Declutter and Organize My Life

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.
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.

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. :)

So, I watched an episode of Oprah that aired sometime this week. She had guest on her show, who wrote a book about how clutter makes people fat. The episode was enlightening and motivating. I went to my loft and filled one large garbage bag full of stuff. I woke up skinnier… hee hee hee… I’m joking. I know it’s been the exercising and healthy eating that helped me in that are, but I did feel lighter knowing that I got rid of that unnecessary stuff. I also woke up and took all of my recipe print outs and recipes from my culinary classes and filed them in a binder. It was fun going through them and also knowing that they’ll be easy to find when I need them. Nice!

Before I moved, the Fly Lady morning and evening routines helped me save a lot of time. I will try to set up new routines this week to keep myself from procrastinating.

Space bags, good! Clutter, bad! Well, I braved the harsh L.A. weather conditions with the hopes of finishing my closet declutter project by this weekend. Although I didn’t finish, I did get some big things done. After dropping off a whole car load of stuff off at the Goodwill, I picked up some storage bins and space bags on my way home… Ikea’s Hajdeby, which comes in packages of two, is the cheaper alternative to the real space bags. It’s so fun sticking everything in a big bag and watching it shrink into a manageable size. I wish I could do that with everything in my life. Anyway, if you do use the Hajdeby, don’t make the same mistake I did. I only bought one package and found myself in a pickle when I was done stuffing the 2nd bag only to realize that it had a tear in it. Grrrrr… Since I was determined to store my summer clothes away sometime before the beginning of summer, I braved the storm again & went back to Ikea. The customer service was great. I just told the folks at Ikea what happened and they let me exchange it without any problems. I did buy another package just in case. So, anyways, my clothes are officially organized. Yippee… Unfortunately, there’s more to my closet than clothes.

disks… Does anybody still have old floppy disks? I’ve decided to go through all of my floppy disks by Feb 6th. Making these mini goals with clear deadlines really helps me. I’m not sure what I have on them, but I’m sure that I won’t feel comfortable about throwing them away unless I have a chance to go through them. I already started going through my CD’s, but decided to switch gears. After I got rid of my old laptop with the floppy drive, I realized that it may be hard to find another opportunity to look through them. I fixed my sister’s old laptop and will use it before it gets recycled or traded-in.

So, it’s a new year and I productively spent most of the weekend cleaning out all my old storage boxes and unpacking all my “stuff.” I have so much “stuff.” My goal is to cut my closet in half by the end of the month. Before my move, I got rid of a lot of clothes, and continued to do so over the past weekend. The strange thing is that I really don’t miss anything that I got rid of. I think they say that we only wear 5% of our wardrobe, or, maybe, it’s that we only use 5% of the brain. Whatever! The point is I have to get rid of the things that I don’t need and make room for new things!

Sometimes, I really do feel like the people on the TV show, “What Not to Wear.” As viewers, we scream at them and tell them to get rid of their ugly-outdated-trashy-too-skinny-too-fat clothes that they will never wear again. Okay, maybe, I’m the only one screaming, but it’s because it’s personal since I can truly relate to them. I seem to have a reason for keeping everything, especially the things I haven’t worn in years. It’s just like the people on the show. Why do they hold on to some of their clothes? I don’t know, but I guess that’s what I look like to other people.

Anyway, I made a lot of progress cleaning out my closet and getting rid of files, clothes, knickknacks, thing-a-ma-jigs, and hoohahs over the weekend. My allergies flared up since I dug into my storage boxes that I haven’t seen for atleast 10 yrs. Anyway, 2008 is the year to slayeth the dragon of excess baggage. I will get rid of most of this junk and move forward. I realized it is harder that I thought it would be. It feels really good letting go of the old and making room for the new. I plan to reward myself to a shopping spree in the spring once I’ve reaped the benefits of regular exercising, decluttering and saving money. It sure feels good! The sneezing has been worth it.

I’ve made several trips to the Goodwill and other stores to drop off donations. I’ve also boxed up some of our lesser-used things to pre-prepare for our move.