Creating space in my life

This course has been the best course I could have done for myself this year. It took me a bit longer than the 28 days, but the results are just astounding. I have realised however that this is an ongoing process and you need to constantly remind yourself of the little things - to place things back where they belong, tidy up the bedside table every day - that make all the difference.

It's heartwarming when you give your old chipped crockery away and people's faces light up and it's God Bless you... and oh how blessed I feel!! It is easier to make these types of decisions when you know how much value you can add to someone's life. I have given away CD's, DVD's, books even ornaments and I feel great that they are being used and appreciated by someone.

I'm making space for the NEW in my life. This course as has helped me look at things a little differently, helped me clear out alot of old junk (but I still have alot more to do) and I think is helping me focus my life a little. I'm slightly all over the place at the moment, it hasn't been the greatest year.

I started out on quite a journey this year, I've learnt more about myself this last year then all of my years so far - and somehow it feels that this decluttering course is the perfect place to start to getting my life on track again.

Declutter Days 10 through 17

Well I've made peace with the face that I'm behind with my decluttering tasks...hell the 28 days has come and gone and I'm only on Day 17. What a journey this has been so far!!  I've created space in places I didn't think possible!  But I haven't gotten through everything either and will be visiting the various areas often over the next few weeks before they are completely clear and organised.

I've worked through my kitchen - crockery and appliances, the food cupboard.  Lurking somewhere in the back of that cupboard was a baking powder tin from the early 2000's (something like that)... how the heck did that happen?  Time really does fly...*blush*

I've worked through our bookshelves and given piles of books away.  The books are all displayed in a relatively orderly fashion on the bookshelf and my heart almost skipped a beat when a guest ambled over and admired our collection!!  What a payoff!

I've worked through the lounge and my CD rack.  I gave over 90% of my CD's away since I NEVER listen to them anymore.  I'm all MP3's and iTunes now!  It feels SO good that someone less fortunate is enjoying my old music. I've cleared spaces in my dining room, but not completely happy there.  I have a gorgeous wall unit that doesn't fit in my lounge, standing in my dining room acting as a "hold all" for the overspill from the kitchen.  I think I should sell the wall unit and get something that is actually meant for that space.

I have started tackling the worst area in my house that is terribly cluttered and blocking energy flow, I just know. That is our study.  It looks better, but still not 100%, but getting there.  The clearing of the study should have come with a warning though...my partner was not at all impressed when I CLEARED our desk of everything and placed it in piles on the floor - ready for us to sort out....No, apparently all his little piles were already organised and he knew exactly where everything was...yeah, so I was in trouble.  Nevertheless - when I look at the desks now I feel a little bit of peace :), so it was worth it.

Things are starting to take some shape!  Onward and upward!!

Day 7-Hanging Clothes, Day 8 and Day 9 - Fridge

Since I was away for work last week, I've fallen behind in my tasks!  I desperately want to catch up, but there are only so many hours in a day. I typically get stressed about things like this - but I'm not going to allow that to happen.  Therefore, instead of getting overwhelmed and pushing myself to get back on top of things, I'm going to take each day as if I were right on track.  It doesn't matter if my 7th day actually only took place on Day 14 of the email tasks...and that I'm 7 days behind... it doesn't matter.  I will get there eventually.

I've cleared out my hanging clothes space and it feels great to have a neat cupboard.  I once overheard a conversation where a lady was telling her friend that the lady that works in her house asked her if she "even knows all her clothes".  I thought that was a funny thing to ask - but it is so true.  I can proudly say I know all my clothes in my cupboard. :)

Day 8 was information on clearing the body of toxins and products that will help you along the path!

On Day 9, I tackled my fridge.  I was supposed to also do the food cupboard.  However my partner (G), took a nasty tumble on his bicycle and I had to play doctor / nurse for some part of the evening. He was even clearing his cupboards today - bless him.

I haven't finished Day 9 in one evening...but that's ok...I will carry on tomorrow - even though it goes against my nature and I hate feeling behind on things.

I am however making progress and it's great to look at a space that I've cleared and think...that looks nice and how I want it to be.

Day 5 and 6

Sitting between tubes of toothpaste, jars of creams and lotions, used bars of soap, dog shampoo, human shampoo, wet suit cleaner, cotton buds, ear buds etc I was suddenly overwhelmed by the task I was trying to tackle.  I was busy with Day 4 of the course and that was decluttering the bathroom. I sat and took in all the items scattered around on the bathroom floor and I started to doubt that I could do this.

Day 2 and 3 of cleaning the bedroom was relatively easy and I was happy to see the space I was creating.  My partner even asked me at one point what we should do with the extra space!  But as I sat on the bathroom floor that night and looked at everything I wondered how I was going to make it through the rest of the tasks.

Day 5 was an easy quick fix and I felt lighter immediately.  Day 6 and 7 were going to be tough.  I had planned my weekend to dedicate most of it to decluttering my clothes.  Unfortunately my father in-law – to-be met with a small motorbike accident.  That was Saturday morning and my whole week-end went along with that. He is ok thank goodness!

So I caught up Day 6 on Sunday and will be giving one black bag full of clothes to charity as well as about 6 pairs of shoes.

Since I was out of town Monday – Wednesday and Blackberry had a world wide blackout which left me internetless (if there is such a word) - I’m now behind by a few days and have a lot of catching up to do.  As long as I keep my end goal in mind, I know I will eventually do this.

