Got Clutter? Tips to Destash and Declutter!

There is an element in creativity that demands we let go and let ourselves run free.  In my world, that also means periodic chaotic mess in my work space because, well, that's just how crafting is done. When the creative frenzy ends, however, I simply clean up and put things back in their places until the next inspiration or deadline.

But it is different when I look around my home and see living spaces that need more than just a bit of tidying up.  In that context, the clutter is simply excess out of control. It is visual chaos, confusion and bad feng sui. It also makes me feel overwhelmed and out of control.

Let's face it.  We ALL have stuff we don't use, don't need or have simply outgrown. It is just part of being primal human gatherers.  And in a world bombarding us daily with retail temptations like Black Friday sales (basically year round) and coupons coming out of our ears, how can our homes remain pristine and clutter-free?

The answer is actually simple.  Routine "de-stashing".  Every time we bring something new into our living environment, we need to get rid of something that is already there.  If we never increase our belongings, we will never experience out-of-control clutter.

Sure, it's easy relatively easy to gather and give away the obvious--like the shoes that hurt to wear or the useless gadget that jams the drawer each time we open it--but what about all the items that fall into that 'grey' area?  You know the ones.  The jeans we LOVE but are still too snug to actually wear comfortably for the past 2 years (or more).  Or maybe that cool tortilla maker we used once when we had a free afternoon to actually cook from scratch.  Those are the difficult decisions to make because we have an emotional connection to those items. 

We need ninja decluttering strategy tips to deal with those areas of clutter:

1. Enlist a friend who is not emotionally connected to any of the items in question to help us make decisions or actually go through those "grey" piles and box them to give away or sell for us.

2. Identify items that we perceive as having special value and find new homes for that will appreciate them.  Knowing that the items will be "loved" makes it easier to give them away.

3. Take photos of items or groups of items that have emotional meaning before boxing them to give away. Taking the photo serves as a symbolic act of saying goodbye and can give a sense of closure. And a few photos take up waaaay less space!

4. If you are parting with a large collection of items that have significant emotional meaning or are items additional family members may also be connected with, place those photos into an album.  Knowing you have the memories safely stored will make the de-stashing easier.

5. Find a good cause that you believe in and donate items to be used for fund raising or to help people or animals in need.  Knowing that the items will be helping others gives the act of de-cluttering a sense of purpose.

6. Box those hard-to-part-with items and put those boxes away with a note to reopen them after one year.  If you find you have forgotten all about them after all that time, you will find it may be easier to sell or give them away.

7. Have a garage sale and celebrate your de-stashing by spending the money on experiences instead of on more "stuff". 


Next time, I will address the destash and declutter process that relates to so many creative thinkers.  Yep, fellow crafters, I feel your pain! This is the one area in which I totally struggle. How on earth do I declutter all that craft stash?!

Goodbye Daylight Savings Time....Happy Wet November!

Ok, ok...so I haven't blogged  for a while.  Yeah, for weeks.  Actually almost 2 months. 

I have to admit, I would be more encouraged to blog if my readership would grow and if readers left comments so posts became a conversation...instead of what weirdly feels like just talking to myself.  Which, like most creatives, I already do without blogging.  I would even appreciate someone courageous pointing out if my posts are, well, kind of pointless, so my blog is not worth the time to visit, read and comment. That way I could plot a new course of action! Which is why I just pushed outside my own comfort zone and expressed my thoughts.

So.... with that said (and hopefully stirring up the pot), I am here now blogging! And... all is good!
 
Hope all has been well with you, as well.  Summer was such a busy time of outdoor activities and, social events, I kind of forgot about blogging.  I mean, I still posted on FB and Instagram via mobile devices, but let's face it-- who wants to sit indoors at a computer screen when summer is beckoning outside?!  (Sigh.  Now that leaves are turning and I need a coat, hat AND gloves, I really miss my no-fuss summer walks!)

It is actually very symbolic for me to write to you at this transitional time of year.  My life is currently in transition.  Not just the normal seasonal changes or "I'm-geting-older" changes so many of you are also going through. Bigger stuff.  Life event and new chapter type of stuff.

Almost everyone and everything around me is in a state of flux which affects everything I do--like a domino effect.  As 2017 slowly slides to a close, I foresee lots of changes for 2018.  In fact, I see 2018 shaping up to be one of those milestone years. You know what that is...those are the crossroads you look back at later and realize shaped the path you walked.

So, with that said...so far this year we have celebrated the birth of a new grandchild...little baby Sophie....who, amazingly resembles my grandmother--something that makes my heart fill with joy each time I see her smiling face or hear that adorable little giggle.

We have also had loss. 

Tuxedo passed over the Rainbow Bridge this summer at the ripe old age of 14.  He was the first dog we have had who just literally laid down and died--no fanfare, no drama, no hard decisions to make.  He was always the dog who belonged to himself. So he waited until he had some "alone time", somehow managed to crawl over to the spot where my scent was the strongest, lay down and peacefully let go.  He had already said goodbye in his own way earlier that morning so he was ready to go see his buddies Shady, Tyler and Sudsy.

 Till next time....
Gail