7 days run-up time to the getting down to what I know I need to do part.

So, I did not do any declutterng today. Nor did deal with any dishes, or get to my studio to box up my paintings and ask Chris the landlord there to put them where he said there was space for me to store them so I can get my studio into working condition.

My plan for tomorrow morning is a morning trip to the studio to move stuff around to get it into working condition.

This morning we're traveling back to our other home

1. old clutter-went through my little rainbow set of drawers and pitched alot of paper-stuff I was reluctant to get rid of the last time. credit.
2. current clutter-picked up everything so I'll arrive next time to a clutter-free environ. Washed/dried clothes and put away
3. clean-simple but moves me forward. I cleaned the screens on my computer, ipad and iphone. Will clean the kitchen sink before we leave.

onebyone, can you think of any Beck strategies that would help ease your discomfort regarding the sabotaging thought of having to finish and be perfect. I connect the declutter process to weight loss in that it isn't a magical overnight fix but that we make consistent progress when we formulate a realistic long term plan which is broken down into small daily tasks. I can't begin to tell you how much progress I notice in the long term by just doing tiny tasks every day.
I also notice that it is difficult for me to organize stuff when there's so much and that the organizational process has become much easier as the "stuff" has gone away. Just a few things to think about....

gotta run! BBL

good morning and Happy New Year. I need to keep checking in here! Lexxiss, I do like the 1-2-3 thing and will try to adapt that also :carrot:

Today's Tasks 1/4/13
 

Ok, taking a cue/clue from Lexxiss :hug: I am going back to my early Beck days and writing down my tasks for the day and I'll be back to update this evening.

1) get to studio done
2) box and bag up canvases for storage done
3) remove canvases into outer garage area and see what my space looks like without them in there done
4) move the big piece of wood for the guild sign to the very back of the studio space, out of the way done
5) move the big grey table and the smaller blue table into a place where I can use them to work on done
6) put my rainbow drawers somewhere handy done
7) put the printer/cart somehere handy done
8) put the whiteboard up <NOTE: need to switch whiteboards=new one is smaller so better for house--bigger one goes to studio (*buy another whiteboard*) done
9) set up my printmaking table so I can just start when I do get back again.done
10) bring home some wood for carving and my conte crayons for transferring images onto the wood (I think I'm getting sick so I don't think I'll be back to the studio if I get sick--would like that stuff here in case). If I can print out and transfer to the block then I have started to work on my prints again. done

Also brought home a few canvases to sketch out toward applying to profitable summer show.

OK I am off to buy another whiteboard and to re-arrange the studio space. I'll check in later. done

Now off to bring car in for scheduled thingamabob replacement. Then home again.

YAY. *multiplecreditday*

Attachment 43755\

Here is the picture, I think! Not a pretty sight but I wanted to be honest with my process. I have 3 more steps to take today.

1- Set up the cube for back wall
2- Purge 4 more boxes
3- Dust and clean off both bookshelves that are now together.

OneonOne: I admire your plan and steps broken down. Plan your work and work your plan!

Lexxiss: Isn't there a sense of freedom that comes with having an organized space....ahhhhhhh.

VermontMOM: What are you working on? Any new projects for the year or are you working the 1-2-3 groove with the rest of us.

Speaking of 1-2-3....:carrot::carrot::cb::hat::dancer::cheer2::cra zy::cheer:Old clutter, New clutter, Clean, Cha, Cha, Cha!

OC: 4 boxes from office
NC: Mail purge and front of the fridge with outdated pictures and papers
Clean: Bedding stripped from boys room and dishwasher run.

Hi to anyone else I missed, Welcome one, Welcome all!

On my way to work

1. old clutter-didn't address
2. current clutter-picked up/unpacked travel stuff
2. clean-DID clean the cat box despite not wanting to

Good Morning!

Cube set up for back wall.
Cleaned and dusted top of desk and book shelves
Cleaned inside of desk putting like items together.
Purged all files in desk and made new files.
Purged 11 out of the 20 boxes. Filled a 5 gallon trash can. Whew!

