Comments on: Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/ Simple Tips To Enjoy Life Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:52:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Maid Service http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-3256 Maid Service Sun, 28 Nov 2010 05:07:56 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-3256 I agree with the last tip. An organizing expert may also be of help, to deal with the clutter, and keep it under control, by setting up proper systems. Seek out a professional organizer who has had experience with compulsive hoarders. I agree with the last tip. An organizing expert may also be of help, to deal with the clutter, and keep it under control, by setting up proper systems. Seek out a professional organizer who has had experience with compulsive hoarders.

]]> By: Chris Grasse http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-3080 Chris Grasse Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:14:24 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-3080 It didn't start out as clutter, but it sat and sat and became stuck energy, so now it is clutter. Major clutter. We are usually dealing with stuff gathered by ourselves from an earlier time in our lives. We are not that person any more. You try to bridge the difference and it definitely takes emotional and mental time and energy. No wonder we are tired when we finish each time. I go very slowly. I am up in our attic, looking over what I own. I am not that person any more. I look at the things and think, "Who was I?" And I see someone who used to think having stuff would help protect him from being lonely or socially lost. What a bunch of stuff. I had over 25 old, heavy standard typewriters. Now there is a hot item! But I managed to get free of all of them through our local Freecycle group. I now have two typewriters which is probably one too many. Now it's turntables. To play LPs. I have about twenty-four of them and need to prune them down to four. You feel so good to get the space back. At first you like owning things but then you miss your space, and start falling over things, the empty space in your home now takes on a greater value to you than the stuff sitting in it does. I used to have a hard time letting go because I felt I had to find someone to caretake each item I was getting rid of. Now that would take a few minutes. Especially with a load of old typewriters! Imagine. Trying to find new caretakers for everything! Talk about the need for control. So all that is gone now. What happens is you get a more liberated outlook and attitude. When it leaves your home, you are suddenly free of having to subliminally "caretake" of all that stuff. It helps me tremendously to go up into the attic and just sit for awhile looking and looking. I usually bring about four empty boxes and after a period of contemplation and introspection I stand up and begin walking around the space slowly picking things to let go of and dropping them into the four empty boxes. When the boxes are all full, the harvesting is done and I tape the boxes shut so I will not peek and backslide, wanting to keep this or that. They are now ready to go back out into the community to charity or local rummage sales, &c. I hope my post will encourage all persons who are overwhelmed by the size of their task and give them a lift to just work more deliberately to get free of their unused items so others may benefit. I once read giving the unused things away is a way to express gratitude for the blessings we have received in our lives. Good luck to you clearing out your clutter. Submitted by: Chris Grasse in South Portland, Maine, 13 September 2010. It didn’t start out as clutter, but it sat and sat and became stuck energy, so now it is clutter. Major clutter. We are usually dealing with stuff gathered by ourselves from an earlier time in our lives. We are not that person any more. You try to bridge the difference and it definitely takes emotional and mental time and energy. No wonder we are tired when we finish each time. I go very slowly. I am up in our attic, looking over what I own. I am not that person any more. I look at the things and think, “Who was I?” And I see someone who used to think having stuff would help protect him from being lonely or socially lost. What a bunch of stuff. I had over 25 old, heavy standard typewriters. Now there is a hot item! But I managed to get free of all of them through our local Freecycle group. I now have two typewriters which is probably one too many. Now it’s turntables. To play LPs. I have about twenty-four of them and need to prune them down to four. You feel so good to get the space back. At first you like owning things but then you miss your space, and start falling over things, the empty space in your home now takes on a greater value to you than the stuff sitting in it does. I used to have a hard time letting go because I felt I had to find someone to caretake each item I was getting rid of. Now that would take a few minutes. Especially with a load of old typewriters! Imagine. Trying to find new caretakers for everything! Talk about the need for control. So all that is gone now. What happens is you get a more liberated outlook and attitude. When it leaves your home, you are suddenly free of having to subliminally “caretake” of all that stuff. It helps me tremendously to go up into the attic and just sit for awhile looking and looking. I usually bring about four empty boxes and after a period of contemplation and introspection I stand up and begin walking around the space slowly picking things to let go of and dropping them into the four empty boxes. When the boxes are all full, the harvesting is done and I tape the boxes shut so I will not peek and backslide, wanting to keep this or that. They are now ready to go back out into the community to charity or local rummage sales, &c. I hope my post will encourage all persons who are overwhelmed by the size of their task and give them a lift to just work more deliberately to get free of their unused items so others may benefit. I once read giving the unused things away is a way to express gratitude for the blessings we have received in our lives. Good luck to you clearing out your clutter. Submitted by: Chris Grasse in South Portland, Maine, 13 September 2010.

