If you go to the Oxford English Dictionary (oh, how I love thee, OED!) , the noun clutter is defined as: a crowded and confused assemblage; unwanted images on a radar screen; noisy turmoil or disturbance, hubbub.
Because we had already done the big purge when we moved to Deerfield two years ago, we are able to do most of these categories now in one day’s time. But I don’t think you have to limit it to one day. It’s a great accomplish to make any amount of progress. It might take a week to finish one category or you might just do one’s day worth of a category right now and move on to the next. Some may take me more than one day and others won’t take anytime—for example we don’t keep anything under our bed so I won’t have to do anything to check that off the list.
I can’t tell you how inspiring this was, Jeanne. I have been decluttering periodically since the pandemic. Clothes and shoes are my current project. I have gotten Dwayne to help with his things. I guess I had better go to my books next. Any advice about where to take those?
Some branches of the library here in Buncombe county will take donated books. Most are not having used book sales because of covid but they will take book donations and sell them to benefit the library. Call the East Asheville library to see if they will take donations.
This is quite timely and helpful, Jeanne! Our Christmas time here with all of my kids was such great fun! And Evelyn’s presence was magical! So much fun and joy!! And now…the getting things back to normal, or hopefully even better than my norma! Thanks for this!! 😍 I’m in on the 30 day plan, it’s reducing that overwhelming feeling! I’ll alter it a bit for getting Christmas items sorted, etc…thanks! 💗💗💗
I have a tip, shared with me by my friend Ann, regarding those little slips of paper with grocery lists. It also solves the problem of the thing you always forget to buy, because you aren't near pen and paper when you realize you need it. It's an app called "Out of Milk", and you can have multiple lists going all the time. When I think of something I need while I'm brushing my teeth, I can add it to the proper list (Costco? Food Lion? Lowe's Hardware?...) right away, before I have time to forget. Thanks for encouraging me to clean out my pantry!!
Out of Milk app has come in so handy for me since Jo Ann told me about it! I have much less (still some, but I’m working on it) paper lists and lost lists! I still lose my phone, but my Apple Watch bings it for me 🤣
This has been quite a journey of downsizing with you for sure. When we moved to Memphis from Charlottesville we had a HUGE moving van and then when we moved from Memphis to Valle Crucis we had two moving trucks and we had to rent a storage space for all our extra stuff. Oh my and then the move to Burlington with so much stuff. Downsizing in Burlington was such a relief after trucking all that extra stuff around for all those years. We had boxes we had never opened since Memphs and yet we still moved them and stored them. Benares was such an encouragement in our process and it felt so freeing when we finally moved into our small apartment at Deerfield is was wonderful to finally be free of all those extra items in our lives. Do I miss that stuff? On occasion but not really. Thanks for the memories and now on to the 2022 challenge to see what is left to get rid of.
This is so very timely, Jeanne. Will take this 30 day challenge but will have to take several days for each category! Hoping and praying to move sooner than later.
Good advice. Retirement date is Feb. 1! I have so much decluttering to do, but you make it seem possible. Thank you for the inspiration. Happy 2022.
Because we had already done the big purge when we moved to Deerfield two years ago, we are able to do most of these categories now in one day’s time. But I don’t think you have to limit it to one day. It’s a great accomplish to make any amount of progress. It might take a week to finish one category or you might just do one’s day worth of a category right now and move on to the next. Some may take me more than one day and others won’t take anytime—for example we don’t keep anything under our bed so I won’t have to do anything to check that off the list.
We decluttered our kitchen cabinets yesterday and did the pantry today.
I can’t tell you how inspiring this was, Jeanne. I have been decluttering periodically since the pandemic. Clothes and shoes are my current project. I have gotten Dwayne to help with his things. I guess I had better go to my books next. Any advice about where to take those?
Mr. K's Used Bookstore will buy some books or take them in trade.
Some branches of the library here in Buncombe county will take donated books. Most are not having used book sales because of covid but they will take book donations and sell them to benefit the library. Call the East Asheville library to see if they will take donations.
This is quite timely and helpful, Jeanne! Our Christmas time here with all of my kids was such great fun! And Evelyn’s presence was magical! So much fun and joy!! And now…the getting things back to normal, or hopefully even better than my norma! Thanks for this!! 😍 I’m in on the 30 day plan, it’s reducing that overwhelming feeling! I’ll alter it a bit for getting Christmas items sorted, etc…thanks! 💗💗💗
Love and miss you, Dale!
I have a tip, shared with me by my friend Ann, regarding those little slips of paper with grocery lists. It also solves the problem of the thing you always forget to buy, because you aren't near pen and paper when you realize you need it. It's an app called "Out of Milk", and you can have multiple lists going all the time. When I think of something I need while I'm brushing my teeth, I can add it to the proper list (Costco? Food Lion? Lowe's Hardware?...) right away, before I have time to forget. Thanks for encouraging me to clean out my pantry!!
Out of Milk app has come in so handy for me since Jo Ann told me about it! I have much less (still some, but I’m working on it) paper lists and lost lists! I still lose my phone, but my Apple Watch bings it for me 🤣
This has been quite a journey of downsizing with you for sure. When we moved to Memphis from Charlottesville we had a HUGE moving van and then when we moved from Memphis to Valle Crucis we had two moving trucks and we had to rent a storage space for all our extra stuff. Oh my and then the move to Burlington with so much stuff. Downsizing in Burlington was such a relief after trucking all that extra stuff around for all those years. We had boxes we had never opened since Memphs and yet we still moved them and stored them. Benares was such an encouragement in our process and it felt so freeing when we finally moved into our small apartment at Deerfield is was wonderful to finally be free of all those extra items in our lives. Do I miss that stuff? On occasion but not really. Thanks for the memories and now on to the 2022 challenge to see what is left to get rid of.
This is so very timely, Jeanne. Will take this 30 day challenge but will have to take several days for each category! Hoping and praying to move sooner than later.
Anna, I agree. One day is not enough for some of those projects.