I need a break the office space today as I need a "new set of eyes" to see what the next few steps will be.

Clean- Kitchen floor and sweep garage so the dirt/snow/leftover muck doesn't get tracked in.
Vac. and Dust 1st floor.
Clean out frig, clorex shelves and go grocery shopping.
No old or new clutter movements planned.

I am realizing that I want to keep things just to have them. Not to use them, not to store them properly but to have them. I am using my Beck Statement....NO CHOICE, if it isn't useful, it is gone. If I want to keep it, how easy will it be for retrieval. (Change in thought---not for storage, but retrieval for use!)

Off to make coffee, I have a long list today to accomplish.

major resistance mode
 

Hi

DH is sick and I am so unmotivated it's incredible. The kitchen is a comoplete and total mess: almost all dishes are dirty. Half are in the sink, and now need to be taken out of the sink cause they've been in there too long. The rest sit near the sink waiting to be washed. My stuff that I moved from the other rooms spills into the kitchen area completely blocking the walking path into/through the dining room. My summer craft show tent is there. Where does that go? No idea. I have a short bookcase there. Where does that go? No clue.

Thought I'd get to my studio to do some work but I never made it. I noodled around instead. wasting time and money.

My big problem? Can't make a real decision about this year and where to focus my energy. I think I need to do some more writing on the subject.

I'm going to commit to clearing the kitchen floor today. That's driving me more nuts than anything else.
this means: 1] garbage out back to the bin done
2] recycling gathered into bin done

3]cardboard broken down so they''ll take it done

4]dirty dishes in one place done

5]other stuff moved out of there to somewhere else done

6]one sinkload of dishes done done


Then some quiet time with the whitevoard to try to sort myself out a bit more.

will update my progress.

OnebyONe: Using your whiteboard sounds like a great idea to gather thoughts and excute. It looks like you got a lot accomplished in your last post at the studio. Could your tent go to the studio space as it won't be needed for months? What about that bookcase. If not needed can it go to the studio to hold your art supplies? Just thinking out loud with you.

Sounds like your list you have is doable. I bet after you get that done, space in your mind will open up.

helping rachel I ended up making room for the tent in the hall and that works for now. I also put the bookcase in the hall and that's ok too for now. Thanks for your thoughts.

It's not so much that I don't have space but it's more that I haven't had a lot of success in getting thigns organzed, nor have ever felt like I *could* do this. I appreciate your support along with everyone else's as well.

Hello Declutterers!

The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are. -
Mother Teresa


The grand-dog is gone and so today launches a major cleanup. He was a major shedder. It got me thinking that while the upkeep of my home is important that as I continue to post on this "Decluttering Challenge/Support Thread" that I have a personal responsibility to continue to focus on going through things and letting go of items that clog my energy/space.

I like Mother Teresa's quote because it reminds me that I do feel much freer now than when I first started. I need to get back to basics and start letting go again.

My most effective way of letting go of physical items has been to have a designated box where I can put things as I come across them then take the box away when it's full.

Today I will start a new box. It's essential to let go of more clutter.

The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are. -
Mother Teresa

Thanks Debbie for this truth. I woke up this morning and the first thing on my mind was about emptying out. Not to be buried under the things that are of 'low value". I asked my husband to finish the final part of the utility room. Old paint cans, boxes of his tools that he hasn't used for years ect.....I gently shared that if we release our attachment to obsolete, tangible items, our reward will be energy insight and clarity. He worked for about an hour and then took a nap. I had complete empathy for him him as I know this process of letting go is so emotionally draining, until you get in the groove of the reward of doing it. This helps me understand why I avoid doing it.......hard to make decisions--easier to avoid. We had a few good laughs about having carpet pieces that were from the original house 22 years ago. I am realizing that there is an emotional cost to avoiding these things.....being stagnant with unusable stuff.
On to the good news, My daughter brought a friend over last night and showed her my office. I am working on an Art Project that embodies my word for the year....the word is F L O W. Her friend loved the set up in here and DD said, "You don't understand, we couldn't walk in here freely a week ago." I will post pictures sometime next week as I have about 6 boxes to go. When I posted the original picture, I felt embarrassed as the room was so overweight and it was my fault. This is true. I just piled things in here and avoided dealing with them. Kind of like weight. I am realizing after I took 2 boxes to Goodwill, it feels good to release things that have been weighing me down. Similar to overeating, it will not be helpful to bring things back into the house unless I need them. I don't want to clean or store something that isn't useful or needed.

