Anonymous
01/26/2026 16:13
Subject: Re:January Declutter & Organize
Anonymous wrote:One of the best tips I heard this year is that every single item in your house is calling out to you. This is building a silent to-do list and can cause you to have less energy, or even feel anxious. So think about whether the item you are looking at is something you want to look at, care for, and think about for the next x number of years, or whether you'd rather let it go and not have to have it take up physical and mental space. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this right. It's from a Japanese book about minimalism.
The other tip is to not feel like you have to hold on to items connected to old versions of yourself, or perhaps old versions of who you wanted to be. So I can choose to keep my old college novels and teaching materials that I haven't touched in 15 years (old versions of self) and I can choose to hang onto those balls of yarn and crochet needles I bought several years ago when I thought I might be interested in crochet (old version of who I wanted to be), or I could move on and embrace my current self and current desires.
This is so good.
And sooooo hard for me.
Because maybe I will be that crocheting professor next year, right?
How to let that go?
Anonymous
01/26/2026 10:00
Subject: January Declutter & Organize
Oh I have a good tip! - put the solution where the problem is. eg if you have a kid walking right by all the coat hooks and dumping his backpack and jacket in one consistent place, just put a basket or some hooks right there. I spent a year reminding and cajoling for DS to put his stuff in the right spot and finally just made his preferred spot into an organized area.
Anonymous
01/26/2026 09:43
Subject: Re:January Declutter & Organize
One of the best tips I heard this year is that every single item in your house is calling out to you. This is building a silent to-do list and can cause you to have less energy, or even feel anxious. So think about whether the item you are looking at is something you want to look at, care for, and think about for the next x number of years, or whether you'd rather let it go and not have to have it take up physical and mental space. I'm not sure if I'm explaining this right. It's from a Japanese book about minimalism.
The other tip is to not feel like you have to hold on to items connected to old versions of yourself, or perhaps old versions of who you wanted to be. So I can choose to keep my old college novels and teaching materials that I haven't touched in 15 years (old versions of self) and I can choose to hang onto those balls of yarn and crochet needles I bought several years ago when I thought I might be interested in crochet (old version of who I wanted to be), or I could move on and embrace my current self and current desires.
The other tip is to not feel like you have to hold on to items connected to old versions of yourself, or perhaps old versions of who you wanted to be. So I can choose to keep my old college novels and teaching materials that I haven't touched in 15 years (old versions of self) and I can choose to hang onto those balls of yarn and crochet needles I bought several years ago when I thought I might be interested in crochet (old version of who I wanted to be), or I could move on and embrace my current self and current desires.
Anonymous
01/26/2026 08:38
Subject: January Declutter & Organize
I don’t buy anything to declutter. I have to break things down into very small areas (just the lazy Susan in kitchen rather than kitchen pantry)
The most helpful thing for me is identifying an immediate way to remove the items from my home if the items are to be donated. The items need to leave that very same day.
The most helpful thing for me is identifying an immediate way to remove the items from my home if the items are to be donated. The items need to leave that very same day.
Anonymous
01/25/2026 20:00
Subject: January Declutter & Organize
Hi, I'm back to this thread after learning that we are going to have a long- term houseguest (probably 3-6 months). We have a small house and I've kind of turned one of my grown kids' old bedrooms into storage space, but now I will need to clear it out entirely. If course that means figuring out where to put all the stuff i clear out. This is going to have a domino effect through the whole house--i will need to clear space elsewhere (getting rid of stuff) so I have a place to put the things in DC's room that I want to keep. I have until April 1. So next weekend, I'll start with basement storage (probably a 2 weekend job)and then over the course of the next few months move through all the closets in the house and then finally to clearing the bedroom. Simultaneously dreading and looking forward to it.
Anonymous
01/25/2026 18:18
Subject: January Declutter & Organize
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:No, no one wants DVDs even if they were free.
I want them!
Yes you do you hoarding loon
Anonymous
01/25/2026 17:59
Subject: January Declutter & Organize
Anonymous wrote:No, no one wants DVDs even if they were free.
I want them!