Declutter and Organize My Life

Still working on the projects I started way back when. What is wrong with me? I think it’s time to reorg my life again.

Now that I have moved I have a little office!! So,since I have it I need to get it organized!!! I finally got my file cabinet out of storage, now I need to buy some hanging files and start going through all of my boxes as well as get the rest of my stuff out of storage- a bigger project than it sounds. :)

With my office in order I will have a space to work on soooo many of the goals on my list!!! I’m very excited!!

I need to get my file cabinet out of storage and use it!!! I have so much mail to go through and I need to make files for all of the random pieces of paper that collect around the house!! All of my mail, school stuff, my recipes, my projects, magazine clippings, etc! This alone will make a huge difference!! Then I can really start on some of my other goals if I’m more organized.

So, I didn’t realize that I was going to do this over the weekend, but I cleaned out my personal email inbox! Wow! It goes back about 4 years. I went through emails from friends, trying to keep in touch with updated contact info, pictures of babies, invites to events, other announcements, just plain and simple how-ya-doin emails, and everything else in between.

It was difficult because I realized how caught up I was in my small, chaotic world that it distanced me from the people that really cared about me. Unfortunately, I spent more time talking about evil bosses only to realize that I could’ve been ignoring those sad, pathetic people and better utilizing that time catching up with the best people in the WORLD, my friends and family!

I rolled through some of the emails and had an emotional breakdown. I went into work today (yes, on Sunday!) and started crying like a big, fat baby! I guess I’ve been emotional lately, so I should’ve picked a better time to do this. But, oh wells!

Why the breakdown? I was decluttering my inbox and realized that I had so many caring and loving emails from my ex-boyfriend. I really I missed him today and missed how we were together. I wasn’t able to see how much he loved me at the time, but I’m in another place now and will just have to look forward. I also had regrets about the fact that I’ve lost touch with some great friends and how I’ve never really kept in touch with new friends that I made from traveling or from classes that I took.

It makes me so sad that things didn’t work out w/ my ex and that I’ve lost touch with friends. But, then, it makes me happy that I’ve chosen to work on myself. I also know that I wasn’t in the best place to be social since I was either too busy or unhappy with my life at that time.

So, I lost focus because of the choices that I made, but now I’m changing. What I’ve also realized was that I kept entering the same situations over and over again because I never changed my response. I expected different results without changing my behavior. I’m learning… :) I had to empower myself and be proactive again. I lost my backbone several years before moving back and am happy to say that they do grow back! :)

I was crying so much and wallowing in an ocean of regret. Then, as I filed that last email from my inbox, I realized that I’m fabulous and on way to becoming ever better!

I discovered that this cathartic cry was like a cleansing of an infected wound. I had get deep in there and clean it out, regardless of how painful it was. I didn’t even know that it had to be cleaned in the first place. I’m glad that I completed this long overdue task. It’s a good reminder to know that I’m crying and cleaning out wounds, while he’s happily enjoying his life not thinking twice about me. (Btw, he is the type to go for the amputation option, not the cleansing wound type). Anyways, it reminds me that I miss the “us” that was good, but it got really bad and I certainly wouldn’t want to go back to that!

I also know that once I’m ready, I’ll find a man, who is even better for me since I’ll be in a better place too! I know this won’t be the last cry, but it sure feels good to clean out all those wounds and little dust bunnies!!! Delete, file, delete, file, delete… My mind feels a little clearer now for more than one reason! Who knew? Oh, yeah!

I guess I lost focus on this goal completely. I reorganized the order of my list and hopefully this will help me get back on track. I have this weekend to focus and get things done. I wish I wasn’t feeling so sick. :)

It’s hard to believe that my last entry on this goal was written 5 months ago. I guess I’ve been working on decluttering, but it looks like I haven’t worked on some of the mini goals. I’ll add those back on the list and set some new deadlines. Maybe, it would help if I added them to my 43things list. Well, since my list is full, I should work on decluttering that list as well. :)