I will end with a quote......

They say that time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself. -Andy Warhol

this week's mission Jan 6 - 13 KITCHEN
 

Hello Declutterers

I decided upon waking to *just go do some dishes*. I did two sinkloads. *credit*

My new mission this week will be to do some dishes when I wake up until they are done. And when they are finished, to clean something else in the kitchen, to be decided when I get there. I am practicing MODERATION. Big word for me this year. I want to CONSISTENTLY bring my attention to the areas that need work: work on myself, work in the home, work at work.

I'm going to give myself a smiley of some sort when I have tackled something on my list and then sum it up at the end of this weekly challenge to myself

The work has to be attached to a GOAL and so I will say the goal here is to have a "clean orderly kitchen ready to be used for cooking at any time with minimal fuss", which means:
1) dishes clean and put away :smoking:
2) counter tops cleaned off and ready for use in cooking
3) applicances cleaned (big job) - will break it down into steps
4) drawers ccleaned out
5) shelves cleaned out
6) top of fridge cleaned out
7) need to make a curtain for the back door -- actually I WANT to make a curtain for the back door.
8) keep floor clean
9) store unused appliances
10) clean kitty bowls and water fountain

That will be a daily to-do for me as well this:

GO THROUGH A BOX, or TWO. Not more.
this means: look at everything, make decisions, put it away, give it away or throw it away. come here and ask if I am stumped by an object. Break down the box if it is cardboard.

Boxes done today: 0

Will update this evening.

:dancer: :dancer:

onebyone, moderation is key for me, too. Creating doable chunks by making lists is such a motivating/inspirational way to move forward with decluttering.

Tami(helping rachel), thank you for the Andy Warhol quote. I really think hearing others' words of wisdom help me to recognize it's not just a few of us doing this....that there are some universal thoughts/principles which embrace this task at hand.

So, via MTeresa and AndyWarhol...there is a freedom which awaits but I/We need to do the footwork.

I talked DH into helping this morning since it was his DD's pup staying with us. He participated as far as getting all the rooms vacuumed which helped me greatly. I am getting better and better at observing his actions/reactions so as I don't push too much and send him over the edge where this process of caring for our home agitates him. I understand that for now I will literally pick up where he leaves off. So he is in the shop now and I now get to make the choices as to where I go today.

Funny, onebyone, I had already decided that today it would be good to pick a room. I picked our bedroom....partially because the bedding needed to be washed because the pup was sleeping on/in our bed AND the cat had barfed on the carpet.
~wash bedding-Done
~remake bed-in process
~drag carpet cleaner upstairs/clean barf area-Done
~dust/put away everything-in process

My sis wants to go bike riding in Denver this afternoon. On the one hand I don't want to go, on the other hand I get some exercise in. I am leaning towards going....

I said earlier that I would put some items in a box for thrift. I need/want to do that.

After I reported that I did current declutter yesterday I looked at my office and there was still "current" stuff. I need/want to complete that, too.

Tami (helping rachel), I look forward to your office pics. Neat to hear of your progress from another family member.

Ok, back to work.

Decluttering Pick Me Up
 

I enjoyed reading this from another site. It's not ground-breaking but I find the visuals food for thought.

