My first time ICLW: This is International Comment Leaving Week, so welcome to the others out there. Please comment on my posts so that I have fresh thoughts, ideas, perspectives and inspiration for future posts.
I was working on adapting an article about de-cluttering that I wrote last year for a magazine, keeping my toes in the "general life coaching" waters, in between my articles on women's reproductive health, miscarriage and fertility, when I came across a blog The Great Big If, written by Shelby, asking for tips for decluttering her house. Since it got very long, I have decided to include some of it here, part 1:
This is Decluttering 101. A few months ago, I actually had a major panic over getting rid of my huge magazine collection (500+ est.) I had to look through each one to make sure I wouldn't need it again, someday in the future. This included carefully cutting out recipes, articles and photos for my collage folder. It's very time-consuming and slightly neurotic, but strangely fulfilling. This is only half of the stuff I need to evict from my house.
Tip 1 - Get a big ring binder (loose-leaf) and a box of 100 plastic sleeves in A4 (UK) or 8 1/2 X 11" size. If you are a colllector of printed matter (see above) put each item in a sleeve and then in the ring binder. Use both sides by slipping somewhat related articles or recipes in back-to-back. If you are in a rush, just put them all in and catalogue them another time. Use coloured stickers to put on the corner of the page to signal what the general subject is: For me, it is Articles I Have Written, Topics I Intend to Write About, Anything About Infertility, News in the Fertility Industry, Women's Issues, Interior Design, Travelling in France (esp. Paris), Book Reviews, Cooking, Inspiring People, etc...
Tip 2 - Give away your less personal things to someone else who would appreciate them. I couldn't see throwing my beloved magazines out.
Tip 3 - Mention, in an online forum you visit, your need to find someone who would give your items a good home. I've done it. Someone replied the next day and by that night, I had bagged up several years worth of the home design, travel and foodie magazines she wanted. A Yahoo group, Freecycle, allows you to advertise items (no sales, just gives) that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
Tip 4 - Recognize and use opportunity. Answer a need. In a coaching workshop I led, I responded to a real Francophile; an English woman whose goal it is to live in France, with an offer of 3 years of France Magazine. It was very effective, using my de-cluttering goal as an example.
Tip 5 - "Before you leave..." Now, I never let any visitor out of my house without offering them my magazines, in bags that are catalogued by title and topic and books, toys, children's clothes, etc.
Tip 6 - Clear one corner of one room ( do not dump it in another room!) Sit in that room for a while, relaxing and appreciating the relative peace you feel without the visual "noise" that was formerly there. It is an excellent way to inspire you (or someone else in your living space) to do the same in another room. Little by little...
Tip 7 - The best one I can pass on to you - it should be etched on my mirror. This may help you:
A friend helped me break the "I need/Will I ever need?" anxiety I had by asking "If your house was burning down, would your magazines be the 1st things you grabbed from the house?" I replied "of course not." After all, I have photos and my favourite shoes to think about! BUT, there was the clarity I needed to choose the fate of Jamie Oliver, Martha Stewart, Oprah, Nigella, etc...I feel comfortable with the 100 or so that I have left (but as they come home from the supermarket, petrol station, dr's waiting rooms ( Okay, tell me you never did that!) or arrive via subscription, the total rises.
So, if the house was burning...?
You need to marry my FIL. Please? I need professional help to make a walking path through that man's home.
Posted by: Lisa RM | July 28, 2009 at 07:36 PM
I love your blog! It’s very informative.
I will recommend this to friends who want to have an organized and clean home.
Do check my blog, I’ve written something about Declutter Your Home
Posted by: Jason | March 28, 2011 at 09:11 AM