Decluttering

Advice: Missing Pictures

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(Have you had this problem?)

I have gone back to look through some past blog post and found that my pictures are not showing anymore.  This has happened to me 3 times so far.  All of my pictures are gone except for the last one I posted with pictures.  This post was from 4 months ago.    Strange!

It is now going to take me quite a while to go back through all my photos and find the ones I used on the different posts.

My advice:  Put your all your pictures that you use for your blog into a  Blog folder on your computer.  That way if there is any problem you can go back and quickly find them and insert them again.

I have been trying to find why this keeps happening.  So far no luck.

Have you had this problem?  What is the fix or am I doing something wrong?

 

I Begin Again: Decuttering

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(Do you have shoes to go through?  After you do tell me how many you tossed/donated?)

Well, I am finally back.  I have hardly done any decluttering.  That doesn’t mean that I haven’t been thinking and planning.  I have been working extra hours at one of my jobs, then went on a week vacation with my family.  Though mostly I just couldn’t get myself to do anything.

My plan was for me to get my jobs situated and work a little less during the summer so I can work on projects.  One of those projects is to declutter.  I have less work hours right now SO….

Here I go!  My first project is to go through our shoes and declutter/minimize.

I forgot to take a picture before I started.  This picture is when I have already taken some out of the wood shoe shelving.  Also to the left of the wood shelf is our black rolling shoe rack that usually hides behind the cat tree.

20170710_172239

I ended up throwing away 8 pairs of shoes.  I think I could have done 2 more, though did not have the constitution to do it.  8 pairs in the garbage may sound like a lot to you, because I know it does to me.  Let me tell you how I deal with my shoes.  I buy a new pair of shoes when my old ones develop holes.  I will keep the shoes I am replacing just in case my feet get sore in the new ones or in case something happens to my new shoes.  Well, I have been doing that for the last 7 pairs of shoes without getting rid of the extra pair.  I was happy that even though I threw a lot away I was able to donate 3 pairs.  YEA!

Here is what the final product looks like.  Outside the wood shoe tower there were consistently 4-6 pairs of shoes on the floor.  Now only flip flops.  The black shoe rack is now back behind the cat tree.  This time just full of shoes we plan to use.

20170710_180612

I feel pretty good about this project.

Do you have shoes to go through?  After you do tell me how many you tossed/donated?

Days Fly By… Little Progress

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Stuck  (my first title for this)

(What are the things you want to accomplish?  Are you working toward them?)

One minute, one hour, one day, one week, one month, one year flows into the next.  It can go by so fast and I look back and see very little accomplished.  Nothing has really changed.

I am working just to pay bills I have caused.  These bills from fixing my car, buying a few things I didn’t really need, going out to eat that shouldn’t have gone on my credit card, and the most fun Vacations!  I need to do better not turning to the credit card.  Watching all the videos about minimizing, and living without debt is making me crave it, though to get there work is involved.

So ‘Do the work’ I think to myself.  I have many excuses why I am not doing the work.  Most of them are not good excuses.  But even if the excuse is bogus it will hinder me from getting to what I believe I want.

I want to be debt free
I want a decluttered house
I want to spend quality time with my family
I want to remodel my house
I want to be able to follow my passions without worrying so much about money
I want a job where I am happy, satisfied and know I am making a difference.
I want to be healthy and have a healthy family

Doesn’t sound too hard!  Though most of these take time and determination.  I need to stay motivated if I am going to accomplish them.  That is what this blog is about for me.  If I know people are watching, then I hope it will keep me motivated.

Keep watching, liking, and encouraging me.   Thanks in advance.

What are the things you want to accomplish?  Are you working toward them?

My Procrastination Problem

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(Do you have a procrastination problem?  Have you come up with any tricks to help you?)

I am the queen of procrastination.  Leaving things to the last-minute is the way I live.  It frustrates me, it’s depressing, and I just don’t get things done that don’t have a deadline.

If there is a deadline at work I will have it done!  I had a job once that my boss would give me a list of things to do in the office that day.  I would do bits of the jobs all throughout the day and I would get it done.

A few times my boss would add something that needed done halfway through my shift which would mess up my plan and throw me into stress.  I was not very good with things just popping up.  Saying that I still almost always got everything done by the end of the day.

So why can’t I do that for myself?  I write a TO DO LIST in the morning.  I know what needs to get done, but by the end of the day only a small portion gets done.  I have enough time to do it if I would just work and get it done.  I just don’t stay focused on my list.

I recently read a blog by blogger ‘my one life. today’ and she put in a great video into her blog titled ‘Unopened boxes’.  I am so grateful I came across this.

The video’s name is ‘Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator’

This video totally explains how my mind works.  I have a monkey problem.  I have put deadlines on myself, though if I don’t get it done I just have me to report to.  That is not much motivation for me.