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/58175...ntent=gallery0

Very nice visuals, onebyone! Thanks for posting. The article definitely gives me food for thought. I acknowledge that my home is a work in progress right now. As I am letting go of items that no longer serve me well (and some that never did) I recognize that I am making an effort to keep my spaces clearer and cleaner. At this point, I have no idea exactly what many of my spaces will look like down the road but do know that I tend towards a maximalist environ in some spaces and minimalist in others.

Living room/dining room/office...maximalist

Bedroom/kitchen....minimalist

I have so much beautiful art, from family and other sources. Right now it is all in a specific closet. As I am still finding so much stuff that I don't want/need with rooms in transition I don't have inspiration as to where I would put things. I look at these pictures and understand that the inspiration willl come when the time is right and until then I just need to keep working on letting go and hauling out.

Ok, so I passed on the bike ride recognizing that the trip to Denver was pretty involved and that it was going to be a avoidance event for me. Avoiding the fact that I haven't had a day at home to take care of things since before the holidays and that it's important for me to get some things done.

Bedroom-100% done

Office-working on

Kitchen-needs work

Will take a break and eat lunch.

Thank you OnebyOne for sharing this article. I wrote out the questions on a notecard to reflect.

Does it resonate with your sense of style and beauty?
Does it get in your way?
Do the colors, textures and patterns inspire you?
Does it call up warm memories?
Does it give you creative ideas?

Some great questions to ponder while I declutter and organize! I have the following rooms as

Minimalist: DR, Living room and Family room, all bathrooms.
Maximalist: Kitchen, closets, office and new craft room (switching since 12/1)

The saying it gets worse before it gets better is a good description of how my basement looks. I have faith if I keep taking steps everyday, it will look different by the end of January.

My basement is pretty rough right now and will wait until after the photo project and company books. I did venture down for the box I pledged to locate and fill with discards for thrift. I pulled two pieces of copper and a cake pan for the box before I even came upstairs. I spen about 15 minutes and filled it with things I could live without...realistically not even miss. A book, 4 CDs, more cassette tapes, 2 needlepoints unfinished, 2 pair of shoes (1 really nice-never fit right)...can't remember what else.
I pitched/recycled numerous things too...hair ties marginally useable, my stepdads boy scout card, pictures that don't matter anymore.
All in al a good day.
It feels good to be downsizing again.

Work tomorrow. I'm glad I stayed home today.

Good morning declutters!

Debbie, it looks like you had a good day to make some "Space" for yourself since you didn't have to work. I like your empty box idea. It occurred to me yesterday that I have an overweight house that needs to lose a few decluttering pounds. I am heading downstairs to work on the boxes that are left. Not my idea of fun on a monday morning, but I intend to take committed action towards the goal of having a clean office. It doesn't matter what I "feel". If I waited to "feel" like it, I would remain stuck.

Here is my completed list from yesterday. I have added a sticky note to my desktop to keep track of daily movements. I appreciate the following things that I got done yesterday:

Cleaned out freezer.
Wrote out food menu for 30 days, made a shopping list to go with it.
Modpodged my letters for the year: FLOW. I decided since I have the creative space why not use it to make something fun. I also repurposed a picture frame to go with it.
Hung new bulletin and whiteboard.
Cleaned 3 boxes. carried carpet away.

Today I plan to work on the kitchen for 1 hour.
Work on 4 boxes.
Grocery Shop and start preparing meals to freeze.

Beck on my to do list
 

Hi

*credit for doing 1/1+ sinkloads of dishes in the morning. I'm maybe two dys away from done. I haven't touched the rest of my list, but I will. I have been clearing away projects lingering from December so that's good, and my inability to set some goals for myself is also lessening. Things are beginniing to bubble up.

I have a potters' guild meeting tonight. I do the snacks this month with another member. I am ready. *credit*

Will check in again tomorrow.

Hello declutterers!

When I came home from work today and saw my box with items to leave the house it was a real pick me upper! As I came upstairs to check in and post I reflected on how much easier it is for me to clean and organize yet the feeling I get when more items go away is really amazing! I will continue to focus energies on "letting go" of items that no longer apply in my life. I will remember that letting go allows someone else to put them to use (perhaps someone less fortunate than I).

