What kind of clutter is in your life?
Daily | August 18th, 2008
Clutter comes in all shapes and sizes. Crammed cupboards, packed schedules, messy mental notes. If it weighs you down, tame it with the principles of tidy. Today’s question is inspired by a master of simplicity, Erin Doland, Editor-in-Chief of Unclutterer, who knows just how to put things in their place….’cause there’s a place for everything.
Carrie says: Head clutter, crowded thoughts. Because I’ve got so much of it, I’m always clearing my physical surroundings so I can think. Clear surfaces give me the space to move forward.
Danielle says: I’m happy to report that after a summer of ruthless stuff-purging (praise be to Craigslist,) and deeper personal prioritizing, I am cruising in the clutter-free lane right now.
Erin says: I’m currently struggling with schedule clutter. I have said “yes” to too many things that aren’t really important to me, and it’s time for me to re-evaluate my commitments. I go through cycles: I clear my schedule of the extraneous, then non-essential items slowly creep back into the mix, and then I need to clear my schedule again. Two or three times a year I find myself in the place I am right now, and it’s more stress than I like to carry. Over the next couple weeks, I will need to delegate, decline, and dismiss the non-essential tasks from my schedule so that I can return to a place where I can focus on what matters most to me. When I’m pulled in too many directions, nothing is done well.
Get inspired to simplify – and keep it that way. Read our interview with the master Unclutterer, Erin Doland.
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August 18th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Great interview, Erin!
Since I’ve moved three times in the past two years, my physical clutter is minimal. The things I’ve kept have special value. I also don’t buy very often, and when I do it is for investment, not whimsy. Like Carrie, my mental clutter is more difficult to shift. As I work from home there’s always a distraction, and if I can’t overcome it I leave and work at a cafe or the library or similar.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:45 am
I think I’ve had some “people clutter” in my life lately. I notice that when I scale back and decline the energy I give away to certain individuals, I am calmer and more energized. This leaves room for new friends and experiences!
August 18th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I let people rent apartments in my head. When this happens I say a prayer of letting go, surrender and voila before I know it they’re gone. Problem is they move back in quickly as if they have squatters’ rights, so I’m praying a lot.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:18 am
I would have to agree with a few others here that the clutter in my head is worse than the clutter in my house (and that is saying something!) I’m a worrier.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:33 am
I most definitely have head clutter. While I’ve rid myself of physical clutter, I still struggle with my mind running in different directions. At work, I’m learning to delegate more. In my own personal life, I am learning to deal with thoughts generated by fear and anxiety by getting rid of them as soon as they appear. I’m a great fan of lists so I make one everyday and check off the things I need to accomplish.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:58 am
Oh goodness, this couldn’t have been timelier.
My clutter is 85% physical (stuff) and the other 15% is body clutter (fat) – so stuff and fat are what weighs me down. I have been on a quest for years to get rid of the stuff (& the fat!) and I have done a real good job several times. I have less than I did a few years ago, but this slow and steady process is mind numbing. I have spent the past two days tossing freely of stuff and have made a rather large dent (see the timeliness of this question!) & have also renewed my commitment to shedding the fat, too and that is going quite well. Also, I just found the “Unclutterer” site yesterday when I was “Stumbling.” How fun!
August 18th, 2008 at 6:09 am
Funny you guys should ask. For yearss I have allowed relationships to remain in my life far longer than I should, and presently to the detriment of my safety and peace of mind. As Iyanla would say, “until today…”. Please pray for me. Please.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:11 am
I’m seeing that a number of you are talking about mental clutter. We’ve recently run a wonderful post on our site about ways to curb a running mind: http://unclutterer.com/2008/08/14/clearing-mind-chatter/
Feel welcome to check it out
August 18th, 2008 at 6:26 am
My desk is awash in paper. Paper stacked, stapled, piled, shuffled, folded, in envelopes, in files not filed, on top of already filled in boxes, out boxes, scanners, printers, shelves, even on top of boxes already filled with more papers. I’m either testing my ability to remember exactly where I put a single sheet in this mountain of dead trees, or collecting this clutter has a hidden meaning not yet manifested. I intoxicated by the thought that I could eliminate all of my clutter with a single match. Unfortunately my office isn’t fire proof.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Shoes.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:45 am
I have ALOT of stuff….period. More than anything I have books. I have books on top of books on top of books. I have slowly started to give the ones I don’t use/read away or sell them online…but its a hard process. I don’t like getting rid of stuff. I don’t even delete emails. My yahoo inbox has 18,833 emails. Right now I am in a cramped space (living w/ mom) and it would make sense to get rid of the clothes I never wear, the papers that are no longer relevant, but I don’t. There’s an odd comfort in them being there. Yet, its soooooooooooooooo messy. And I believe in feng shui and how your environment/outer life is reflective of your inner life. I know what I need to do, but I am really resistant to that.
