Simplify, simplify. ~ Thoreau

Diva · 08-04-2010, 01:58 AM

One thing that worked for me:

When I decided to finally get to my Dad's room and redo it, I emptied everything out of it...to the dining room/gathering space....THEN, I would be forced to deal with it. I redid the room ~ NOW called The Red Room (See Gallery for before & after shots) ~ and put the things in there I wanted.....sans clutter!

It was SO liberating!

And I'm whittling away at the crap in the dining/gathering space....it has wound up filed away, thrown away or given away, but not back in The Red Room!

Stearns · 08-04-2010, 03:55 AM

In keeping my clothes closet as minimal as possible, I'm pretty good with the adage, "If you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it." There's a Goodwill near my house, which makes it really convenient.

My outside storage closet, however, is a different matter. It needs a serious overhaul. I've let it get out of control with tools, car wash items, boxes, etc. I tend to pre-plan in my mind what to get rid of. I just need to do it.

Gentle Tiger · 08-04-2010, 09:43 AM

Another practice that is helping is to go paperless as much as possible. Do I really need the original or can I scan it and keep an electronic copy. Do I really need to keep the item at all? Really?

What's helped me get through these boxes of documents has been asking this question - did I even know it was in this box? Have I thought about this item in my hand? No? Out it goes.

Why didn't I think of this sooner?!

I'm sure no one else can relate. LOL

Greco · 08-22-2010, 08:17 PM

socialjustice_fsu,

This is an excellent thread. There are those that say that one
must change their beliefs to more productive, positive ones.

I have found that taking an action on change has worked best
for me. For example, I also have had many, many books, on
many subjects, so as I began to get them boxed for donating
to my local library, memories of all they contained came up
for me.

They reminded me that the knowledge I read in those books I
had in fact made choices about, that I agreed, or did not agree,
that I learned something new, and productive to carry me
forward. So, it was in the act of clearing, and boxing up that
I discovered that I no longer needed those books because
I had learned from them and no longer needed their physical
presence.

So, I say clutter. Begin to unclutter, and stay mindful of the
feelings that come up as one unclutters...that for me is where
the learning is, action. Great thread.

Greco

Blade · 10-02-2010, 07:13 AM

When my neighbor decided to rent his house out after his son got married and the untimely death of his wife, he made a plan.

He took one room at a time and made 3 piles....KEEP....DUMP...CHARITY aka Goodwill etc. It took him a while, the house is huge and Cindy was a decorator. You couldn't put your hand on a wall or the top of something that she didn't have something else right beside it. She must have had 200 chicken items and probably 500 squirrel items and I don't have a clue what all else. But it was all very clean and well organized, so at least he didn't have a mess to clean up and all the stuff to sort thru.

I'm thinking this through in my brain and haven't decided exactly where to start. I did start the kitchen this week on my day off. Call me ADD, I also started my bedroom and no I didn't finish either but hey they are started. I'll be back when I come up with a plan.

Waldo · 10-02-2010, 07:26 AM

I, as June and a few others can attest, live a very spartan life. I keep nothing in my home that doesn't dignificantly enrich my life. Friends, family and loved ones have all, at various times, complained that I'm the hardest personto shop for because there's nothing that I want. Which, strictly speaking, is not true.

But having lived in four different states in less than a year I got really good at determining what was important and what wasn't.

But the turning point for me really came years earlier while I was living in New Mexico and the Bosque was on fire. We were just blocks from the fire and they were evacuating everyone. They'd already come down out block on the bull horn and let us know that we were on evacuation alert. I started gathering all the things which would devastate me if I lost them. Fortunately they all fit in a single box.

The box may have changed to something a bit more decorative, but the conents haven't changed much at all. What's in the box is all of the "things" that really matter to me. Everything else is a matter of "do I really want to take this into the next chapter of my life?" or "will it cost me more to move/ship than it will to replace?"

It's a pretty awesome way to live.