I started this blog to help me declutter my house.  I am dragging my feet.  Working on my house seems very daunting.  Even a small pile of papers seem like a mountain at times.   I am not giving up.  I will be decluttering again.

I just need to get the monkey to shut up and stay in his tree.

Do you have a procrastination problem?  Have you come up with any tricks to help you?

Living with No Regrets

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(Have you watched videos that have spoken to you at the moment you needed it?)

I want to declutter and downsize.  To help motivate me I have been watching ‘living simple’ and ‘minimalist’ videos.  I have enjoyed listening to them, though there were three I watched in the last couple of days that were saying exactly what I needed to hear.

The first was from ‘The Boss of the Swamp’ ( https://www.youtube.com/user/thebossoftheswamp – his youtube channel ).  I ended up watching about 4 of his videos yesterday.  Though the first one I watched is ‘Simple Living  One Man’s Perspective’. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ODu2RZIuXk)  He talked about living his dreams.  He talked about working toward his next dream.  He wants to live without regrets.  You may not want to live in the country, but living without regrets is a worthwhile pursuit.  The only thing that makes me sad is that I am learning this in my 50’s.  Though if I look on the bright side it is better than not learning it at all.

I recently wrote the blog ‘Missed Opportunities and Adventures’ found under my Life blog link.  Since I have written that I have been following my passions better.  I plan to not let life get in the way of what I am interested in learning and hopefully doing.

The second video I watched was ‘Peter Owen Jones: How to Live a Simple Life’.  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yocVGSGNrBc )

He challenged himself to live without money for 3 months.  He worked for most of the things he needed.  He found out he didn’t need as much as he use to have.  He learned that when relying on other people you lose your ego and become humble.  He also found that he spent more time with people and this made his life richer.

So, yesterday my husband decided to BBQ.  I usually stay inside while he cooks, but yesterday I decided to keep him company.  My neighbor came out into their backyard with their 3 year old.  I love children that age, but even though my neighbor and I like each other we don’t talk much.  But yesterday I said Hi and the mom, the 3 year old and I played Frisbee together.  It was only for 10 mins. though it was so fun and it filled me with more joy then just staying in the house.

I have heard that people on their death beds regret not spending more time with loved ones.  I don’t want to be one of those.

The last video was pretty short and straight forward.  It was called ‘Beginner.s Guide to Minimalism>> inspiration to get started’ ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjZwTDWxhbg )

This video told me that I could call myself a minimalist right now.  Even though looking around my house you would laugh at that statement.  Thoughts and words are powerful.  So if I call myself a minimalist now, then hopefully my brain will start to believe it and I will start acting and looking like one.

I am excited for this new adventure in discovery.  Let’s see where this takes me.

Have you watched videos that have spoken to you at the moment you needed it?

 

When is Your Best Time to Declutter?

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(When is your best time to declutter/clean?)

I am finding right now it is hard for me to start my next decluttering project.  I am realizing that I do my best decluttering when I have time off and when I am alone.

Right now I do not have much time off and my husband works from home most of the week.  So, when do I find time to declutter?  I am a former morning person, though have turned to a kind of nighttime person.  I say kind of because I can stay up till 11- midnight, though I am super tired and can’t get anything done.  So, again when can I fit in decluttering without disturbing the household?

I have a friend that goes on late night cleaning/decluttering sprees because it is quiet in the house and she can concentrate.  It is a time she doesn’t need to entertain the children or stop to help anyone.  She is not getting phone calls at 2am.  If I could stay up and not be a zombie the next day it may work if my husband wasn’t a night owl.

As I am typing this I know that it is just an excuse.  I just don’t want to declutter.  I haven’t gone though my mail for about 3 weeks.  To help with the clutter of the mail piling up on the table, printer, my side table about 3 months ago I started to put all my mail in a Sterilite 15 quart container.  The family knows that all my mail needs to go in there.  This has helped a lot, though out of sight… out of mind.

I am glad I blogged this because I will now be going through my mail.  Thanks all for watching me and making me accountable.

Give me ideas how and when you get decluttering and cleaning done.

When is your best time to declutter/clean?

 

Important Rule of Decluttering

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(Have you ever taken a long time to get rid of the box or bag of giveaway items?)

Important rule of decluttering:  Get rid if it!

Have you ever decided to toss an item or give away a full box or bag just to have it still sitting around a week, month, even year later?

They say as soon as you fill a box or bag take it out to your car.   That way:

  • It is not in your house.
  • You are not as likely to reopen it and decide to keep it.
  • That when the thought hits you… it is already loaded and easier to donate.

