You know how I told you I was embarking on a Declutter the House journey? Yeah. Well, about that... I might be a little disillusioned.
I see all those Pinterest Pins about people who declutter their entire house and life in under an hour. I see the pictures of perfect homes with perfectly functioning spaces. I see those closets with color coordinating outfits that fit and flatter. I see it all and I am jealous. How on earth do these women manage it while still managing the REST of their lives? But maybe that's just it. Maybe we are only seeing the part that worked. Maybe it's selective posting.
Here is my reality: I have been on a decluttering rampage since early last summer. Truck loads of junk have left my house. Whenever I can sneak some time in, I declutter. So many loads have been packed up and taken away that I've lost track of how many. Yet my house still. feels. cluttered.
It might have something to do with the fact that we pack 4 kids, 2 parents, 2 offices, a homeschool, a real food kitchen and a zoo of pets in our smallish space. It may be that some of my people have a hard time letting go of things they don't use or care about. It may be that I just have cabin fever. Whatever it is, I don't like it much. I crave simple, open spaces.
So I keep decluttering, one piece at a time. Perhaps one day, I will feel like I am finally finished. It won't happen in a one-week-Pinterest-worthy-wonder, though. I am going to have to just keep plugging along until things finally feel uncluttered.
Next stop in my declutter journey: The books. This is probably the hardest one for me. I have a personal relationship with every single book on my shelves. Some of them I love. Some I hate. But I have a relationship with them ALL. And there are THOUSANDS of them. I have been putting it off for too long...
What about you? Have you jumped on the Declutter Bandwagon? Where are you on your journey and how is it going? Please tell me I'm not the only one who feels this is a painfully slow process.
Have a great day!
Angela
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I, too, feel like I'm continually decluttering, and even though we have a large home, it has always felt so very full. I guess that's because we have nine children and several pets. But now, with just three still at home, it does feel remarkably uncluttered. So, yeah, the house is tidy most of the time. Great. But it's so much more fun when everyone, including the grandkids, descends for a visit. My advice - keep fighting the clutter battle. But it's OK to have that organic craziness, too. It's just a byproduct of a real family living life together.
ReplyDeleteBut books, of my, yes, those are the hardest to part with! We also have thousands, and while I do thin periodically, I hang on to the majority. And yes, some have been helpful to my daughter who is beginning to homeschool.
I am always working on decluttering our home. I've read flylady and even the latest craze book the magic art of tidying up. It makes sense to do your house quickly, but I find that for me it's best to take an area at a time. I think I have our living room and kitchen to where I like them. The office and kids toys are the only areas that I still struggle with. I've read about families downsizing to just a few toys. I just can't get that ruthless...
ReplyDeleteI also am passionate about my books. However I am learning to hang on to the ones that are beneficial to my life. Of course there are those favorite authors I cling to.
ReplyDeleteDecluttering I have decided will be a life long journey. I realize each year I don't need to keep things that the year before I couldn't imagine parting with. I am sure this is growth :). So along with you I will keep at it until one day we will see what we had envisioned years ago. Thanks for sharing.