January Declutter & Organize

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed! I am on the 'mental' hunt for a way to store my holiday napkins and tablecloths. I keep veering back to a plastic boot box. Already have it - so it won't cost anything.

Why does anyone need more than one Christmas tablecloth?

1. You have more than one table.
2. You use a second while one is in the wash.

3. You have multiple gatherings during the holidays.
4. You enjoy having multiple decorating options.

[Anonymous]

I’m trying to get my digital crap in order this year. I screen shot a lot on Mac and iPhone and all my storage is maxed out. My Gmail is at 75% full.

I recently went through and moved all my loose Mac screenshots from various folders into one “Screenshots” folder. The were like 1000 screenshots! The idea is I can go through and sort or delete a batch here and there. Today I worked on deleting email and unsubscribing from most things. I have almost 50k in the “All Mail” Gmail folder. Don’t get me started on browser bookmarks…. I don’t even know what to do there. I think I have undiagnosed ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to get my digital crap in order this year. I screen shot a lot on Mac and iPhone and all my storage is maxed out. My Gmail is at 75% full.

I recently went through and moved all my loose Mac screenshots from various folders into one “Screenshots” folder. The were like 1000 screenshots! The idea is I can go through and sort or delete a batch here and there. Today I worked on deleting email and unsubscribing from most things. I have almost 50k in the “All Mail” Gmail folder. Don’t get me started on browser bookmarks…. I don’t even know what to do there. I think I have undiagnosed ADHD.

Miss Freddy’s instagram/facebook is super helpful for digital clutter.

[Anonymous]

50% of your closet and dresser space should be empty.

[Anonymous]

-Stop asking “do I need this?” and instead ask “can I live without this item? If I did not have this item what would I use instead?”

-get rid of any non-seasonal item you haven’t used in 3 months.

-get rid of any holiday/seasonal item you did not use the previous season.

-don’t get bogged down with the best place to sell or donate your crap. If it’s quick and easy to sell or donate, fine. But otherwise just trash it so you don’t lose momentum/motivation. The real goal is to get decluttered so that you feel the reward and don’t seek new stuff. It’s a pattern shift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-Stop asking “do I need this?” and instead ask “can I live without this item? If I did not have this item what would I use instead?”

-get rid of any non-seasonal item you haven’t used in 3 months.

-get rid of any holiday/seasonal item you did not use the previous season.

-don’t get bogged down with the best place to sell or donate your crap. If it’s quick and easy to sell or donate, fine. But otherwise just trash it so you don’t lose momentum/motivation. The real goal is to get decluttered so that you feel the reward and don’t seek new stuff. It’s a pattern shift.

What if you can't get past the idea of throwing everything in the trash? I'm not a hoarder by any means, am basically organized, but when faced with the detritus of modern living, I hate to think of it sitting in a landfill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Stop asking “do I need this?” and instead ask “can I live without this item? If I did not have this item what would I use instead?”

-get rid of any non-seasonal item you haven’t used in 3 months.

-get rid of any holiday/seasonal item you did not use the previous season.

-don’t get bogged down with the best place to sell or donate your crap. If it’s quick and easy to sell or donate, fine. But otherwise just trash it so you don’t lose momentum/motivation. The real goal is to get decluttered so that you feel the reward and don’t seek new stuff. It’s a pattern shift.

What if you can't get past the idea of throwing everything in the trash? I'm not a hoarder by any means, am basically organized, but when faced with the detritus of modern living, I hate to think of it sitting in a landfill.

I post stuff to Facebook or Buy Nothing and it gets taken, usually the same day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

For the example here, it's not the systems, it's YOU. Mini trashcans all over your house? That's pretty pathetic. You get up and put your trash in the trash can. And no food anywhere besides kitchen or dining room, so no worries about candy wrappers all over your couch (FFS). I have trashcans for bathrooms (and I actually walk all period stuff to the kitchen trash), and a small one near the dryer for lint. It's pretty easy if you don't leave trash all over your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

The trash thing is so weird. That isn't a "declutter and organize" thing. It's for people who can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:-Stop asking “do I need this?” and instead ask “can I live without this item? If I did not have this item what would I use instead?”

-get rid of any non-seasonal item you haven’t used in 3 months.

-get rid of any holiday/seasonal item you did not use the previous season.

-don’t get bogged down with the best place to sell or donate your crap. If it’s quick and easy to sell or donate, fine. But otherwise just trash it so you don’t lose momentum/motivation. The real goal is to get decluttered so that you feel the reward and don’t seek new stuff. It’s a pattern shift.

What if you can't get past the idea of throwing everything in the trash? I'm not a hoarder by any means, am basically organized, but when faced with the detritus of modern living, I hate to think of it sitting in a landfill.

If it’s actually of value and someone wants it (you clearly don’t) then yes donate it. But everything else just trash. And use your dislike of landfills to prevent you from acquiring more in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

The trash thing is so weird. That isn't a "declutter and organize" thing. It's for people who can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:50% of your closet and dresser space should be empty.

My DH moved out and it helped me to realized that I didn’t have too much stuff, but not enough space. Now I have lots of room to breathe in my closet and plenty of drawer space.

Two ways to skin a cat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

For the example here, it's not the systems, it's YOU. Mini trashcans all over your house? That's pretty pathetic. You get up and put your trash in the trash can. And no food anywhere besides kitchen or dining room, so no worries about candy wrappers all over your couch (FFS). I have trashcans for bathrooms (and I actually walk all period stuff to the kitchen trash), and a small one near the dryer for lint. It's pretty easy if you don't leave trash all over your house.

Kids leave sh*t everywhere. This could be helpful for someone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I follow a gal on instagram, and her big thing - it isn't YOU, it's your systems. So adjust your systems to your life.

For example, she is really big on mini trash cans. Where does trash pile up at your house? Maybe beside the sofa in the family room? Put a mini trash container (its like a small 4"x4" box) and leave it there. Now you can drop all your candy wrappers or whatever in there, and it still looks tidier and is easy to dump out.

Or if you have a landing zone at your front/back door where you leave everything. Instead of trying to train yourself to put it all away, just find a system that organizes it where you drop it. So a little system that has a hook for your keys, a container for your important mail, one for your junk mail, a basket with mitts/gloves, a place for your sunglasses, etc.

The trash thing is so weird. That isn't a "declutter and organize" thing. It's for people who can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.

Not that OP necessarily knows this or meant this, but I think "declutter" is mainly a euphemism these days used by hoarders and the industry that has built up around helping them -- there is a woman at my church who is a hoarder who keeps getting new people to help her every time an apt complex threatens to evict her. She keeps posting "decluttering" tips. She literally has a house full of trash -- much of it years-old receipts. People are definitely "decluttering" trash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m trying to get my digital crap in order this year. I screen shot a lot on Mac and iPhone and all my storage is maxed out. My Gmail is at 75% full.

I recently went through and moved all my loose Mac screenshots from various folders into one “Screenshots” folder. The were like 1000 screenshots! The idea is I can go through and sort or delete a batch here and there. Today I worked on deleting email and unsubscribing from most things. I have almost 50k in the “All Mail” Gmail folder. Don’t get me started on browser bookmarks…. I don’t even know what to do there. I think I have undiagnosed ADHD.

How do you know how full your gmail is? What is the limit?