So today I loaded my car with the bags from my closet decluttering job.  Talk myself into driving right to the donation truck and get this over with.  I am feeling pretty good about my decision.

I get to the truck and they tell me it is full.   UGH!   I need to come back another day.

At least it is in my van and ready for when I have that moment to take it back.  I will say that this is the first time this has happened to me.

If you get derailed in life – do not give up.     I will try again.

Have you ever taken a long time to get rid of the box or bag of giveaway items?

 

The Dreaded Closet

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(Are you happier after you’ve decluttered?)

I am going to tackle my closet today.  I have been through my closet many times getting rid of a few things here and there.  Last time I organized my closet I used the space saver bags that shrink your items down to a smaller mass.  I have about 5 of these bags.  3 with bedding and two with clothes.

This time I am going in with the idea of decluttering, which means give most of my stuff away that I haven’t used.  I still have some clothing from my 20’s, some from my pregnancy 26 years ago that were my favorite shirts during that time and many clothes for when I weighed less.

I am expecting to be very emotional.  I won’t be surprised if I cry.  I do know how great I will feel when I can find my favorite clothes without a lot of searching.  I have warned my husband that he may be sleeping on the couch tonight since the bed may be full.

HERE I GO!!!!                     10:45am             Tuesday Morning

OH MY GOODNESS!!!        10pm                 Tuesday Night (a week later)

That took way longer than I thought it would and I still have a little bit left.
This is how my closet started.

20170411_104100Full Closet    20170411_104044Empty Bed

I asked my husband if he could sleep on the couch the first night (it ended up being two nights.)  Then I first took out all my coats in my closet.  This isn’t including the two coats I have been wearing all winter.  What a pile already.  How many coats do I really need?

20170411_104740Coats on bed

I then proceeded to taking every single thing out of my closet.  All of my clothes and bedding went onto my bed with my coats.  I believe that my closet is small, but I sure took a lot out.

20170411_112214 Full bed     20170411_112200 Clothes out

20170411_114723   Totally Empty  (Cool, but now the hard part)

My goal was to only put clothes back that were my size, things I liked, and what had room to go back in to the closet.  I wanted everything to have a space and for nothing to be in space saver shrink bags.

Just looking at the pile on my bed brought helplessness to my soul.  How am I going to tackle it?  Was this a mistake?  I had to get a couple of mantras going to get me through this.  “I can do this!”, “One item at a time.”, “Don’t give up.”  and “I am going to feel so good when I am done”.  I said these over and over to myself for the next week.

This took me longer than maybe other people because I had movies running almost constantly while working on the closet, which I would watch off and on.  Though I needed this distraction to get me though this horror.  I had many hours of staring at my clothes and closet.  I stared at my clothes because they were just over whelming.  Staring at my closet was to help me envision how I was going to organize it.

I really wanted a closet rod so I could hang up my shirts and the couple of dresses I own.  The side walls of the closet were not straight, though my husband and I figured how to get a rod installed.  This brought overwhelming happiness.  For over 6 years I have wanted a rod.     NOW I HAVE ONE.  Hanging up that first shirt was amazing.
Don’t overlook the small things in life.  Enjoy the simple things that bring you happiness and take a moment to appreciate them.

My Procedure:
I made a pile of things I knew I could give away, a pile for maybes, and a pile of clothing I knew I was going to keep.  The maybe pile was really big.

20170412_105707Maybe pile  (it even got a bit bigger)

I went through the maybe pile 4 times getting rid of a few things at a time.  Once you start getting rid of things you get tired and fed up, which sometimes makes it easier to chuck more.  I came across this feeling a few times.
WARNING:  Once you put something in a giveaway box or bag…..  DO NOT LOOK AT IT AGAIN!
My box got overfull so I had to transfer some clothing to a bag.  While doing that I pulled out a shirt and decided to keep it.  I was not proud of myself.  From that moment on I tried not to look when I was packing clothes into bags.  I want to get rid of stuff!

During this time it did not help with my weight.  Since I am an emotional eater the stress of this project had me looking for snacks.  It was one way I could take a break.  I gained about 5 pounds this week.

Little by little the pile got smaller.  By the third night I had the clothes that I still needed to go through piled next to my bed so my hubby could use his side again.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I had days off from work then I was back at work.  (I work 7 days a week).  From Friday – Tuesday I only did a little each day.

My favorite was hanging up the shirts that I was keeping.  I would often go to them and rub my hands from the hanger to the bottom of the shirts.  I couldn’t believe how great it was to hang them up and see EVERY shirt I owned.  I found out that I like them colored coded.  It looked so nice and peaceful compared to the way my shirts use to be.

