... to get you moving.
In the last 18 months or so I've had a bad case of procrastination. I start projects, decluttering and reorganising and give up before I'm even half way through. Thinking I have enough time tomorrow or the next day, or next week.
Well it looks like I'm finally running out of time!!!
The knowledge I am going back to work full day in February means that I have to get my A-into-G and get this decluttering - reorganising project of mine started and finished before the end of January rolls around. I do not want to have to come home after 5pm and look at chaos which needs to be sorted.
I have boxes of papers, scrapbooking things, photos, mementos, ornaments and things for which I know I have absolutely not one bit of use for.. but just can't seem to part with. Time to get hard and start parting with some things. I don't need to hang on to every card, little gift or ornament. There are others who can and will benefit from things I have no use for. I just need to get serious about it. I probably have about 50 wine glasses and I don't even drink!
What is it that makes it so hard for us to part with 'stuff'. We hoard things in the hopes we we either fit into it or find a place for it, not realising that at some point we will actually have to sort it out. Working in Conveyancing and specifically the transfer of properties I can't tell you the number of times in the last decade I have had clients downsizing and telling me how they are packing up homes of 30+ years of memories where almost nothing was parted with, ever. Why? And it isn't just ornaments and the like that needs to be sorted. People hang onto receipts and manuals that are decades old as well. Electronics that are never going to work again. Crockery that is chipped and glassware that has cracks. It really makes no sense does it. I am as guilty of all of these 'offenses' as anybody else.
Funny thing is a couple of months ago I did do my bedroom. All the clutter was moved out, room rearranged and everything in its place and it has become my bolt hole of late. It is because it is the most serene place in the house. It is calming and relaxing. I don't feel overwhelmed by things. I want that feeling throughout my home.
I initially only gave myself 11 days, never going to happen so I've tagged on January as well. First goal is that by the 4th of January when the new work year commences, my home office will be done, as it is the next space where I spend a lot of time. I want to find that illusive pen and paper when I need it - not next week. All my photography equipment will be sorted and ready to grab and go for shoots. No thinking about any other spaces until this one is done!
While I am aiming for comfort, I am also going with the mantra 'less is more'. It doesn't have to be just white wall, white floor and one chair. It just must be no clutter. I have boys, they make a mess and I can accept that. This isn't a witch hunt to have everything in its place all the time. It is simply to open up the flow of the home and make everybody comfortable. The areas where it is already open are the areas where we are most comfortable.
As a young mother I was given a very good tip which I think could translate into all aspects of our lives. I was told not to give my child too many options as it confuses them. Don't ask whether they want eggs, cereal or waffles for breakfast... they've lost you at the first part and when they can't make up their minds and you get frustrated it becomes a vicious circle of tears and tantrums. Keep it simple - eggs, scrambled or boiled?
I think that would be a good lesson to incorporate into decluttering. paring it down to the basics so that you can keep your choices simple and your mind and space de-cluttered.
So here is to a de-cluttered space moving forward into 2015 surrounded by that which is loved and treasured.