Last eve I found a mess on my couch as I was turning in...DH had dropped a piece of chocolate and had apparantly sat on it and there was a 3x3 inch area covered. I was a little ticked and wanted to leave it for him but reminded myself that it would be more respectful for me to find out what it would take to get it off and just do it. I did...it took an hour. There was a possiblity of damaging the couch in the process. credit for not waiting.

This morning I:
made bed, folded laundry and picked up as best I could. I counted cleaning the couch after midnight. I may try and find several more items to fill my thrift box later this evening.

Hello!

An early check in. DH and I took a "nap" after I got home from work yesterday which turned into almost our full night's rest assuring we would be wide awake in the middle of the night. Our decision, finally, was to get back up and accomplish some stuff then catch a few more hours of rest before I head out to work at 7am.

I was going to take down the C. tree but once downstairs decided to listen to the holiday CD my sis gave me and enjoy a few more days of the tree....there is always plenty to do.

This morning I:
~IMMEDIATELY threw away a pair of reading glasses that broke. They are not fixable and I said NO CHOICE to wearing them around broken. credit.
~cleaned out the cat area...complex because we have to have a "fence" for the litter box/food area because the pup likes to eat from both. I took down the gate, cleaned and resurrected it. credit.
~prepped recycles which go outside before work. I came up with a handy solution yesterday. I brought a big box home from work, filled it then the box gets recycled with everything else. A handy solution which I plan to do every week now.
~I found more items for the thrift box, including two victorian statues which I had to negotiate with DH to let go of. They were from my stepdads basement and only came here because I was going to sell them. The antique store has now closed. I wish to have "my" collectables on the mantle-not my stepdads deceased wife. credit.
~I pulled out the two beautiful pics I framed last summer. I know where I want to hang them but need DH to use a mortar bit to put the hangers in the brick wall in my kitchen. I think he will do it today but I must remember to ask him if we can do it together since I have a better eye for placement.

ETA-I called our satillite co. and asked them about the 4 receivers I have in my basement. They want one back and are sending me the box/etc. The other three I can recycle. Good to deal with they have been sitting down there for years.

I'm going to nap for two hours and will pick up "current clutter" before I head to work.

It feels GREAT to take those two statues off the mantle and put them in the thrift box. It leaves a space for something that DH and I might enjoy. :dancer:

Good Morning Ladies with homes and bodes that are getting "lighter" this year:

Worked on cleaning yesterday. Moved trash boxes outside as I kept tripping over them in the kitchen. This created the opportunity to mop the kitchen floor. I am moving my cookbooks to a file drawer in the basement. I decided I wanted the space for appliances, (my new handy dandy food chopper) that I am using almost weekly.

OnebyOne: Way to tackle those dishes. Sounds like you are making great progress.

Debbie: I loved what you said--->>>"I wish to have "my" collectables on the mantle-not my stepdads deceased wife. credit."

I have been journaling before I go to bed as it is a "non-threatening'" time to process my attachment to my clutter.

Here is my journal entry:

"Letting go of things is really a process of detaching your identity from things that don't represent you. You can have things/stuff that are attached to someone else's identity or your past identity.

Ask yourself....... what is this object representing to me? Some of the files that I am keeping have great information but I can find that information on the internet, so I can let it go. Special cards or letters from my deceased Mother, I can keep and treasure. I am finding that I have kept things that are not useful or represent who I am NOW. TODAY. A lot of this clutter has to do with me not making a decision. That is the good news because I am making decisions daily on how to turn the tide. I love that I picked the word "Flow" for the year. It is helping me realize that I don't want old stagnant things sitting around here. I want the joy of the flow of creativity and to be able to find things with EASE.

