January 2025 - Sort, Tidy, Declutter!

[Harriet]

꧁ღ Yay ! 2025 ! ღ꧂

It's a new year of possibilities in which we can rediscover clear spaces, actually understand our drawers and closets , and approach mental clarity! If you've found that your surroundings as well as your brain has clouded ⛈ ⛈where clutter is concerned, you're not alone. This is a topic of concern for many folks. Also, feeling down or blue seems to go together with clutter and that results in less attention to our plans.

But it's not just a downer to face clutter. It's... .. foggy! Elizabeth Scott, MS, author of The Cost of Clutter in Your Life, writes that we can look straight at a cluttered area and miss what's there. Our ability to concentrate, to zero-in, to be efficient, becomes clouded by the disappointing vision. You'll be gratified to note she suggests the Four Box Method (and we know who popularized that one!).

What are your dreams for 2025 as you sort and tidy toward a decluttered home? How are you going to keep your efficiency and concentration going strong, the way you recognize them in yourself? Let us know your successes and stumbles - we're here cheering for you!

[Harriet]

I really appreciate hearing that everyone/anyone can get a little down when they realize their surroundings are cluttered. But some things are just naturally more prone to it than others, and those of us with supplies and materials for our craft(s) can feel guilt when we really shouldn't. I was thinking of Twins' Mom reorganizing her stamping supplies. They didn't need to be thrown out, they needed to be sorted, tidied, and in that way, declutter happens.

Also, good drawer usage or cabinet usage, even good use of simple boxes, baskets, containers - that can result in UN-cluttering the reality of items that have honest value to our homes, PLUS visually freeing us. We can access them without staring at them daily - they don't have to be on display.

I'm hoping to use part of my 2025 declutter opportunities to streamline my organization of fabrics and supplies. I'd like to free up space for a small at-home machine-quilting setup for one thing. But more generally, I'd like to have my sewing room/office look very inviting when you enter.

I also want to use supplies I already own to whittle down my stash, and work on projects I am already part-way through, to whittle down my UnFinished Objects (UFOs).

[Nancy]

I found more fiber to let go of today and a few other items when I was working in the spare room.
Some went in to count for pitch and toss day while others are staged in the shed
for later on. Maybe Feb.

I have done a batch of shredding paper sorting and decluttering yea for progress.
Could not sleep so just got up and did that in the wee hrs.

[Nancy]

Guess what I found?!
Another box of papers to sort and a container of filed pages to go through.
I need to do some BWP tasks before doing that however.
This paper taming is definitely ongoing this month.
We have a cold wave coming so I can do it then as well.

[Twins' Mom]

Actually, some of my stamping things do need to go out of the house. It's like a fabric stash - what if I need it someday?

I think I recognized that part of my inertia is "what to do with these things?" There is a market for selling at least some of it. Or to Goodwill or another charitable org. But what if they throw it out? How about a school? Where? Which one? Will they use it and love it like I have?

You see how I get stuck. To be discussed at next therapy appointment. I'm not horrible at getting rid of most things...I can box them up. But where do they go after?

[Nancy]

Some more sorting happened one small box last night.
One big box this morning. Both from the basement.
A stack in my butterfly room of my papers.

I have to keep reminding my self 25 yr. old papers do not need to be
kept unless it's super important like a deed or photo or birth / death certificate.

Unsure on the sympathy cards. I'm inclined to not keep all of those.

[Nancy]

I have been putting in the shed wicker baskets and other containers that are empty.
Took out a big stack of them this morning,
They were by the door I did not get to it yesterday.
Adding to the ones that were already in it quite a few of em now basket season is soon.
Some I might be able to use but cannot open the other shed door plus too cold to do it now.
I'll do a sort and declutter of plant containers when I do open it after it warms up some.

[Nancy]

I thought of some thing on my walk yesterday.
With the larger trash can I am working on filling it each week.
If I do that 4 times a month it is equal to what my truck will hold.
So that is 12 pick up loads a year.
I am confident I can get it done.

The house is not that bad just so many places to put things.
Closets basement 3 bedrooms, storage room, sewing room and rec. room!
Small shed 4 x 8 , carport shed 4 x 8, and larger shed 12 ' x 7 ' I think not sure.
But I just need to remember that I AM making progress!