DEBUNK & DECLUTTER

POSiTiVE OR NEGATIVE?
Where do you stand on the issue of living with excessive stuff  'n junk?  Clutter has become a nationwide problem in the 'land of plenty'.  It can be physically and socially isolating for many people, causing depression and avoidance of others.  A cluttered home is an embarrassment that can negatively affect us just by thinking about it, even when we are away from home.  Yet, there is hope for the clutter magnet!  Junk can be reduced and conquered inch-by-inch.  Life can become simpler and manageable!

 What is required? 

You will know you are ready when you are weary and frustrated with your life in the clutter zone.  It takes a willing heart that wants to change and the courage to do it.

 via <cybercauldron.co.uk>

We are beginning a series to debunk the myths that confuse fact with fiction when it comes to clutter.  It is important to relearn how to evaluate our 'need' and 'circumstance' when determining what is clutter and what is not.  How much is too much.  What is truly of value and what is not.

DEBUNKiNG THE MYTHS

1. More is better.  Or is it?  This not-so-subtle message hammers us from all sides, on a daily basis.  It drips and oozes mercilessly from billboards, commercials and printed materials.  Even our blogs, facebook and twitter pages are filled with sideline advertisements seeking an audience to convince.  With such bombardment, how are we to know... How much is too much?  My wise and astute grandfather used to often say, "More is not better; it is just more." 

Nitty-Gritty Specifics...
Learn to evaluate.  How many pairs of socks does a child need? 10? 20? 50?  That depends on the child, the circumstances and how often the laundry is done.  If a child wears one pair a day and laundry is done weekly, then 10 pairs would suffice.  If the child needs athletic socks as well as dress wear a few more pairs should be added. 

What about books?  Purchasing books and keeping them will inevitably require the purchase of a bookshelf for storage.  Purchasing more books equals more bookshelves.  Although books can add warmth and interest to a room, too many can clutter it.  You can see the inevitable hoarding problem on the horizon, can't you? An alternative:  Keep it simple.  Keep only the books which are referenced or reread often. (John Barman photo)  Donate the rest to a mission, school, hospital, church, shelter or a friend. (Pinterest photo)  Pass the joy of reading along to others.  Pay it forward!

 Source: <John Barman>
 

 via <sacbee.com>

Change the messages coming from your closet! For women, clothing is often something kept well beyond its usefulness.  Outgrown clothing can stockpile in closets for years, a constant message and reminder of 'FAiLURE', that you are not the size you once were!  Consider donating the ill-fitting clothing piles to organizations that help train women who struggle to enter the job market.  To a woman wearing your donated professional attire... who successfully lands a job, that outfit sends a very different message, one of 'SUCCESS!'

 via <PhotoBookDiary in London>

2. Stockpiling the pantry saves time and money. 

Again, evaluate your needs before stockpiling.  Consider your circumstances... how far you live from a grocer, how many mouths you typically feed in a week and what they will realistically be able to consume.  Buying food for LATER (Leave Alone To Eventually Rot) is not always the best option.  Multiple packages of food purchased on sale or with coupons then stored beyond their expiration date is wasteful unless you have an army of 'always-famished' teenage boys in the house.  If food pantries do not accept food past its expiration date, maybe we should reconsider and carefully evaluate the way we purchase, store and consume food.  As the needs of a family change with time, the way we shop and store food may need to change as well.

 via <mabelwhite.com>

3. I couldn't possibly part with gifts and family heirlooms.

The notion that we should keep an item because it was gifted to us or it was a family heirloom does not mean we must keep it forever.  If you truly love it then yes, by all means... keep, display, use and enjoy it!  However, if you do not like, want or have room for an heirloom... there are other options.  Do a little research and give the item to a family member who does want it.  Or perhaps you could sell it and donate the proceeds toward a family reunion, a niece or nephew's college fund, etc.

 

The value of your belongings is totally subjective and can be re-evaluated at any time.  Items that are truly loved ought to be out on display.  If keeping an items helps you honor the memory of a loved one, then keep it and enjoy it.  Remember, that at any time, gifts and heirlooms past their season of enjoyment can be passed along to others.

Be selective.  Keep what is beautiful and of value to you.  Display favorites gifts and heirlooms, let go of the rest.  Ease your family into the process of decluttering by providing each family member with a box or bin as a place to store memoirs and sentimental things. The contents can be removed, exchanged or new items can be added at any time.  The only limitation, memoirs must fit inside the bin.

via <Pinterest>