Mum was a reading a book over Christmas …
Right after we came home form Christmas, she bought a shredder! She said she will start over the weekend to take down all her scrapbooks and tons of files.
Then Julie gave her another book along the same line!
And then before we knew what happened …
All these things came out of one cupboard in the study.
I think that’s good enough evidence for her to be reading those two books. Some rather interesting things emerged … things she had long forgotten about.
May’s comment: I wanted to do declutter last year but got distracted. I did do my wardrobe but didn’t get any further and that’s not what Marie Kondo suggests. My home office was such a mess and I hated working in there. Luckily, a couple of weeks ago I found a useful website (https://www.filecenterdms.com/info-neat-alternative-and-replacement.html) which taught me more about document management software. It means that I don’t have lots of documents cluttering up my office and I can work in a nice, tidy space. I’m glad my office is finally tidy but the rest of the house still needs sorting!
I am having a go at it again but I am not doing it the MK way, i.e. by categories. I am starting with a cupboard which probably has the hardest items to discard – boxes of letters, diaries, scrapbooks. I don’t have the time to appreciate the items either – no time for “does this bring me joy?” I had intended to start the process this weekend and do it properly – to declutter my life rather than just discard things. I had even thought about hiring some rubbish removal services but I have’t got round to that yet. But the ongoing renovations for the coming year plans gave me no choice. I think the Universe is pushing me forward. Anything is better than not.
I was told on Thursday to clear that cupboard as the guys were coming on Friday to fit new cupboard. I spent all Thursday evening emptying it out. All Friday they removed and rebuilt the cupboard. Today I spent all day shredding and discarding boxes, photos, mementoes that no longer have space in my life – I wasn’t going to just put everything back!
The other book, The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning gives a perspective on why we should do it. Basically, do your clearing out instead of letting someone else do it. Its not kind to others. Live with the memories, not things. You can’t take things with you.
I have reached a stage in my life where I have no need to look back. Have done what I did for 25 years in the corporate world. All those things in that cupboard are full of the past. I don’t need to save all the things I had done when I was working in the corporate world.
By decluttering, I feel freer and have room to be more creative. I can see the colour charts and I can see space.
I am loving this process. It does take up a lot of time. All of today was shredding, selecting and discarding. By no means done – still have Sunday to finish off but I sure did find some interesting things.
And then I found this – not proud of this at all. 🙁
Tomorrow, Sunday, I plan to be done as much as I can and then start clearing out the wardrobes. By next weekend I should feel a lot freer! Lighter! Happier!
10 Responses
How inspiring! I’ve been attempting to do it for a while now. Reading this has given me what I need so will definitely get a move on from Monday. Lost my husband a couple of months ago and it’s a good distraction too. Thank you.
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Yes, it is really quite therapeutic. Doing this, keeping in mind that there’s nothing we can take with us while they bog us down, weigh us down – getting rid of things can help free us mentally as well as physically!
every year i start doing a bit but never finish and it can become overwhelming. I will try again! Thank you for this great blog
I wish you good luck! In a way I have procrastinated too but because of circumstances, this is making me do it at speed. I will be moving in one and that will be another cull!
Oh May I too am living in a space with too much stuff. I have two copies of the Marie Kondo book as one of them is lost somewhere in my 3 bedroom cottage! I am a hoarder of ephemera to do with my life but have realised it is time to rationalise! Do let me know if you have any tips! Creepy Spacey! Xx
Yes, I feel tainted looking at that pic.
Read the other book – the Marie Kondo is about a process and she is saying about the same thing – by clearing you clear your head, mind and body. It changes your life. The other book gave other suggestions – get a shredder, be ready to let go. There are so many scrapbook but some of them go way back to when I was about 18 – and I look at them and say, what on earth am I still holding onto this. The other book also suggest you can give away some things which I am starting to do.
Wow, good for you! Though I’m amazed that all that came from the one cupboard! You could have lost George in there. I really need to do this. We have lived in our house for 30 years and have accumulated way too much stuff! Keep us posted on how the cleaning goes.
Smiles,
Will do!!! 🙂
I had never heard of Kondo or her book until I read your house clean up blog. From research today, I found out that the Japanese author has become famous worldwide due to the book and a TV show. And here in New York City, she apparently has motivated many persons to tidy up and then donate lots of clothes to thrift and second-hand stores! I am now inspired to tidy up my apartment. I bought a shredder several years ago. Great and safe way to get rid of loads of papers. Thanks for a very informative clean-up blog.
Happy to be of help! Its time to declutter! This is my year – and this is only Phase 1.