Another great question....I don't want to let go of that item because it represents this part of............ Aha! That is why I don't get rid of my jeans that are 2 sizes too small. It is my tie to my thinner days:))). Anyhow, I have a full day of work Friday and Saturday so I need to keep my focus on the next 3 days to make progress. I had a great conference call with several therapists last night. It was so nice to hear about their process of self care and how we all have our "stuff" to deal with no matter who we are. Never gets old reminding me of my humanity and that a little self-compassion goes a long way.

Have a great day ladies and gents!

Hello declutterers!

Tami (helping rachel), best wishes as you productively move forward during these days before your schedule returns to "busy"! I could really relate to things you said in your journaling...and I think it helped motivate me to;
1. finally hang two pictures in the kitchen that have been sitting in the LR for months! :dancer:

AND
2. take down a victorian wallhanging from the TV room that I bought when we first got here because it "matched" the peach walls but I never liked...all it did was fill a hole.

Thanks! It's downstairs to go to thrift and I replaced it with a piece of our art which is just temporary but is something.

DH was still bummed about the statues but we talked about it and he finally agreed, they do not fit in. Thanks again, onebyone, for posting the link. Looking at those pictures somehow motivated me to let those statues move on!

I have to leave for Boulder in an hour so it's time to get to taking care of myself...shower, dress and morning smoothie.

Today's Dance 1-2-3 :dancer:

1. old clutter-took funky wallhanging off wall put in pile for thrift and hung photos that had been hidden behind a chair in LR
2. current clutter-picked up in LR, DR and kitchen (office not so much) Made bed.
3. clean-cleaned kitchen counters and sink...cleaned up after we drilled the walls to hang photos in kitchen.

Hey Declutters:

Pulled my "No Choice" card out when I was looking at the 10 boxes. I pulled some more from the storage space to go thru. I swear its like rabbits around here, they multiply. I started on one box and before I knew I was done with all 10. Trash day was today so that was part of the motivation. I found a bowling trophy that my son won on a "hot dog" league...when he was 8. Now he is 20....has been away for 2 years at college. I am pretty sure, I can part with it.:rofl::rofl:

Time for my dance 1-2-3

old clutter: trip to Goodwill
new clutter: Organized binders in my office, purged and updated info
clean: The stove and burners.

House is feeling lighter---makes it easier to clean and find things...:cheer2::cheer2::cheer2:

Yay Tami (helping rachel)!!! Sometimes I need moderation when I'm decluttering and other times I'm able to just rip and go! Kudos for going through all those boxes and taking stuff to goodwill.

I completely relate...it is SOOO much easier to find things....cook dinner....clean the house...relax...organize....

THE MORE STUFF I GET RID OF!

We went to the CelestialSeasoningsFactory today near Boulder. We were going to tour but my mom wasn't interested in sitting inside so we cruised the gift shop and enjoyed the wonderful smells and eye candy...lots of pretty things.
Credit.
I really enjoyed looking but came home with one box of tea...nothing else. I'm brewing some for iced tea. I had a sample which was heavenly. I'm thinking it fits into my decluttering.
If I enjoy it iced I could quit buying the natural sodas which require recycling...crossing another task off my weekly list.

What a fun excursion to Boulder. What kind of tea did you get?

Don't tell anyone but I am experiencing pleasure from decluttering! Who knew!

I like your forward thinking about your soda/tea exchange. I am already thinking of my "Big February" project. I am not finished with my office, but so enjoy sitting in there and working now.

I remember you putting up your border for you office. Did you have to take a border down? I am planning on taking down Sam's border that has been up for 15 years. I don't know what to use to take it off the wall. Let me know, if not I will google.


My favorite tea:
I brew vanilla maple decaf and add a drop of chocolate and a drop of vanilla stevia. It really helps curb the need to eat at night.

Have a great night! Enjoy your new tea.

Tami(helping rachel), I'll let you know about the border when I return from the airport. It was pretty easy. I've already attacked my hotspots this morning and I'll formulate my plan for the day when I return.

Tami (helping rachel), I got AcaiMangoZinger tea...pretty good iced.

