Commitments

I have been of the opinion that if you make a commitment to do something, you carry it out, even if it becomes painful.  However, as I've aged, sometimes it's important to you and your family to get out of commitments.  If the commitment is causing trouble for you and your family,  you dropping out may not be that big of a deal to the other party.  Sometimes it's worth a shot to talk it through with the person/group; explain how it's becoming a hardship, and discuss options.  There are times you'll find that the group/party are fine with that and it's no problem for you to get out of it.  Other times, you will have to follow through. 

When a commitment becomes too much or it's interfering with family times/events, it may be time to simplify your commitment list.

P.S.  I am going on a world adventure for a week, so look for me April 30 again.  I'm simplifying my commitments for spring break!!

Fabric

For seamstresses, getting rid of leftover fabric seems sacrilegious.  If you paid attention at all in history classes, every scrap was used for patches on clothing, quilts, cleaning rags, etc. (after they had woven the cloth by hand...)   In present times, however, we usually don't have the time to spend making quilts, and clothes go to Goodwill long before patches are required.  If you just can't throw the scraps away, find a quilter or a quilting club, and see if they want it.  It is nothing you need to hang onto "just in case." 

Taxes

Now that taxes are turned in, where do you keep all your files?  Is this a place that needs attention and organizing?  Can you shred taxes from years back (10 or so)?  As I look in my filing cabinet, I see folders that could be gone through and purged.  It's a task I will tackle.

Outside

I ventured into the outside clutter (of leaves still needing to be raked) and found an old, unusable flower pot which I threw away.  Lots of leaves got put away also, so the yard looks neater. :)

Look

Today's direction to look for clutter is in the magazine rack, basket, pile, etc.

Yard Clutter

Clutter can spill out of houses.  I know...I travel through West Virginia often.  (Sorry, but in places the stereotypes of old washing machines on the porch are really true!) 

Look with a critical eye around the outside of your house.  Is there a yard decoration that is past its prime?  How about a hose with holes?  Any stuff stacked that is to go somewhere else and no one has gotten around to moving it?  Try to make a point to get rid of anything like that.  Your neighbors and your family will be very appreciative!

Window Shopping

After a particularly long, rough day at school once last week, I went window shopping in our historic district to cool down and relax.  After three or four blocks of walking, I felt much better.  What hit me, though, as I meandered through little shops was an appreciation for all the little knick-knacks and lovely glassware, but a revulsion to think of bringing it into my home.  I hope I'm not becoming OCD about this (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), but having worked so hard to declutter, why bring in something to just sit around?  I own knick-knacks that I still display and dust weekly, but it's because I really like them and they have a place.

Not adding to clutter is just as important as ridding your home of it.  Think hard before you make that impulse purchase...do I have a place for this?  If not, what will I get rid of and substitute this for?

Technology

A new thing for Goodwill is that they take computer components, printers, etc.  They ship them to a company for refurbishing or parts.  One of our computer screens just died, plus the CPU unit was really slow.  After getting necessary files transferred, we'll be taking everything to Goodwill and downsizing our technology continent. 

Bath Puffs

A popular teacher gift these days is a Bath & Body Works' basket of shower gel, fragrant spray, lotion, and the ever present puff.  These puffs fill out the look with bright colors and interesting textures.  I have quite a collection, thanks to very generous families.  Today I put them into the give-away box as I never use them, preferring wash cloths or real loofah squash.

Vases

I put a glass vase into the give away bin.  Though it was nice, it was a regular glass vase and I already have some for when summer flowers bloom.

Old Lotion

I threw out a partially used, old bottle of lotion today.  I know it seems wasteful, but I barely used it, have two OTHER bottles to use up, and it was taking up space.

Remember, you CAN throw out old cosmetics; their shelf lives are not infinite!

Search

Look in the hall closet for anything that you don't need anymore.

Stacks of Books

I was watching "House Hunters International" one day last week and a couple were both professors, looking for a small place in Paris, France.  In their U.S. condo, it showed stacks of books throughout their place...stacked vertically almost as high as a person.  I guess in a small space, that is an option, and for professors, you can't just go borrow those books from a library.

I love books, but I don't like storing them.  Someday I may have a Kindle electronic reader which will store the books invisibly, but for now, I like that most books I read are stored for me at the public library.  Comments on books come up frequently here on the blog, but I want to remind you that most popular books can be obtained from the library; if you find used books somewhere, donate them after you finish unless they're true keepers.  Books take up a lot of space, so keep your favorites, but declutter the rest.

One Per Day

In case you have just stumbled onto this blog because you hit "next blog,"  what we are trying to do here is declutter our homes and simplify our lives by donating or throwing away one item per day.  It may seem like it won't make a dent, but it's an easily attainable goal, and many of us have decluttered whole areas of our homes with this method.  That said, my faithful followers, thank you.  You keep me accountable daily. 

Lorie Moreno, in her clutterdiet.com website, mentioned a "calm, clutter-free home."  I'm right there.  When I walk into my house and there's paper, clothing, books, shoes, etc. on the counters and floors, and I have to move stuff to find a place to sit, it is an uncomfortable, tiring look.  On days I walk into my home and things are in their places, it washes me with a sense of calm. 

What we are doing is a good thing.  Keep it going!

Pet Medications

I found a bottle of a skin treatment solution we bought for our dog.  We lost our dog to cancer well over a year ago and have no plans to get another at this point.  I'm not sure why I held onto this except it was back in the back of a cabinet.  I'm throwing it away.

More to Donate

I've been simplifying for a running 461 days, and am still finding things to get rid of in my house!  In a clothing drawer today, I found a piece of clothing that hasn't had much use, I don't really like, and only use in a pinch.  It is going in the Goodwill bin today.  Even if you have looked in certain areas or rooms in your house, there could always be more items you've overlooked that really aren't wanted.  Time has a way of adding insignificance to clutter.

Outside Plants

I left a couple of plants outside over the winter.  They were looking quite dead as my husband was doing some spring clean-up.  He asked me if I was finished with them.  We threw them out.  Do you have anything outside on a deck or porch that is looking spindly and, well, dead?  I encourage you to toss them now and give that area a clean look.

Confirmation

Over the weekend, I had confirmation that simplifying and having little clutter is working in achieving my goals.  We had a handyman come in to fix some drywall problems.  When discussing the dust it would create and the life of paint, I overheard him say, "...because you have a super clean house."  Ahh...music to my ears. 

The reason it appears clean is because everything has a place and there's not wall to wall stuff.  It's also easier to clean without clutter having to be moved for vacuuming or dust mopping. 

Not that what people think is why I simplify; I declutter and organize to make my own life easier.  But,  it's nice to have the efforts noticed!

Direction to Look

I point you in a direction on Sundays.  Look in a drawer in the kitchen.  Can anything go or be better organized?

Freezer Burn

Today's foray into simplification involves the freezer.  I've held onto a wonderful dessert for, well, a long time.  I'm the only one in the family who would have liked it, but was afraid of the temptation lest I eat the entire thing.  As a result, it was left in the freezer a very long time.  I won't even open it (did I mention it's been a long time...) but will toss the whole thing today.  Do you have any crystalized freezer food that can go?

CD

Muscial tastes change; then again, sometimes you own music you never sought in the first place.  Today I am putting a local group's CD in the give away bin.  I got it free somewhere but have never listened to it. 

As you are pulling out a music CD in the next couple of weeks, scan the collection for ones you no longer enjoy and get rid of them.