On to September decluttering week 4 or the final push!
Here are the links to the previous weeks of decluttering during the September decluttering challenge:
Week 1 Decluttering
Week 2 Decluttering
Week 3 Decluttering
22nd - On the 22nd, there were 10 items that I didn't photograph: 6 cardboard boxes I had been keeping because I never saw a cardboard box I didn't want to keep (flattened and used in the garden as a weed barrier), 2 empty gallon sized plastic water bottles I had kept because "you never know when you might need a gallon sized bottle" (recycled), 2 additional pill containers lurking in a drawer, kept because I made the mistake of looking up uses for empty pill containers on Pinterest (recycled) and the following 12 items I did photograph: 1 cute resin kitty with a broken Welcome sign (decided I didn't want a broken welcome sign at my front door), 1 tote bag, 2 lantern shaped candle holders (given to me by M who rescued them from another client who was going to throw them away; I used them for decorations and during a recent power cut, but, I have other candle holders), 1 camera and holder, 2 lab work books (my daughter's that she said to declutter), 2 vinyl records, 1 stack of craft idea cards, 2 CDs. The lab workbooks and craft cards will be recycled.
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| Day 22: The Photographed Items (12) |
23rd: 2 empty yogurt containers, 3 VHS tapes, 18 books (the tattered red book on top will be recycled; the rest will be donated):
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| Day 23: 2 Yogurt Containers, 3 VHS Tapes, 18 Books |
Day 24: Daughter's Text books. She had decluttered them but, I had held onto them thinking I could donate them to someone, but, no one accepts used text books, especially after several years. I will have to dump them all in the recycling bin and that about breaks my heart.
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| Day 24: 24 Text Books |
Day 25: 5 boxes, 10 books, 6 brass coasters, 1 VHS tape, 1 calculator, 1 decorative bathtub shaped painted wooden shelf (craft item), 1 pack of dried out markers ,
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Day 25: Boxes, Books, Coasters, VHS Tape,
Calculater, Craft Item, Dried Out Markers |
And that is where I stopped decluttering for September. I sort of hit a brick wall. I think I got decision fatigue and/or overwhelmed when the numbers got bigger. I sort of anticipated that happening. Which is why I gave myself permission to stop at 300 items, which would have been the equivalent of 10 items a day. But, I went a little bit above that and I am happy about that. At the same time, I feel a little disappointed that I didn't quite make the 465 items goal.
Week 4 decluttering = 22 + 23 + 24 + 25 = 94
Week 1 = 28
Week 2 = 77
Week 3 = 126
Week 4 - 94
Total decluttered in September = 28 + 77 + 126 + 94 = 325
So how do I feel about this decluttering challenge? It was something I felt I had to do as I felt that I had too much and the visual clutter was getting to me. Yet, at the same time, decluttering doesn't come easily to me and it was hard to declutter my books (and CDs and VHS tapes). I felt the need to look through each book (partly because I tend to write my name and the date of purchase on the inside of each book and I don't want my name floating around anymore than it is already with the various data breaches!) I love looking at the pictures of various craft books and I had to tell myself that I was not going make half the items shown in the books, it was better to let someone else try making them. I wanted to re-read all the non-fiction books and I had to curtail that to just a skim through (I did hold back a few to re-read them). I told myself to be realistic about how likely I was to re-read some of my books. As for the CDs and VHS tapes, I listened to each CD before I decided it could be decluttered and watched each VHS tape (yes, I still have a working VHS tape player).
There is much more to declutter, but, as I stated above, I experienced decision fatigue and had to stop for a few day and then, I ran out of month! I will continue to declutter, most probably at a slower pace, in October, too. It's not quite Swedish death cleaning, but, I am mentally preparing myself for a possible downsizing sometime in the future. When that happens, I want to be able to easily fit my belongings into a much smaller space.
The next step is to call for a donations pick up!
Thank you to all of you who have encouraged me and cheered me on. Thank you, too, for not being judgmental in your comments about what I had been holding onto. I know that some of you joined me in decluttering and I hope you had a successful month of decluttering. If anyone is interested, you are welcome to join me again, in October.
You did really well Bless. I find decluttering extremely difficult to do and I have all sorts of reasons in my head for not letting things go. I am going into town today to take a couple of things to the charity store and that's all I can do at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. Believe me, it is difficult for me, too, especially since I am now getting around to decluttering items that have managed to dodge previous decluttering efforts! You're doing well to donate the items you are taking to the charity store, today. I hope you and Tilly have a lovely day.
DeleteWell done with the decluttering! You did really well. I do find it quite challenging. I find it really hard with books. I keep telling myself that I am imagining downsizing into a smaller space and to think of the things I really would like to keep. I am a long way from being decluttered, but I feel it is forever an ongoing process as I decide what I can let go of.
ReplyDeleteHaving helped clear two houses after losing family members I really do want to not put that burden on someone else especially if there is a lot of stuff. I also discovered that if you hold onto some things too long they become useless to someone else, too damaged perhaps that someone else would want. I try to tell myself it is better to share that something now so that someone else can get some use out of it.
Thank you, Sharon. It is challenging, isn't it? I, too, am telling myself to imagine having to downsize. I saw how hard it was for my neighbor T and her daughter to go through T's belongings when T needed to downsize. I want to be prepared when that time comes!
DeleteI too have problems decluttering the items you mentioned. I never met a box I didn't want to keep, either. :) You did a great job this month. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteThank you, June. One never knows when one might need a box or two, right? :D
DeleteYou have been amazing. My September decluttering seized up , but I've spent this morning catching up. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Angela. I'm pleased with what I was able to declutter. Sounds like you did very well, yourself. :)
DeleteYou have done remarkably well to top your goal of 300! I can understand the decluttering fatigue, it can be quite emotional and many of us get quite attached to books and other items that we may never use again. Now you could reward yourself. Maybe a treat of some kind, or even purchasing something that you might like to own!
ReplyDeleteI don't see how that would seriously deplete the decluttering effort. After all, you will start decluttering some more this month.
Thank you, Bushlady. Yes, I will keep decluttering in October, too. I will have to think of a reward. Maybe more yarn to make another blanket to give away. :)
DeleteYou did a great job decluttering. I got some done, but it is honestly just the tip of the iceberg.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anne. I saw what you had decluttered and it was a lot! Let's keep the momentum going in October, too. :)
DeleteYou've been hugely successful! Its impressive how much you've decluttered. I gave up weeks ago! My sister is here now, and I'm trying to give her things! So far she wants only two things of our mother's! I really do need to follow your example.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Celie. The two things your sister wants is a start. Give the rest of the family an opportunity to take what they want and then, consider yourself free to let go of the rest (unless you really want to keep them); at least, that's what I am telling myself!
DeleteYou did an excellent job. I'll join you for October! I got head start today and decluttered 30 items. That'll carry me through the first week. Good luck to all who are participating.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Yay for joining me in October and yay for getting a head start! Well done!
DeleteWow! That's very impressive. I'm relieved that I managed to declutter when I did. At the moment, while I have so much going on, I feel lighter in one area of my life, at least. Xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jules. It's a good thing you got your decluttering done when you did! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment even when you have so much going on. Take care of yourself during this busy time.
DeleteWhat a great month of decluttering! 325 items! That is so much.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for getting to the point where you were able to let go of items you weren't using and probably would not.
Decluttering is such a hard thing to do. All items and all decisions are so personal.
Congratulations to you on your success.