The Great Declutter and Reorganise

                 

A few years ago, I was moving house. I was so overwhelmed. So, each afternoon, I'd sit in a worried stupor in front of tv, feeling immobilised, unable to sort, clear and pack. And I kid you not, there was always a hoarder programme on! Talk about getting to me. I'd move really fast afterwards, biffing, packing and cleaning. It was bizarre. I didn't have much, but had been there seven years and a daughter had lived there too for three years, so we had a few more belongings than we needed (to be polite). It was a turning point in my decluttering habits, as, even though I hadn't accrued much, I wasn't clearing out often enough.

my new moi programme

I have joined in on fellow kiwi blogger Fiona Ferris of howtobechic.com, her end of year project of getting everything in her life, including herself, decluttered and organised. To put it briefly.

I love Fiona's blog and joined in with her, a couple of years ago, for a month of Being Chic, which I really enjoyed. It was fun, and made me realise how I'd like to externally express myself, with clothes and also, my home.

But now it's The Great Sort Out. And don't ask me why I decided to start this on birthday week and celebrations. Only Christmas could have been a worse time.  Things have come into my sparsely decorated abode: skin care, make-up, lotions, a vintage spice shelf thingey, a book, and an antique washstand (which I am in love with) and large painting are soon to arrive. Not to mention second hand books and library books.

It's like, I made The Big Sort Out decision, and all of this Stuff poured into my home. Lucky me, actually, it's all lovely gifts.

I am very visual, and decluttering has to be a way of life for me, as mess disturbs me visually. And I find it invasive when there are too many belongings which are taking up all of the room available. Because I am more introverted, I am very aware of my need for space, as in not filling up walls, surfaces, and floors, with belongings. And stuff everywhere is also visual distracting, to me.  I can't write nor study in such a scenario. I know that everyone is not this way, but I am. 

Trust me, if you've decluttered fairly often, as a matter of course, and then suddenly have to move house, it's w-a-y easier, than if one has been hunter-gathering "stuff", without also biffing. 

so, how do we get started?

first, declutter

• Clear the decks. 
• Tidy up before I start. Well, I don't have too many belongings, including dishes, so that's the easy part. In other words, tidy the home. It's the pits trying to sort out things when there is mess everywhere.

Sorting out belongings can be stressful. It's not just the useless stuff that we are going through, and then (hopefully) throwing away; it's also deciding what memories to keep. 

• So maybe, it's first and foremost: make it as easy as you can. 
• And, another of my own hints is: don't do everything all at once. It's just too overwhelming. Why not just do it more often?

it helps to declutter, often

I've done this for quite a few years now, mainly because of the reasons I gave (and the house moving episode). And I get "down" when everything is crowded. So, I automatically do my decluttering regularly. It really takes the pressure off, and becomes effortless. 

My main area of gathering is with second hand books. Those I love, I keep, but I also "pass on" any that I have no real "need" for (hehe, there is no "need" with me, I just keep those I love), go back to the op-shop.

But how do we declutter often, or even on an ongoing basis? Easily? My friend Trish, has such a clean and tidy home. I get a tad envious as it all looks so elegant. Her advice, which actually is very old-fashioned, but still totally relevant, is:

• leave a room as you find it. I am assuming that the room was clean and tidy to begin with.
• tidy up as you go. This is as simple as:

• cleaning and putting away as you cook
• doing dishes after a meal
• making your bed early in the day
• putting clothes in the laundry basket as you take them off
• keeping on top of washing. Everyday, if necessary
• giving the bathroom and toilet a quick wipe each day

All easy chores, which help to make our homes lovely and welcoming. If we do these quickly, moving a bit faster, it can become a habit. Then, when some more thorough cleaning is needed, it's easier, because the basics are always done. And, I find that it's just a nicer way to live. 

I can get a bit untidy when it's just me, so I make myself keep on top of things. Sometimes all of these  quick daily chores don't happen, but as no life is perfect, I'm okay with this. I also like to "air" the house, by opening doors and windows, which of course makes everything smell nice, too. 

the op-shops and moi

I always have a shopping bag for books and clothes to take to the op-shop, which now lives in my hall cupboard. Honestly, just this one habit makes decluttering so easy. As I move about my daily life, I just pop any belongings that I no longer need, into that bag. 

And when I go through my two clothes storage boxes at the beginning of each season, as I take clothes out and also as I'm storing clothes from the season just past, I always, absolutely always, have a wee biff out then, as well. 

My best clothes biff-outs have been joyous occasions, for they have happened when I've been gifted some nice (pre-loved) clothes.

None of my hints are rocket science. Do you have a system for dealing with belongings? I love hearing other people's ideas, and (ahem) "borrowing" them.