Re: take down of wallpaper...it was super easy. I started with a wet washcloth and a spray bottle with water. I sprayed the wallpaper and rubbed on it while making sure I didn't get excess water running down the wall. Then I started peeling with the trash can nearby ...spraying and rubbing as I went...still making sure water didn't run down the wall. Since I had put up the old stuff and was going to reapply a new pattern I already knew I had marked my walls to ensure I could put the new on without measuring. Once I took off the old there was no visible difference in the wall. I could have just left it "as is".

So on to my day:

I have a SUPER BUSY day for "a day off". I've already been to the airport and back...a 2-1/2 hour trip. This morning as I was getting ready to go I definitely had a sabotaging thought:
"This is too hard....this is so much work every day....."

Then I looked at my living room as I walked downstairs. It is clean, organized and beautiful. I was reminded of my several months on FL-Lady's routine. I was reminded I learned two very powerful things from her:
1. You Can Do This

2. The importance of consistency and regular baby steps.

So I told myself "You can do this. It is important and it's important that you DO SOMETHING TODAY.
CREDIT

Reminded of Tami(helping rachel) and journaling I sat down and wrote these feelings on paper:

It's hard to let go of things and it's hard to keep up because it's not my normal but when I look down the stairs at my living room, ITS WORTH IT.

I took my notebook and started writing down ALL the things that need to happen today...some for business, some for family, some for planning ahead, and SOME FOR ME. I am going to make my best effort to get this stuff done.

1-2-3 Dance :dancer: (in addition to extensive list)
1. old clutter-take box AND wallhanging to thrift store
2. current clutter-pick up today (AFTER) I get list done
3. clean-I have already had to pull out the carpet cleaner and do a spot where the Lasix pup peed while I was gone. credit. Today I will also do my bathroom toilets/sinks

I love hearing from you all...I am not alone in this process.

ETA-Am in the office and will put my favorite music on. It is so quiet here right now and I find a little bit of inspirational/favorites on the ipod really help me focus on finishing.

:hug:Thanks for the tips and connection. I am glad I am not doing this alone. My DH is happy with the changes but he really doesn't care about the details. As you shared your integrated wisdom,,,,,We can do this and it really is baby steps.

I was feeling overwhelmed with my kitchen today. Not because it is a huge mess but I want to get going on heaving some stuff but I don't' want to start that before the office is done. Automatically a mantra popped in my head.... DECISION+ COMMITTED ACTION, DECISION+COMMITTED ACTION. So back to finish the last of the boxes and make a list.

Many areas of my house are in order,organized and clean. Those rooms house things that only are useful or make me or others happy. The fact that I have ignored the "clutter cemetery" aka office, has opened my eyes to other parts of the house that need attention. I am grateful for the reality check. Kind of like facing the scale.

Sending good "work confidence vibes your way" May the energy and knowledge that you have within be released to accomplish what is needed just for today.
As you told me in last email....moderation. What is doable for today.....

Off to work.... I like the idea of good music. I usually listen to an audio book or a podcast while I am doing the decluttering, Instrumental for work-work. It is a great companion to the process.

Welcome any lurkers that want to jump in with thoughts, projects or ideas for shedding things that no longer are needed to function in home:D and tips for keeping the organizing behaviors in motion.

Up early and out the door in 45 minutes. Woke up to a clean kitchen that made breakfast easier. I am realizing as I continue to put things in order and trim the excess in my living areas, I am finding EASE. I am grateful for the inner transition between my part that was in avoidance and overwhelmed, and the emergence of a new part that feels confident and active to get the job done. One of the reasons I can remind stuck is the fact that I don't feel that I have the support or knowledge to change a pattern. A big shout out to onebyone for starting this thread and all that have commented on it. It truly has given me a place and space to work thru the transition of being capable with clutter and excess. My weight is down as well, interesting to see the tie in.

Have a great day, declutterers, shedders of the old stuff. Whatever that may be!