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Post by morningglory on Apr 10, 2012 13:45:15 GMT -5
(Continuing from previous thread - takeonestepatatime.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=17554)The next pile of junk that is in my sights is my little kitchen counter area. It stands by itself in one corner of the kitchen and has been my area for storing important documents and things I want to save since we moved here 12 years ago. It was supposed to be a sort of control center (there is even a cork board/whiteboard on the wall next to the counter for info about upcoming events), but, in typical fashion, I have simply allowed things to accumulate there this entire time (I added shelves above, and also use the drawer below--originally also used the cabinet below, but haven't for quite awhile). Occasionally I sort through some of it, but have never really purged the whole stack. Even when I have sorted, a lot of stuff just got moved to other locations, not thrown away. This is going to be a psychologically difficult pile to attack with the aggressive tossing mentality, because these are papers that I put here precisely because I thought they were important to save. This not supposed to be just random junk, but stuff I have some kind of reason for saving. Now, once we see what's really in there, I may shake my head and wonder what I was thinking. . . Clearing this pile, I expect to find several categories of things: 1) Straight out trash (expired coupons, old invitations, etc.) 2) Things that definitely belong in the file box (like birth certificates) 3) Medical records (which right now I am collecting all together, to be sorted and dealt with later) 4) Books and toys that I will have to decide whether to toss or keep 5) Pieces of broken stuff and assorted items that can pretty much be thrown out 6) Items that should legitimately be kept in some easily accessible location such as this shelf/drawer area, like nail clippers, pens, scissors, or paperwork that will be needed in the near future (for example, I keep orders for lab work in a particular location of this counter, because then I always know where to find them) 7) Tons of papers and other stuff that I will think I really *should* keep for some ridiculous reason, and will have to spend time and effort convincing myself it's not necessary to retain, UNLESS I can start out with the right mindset--which is that EVERYTHING on that counter could be swept directly into the garbage can right now with very little impact, since everything there is either completely worthless or replaceable, so I am only going to quickly scan for truly essential items and not spend much time picking through it. With that in mind, my goal is to get the entire counter done within an hour, with another hour for the shelves and drawer, and about half an hour for cleaning the surfaces. In other words, I am challenging myself to clear, clean, and organize that space within 2.5 hours. I may not be able to put in the 2.5 hours in one day, but I intend to keep track of how much time I spend on it altogether. I am attaching a photo showing the shelves (including the big organizer with a slot for each day of the month that I thought would help me keep track of things but I never really ended up using). Then I plan to post a closer view, showing the drawer. |
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Post by morningglory on Apr 10, 2012 13:53:41 GMT -5
This photo includes the drawer mess.
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Post by cando on Apr 10, 2012 13:59:16 GMT -5
Hey, MorningGlory!!! So happy you started this new thread. I am going to declutter right along with you! I will plan on spending 2.5 hours in time, too. I will do one of my kitchen counters... the only one that has some clutter. It is not too bad as it has been gone thru but not in a very long time. Not too bad, but it has receipts, coupons, and lots of dust on there. Medicines, etc. It is not a 2.5 hour job, though, so will also spend that time on a cabinet that contains empty containers, etc. It was spilling onto the floor every time the cabinet was opened, but I quickly put all the lids to containers in 2 grocery bags and have to remove one every time we need to get a container out (for left-overs) as can't get to the containers due to these bags. (Can you believe it?!! -- 2 grocery bags of just lids! and we have to find the one that fits the container when ....) I don't know how long that will take and am determined to be ruthless! When I finish that one, I will choose another cabinet or drawer. This will likely NOT be done today, either. I'll track my time on it, the same as you. Good luck to both of us! CD  |
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Post by messymommy on Apr 10, 2012 14:30:54 GMT -5
I will do it with you, morningglory. I was clearing out a big closet yesterday and came upon two large boxes of my mother's papers. They are neatly filed receipts for pretty much every transaction she ever had for at least the last 10 years of her life. They need to be shredded because they have info that someone else could use to obtain a false identity. I am going to fix a cup of coffee and shred with you.
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Post by ontheway on Apr 10, 2012 14:32:46 GMT -5
MorningGlory - Good luck. It may be that the way things are stacked in there that you will find it goes faster than you thought (it is not a strict 2 feet pile of papers one on top of each other as I have had in the past  ) because the actual number of pieces to make decisions on are fewer than expected. However, I understand - it is the decision making process that will take up the time. Definitely go with the idea that EVERYTHING can be tossed, unless it is absolutely necessary, one of a kind, non-replaceable (you'll never get that kind of coupon again), legally prescribed to be kept. You CAN do it! |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2012 14:44:16 GMT -5
Glory, you can do it!!! You've BEEN doing it girl....this is nothing compared to the roll you're on.  |
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Post by morningglory on Apr 10, 2012 16:41:30 GMT -5
Cando, that's AWESOME that you are going to work along with me! I can't wait to read about your progress! The things you mention in your counter pile sounds a lot like the kind of stuff I'm sure to enCOUNTER in my pile, in addition to items I thought I needed to save.
