I'm finished decluttering!

natalie_ca

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I started decluttering my apartment near the beginning of February when I was on high doses of Prednisone. I'm tapering off the Prednisone now and while my energy level has drastically decreased, I've been spurred on to keep decluttering because I like the results of what I've been seeing.

Tonight I finally finished! I have 2 large boxes, 2 medium boxes, numerous canvas tote bags, 5 large black garbage bags, a couch, a dryer stacking rack, and maybe a dresser ready to be picked up on Tuesday!

My apartment hallway looks like a war zone right now and I can't wait to get rid of all of this stuff.

I also made numerous trips to the dumpster with bags and bags of stuff that I didn't deem good enough to give away to be sold through a charity. I had at least 15 large black trash bags!

All in all I feel really good having gone through everything in my apartment and unloaded stuff that I've been dragging around with me for years.
 

ebrillblaiddes

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Congrats


And there's a pill that makes people clean? I need to get some of that :p
 

starryeyedtiger

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Ya for decluttering!!!
I always feel soo better when things are nice and tidy!!
 

cococat

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I bet that just feels so great!
Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes

And there's a pill that makes people clean? I need to get some of that :p
 
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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by ebrillblaiddes

And there's a pill that makes people clean? I need to get some of that :p
There sure is!!

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=212146

You'll be very productive!!!


I thought I was done! But I'm still looking around.

My computer desk is an absolute mess! I have books and language programs that I want to keep, but because I have a computer cart on wheels nothing is hidden and it looks so junky which makes the rest of the room look junky too! I do have a bookcase behind me which isn't being used for books at the moment, so I've decided to clean off a couple of shelves lower down and put the books in there.

However..... one of the shelves that I want to use has my stereo on it. I haven't used it in months because I listen to my music on the computer or my iPOD. So the stereo is going too! It's not an expensive one. I bought it about 10 years ago at Safeway for $99.00. It plays 1 CD or a cassette tape, plus it has a radio.

I'll eventually get a new one, but in the meantime I can use my computer
 

carolina

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oh man, I NEED some of that! Anything OTC that can be taken with the same "side effects"? Besides massive amounts of coffee? My apartment is a mess! I mean.... Serious MESS! Natalie, fancy a trip to Texas?
 
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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by Carolina

fancy a trip to Texas?
Oh!! I don't know about that! I may get carried away and Lucky, Hope and Bugsy may accidentally on purpose find their way into a suitcase and a quick trip back to Winnipeg!
 
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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

and maybe a dresser
Ok! I've decided! The dresser is going too! It's practically empty with the exception of a few items in the top drawer and clutter on the top. I want to buy a bedroom set soon, so if I hang onto the dresser, I'll have to work on getting rid of it then anyway, so I may as well just empty that one drawer, clean off the top and give it away now. Save myself a step and having to find someone to lug it out later.
 

otto

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Wow. I am profoundly envious.

I have been halfheartedly trying to do what you've done, for months. I've gotten rid of a few books and some other junk, but not to that magnitude. I just had four days in a row off due to the snow storm which would have been an ideal time to pitch in, and I did absolutely nothing.

I don't know how to motivate myself to get serious about this. I am a terrible pack rat and hate, really hate, to throw stuff away.
 
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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by otto

Wow. I am profoundly envious.

I have been halfheartedly trying to do what you've done, for months. I've gotten rid of a few books and some other junk, but not to that magnitude. I just had four days in a row off due to the snow storm which would have been an ideal time to pitch in, and I did absolutely nothing.

I don't know how to motivate myself to get serious about this. I am a terrible pack rat and hate, really hate, to throw stuff away.
You just have to self-motivate yourself. It isn't easy, but set a goal.

For me my goal was to get it done and my reward is to spend a day using my new slow cooker and bread maker. They are sitting nicely on my counter waiting for me to finish, and as much as I've been wanting to try them out, I promised myself that I won't until I accomplish my goal of getting rid of clutter. I'm big on keeping promises, even to myself.

I didn't set out to go through every nook and cranny of my apartment. I started small. I went through the cupboards under my counter one evening. I liked the results, so I started on the counter. I liked those results, so I started in another cupboard. And so on. I could have stopped any time I wanted to, but I saw the growing mound of discards/giveaway and I just kept going. A little every day. It took 2 weeks but it got done.

Also, I'm fortunate that I'm not really attached to any material possessions other than my Mom's sewing machine and the jewellery that has been handed down to me. I've acquired so much over the years and have gotten rid of probably an equal amount. But through it all, the constants have been the things that have belonged to my Mom. I swear, I'm going to end up having them cremated with me!!!
 

otto

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

You just have to self-motivate yourself. It isn't easy, but set a goal.
I'm not really a goal oriented person, so this does not work for me.


