Create no new clutter

I still find it exceptionally difficult to ‘create no new clutter’. However. We will be renovating our house sometime soon, so the clutter has to go. I do NOT want to pay to store clutter whilst the house is full of builders. Furniture, fine. Clutter, no.

I must say though, that I HAVE become very good at putting dry laundry and dry dishes away the same day they’re dry! No longer do I hunt through the washing basket looking for clothes (and haven’t for over a year), ‘cause they’re all in the cupboard.

Hmmm… Maybe I’m not so bad as I thought…

If I am removing more things from my life than bringing into it then I am on track. If not, I need to get rid of more stuff.
If my apartment is clean and can be vacuumed, then I am on track.
If I donate, throwaway, recycle, etc… something each day, then I am on track.
If I use the organizational systems that I have set up, then I am on track.

When to measure, every Friday and any day my girlfriend or family visits.

I created no new clutter, and I managed to organize one file cabinet and 4 small cubbies. I am using the cubbies for unfinished projects.

I also filled one trash can with green waste. My garden looks none better, but at least the bulk of dead tomato plants are gone.

I have 24 more file boxes to get rid of. Perhaps this week I will get to them.

Organizational tools are clutter.

In the back of my car Right This Minute are boxes full of devices invented to help me reduce clutter.

On my table is a box with little drawers to hold little cluttery things.

Filling up my cupboards under the stove are adorable little bottles designed to hold Things. Still in their Ikea wrappers.

I have devices to hold magazines that are leaning along the wall.

In my hallway are the conveniently located tubs left out after Christmas last year—ideally situated to put the ornaments back in NOW to leave in the hall for another year. Or not. Major effort to declutter the front room to have a tree, but definitely worth it.

I have to Stop Adding. Stop Adding seems like an easier goal than Reduce It.

Doesn’t it?

How do you Tame the Clutter?

How can I create no new clutter if I am already surrounded by clutter.

The goal really is put things in their place when ever possible. I still need storage places and an organizational routine and constructs to get me through this.

Ain’t happenin’ yet. Will concentrate on this goal more after I clean my house

which is not useful and/or beautiful will come into my house

A friend offered to come over & cook us dinner! (My partner just got back from 3 months working overseas). Of course that meant that EGAD! we had to tidy the house.

SO now the kitchen, lounge & dining room are all quite clutterless. (In contrast, the bedroom, study and sleepout are clutterful. That’s a GREAT word, isnt’ it??) The challenge is to keep the clutter away. AROINT THEE, foul clutter of the night!!

This ALSO means inciting the same “clutter-less passion” in my beloved.

Wish me luck!

...if you don’t count the kitchen!

I know I need to work in small, manageable steps. Step 1 is NOT to de-clutter the entire house! That’s just crazy talk! Step 1 is to put away everything I use as I finish using it. AND put away everything I WASH (as in dishes, laundry) when it’s dry. Once I’ve got this under control, I’ll expand into ‘de-clutter’ mode. Wish me luck!