There is also a clutter of a few people that need to be cleared from my life/psyche too. The exes (all of them), to make room for new friendships, etc.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:50 am
In preparing for our recent renovation of our one-bedroom apartment, it was absolutely shocking how much stuff we got rid of. MOUNTAINS of stuff. You wouldn’t have believed it all fit in our apartment. We gave away, threw away, donated, sold. We also got a larger storage unit and offloaded stuff there. And it is SO much better – but I have a lot of work to do, still. There are still somehow too many clothes and shoes, and although I weeded out my filing, what is left still needs to organized. One big project I am looking forward to is getting a new scanner so I can digitize a lot of paper and get rid of the physical stuff.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:00 am
Hi, Nia. I can relate! I love my books and they had totally taken over our apartment. We HAD to get rid of piles of them, though, before we could begin our renovation. I couldn’t bear to throw them out, though, so I did too things that were fun and gave me a lot of satisfaction. First, I gathered all of the books I was able to part with and piled them into one bookshelf. Then I invited all of my friends over to have cocktails and “shop” for books. I had lots of old shopping bags on hand and people took piles of them. It was really fun. I also used bookcrossing.com to get rid of those not taken by my friends. This is the coolest idea – check it out!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:10 am
A tiny apartment and alot of stuff! As much as I like to be organized, and the minimalist approach, the clutter doesn’t stay controlled for very long!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:12 am
My clutter is too many appointments – once you’re past fifty, it’s all maintenance, so I end up with doctor’s appointments, dentist’s, chiropractor, massage therapy, reflexology, facials, etc. Plus working full-time! And juggling two gentlemen friends! Hmmm – what should I get rid of?
August 18th, 2008 at 7:12 am
shoes…those can’t be clutter
August 18th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Oh, I love lists too. If you haven’t tried it, you might want to look at a website called Listography. It is great because you can keep all of your lists in one electronic place instead of having them in notebooks, on stickies, etc….
August 18th, 2008 at 7:15 am
the clutter that is in my life right now is all of the drama that my friends seem to think is so important. i love my friends but please!! i think that some people invent things just to have something to talk about. it is exhausting.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Agreed…a person can never have too many shoes
August 18th, 2008 at 7:24 am
Technically, I don’t consider books to be clutter either, but both are in PILES around my house! These are two things I love most in the world, but they don’t get the respect they deserve.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Absolutely right – shoes are not clutter – they are necessities! Why have fourteen pairs of black shoes? Why not!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
When I moved from Santa Fe to Whidbey Island, WA, I went through years of files and office clutter rather than pay to move it. Much of it was confidential and required shredding, so I took it to an industrial shredder. It was so liberating to “shed/shred”the past! Highly recommended.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:42 am
Clutter seems to be a never-ending battle in my house and life, especially after having children. The clutter of children’s half-completed artworks, little scraps of paper, notes and business cards left on every counter surface by my husband (and baseball caps!), my to do lists, kid’s toys that are too big to be stored out of sight, my desk! Don’t even get me started on my desk! Thank god for the Vietnam Veterans Association! They take just about everything and anything you want to donate, and they come and pick it up from your doorstep. I have donated lots and lots and lots to them. However, it still never seems to make a dent! We’ve also got a lovely collection of glass art, glass bowls, figurines, and decorative chochkees (never sure how to spell that word), and I have made a decision: no more! If one more relative gives me a glass candy dish or vase for Christmas, I’m going to go bananas. I heard a quote this year: “the more you know, the less you need.” If it doesn’t “do” something useful, then I don’t want it. My goal is to make gift-giving holidays an opportunity to give “experiences” (like concert tickets) instead of the exchange of pretty junk.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:44 am
Such a great metaphor! Maybe a mental moat, drawbridge and really tough but angelic-like security guards will keep the squatters away.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Well, Definitely keep the men. They can both do massage treatments.