I didn't set out to go through every nook and cranny of my apartment. I started small. I went through the cupboards under my counter one evening. I liked the results, so I started on the counter. I liked those results, so I started in another cupboard. And so on. I could have stopped any time I wanted to, but I saw the growing mound of discards/giveaway and I just kept going. A little every day. It took 2 weeks but it got done.
This is useful. The reminder to start small. thinking about it all, 12 years in this tiny apartment is overwhelming. I have, like I said gotten things done here and there. But it's not made a dent.

Also, I'm fortunate that I'm not really attached to any material possessions other than my Mom's sewing machine and the jewellery that has been handed down to me. I've acquired so much over the years and have gotten rid of probably an equal amount. But through it all, the constants have been the things that have belonged to my Mom. I swear, I'm going to end up having them cremated with me!!!
I'm not just talking about emotional attachment to things, though there is that. (gifts from former students for example. Especially the home made ones. They aren't things that are really "my taste", but when I look at them, they remind me of the student, and the bond I had with her/him, and the pleasure of working with that child and the progress s/he made, and I can't bear too part with the ugly things!) Or things my nieces and nephews have made for me over the years.

I can't throw ANYthing away because I might some day find a use for it. And honestly, I often DO find a use for these random bits of (to other people) junk, and then I feel quite smug and vindicated.

SSSIGH.....
 

februa

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Originally Posted by otto

I'm not just talking about emotional attachment to things, though there is that. (gifts from former students for example. Especially the home made ones. They aren't things that are really "my taste", but when I look at them, they remind me of the student, and the bond I had with her/him, and the pleasure of working with that child and the progress s/he made, and I can't bear too part with the ugly things!) Or things my nieces and nephews have made for me over the years.
SSSIGH.....
The memories you have when you see gifts from former students are not attached to those things, they are in your mind. I recommend taking a digital photograph of things you are holding onto only so you dont "lose" a memory - then instead of a room of clutter, you have a folder on your computer that actually makes it much easier to go through and experience these memories.
As for your nieces and nephews...same thing. I cant even tell you how many things I have made for/given to my favourite Aunt, and to be honest, I couldn't specifically name 5 of them right now. In fact, she has these *awful* candle holders she claims I made for her "specially" when I was in grade 2. I have no recollection of this. The thing is, it is not the individual items that mean anything, it is that over time I have remembered her, and she will never forget this, it doesnt matter if those candleholders make their way into a round filing cabinet instead of sitting in a mostly forgotten box in her storage area.

For me personally, I still have way too many things, and its all about emotional attachments. "That teddy bear was from when we were first dating" type of thing....and its so easy to ignore things like a) I never play with or display stuffed animals b) it has been in a box in my storage room for 3 years - since we were first dating c) its actually a pretty crappy teddy bear quality wise d) I had totally forgotten about it until I happened to open that box to see what was in there (easy to forget after being packed for 3 years) e) if 3 years passed and it didnt matter that it was gone, it doesnt matter if it is gone....
 

otto

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thanks, I've had that suggested to me before. It's a good idea except.... I'm very tactile oriented, pictures of things are not the same. I like having it there for me to see every day, or in a box, for me to see and remember every three years, either way.

Even digital pictures....ever since I went digital I have taken thousands and thousands of pictures of my cats, trees. mountains, in all seasons, snow, sky.....having them on the computer is not enough. Periodically I shift hundreds of photos at a time to a a photo printing place, whoever is running a promotion, usually, though I do have preferences, and have them printed. I just can't SEE them properly on a screen, I want to hold the prints in my hand and look at them.

I HAVE done this...gone around and gathered some things and put them in a box, saying to myself, if I don't miss them, next time I look in the box I'll throw them away.

Some things I miss and get back out. Somethings I forget about until I look in the box, and three weeks or three years, I am thrilled to see it.

I'm hopeless I guess.
 

darkmavis

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Hmm... the only thing Prednisone motivates me to do is EAT!


Once in a while I will make my mind up to clear out some stuff, and I just do it. If I spend too much time thinking about it, like "maybe I might want to wear this shirt again one day even though i haven't in 4 years and i don't like how it looks on me today.." then I don't get rid of it, but sometimes it just has to go in a bag and taken to Goodwill. Or the old sneakers that I haven't worn in ages because they're beat to heck.. "oh, I might need a pair of junky shoes someday to wade in a lake or walk through mud.." Well then I can just make a different pair of old shoes the 'junky shoes' and toss these in the trash.

Anyway, congrats on your Decluttering Project!
 
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natalie_ca

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One more day and it gets picked up! I'm tripping over everything and it's driving me crazy!

I was working on decluttering my computer desk a bit last night. I got rid of a whole black trash bag of papers, old 3 inch floppies and old program disks that I haven't touched in years.

I'll have one more bag to throw out once I go through my "office in a box" and get rid of old "Union" things that I collected while on the union board at my old job.
 
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