]]> By: Resources « Seekingthejoyoforganizedliving2010's Blog http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-2363 Resources « Seekingthejoyoforganizedliving2010's Blog Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:25:52 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-2363 [...] http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/ [...] [...] http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/ [...]

]]> By: Essential Serene Journey – 2009 | Serene Journey http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1968 Essential Serene Journey – 2009 | Serene Journey Thu, 24 Dec 2009 12:42:26 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1968 [...] Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life [...] [...] Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life [...]

]]> By: Three Things You Don’t Need That You Choose To Hold On To | Serene Journey http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1925 Three Things You Don’t Need That You Choose To Hold On To | Serene Journey Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:13:41 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1925 [...] Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life [...] [...] Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life [...]

]]> By: Minimalism-What’s All The Fuss About? | Serene Journey http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1507 Minimalism-What’s All The Fuss About? | Serene Journey Mon, 07 Sep 2009 20:16:24 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1507 [...] Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life [...] [...] Decluttering Tips For Living The Simple Life [...]

]]> By: Links around the Blogosphere – Being Awesome edition http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1441 Links around the Blogosphere – Being Awesome edition Sun, 23 Aug 2009 03:25:14 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1441 [...] Decluttering Tips for Living The Simple Life - Sherri, over at Serene Journey offers a top notch article on clearing your life of the unimportant so that you can go focus on being awesome. [...] [...] Decluttering Tips for Living The Simple Life - Sherri, over at Serene Journey offers a top notch article on clearing your life of the unimportant so that you can go focus on being awesome. [...]

]]> By: Sherri http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1431 Sherri Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:55:11 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1431 Thank you all for your comments! I'm so glad you found this useful and a lot of you are on your own path to simplifying that's great. Mary, I'm sending you a separate email but I am really sorry to hear about all the stuff you're having to deal with. Thank you all for your comments! I’m so glad you found this useful and a lot of you are on your own path to simplifying that’s great.

Mary, I’m sending you a separate email but I am really sorry to hear about all the stuff you’re having to deal with.

]]> By: Kaizan http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1430 Kaizan Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:41:47 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1430 Very timely post for me! I am in the midst of some serious decluttering. I like your point #1. Doing it one drawer at a time, is so much less daunting and over time you make a real difference in your clutter. I'm going to try your timer idea! .-= Kaizan´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.kaizan.co.uk/blog/2009/08/17/the-simplest-most-effective-time-management-system-ever/" rel="nofollow">The Simplest Most Effective Time Management System Ever</a> =-. Very timely post for me! I am in the midst of some serious decluttering. I like your point #1. Doing it one drawer at a time, is so much less daunting and over time you make a real difference in your clutter.

I’m going to try your timer idea!
Kaizan´s last blog ..The Simplest Most Effective Time Management System Ever My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Abbie http://www.serenejourney.com/2009/08/decluttering-tips-for-living-the-simple-life/#comment-1429 Abbie Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:49:24 +0000 http://www.serenejourney.com/?p=2345#comment-1429 this is a wonderful post! In the back-to-school season I am so worried about all the things I need to acquire. And believe it or not, I am gearing up for the holidays already, and trying to imagine what I can give others that will not turn into clutter! I especially like your tip about keeping a box handy...I am going to have to do that in my bedroom for unwanted clothing! Great post. this is a wonderful post! In the back-to-school season I am so worried about all the things I need to acquire. And believe it or not, I am gearing up for the holidays already, and trying to imagine what I can give others that will not turn into clutter! I especially like your tip about keeping a box handy…I am going to have to do that in my bedroom for unwanted clothing! Great post.

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