August 18th, 2008 at 7:48 am
Laundry. CLEAN laundry, I should add. I don’t mind doing it but folding it up and hanging it up is just such a CHORE.
That and mail.
Admitting this to the world is step 1 in many in my quest for being neat and organized!
August 18th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I love that “The more you know, the Less you need” Awesome. Kind of like “It’s not how much you earn, it’s how much you save… in the end”
August 18th, 2008 at 7:51 am
I’m with Carrie — tons of head clutter to organize and keep at bay! My solution is a system consisting of a pocket-sized Moleskine and full-sized Time Traveller for important stuff and a plain legal pad for random extraneous, possibly-important-but-not-quite-sure, thoughts. Clean spaces help me a lot, too, but I already purged all that I can. I’m in a temporarily tight living situation, so until I can free myself from that, I visualize vast empty spaces to clear my mind. That seems to work wonders! : )
August 18th, 2008 at 7:57 am
I hate clutter! We have recently had our house for sale and I had to d-clutter of course. Amazing how much stuff can accumulate. 50 boxes of stuff-clutter ( now I know):} and it’s been packed for a year…don’t miss or need a thing! Is this telling me something?? Enough, time to pitch some things! My husband is worse… he has 3 non working computers…3 !!! and piles of magzines still un opened in the plastic wrapper from years ago. Yuck! ) We need to d clutter some more.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:04 am
My clutter is slowly diminishing…I had a lot of stuff bogging my brain down – insecurities, worries, self-criticism, decisions to make – I can tell when I’m retaining stuff because my skin doesn’t look as good, then I released it all and fortunately the ppl involved TOTALLY understood where I was coming from and I felt a huge weight off my shoulder.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I am seriously allergic to clutter – it’s like visual pollution and frenetic noise all at once. I am constanly shedding stuff. Clothes, books, paperwork – either it’s a ‘keeper’ that has a place somewhere in our space, or it’s a ‘renter’, temporarliy taking residence until its use/purpose is fulfilled. I have a thing for storage boxes and containers – anything that will hold all the little stuff that can fly all over the place. To be honest – I probably need to allow a little more clutter in, or at least not be so stressed as it ebbs and flows…my 3 year old has helped me a bit with that
August 18th, 2008 at 8:24 am
Tabitha — As far as cleaning goes, laundry is the hardest for me to tackle. I don’t even own that many clothes! I think it’s just the repetitive nature of it. Twice a week I have to do it. Oooof.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Perhaps that’s what happens when I pray!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Your description of your clutter is almost poetic.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:32 am
What a great idea, Krysti, to have your friends come over and ’shop’! I’m going to try that.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Like Danielle, I’ve been on a physical clutter purge for about a year now. I decided a year ago to get rid of many of my beloved books, as I live in a small NYC apt., and they took up a lot of space, even though I only ever held on to the great ones. It was hard to part with them, but I sold them at a sale to raise money for my community garden, and got to witness most of them going to their new homes— we raised lots of money, which felt great. I routinely go through my things, and give away what I don’t use any more. People actually call this tiny apt. “airy” now, something I never would have imagined happening a few years ago!
Now I am working on the mental clutter— money I owe, notes I need to write, etc. I am working on digging myself out, and not getting behind the 8 ball in that sort of clutter again. Thank you notes get written right away!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:33 am
Not the gentleman friends!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:35 am
Thank you so much Cindy. I’m going to check it out.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I love bookcrossing, too! The way was able to let go of my beloved books was to think of myself as making way for new ideas. That was a year ago, and it has been a pretty inspired year for me creatively!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:44 am
I’ll be reading this book. I dream of a clutter free home, but I seem to stuff things in cupboards and drawers and it weighs on my constantly.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Clothes – dreaming of losing that extra weight from last spring . . . now summer is almost over and I have been ran off my feet with company and family – no weight training. I hate to waste clothes – but the depression I feel looking into a closet full of nice clothes I cannot fit into . . . and want to. OOOh that is too depressing for Monday morning.
