Posts Tagged ‘ declutter ’

365 Days of Decluttering Challenge

Jul 8th, 2008 | By Wise Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 4.33 out of 5

365 ChallengeWe all have things that just sit in our desks, closets, under the bed, and even in the kitchen oven. It’s time to get these things out and declutter our lives even more. I came across this person’s blog about 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge through Time.com when the website was discussing decluttering. It actually originated from a FlyLadies & More forum, but what matters is not where it started but how a movement can really take growth towards better living.

You pretty much get rid of one item a day. You can toss it, sell it, or give it away. It is a very interesting concept that this Challenge has. I love their mission statement:

Clutter comes in many forms–sometimes obvious and sometimes not. Physical clutter is obvious, although defining it is a personal opinion. Mental clutter manifests itself into visual clutter. When you purge the physical clutter, the mental clutter will follow it out the door!

Amen to that! I started last week, and have gotten rid of three pairs of shoes, some oversized shorts, a few makeup bags, and a lot of random things in my desk drawers that I never got to emptying out. And it felt great! To remind myself, I put a sign next to the computer on the wall that says, “Get rid of 1 a day…” and that gives me constant mental and visual cues to look around me and see what is NOT needed. I also have to mention that if anything new comes into my home, I must remove something of equal size/importance from the home, so I don’t just add more new things to replace whatever I threw out.

Are you up to the challenge? Simple living frees you to simply live.


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Change the World, One Pair of Shoes at a Time

Jun 21st, 2008 | By Wise Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

Change the WorldYour old business shoes can be given to women in domestic abuse shelters who need apparel during their job search.

We all have a few pairs of shoes in our closets that we never wear. Whether they are too old, out of fashion, too tight, or too big, they are taking up space. Why not donate them to people who need them?

Soles4Souls is a nonprofit organization that facilitates the donation of shoes to people in need worldwide. From the Asian tsunamis to Hurricane Katrina, over 1 million pairs of shoes were donated to these disasters. The donated shoes are also donated to the needy in 60 countries worldwide, including Thailand and South America. Village women need to walk five miles to get water for their families. Orphans in Africa would rather have shoes they can wear than any new toy.

You can find a nearby place to drop off your shoes, or send them to their facilities. Whatever shoes you may have, new or old, they will be much appreciated and help others in need take a step towards a better life.


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How to Reduce Clutter?

Jun 12th, 2008 | By Wise Snob | Category: Sustainable Living
Rating 3.00 out of 5

Out with the oldAfter resolving to be a conscious spender, I’ve become more aware of material things that I have and do not need. In order to focus more on what is important, I know I have to weed out the unnecessary items and desires in my life. It’s impossible for me to be a minimalist, especially when it comes to fashion, but at least I can simplify as much as I can on a regular basis to avoid having so much stuff. By downsizing everything to the essential entities of the good life, I feel I can be a better person to myself, my family and my friends. The first step is to reduce clutter.

Make an appointment. Set time aside to just focus on the task at hand. It’s going to be an emotional roller coaster, so be prepared.

Pick your spot. It is unrealistic to clean up your entire home, so just pick one or two sections at a time. Usually, I spend time focusing my efforts solely on my closet. After that, I make it my goal to tackle my bookshelves and the dreaded garage on another day.

Organize. Have boxes or garbage bags ready that you can mark as “trash,” “donate,”and “store.”I dove into my old bookshelf and threw out a lot of old college and high school notes, and placed old books, videotapes and DVDs that I didn’t watch anymore into a bag with my cousin’s name because I knew she would love them.

The best questions to ask while decluttering, especially when stuck on an item, are:
1. Do I love this?
2. Have I used this within the past year?
3. Do I have something similar?
4. Does it have sentimental value?
5. Can I easily replace this if I need it later?

I’ve also learned that if something does not make you smile, chuck it.

The “donate” items should be donated immediately or else it will just sit there forever and ever. Trust me, it has happened. The “store” stuff should be put where they belong, and to be revisited in six months.

Another key is prevention. Really assess the need for something new and don’t buy something immediately. If you can live a few days without it, then you don’t need it. I’ve been in debt before, and I plan to never be in debt again. Find other ways to appease your hunger or craving for the newest shoes or latest gadget. Visit the library, rent a movie, or have a goddess exchange with your girlfriends; everyone brings items they wish to swap, and have snacks and refreshments to make the event even more fun.

All of this may seem tedious, but it just has to be done — and while I’d rather be doing X and Y than packing boxes, there’s always a sense of accomplishment at the end of this ordeal. It’s great to refresh your life just by cleaning up your living space. Although minimalism will never work for me, I can always achieve simplicity by removing stagnant stuff. Less, truly, is more.

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