20170413_143534My hanging shirts.   (Makes me so happy)

I learned long time ago that if I think I will miss something I am giving away to take a picture of it.  At least that way I have a memory of it and a picture takes up a lot less room.  I use to wear this shirt a lot when younger and even my daughter mentioned, “You are going to give that one away?  But you wore that all the time.”  She had a connection to that shirt, but I was over it.  I took this picture for her.
20170413_120953One of my favorite tee shirts from 10 years ago.

I have taken many pictures of my daughters creations that we don’t have room for.  That way we can toss or recycle them.

One more thing before I show you the almost finished project.  As I was hanging up my shirts I hung them up with the hangers backward.  I heard about this system.  After you wear your clothes hang them up the right way.  That way in 6 months to a year you will see which ones you are not using and can down size more.  I will wait a year since I have long sleeve shirts that I mostly wear in the winter.  Summer is on the way and I actually know where my tank tops are now.  Yea!

My goal:  I actually changed my goal some.  I did save some clothes that didn’t fit, but only about 1-2 sizes smaller and they needed to fit in a cubical or else I couldn’t keep it.  I also kept some shirts from a past job that I couldn’t get myself to give up.  I was able to find a small space in the closet for them.  It took a lot of thinking, but I figured it out.
I found out I didn’t want my rod to be stuffed of hanging clothes.  I wanted room to move them, so I had to give more away.  I still have a small stack of shirts I want to keep, but don’t fit in my closet.  I may go through all the shirts that are hanging again and see if I can get rid of more.

My closet now.  (I still need to go through bedding and small piles of clothes.)

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This was hard, but I knew I could do it and I do feel great about myself and my closet.
This is what I gave away (plus one more bag that is already in my van)
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We don’t need as much as we think we need.  I want to spend time on me and not the stuff I own.  Keep the things that make you happy and give away the rest.
Are you happier after you’ve decluttered?

(Please remember to press like so I know I am being watched.  Help me stay motivated.)

Day Number Four 4/2/2017

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(What did you accomplish today?)

Today is Sunday and it is what I call chore day.  It is the day I make sure all the cat boxes are thoroughly clean.   I take out the bathroom and kitchen garbage.  I also take out any recycling and yard waste that I haven’t taken out during the week.

Now usually I stall and don’t get this done till right before bedtime and even sometimes I get it ready, but don’t take it out till the next morning right before going to work.  Today I had it done before noon.   WOOHOO!!!

I was going to declutter an area in the kitchen.  This small area ends up as a dumping ground.  I got started by collecting the cloth grocery bags and taking them to my car.  I know that if I didn’t do it right away I would just lay them somewhere else.

20170402_112005

Where I live, my city doesn’t give plastic bags when you go shopping.  Some stores have paper bags that you can buy.  To not buy bags and to help the environment most people here carry cloth bags in their car for when they go shopping.  The problem for me is that I bring them into my house full of items, though once empty they don’t seem to get back out to my van.

I knew I had to take them out right away.  When I got to my van I remembered that I wanted to clean out the back seat.  All the items behind the back seat got put into the back seat when I got a flat at Christmas.  (Yes, it has been like that for 3 months).  The weather was nice so I decided to do this clean up job right away.

20170402_112456 Backseat full      20170402_113952  Empty

I did a couple more things with the kitchen pile, though found that some of it wasn’t mine and was not sure where to put it.

This is how my life goes…. I start on one project, but then get distracted and start working on another.  The good thing this time is I didn’t make anything messier.  You know how you start to declutter and the area looks worse before it starts looking better?  I just didn’t finish the kitchen.

Proud of myself:     Van backseat is cleared out
Chores got done earlier
Decluttered a tiny bit of the pile in the kitchen
I actually decided on wordpress for my blog
I signed up and am slowly learning how to use my page.

So hopefully in a few days these blogs will go live so all can read.   YEA!!

What did you accomplish today?

Day Number Two 3/31/2017

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(Disclaimer…  I published Day Three before Day Two   OOPS!)

Did you do anything today that you are proud of??
I did not declutter today, though while decluttering I don’t want to forget about my regular chores.
I have to admit that I don’t do regular chores much because  I have been relying on my awesome husband to do chores.  Though when that happens I live in guilt and don’t feel very good about myself.  I do work outside the house, though it is my husband’s salary that is our main income.  Then he comes home and have to clean?    Did I mention he was awesome.  (not perfect, but awesome)

Well, I am proud of myself today because when I got home from work I did the dishes, took out 2 bags of recycling, and the yard waste to the bins next to my house.
Later in the evening I fed, watered and spent a little time with my daughters reptiles.  I love feeding them from time to time.

I am also researching how to blog so I can get this live and get some accountability.  (Done)

Today was not a waste.  If I can go though the day and either declutter or clean I will be very pleased with myself.

Did you do anything today that you are proud of??