August 18th, 2008 at 8:51 am
I have physical and mental clutter. My dh is a packrat so the stuff clutter and I have so much I *should be* in my head and what I *should do* and really I have no authentic desire to do so… Therefore I end up feeling guilty…
I also have some body clutter ( excess weight) but have sucessfully shed 31 pounds of it, now to get rid of the rest… This causes head clutter… there is a vicious cycle going on here, but I see it and can take care of it…
I’m working on ONE clutter mess at a time, the body clutter is the most important to me, so that is priority #1, priority #2 is the mental and expressing my true opionion ( this is DIRECTLY connected to the body clutter – but the body clutter effects my physical and mental health)…. Physical clutter, well, maybe it’s just me, I do like a minimal amount of stuff… To me if it’s not been used in 1 year, isn’t beautiful or useful or isn’t a family piece ( I LOVE heirloom pieces and most of my large furniture pieces are older – one day I’ll tell you the story of each piece)…
August 18th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Paper clutter! All my papers from the past few years are filed and organized, but I have three shoeboxes in my closet from years ago that I am putting off going through! Easier to pretend they’re not there…
August 18th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Quantity. I’ve found that over the past few years I have cluttered my life with quantity rather than quality. My new mantra is to think about the things that I include in my life whether it be material things, friends, committments, exercise, work etc. and for quality even though it may cost more and involve more effort. I believe that thinking this way will reduce all types of clutter in my life.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Social obligations, absolutely. Like Erin, I can let things build. I reach shut-down mode, and react by becoming a hermit for a few weeks. It used to be much worse. But I started teaching yoga, and bringing my practice into my daily life, and you know, it really works! One of my favourite, most useful Take-Away Tips is mindfulness applied to to-do lists: http://joyyoga.blogspot.com/2008/08/philosophy-senses.html
August 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am
My life is cluttered in almost every way you could imagine! My goal for the next 12 months is to simplify my business interests and free my house of paper-based chaos.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Krysti-what a great idea and a good reason to throw a party
My sister, also an avid reader and I establshed our own “Coast to Coast Book Club” (I am in California, she is New York). We ship books, creative book reviews and fun little treats back and forth across the USA. She sent me Bookmarks in my last batch from her trip to Ireland. Even though we talk all the time and have email there is something spcial about a box arriving in the mail.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:39 am
my clutter is like carries mind clutter. To much going on at the same time. As things get done i hope my life will be less cluttered but im sure more things will come around that clutter up my mind once agian. It is a never ending circle.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
Has to be, since I can’t seem to do anything else with all the paper.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:00 am
1. Desk clutter – all those papers I intend to go through and file, all that paperwork to do, all those things I intend to read…
2. Boyfriend clutter – all the things we have in our small house with no place to store them – and he is REALLY a packrat.
3. Head clutter – work is chaotic right now, both in terms of client needs and administrative squabbles/battles/wars.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:31 am
I confess to clothing clutter! I recently had my style statement done and that’s really made me more aware that I’m holding on to clothing that really isn’t “me”. So: here and now I am commit to rid myself of all the too small, too trendy, too “not me” clothing that’s weighing me down. I know that getting dressed in the morning will be quicker and I can spend that extra time in the a.m. stretching (or sleeping!) or actually sitting down to enjoy my cuppa.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
The challenge of becoming an unclutterer is at the heart of living my Style Statement which is Simply Natural. “Simplys hate clutter” as it states in the book’s commentary on Simply(simple, simplicity). But just because Simplys hate clutter doesn’t mean clutter-free is always easy to achieve. With a home reno almost complete, I am on the cusp of creating a serene, simple, uncluttered environment. I will re-place only those things that I love. The dumpster awaits the stuff nobody wants or can use, Good Will will get the rest. And I’ll be making regular visits to unclutterer.com to help me get to the core of my SS.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Head clutter, for sure, although I find that meditation really helps. People clutter, too, I’m afraid. I’m hanging on to a relationship I really need to let go of, but I just can’t seem to let go. Of course there’s always stuff. I keep trying to purge, but it’s a never-ending battle.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Books, papers, and unopened and/or unanswered mail clutter. Yeek!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:48 am
Wow! Great question.