Messymommy, I'm so glad you will be keeping me company, too! Let me know how the shredding goes. (I hope you don't get sentimental over receipts. I'm afraid I have been known to, but I think all that is behind me now.)
Ontheway, I hope you are right about it not taking as long as I think, and it is entirely possible that you are. I just wanted to make the challenge realistic, in case I find myself agonizing over some item(s). Thank you so much for reinforcing the EVERYTHING MUST GO attitude that I am working to cultivate. If I can strengthen that, it really won't be such a daunting job getting through this house!
Hurricane, thank you for calling me Glory and for your continual encouragement. It is sad about your shoes, and I'm sure there's a kind of mourning process involved in acknowledging that you will no longer wear them, but I think you are on the track to enjoying the life you really do have by letting them go. (By the way, pretty footwear could be a blessing to others if you decide to donate them.) Keep me updated on how that goes.
I hope to be able to report some progress by tomorrow. I'll be looking to see how you all are doing, as well.
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Post by Sunshine on Apr 10, 2012 16:47:31 GMT -5
Glory, it looks like there is a beautiful cupboard underneath the pile - I'll pop back in a couple of hours to admire it!
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Post by morningglory on Apr 10, 2012 17:27:50 GMT -5
Cando, I forgot I was going to commiserate about your storage containers and lids! I have been similarly plagued. The companies that make the containers don't help matters by changing the designs regularly so that the lids and containers you bought last year won't fit lids and containers from this year. Don't keep any lids that don't fit! :-)
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Post by morningglory on Apr 10, 2012 17:28:56 GMT -5
Sunshine, the cupboard isn't as beautiful in real life as in the photo, but it's not horrible, either, and could be waxed up to look nicer once all the junk is off of it! Thanks for checking on my progress.
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Post by morningglory on Apr 12, 2012 13:04:02 GMT -5
Just a quick note to let y'all know that I won't be online again until Sunday, as we are entering the final days of Passover. But I plan to be back here with a progress report then, and I look forward to reading about progress from cando, messymommy, Hurricane, and whoever else wants to chime in.
Love and hugs to you all.
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Post by Sunshine on Apr 12, 2012 13:36:40 GMT -5
Looking forward to seeing you then  |
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Post by buttercup78 on Apr 12, 2012 22:55:27 GMT -5
Just wanted to comment about containers and lids. We recently got rid of 90% of our plastic containers and have gone to the glass ones w/plastic lids. I also realized the only way to keep them together is put them away WITH the lids on. Even w/the lids, they nest together well, so this is working very well for us!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2012 6:16:26 GMT -5
Just wanted to comment about containers and lids. We recently got rid of 90% of our plastic containers and have gone to the glass ones w/plastic lids. I also realized the only way to keep them together is put them away WITH the lids on. Even w/the lids, they nest together well, so this is working very well for us! Must agree with Buttercup here! Those plastic containers turned into a disaster for me....they'd always burst out of the cupboard and lids were everywhere and none of them fit. Plus they'd always flip in the dishwasher and get filled up with dirty gunky water. Just last week I threw the dang things all out, and then picked up a few glass containers with lids...those I put away with lids ON. This works soooooo much better! Good grief, those plastic things (and bigger bins too) multiply like rabbits...we must take back control! Glory, I hope you're enjoying your final days of Passover. The Easter rush has ended for us, so I'm getting back into things. The shoe closet was successfully tackled, and now a few pairs of shoes for each of us actually FIT on the shoe shelf. What a concept. While women who can still wear fancy shoes would not be able to get by with such a small collection of footwear as I have now, it works for me since my feet won't fit into much these days. I will be working with you all in this thread still, as I need to tackle my master bedroom walk-in closet. This is where I had a very bad fall a few months ago (a step stool flipped out from under me and I fell on a pile of junk, cracking my tailbone and ending up with bruises and bleeding gashes that took months to heal). It is also the last hold-out in my house that is way over-cluttered. I have to work in small increments since I have a baby to care for, but I figure if I can do about an hour or two every week, plus haul away stuff to the garbage and donation center, it'll be cleared out by the end if May. Currently I'm just going in there and devising a plan for how to attack it, but by the time you get back to posting, I will be ready to begin. Can't wait to work together with everyone!  |
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Post by ontheway on Apr 13, 2012 8:37:43 GMT -5
Hurricane_J - I think you have the right idea - tackle it a little bit at a time - and don't get stressed out - since it is in a private area of your home. I too have gotten to the point where my clutter is contained in a couple of closets - and that is a MAJOR accomplishment for most people on this board!
Now my concern is that I am going to let the bags and boxes that need to go out - hang out in my apartment for too long, so I will have to create a plan to get rid of it.
Much success!
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