Nina · 10-02-2010, 08:41 AM

I am a big collector...

I am very tidy and organized so, the things IN the house are in order...

I have two Big storage units in the back yard which I put in...it is they that hold the mystery items...I plan to get someone to haul all the stuff Out of the sheds, sort through and be ruthless...I donate things all the time, from the house that is, and will donate from the shed...part of the 'issue' is that much of the collections have value, as in can be sold, and I don't like the selling part...I did ebay for a while, and I sold stuff, but who has the time or effort for that?...

I have lots and lots of collectable plates, glass wear, and the like...

I have boxes and boxes of vintage children's books...

I have tons of sorted through, bagged, vintage costume jewelry...

and more...

I am still planning how to deal with it all...

today I am going to office depot and getting a shredder...I have papers which gotta go, but not as an unwelcome access to my personal info...

the whole sorting and purging is top of my list...I need to get to it before the rain starts...

but, I have to step up the sewing for the holiday shows...even typing this I feel overwhelmed...I need a sorting partner

oh dear!

08-04-2010, 09:43 AM	#3
Gentle Tiger Moderator How Do You Identify?: As a Tiger of course Preferred Pronoun?: Not the Old Man Relationship Status: Two Tigers Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Northern California Posts: 7,492 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 18,001 Thanked 15,991 Times in 3,993 Posts Rep Power: 21474859	Another practice that is helping is to go paperless as much as possible. Do I really need the original or can I scan it and keep an electronic copy. Do I really need to keep the item at all? Really? What's helped me get through these boxes of documents has been asking this question - did I even know it was in this box? Have I thought about this item in my hand? No? Out it goes. Why didn't I think of this sooner?! I'm sure no one else can relate. LOL __________________ Please like

08-22-2010, 08:17 PM	#4
Greco Senior Member How Do You Identify?: GNC, not Trans, REAL. TIME. ONLY. Preferred Pronoun?: REAL. TIME. ONLY. Relationship Status: REAL. TIME. ONLY. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: In a good life. Posts: 3,200 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 11,160 Thanked 6,618 Times in 2,287 Posts Rep Power: 0	deal socialjustice_fsu, This is an excellent thread. There are those that say that one must change their beliefs to more productive, positive ones. I have found that taking an action on change has worked best for me. For example, I also have had many, many books, on many subjects, so as I began to get them boxed for donating to my local library, memories of all they contained came up for me. They reminded me that the knowledge I read in those books I had in fact made choices about, that I agreed, or did not agree, that I learned something new, and productive to carry me forward. So, it was in the act of clearing, and boxing up that I discovered that I no longer needed those books because I had learned from them and no longer needed their physical presence. So, I say clutter. Begin to unclutter, and stay mindful of the feelings that come up as one unclutters...that for me is where the learning is, action. Great thread. Greco

10-02-2010, 07:13 AM	#5
Blade Infamous Member How Do You Identify?: TG Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: once in a while someone amazing comes along...and here I am! Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Down on the farm Posts: 5,501 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,855 Thanked 14,415 Times in 4,058 Posts Rep Power: 21474857	When my neighbor decided to rent his house out after his son got married and the untimely death of his wife, he made a plan. He took one room at a time and made 3 piles....KEEP....DUMP...CHARITY aka Goodwill etc. It took him a while, the house is huge and Cindy was a decorator. You couldn't put your hand on a wall or the top of something that she didn't have something else right beside it. She must have had 200 chicken items and probably 500 squirrel items and I don't have a clue what all else. But it was all very clean and well organized, so at least he didn't have a mess to clean up and all the stuff to sort thru. I'm thinking this through in my brain and haven't decided exactly where to start. I did start the kitchen this week on my day off. Call me ADD, I also started my bedroom and no I didn't finish either but hey they are started. I'll be back when I come up with a plan. __________________ Yeah so what if I'm triple dipped in awesome sauce? The best way to predict the future, is to create it.