I try to keep my clutter to a minimum but it some how creeps back in.
Mental clutter, and a ton of it.
There are probably a 1 or 2 people in my life, where I’m not totally sure why there are still around or what enjoyment we share together, unfortunate I know.
I am famous for junk drawers! No matter how little the object, if I don’t feel like dealing with it then, I don’t.
Magazines tend to add up as well.
All of those “great finds” at thrift shops that clog up your closet, you might wear them once and never again, then at the end of the year you donate it back to the store you bought it from. Classic.
Communicative clutter is probably what I possess the most of. Not saying what you really feel when you really feel it. Where does that go??? You keep it and it adds up, hence your shrink!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:52 am
When my space is messy, my mind feels messy. Even if nothing specific is really wrong – I’ll feel uneasy and out of control. Keeping my space clean helps to keep my mind right.. When I have people over it drives me nuts if they leave a mess behind (plus, its kinda rude!).
August 18th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
My husbands family’s furniture!! It’s mostly old, broken, one-valuable, but not valued stuff. It’s everywhere. Especially end tables. oy. I wish he could unclutter his heart and let go!!
August 18th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
We’ve just built a new home and moved in. In the process of unpacking we’re getting rid of a lot of stuff we don’t use or don’t love. It drives me crazy that we took it with us and didn’t sort on the other end, before packing and moving, but that’s life. My idealist, perfectionist, crazymaking self needs to take a holiday. Off with you!!! I also have a lot of paper clutter that I’m avoiding sorting. And I have some stuff, especially cooking stuff that I rarely use but am keeping because I might i.e. make a pie some day so I should keep that pyrex pie plate right?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Yes, I am cluttered! I try to take on too many projects and GOOD CAUSES…but I can’t save the world if I’m buried underneath it all. LOL So in this season of my life…my priority is SCHOOL! Everything else must come after that…..I’m working full time, and attending a doctoral program full time….so there will be little time for extracurricula activities….I know I will miss that a lot….no more YMCA, no more bible study (unless I find one on Monday nights), no more hip hop dance class, no more mentoring girls Princess Within…..I already know I will have to keep reminding myself that in order to accomplish BIGGER AND BETTER things I must focus on school.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Definitely home clutter. I suffer from “stuff-itis”, a word I made up for all the crap that surrounds me. Treatment consists of putting something away as I walk from room to room but it doesn’t seem to help me really catch up. I do make inroads, but then it all starts again. Just too much crap. I am about to read the interview with Erin, and hope I can pick up some helpful hints!
August 18th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
quality; that so resonated with me. like you, i think that having anything around that is not quality or serving a purpose only clutters one’s space and mind. sort of like settling for cheaper or less – i’d rather go without. you are so on. thinking quality, not quantity — just imagine all that creativity and space freed to be unique. thanks for your answer.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
okay, so I have to ask…why do you keep the 18,833 emails?
August 18th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Our kid does the “10 Second tidy” at daycare. They sing a little song and pick up their toys. We do an advanced version of that at home now. “OKAY! Ten minute tidy! And…GO!” And if we can’t do it in about 10 minutes, we leave it. The momentum is amazing and it’s nowhere near as daunting as a Saturday morning cleaning your house. Loud music is essential. You can have your house in order in about 5 songs.
xo
D
August 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Hi Danielle,
Ummmmmmmmmm, that may just be laziness. There isn’t an attachment to those, I just rarely delete emails. For work it’s difference, but……….those emails. I don’t know.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
D! I LOVE THIS!!
Thank you for the fabulous idea! Now if only I could teach it to Duane the pooch…but it’s perfect for hubby and me.
