declutter, simplify and organize my life by applying 3 simple rules: use-it-or-lose-it, when-in-doubt-throw-it-out, and one-in-one-out

My very special brown-colored pair of trousers _{the one that was a perfect match for all my baby blue and tyrqoise sweaters} died today. It was torn and cannot be repaired.

Now, I doubt if I’ll find another one in such a perfect hue, but I refuse to hold on to it just in case. _{and this is totally new to me}

Into the trash it goes.
_sigh

Up until now, this goal was called “declutter my life”. I will consolidate it with “when in doubt throw it out” and “use it or lose it”.
Simplify, declutter, organize seems to revolve around the same theme in my life, and although it IS important for me, I don’t want it to take center-stage.
There’s a whole world out there to explore…

Each one of these is packed with notes…

2004-2005: More Time Moms Family organizer wall calender (bought through flylady)

2005: Hard-bound medium-sized diary bought at the local bookstore – 1 page per day

2005-2006: Flylady wall calendar

2006: Franklin Covey – A5 original design daily planner pages in storage binder

2007: Hard-bound large diary bought at the local bookstore – 1 page per day

2007: Frankin Covey – A5 Monticello weekly planner pages in storage binder

2008: Franklin Covey – A5 Her point of view daily planner pages in storage binder

Totally revamped my lists there.
Basically I moved my tasks into the in-box, deleted all of my old lists (which were time-specific and mostly unusable), then added a few lists (mostly themed after my tags), and moved my tasks back into the new lists.
The new format seems much more user-friendly

... like tickets from the Leonard Cohen gig we weren’t able to go to last summer.
Today was the first time I heard Road to Hell on the radio and wasn’t saddened by the memory of what happened.
Now that the resentment has gone away, it’s time to lose the little pieces of paper too!

While decluttering, I found an old notebook listing my resolutions from 02 and 03.

Some of it I have accomplished and moved forward.
Some other items I have not, and they’re holding me back (for example, having another baby).

I need to let go of some and accept the life that I have now

I don’t think I’ll make real progress until I take the encyclopedia downstairs (to the basement), and free up a shelf to stack up the papers from my big current projects (so that the in-tray doesn’t overflow again).
Of course, there’s no room in the basement, so I need to make some…

It’s a riddle, I tell you!

Update: I’m done with this!!!

I cleaned out my desk surface, and I finally have an in-box (or in-tray) again.

I don’t clean it out completely every day, but I DO prioritize and tackle what’s urgent.
This way I hope to become proficient at sorting out the new papers, so that I don’t allow any new piles to form.

It’s a good start…

To me, taming paper clutter is like filling a bottomless pit.

Will I ever have paperless flat surfaces?