10-02-2010, 07:26 AM	#6
Waldo Member How Do You Identify?: Special Snowflake Preferred Pronoun?: she/her Relationship Status: Married Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Wine Country, Oregon Posts: 470 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 22 Thanked 792 Times in 238 Posts Rep Power: 1006288	I, as June and a few others can attest, live a very spartan life. I keep nothing in my home that doesn't dignificantly enrich my life. Friends, family and loved ones have all, at various times, complained that I'm the hardest personto shop for because there's nothing that I want. Which, strictly speaking, is not true. But having lived in four different states in less than a year I got really good at determining what was important and what wasn't. But the turning point for me really came years earlier while I was living in New Mexico and the Bosque was on fire. We were just blocks from the fire and they were evacuating everyone. They'd already come down out block on the bull horn and let us know that we were on evacuation alert. I started gathering all the things which would devastate me if I lost them. Fortunately they all fit in a single box. The box may have changed to something a bit more decorative, but the conents haven't changed much at all. What's in the box is all of the "things" that really matter to me. Everything else is a matter of "do I really want to take this into the next chapter of my life?" or "will it cost me more to move/ship than it will to replace?" It's a pretty awesome way to live. __________________ Perved lately? \| My website \| NEW: lez.org

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08-04-2010, 01:58 AM	#1
Diva Timed Out How Do You Identify?: Diva Preferred Pronoun?: Diva Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chez Diva Posts: 11,879 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 9,263 Thanked 17,174 Times in 5,239 Posts Rep Power: 0	One thing that worked for me: When I decided to finally get to my Dad's room and redo it, I emptied everything out of it...to the dining room/gathering space....THEN, I would be forced to deal with it. I redid the room ~ NOW called The Red Room (See Gallery for before & after shots) ~ and put the things in there I wanted.....sans clutter! It was SO liberating! And I'm whittling away at the crap in the dining/gathering space....it has wound up filed away, thrown away or given away, but not back in The Red Room!

08-04-2010, 03:55 AM	#2
Stearns Member How Do You Identify?: Trans Man Preferred Pronoun?: He Relationship Status: Husband Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: 'nita land Posts: 272 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 385 Thanked 443 Times in 149 Posts Rep Power: 3640	In keeping my clothes closet as minimal as possible, I'm pretty good with the adage, "If you haven't worn it in a year, get rid of it." There's a Goodwill near my house, which makes it really convenient. My outside storage closet, however, is a different matter. It needs a serious overhaul. I've let it get out of control with tools, car wash items, boxes, etc. I tend to pre-plan in my mind what to get rid of. I just need to do it.

10-02-2010, 08:41 AM	#7
Nina Timed Out How Do You Identify?: unmistakably Preferred Pronoun?: dearheart Relationship Status: In love, loved and Happy, thanks for askin' Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: SF CA Posts: 1,720 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 1,113 Thanked 3,384 Times in 931 Posts Rep Power: 0	I am a big collector... I am very tidy and organized so, the things IN the house are in order... I have two Big storage units in the back yard which I put in...it is they that hold the mystery items...I plan to get someone to haul all the stuff Out of the sheds, sort through and be ruthless...I donate things all the time, from the house that is, and will donate from the shed...part of the 'issue' is that much of the collections have value, as in can be sold, and I don't like the selling part...I did ebay for a while, and I sold stuff, but who has the time or effort for that?... I have lots and lots of collectable plates, glass wear, and the like... I have boxes and boxes of vintage children's books... I have tons of sorted through, bagged, vintage costume jewelry... and more... I am still planning how to deal with it all... today I am going to office depot and getting a shredder...I have papers which gotta go, but not as an unwelcome access to my personal info... the whole sorting and purging is top of my list...I need to get to it before the rain starts... but, I have to step up the sewing for the holiday shows...even typing this I feel overwhelmed...I need a sorting partner oh dear!