Tam
August 18th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
I get that! Danielle often asks “where is….?) and I have either stored it, recycled it or given it away. I am too ruthless with stuff and not ruthless enough with my thoughts.
August 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I love your commitment to beauty and utility, what a great guide.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I am with you on the meditation. I started meditating about a year ago for an hour each morning, and it has made a huge difference. All of the mental chatter that everyone has been referring to is almost nonexistent for me now.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
A cheer to Cindy for recommending Listography!!
My clutter is LIFE clutter–have just accumulated a lifetime of quality clutter, a lot of it related to ramping up for a project, then going on to ramping up for another project, but not following through on any. Why?–fear of risk, fear of criticism, fear of failure? Yet,I am now hankering to create some space in my life. Have taken early retirement (let’s say a sabbatical) to see if having more time for fun,and making space will help.
August 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
1. Notebooks & binders from grad school. I’m afraid to let go because it would feel like throwing away knowledge (and $40,000 in tuition). I keep meaning to go through them and type up the really important notes…
2. Head clutter. LOVED the metaphor about “renters in your head.”
My husband and I moved in June, and we weeded out lots of stuff. We know we’re going to move again in a year, so our motto for the year is “10% less.” I plan to keep a box in my closet into which I toss things all year long. At the end of the year, I’ll take it to goodwill. I just completed my Style Statement, and I think it will really help me reduce the clutter. Thanks, C&D!
August 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Hey MoJo – speaking my language, babe. I also see a lot of things as “rental.” I think I’m renting most of my clothes, some of my art work, my kid’s toys. Stuff comes…stuff goes. (I just try to keep it out of a landfill in between.)
August 18th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Hey what’s your Style Statement?
August 18th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Ditto! Quality feels so good, ahhhh, I feel breathing space.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
What a great analogy!
August 18th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Sophisticated Fresh
August 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I will put Listography on my list!
August 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
We have used a shredder to shed feelings, experiences great symbol for letting go!
August 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I know that feeling of unease when my space feels cluttered. Room to breath is sweetness to me.
August 18th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Stuff.. in the cupboards,in the attic,in the drawers.
It’s all hidden away. My home seems very streamlined and simplified but behind every door is a freakin’ nightmare!
August 18th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
That’s good to know. I do find I can deal better with mental clutter now. I hope it’ll work with the other clutter, too.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Great idea! I find housework is a lot more fun when done to music.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Toy clutter! I’m always giving away or throwing them out, but they just seem to creep back. I’ve barred Bratz dolls as I was tired of searching around for their feet – and might I say they look terribly freaky with stumpy legs. Don’t people give kids books anymore?
August 18th, 2008 at 5:34 pm
This is one area where I excel. I only own clothes that fit and that I love. This means that I use about 12″ of hanging space and 3 drawers. I don’t have fat clothes and I don’t have thin clothes. Since I don’t have hundreds of items, when I lose weight, I can easily donate my clothes and buy new/used.
August 18th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Candis, I am right there with you. A website that has been invaluable to me as I keep dealing with physical clutter is http://www.flylady.net. I tend to go on de-cluttering binges, then burn myself out for a while til I can’t stand it and go at it again. Thanks to everyone who wrote about mental clutter…I thought I was the only one who was constantly thinking through what needed to be done, what came next, how to do something better. Great topic for today!
August 18th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Let’s talk Lego between the toes.
My standard kid gifts: a card (made by my kid) with a note: “Our treat is to take you to lunch and a movie…with popcorn!” I’m also into subscriptions to National Geographic for Little Kids. And books. I don’t care if the kid isn’t jazzed to get it (they will be once bedtime rolls around.) The right book can really add to a a little person’s life.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Oooh, great question…I am demonized by the clutter around me. With two young boys (7 and 5), I’m inundated with toys, papers, wrappers…Then add my piles to the mix and tada…can’t see the kitchen counter any more. Be afraid, very afraid. I’m constantly trying to solve the clutter problem in my head and that may explain the cluttered mind! haha I was at Borders today (where by the way saw the Style Statement book showcased on an endcap) and read all of the clutter books. But then I start feeling a little sweaty and nauseous…back to Self Help!!! Not ready for Clutter section yet.