So, when I start to feel overwhelmed by the tasks ahead of me, I’m going to think back to the night I was decluttering my bathroom.  I will remember how I felt that I couldn’t do this and how, by following Kate’s advice, I started picking up each item, making a decision and putting the item in the relevant box.  Slowly but surely I worked my way through the unbelievable heap of stuff till I was left with up to-date, current goodies that I am able to use.  And then it was clear…. And I felt brilliant.

During my decluttering I also found items that I didn’t even realise that I had and I will now make sure that they are put to use.  I also found slacks and a dress that still had the price tag on!  I have made a promise to myself that if I haven’t worn these items within the next 6 months then out they will GO.  (I’m pleased to report that I wore the slacks today J).

I still feel overwhelmed by what I need to do and I don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel just yet.  However I trust that by following the advice and tackling one area a day, applying the questions honestly and ruthlessly and work the areas systematically over the next few weeks, I should eventually feel as though I’m starting to achieve what I set out to do.

And that is to create an organised home, that works for me with space to relax and reflect….PHEW!!

Declutter Day 3 and Day 4

Ok, so I did Day 3 and 4 together.  I had family over last night so wasn't able to tackle Day 2 by itself.  The boys are going on the GS Eco Challenge - a 4 day motorbike rally to Lesotho.  As usual there was a lot of chaos around the house - packing, rigging bikes, catching up with family we don't see often enough!.  They left at sunrise this am - I hope they have a fantastic 4 days!

So the house is mine for now, aahh peace and quiet...but no loafing tonight...

Day 3 task was the Bedroom.  Not the clothes yet though.  So I sorted through my dressing table and drawers and then moved on to Day 4. 

Day 4 task was the Bathroom. My bathroom cupboard has alot of stuff.  It's important to only keep things that you actually use and that are within their expiry date.  Needless to say, I threw alot out... but I also found things I thought I didn't have and this saved me having to go out and buy the items.  Once I had packed the cupboard out my heart went into my shoes...for a moment I was overwhelmed - how was I going to do this?.  Then I remembered to just start, pick an item up and decide what to do with it... and that is how I waded through the mess...

The cupboard is still quite full now, but it's neat and I know exactly what is in there.  Feels quite satisfying...

I'm still not sure how I'm going to tackle the big ticket items in my house (study, garage), but I think if I just follow the steps and do a little bit everyday... I'll eventually get there.  I'll have a home that is organised, with space to relax and reflect on the day...!

Right now though, I'm bushed and need my bed.

Declutter Day 1 and Day 2

Day 1 of my new decluttering mission. Day 1 was some interesting reading about clutter and how it affects your life. Day 2 and the first task was to clear my bedside table.  Since I work a full day I only have the evenings in which to tackle my tasks.

All was going according to plan until I received a reminder about an hour long webinar at 7pm that I want to take part in.  I rushed home after Adventure Boot Camp and whipped up dinner just in time for the webinar to start.  Halfway through the webinar, a friend popped by that we haven’t seen in a while.  Friend left at 21:30 and by then my bed was calling me.

I was in no mood to sort out my bedside table, however, I remembered that I have another task coming my way the next day and if I didn’t tackle it now, I’d have the new task as well as the bedside table to do. So I made the decision to do it then. My partner seems to be quite intrigued by this decluttering and volunteered to get boxes out of the garage for me.  He then surprised me by asking if he can clear out his bedside table too!  Of course he can – YAY!

So we cleared, cleaned and sorted our bedside tables and were done well within the hour. I’m glad to say I feel good about it.  I always have at least 4 books next to my bed (thanks to my tendency to not finish things through) – but now I have only 1 and I won’t bring another book to my bedside table until I’m done with this one.  Ok, the kindle is also still next to the bed.

I'm still feeling quite anxious about the monumental task ahead of me, but hopefully, slowly but surely, I'll achieve my goal of making space in my life for energy to flow and to have an organised home.

My partner asked me what we are going to do with all the space – I’m not sure, but it feels great and we’ll be creating more of it as we go along!

Time to Declutter

I have moved no less than 19 times in my life.  Yes, I counted.  On average that is every 1.7 years I have moved. That is a lot of moving.  No wonder I can’t say, with absolute certainty, where my roots are. Now, besides the emotional upheaval that comes with this, it does give one the opportunity to clear out what no longer serves you, to have a fresh start.

In theory this sounds wonderful, and it has definitely helped me throw out many things over the years.   However, what happens when I don’t move?  When I’m not forced out of necessity to get rid of things?  Or when I just want to get the move over with and pack junk into boxes, convincing myself that I’ll sort through it in my new abode. Am I still motivated to clear things out?  The answer in short is, NO.

I’ve been in my current home for 2 years now, and I have two choices…

1.  Deal with the clutter and disorganised space. 

2.  Move. 

I think I’ll opt for no.1.

I have always thought I don’t have an issue with clutter, look – I don’t have much.  However, that was due to my moving all the time, and not due to my efficient (or lack thereof) manner in dealing with clutter. I am also not the best organiser… I can spend hours looking for something that I have put in safe place…so safe not even I can find it.  That is just frustrating and wastes time.

To add to my clutter woes, I have all of my late Dad’s belongings stored in my garage – waiting for me to do something with it.  We have already been through everything, twice, and decided who takes what – so basically everything of his that is in that garage can go.  It would seem quite an easy task, but it’s not – emotionally.

I have therefore, embarked on a 28 Day Spring Clean you Life course that is hopefully going bring order to this chaos.  Each day I will be presented with a challenge on tackling my clutter.  Each day I’ll move a step closer to creating an organised home, free of clutter with space for calmness and reflection.

I’m looking forward to this!