1. file new bills / paperwork tomorrow -DONE
2. clean up all old work info by nov 15th (organize or throw away)
3. Put any memoirs in storage containers in the garage by the end of Nov.
4. Put away or donate spring/summer clothes within 2 wks.
5. Clean out files on old computer and sell by Nov 30th.
6. Add phone numbers to new phone – Done
7. Organize printed pictures by Nov 30th.
8. Organize digital pictures by Nov 30th.
9. Recharge camera tomorrow – Done
10. Go through 1 box of miscellaneous stuff by the end of the weekend. – Done

Wow! So, I started my new project this week and spent a lot of time working. I’m looking back at the entry that I wrote a week ago and it feels like it’s been a month since I wrote the entry. I guess I haven’t been setting any new goals for awhile since I was getting into the habit of decluttering. Now, I need to step it up again since I was working on the daily decluttering. I have to make little projects again so that I could make bigger dents. I feel like my life has improved so much since I started decluttering. I cleaned out most of the loft and put a drafting table there. I bought the table over 7 years ago, but finally took it out of the box about a month ago. I told myself that I would have to set it up or get rid of it. That seems to work really well for me. I’m just rambling again, but I think I definitely have to set mini goals again.
1. file all the stack of paperwork/bills by the end of the weekend – Done
2. clean up all old work info by july 15th (organize or throw away)
3. Put any memoirs in storage containers in the garage by the end of July.
4. Pull out spring/summer clothes within 2 wks. – Done
5. Clean out files on old computer and sell by July 31st.
6. Activate new cell phone in 1 wk. – Done
7. Organize printed pictures by Aug 15th.
8. Organize digital pictures by Aug 31st.
9 Clean out pictures on camera & recharge by the end of the weekend.
10. Go through 1 box of miscellaneous stuff by the end of the weekend. – Done

So, I finally got the unlabeled CD project done that I said I would 2 months ago. I read that entry this morning and decided that I would have to get it done today. Last week, I got a couple new shelves to organize my books, binders, etc. My place has been looking better, especially the loft.

Anyways, it’s been extremely difficult throwing things out, but I try to ask myself if the new & improved me really needs the “thing.” The answer us still about 50/50, but that’s still progress. I also ask myself if I want that “thing” to hold me back too.

So, today, I decluttered my hair. It was getting really long and out of control. It grows really fast, but I’ll just try to appreciate it because I know someday I’ll miss it. Since I had the day off, I decided to chop off about 6 inches. I also got a little makeover, which made me feel so much better. It’s funny how concealing your natural features can make you feel so much prettier! I’ve been wearing very little makeup these days, but I think I’ll try to incorporate a little more. It was also fun just getting pampered! I think I’ll go get a massage tomorrow and declutter my tension in my body… hahaha…

It looks like it’s been about 2 months since I wrote the entry about the Oprah show. Since then, I’ve watched the show again and also saw another Oprah episode about hoarders. I know these situations were extreme, but they basically reveal the same problems that other clutterbugs may face. I don’t have quite as much stuff, but had to trim down all of my clutter fat. I filled up 2 bags over the past week and got rid of 2 storage boxes. Can’t move foward if I keep holding on too tightly to the past!!! I can honestly say that I feel lighter and better. I was really productive over the weekend and focused on future goals instead of being burdened by the past. Woohoo!!! I’m moving on up, moving on up….. doo doo doo

regardless of how small the dent may seem. I have been digging in and getting rid of clothes, shoes, knick knacks, junk, memories, papers, files, clutter, and other things that I don’t necessarily have to hold on to. It seems like I’ve already gotten rid of so many things, but when I look at my stuff, it’s hard to see the end of the tunnel. After each project or mini bite that take from this goal, I feel really great. I see the end of the tunnel getting closer. Then some days, like today, I feel like I’m never going to be able to declutter. I just have to remind myself to continue making little mini goals and I’ll eventually get there. I also have to remind myself that I felt the same way about paying off all of my credit card bills, which I finally completed last year. I have to look at all the progress I’ve made so far and continue looking forward to how my newly decluttered and organized life will be. I think I will go organize all of my unlabeled CD’s by tonight and fill a bag up with memorabilias that I don’t really have to keep. :)