I bought a great book and am still reading. Check it out!!! It’s perfect for shedding the clutter in the mind first, then tackling the rest of the stuff.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Organizing-Isnt-Enough-Change/dp/0743250893/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219120604&sr=1-1
Perhaps when the boys turn 18 and move out…otherwise, we’ll be in our own reality show and it won’t be pretty!
Blessings,
Stacy
August 18th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
I have none of my own clutter, because I have been doing Flylady off and on for over 5 years and I have solid decluttering routines in place. I cannot handle clutter – it makes me nuts! One thing into the house, at least one thing out. And if you have two things, keep the good one and get rid of the other. If I come across clothing that no longer suits me, I give it away regardless of how much it cost. It is good karma to give, and some lady will have something lovely that she would never have been able to afford otherwise.
I do have husband clutter – ancient clothes that look dorky and will never, EVER be in style again; and eight million tools because it does not cost much more to buy a WHOLE NEW SET of screwdrivers from Canadian Tire than it does to replace ONE! If it were me, I would rather replace the one and declutter all the extras. If nothing else, the missing one probably is not missing, but merely lost amongst 7,999,998 other tools.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
My sister gave me the Listography book – I love it!!!
August 18th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I love flylady. I know all of the routines, I can recite them by heart. I have lace up shoes on all the time! I think my house would be buried if it weren’t for flylady. I’m just a slow learner LOL
August 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
Mental clutter related to my thoughts surrounding a career change. I love thinking about the possibilities, but I’m too bogged down with my current career trials to really focus. Financial clutter in the way of debt that is stressful and overwhelming and takes me away from being focused on the future. I want peace!
August 18th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
I agree with you. Being in the wrong career is the greatest of clutter. I’m good at what I do and it’s ethical work, but it doesn’t feed my soul. The work continues to expand, like unkept mail falling off a desk. It squeezes out time for anything else. As you can tell, I’m contemplating a career change too. I wish you the best….
August 18th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Plate clutter. Too much on that plate. And I hate clutter so I clean my plate. This clutters my closet with three different dress sizes. Sigh. Can I Craigs list ten pounds of fat? Anyone, anyone?
August 18th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Julia, very insightful…how true.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:38 am
I am a worrier, too. Fear is a clutterer in my brain. I would like to learn how to pray with real intentionality so that I am more focused. If anyone can point me in the right direction I’d appreciate it!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:40 am
Great reminder that lists help! Getting something on paper makes it less scary and more manageable! Thanks!
August 19th, 2008 at 3:42 am
Brenda, get help from as many people as you can talk to. You can do this. Be strong and I WILL pray for you.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:41 am
Thank you, Julia.
August 19th, 2008 at 7:03 am
Paper. It stares at me from piles. Comes into the house in droves. Shifts from here to there. But I have a Palm Pilot for general lists which I love. I’ll keep working on the paper. I say that knowing it’s the first day of school … the paper capital of the world!
August 19th, 2008 at 7:31 am
I’m right with you. Don’t mind doing it at all, but it sits around folded for dayyyys. And the paper. Hmmm. We must share the same “disfunctions.” ; )
August 19th, 2008 at 8:32 am
Funny, my neighbor and I are opposites. Her surfaces are immaculate and spare. Her cupboards and drawers are a mess. My surfaces are cluttered and my drawers and cupboards are fairly organized. What gives??
August 20th, 2008 at 1:29 pm
My home. We want to start renovating and there seems to be so much STUFF everywhere that I just can’t get started. I need to clean out everything and learn how to let go of stuff…
August 20th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
I just signed up at Listography. I haven’t made any lists yet, but I can tell I’m going to like it. It’s a really beautiful website.
August 20th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
What a great idea!
August 20th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Me too! I fold mine in front of the TV. Sometimes that works, and sometimes I just sit beside the full basket. I agree with Erin, it’s the repetitive that gets old – it seems like you’re never really DONE.
October 16th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I'm with you on the “head clutter”, Carrie. Still trying to get everything out of my mind like GTD says.