Declutteirng by category

[pinkytoe]

I have been reading the current bestseller about "The Magic of Tidying Up" and one of her bits of advice is to declutter by category rather than by room or area. Instead of saying... I will declutter my closet today one would break that down into categories - shirts, pants, shoes etc. One could do this with jewelry or any category of objects like books, kitchen tools or whatever. Next, the selected category is gathered from all areas of the house and placed on the floor or table to go through. The author states that many clients are absolutely floored by how much they have when separated like this. I asked DH if he would like to do this with all his camera gear and he said the thought just about gave him a panic attack. He said it would take the living and dining room floors to spread it all out. But then he said "maybe I would find that lens I have been looking for" so we'll see. In any case, I am now going to tackle my stuff using the category method. Looking forward to it actually...

[pony mom]

After reading tons of reviews about this book, I'm waiting for my copy from the library---who knows where I am on the reserve list. Hope this book gets me motivated.

But yesterday, just to start out really small, I decluttered all my pens and pencils. Doesn't sound like a big deal but I had so many that didn't write well, were out of ink, pencils that were too short, etc. I now have 2 retractable pencils, a pen with 4 ink colors inside it, one pen in my purse, one Sharpie, and two pens that I LOVE. They must be some kind of gel-type because they just glide on paper. I'd love to have a few more of those but I can't find the exact ones in the store.

At the moment I love ALL of my clothes so that will be difficult to declutter. I've lost quite a bit of weight recently and most of my pants are falling off me. Great if you're a larger size, but these are all size 4s and 2s already.

A few months ago I decluttered my sock and underwear drawers. I asked myself "If you were in an accident and someone saw you wearing these, would you be ashamed?" Quite a few were thrown away and I'm left with stuff I like. Funny story---years ago a friend of mine was in a minor car accident and was on a stretcher at the hospital. All she worried about was hiding the hole in her sock.

Love her tips on folding and storing clothes. My bathroom no longer has clothes piled up and my counters are always clean.

[Chicken lady]

I really like the idea of this, but it would be an overwhelming project for me, just the time spent gathering everything together! I have books in every room of my house. games, blankets, pottery, office supplies...

I am trying to group the stuff as I work on it - having one area for storage of each thing that isn't active. For example I'm putting all the games on one shelf in the basement as I find them, all the knitting stuff together, extra blankets and sheets, canning jars, etc.

I have been working on my clothes that way. I started with sweaters because there were so many and I knew they were all in my closet. I dug through the mess to excavate them all and then did one big purge. I also discovered that clothes that are not in my closet or dresser are forgotten clothes, so I have been gathering them up and moving them to the closet as I can. It's better to have the summer shirt that is too small for me but will fit in july hanging in my closet now than tucked in a chest ewhere I won't remember it in July. I have gotten as far as getting all of my coats into the coat closet and all of my other clothes at least into my room, if not put away in the closet or dresser. I still have some shoes in the garage and laundry room.

I also dug through all the office supplies and collected pencils. I set some aside to keep and put all the rest in a big box. every few weeks I take another handful from the box to my classroom where they slowly dissapear.

[Float On]

But yesterday, just to start out really small, I decluttered all my pens and pencils. Doesn't sound like a big deal but I had so many that didn't write well, were out of ink, pencils that were too short, etc. I now have 2 retractable pencils, a pen with 4 ink colors inside it, one pen in my purse, one Sharpie, and two pens that I LOVE. They must be some kind of gel-type because they just glide on paper. I'd love to have a few more of those but I can't find the exact ones in the store.



That's a tough one for me....but made me laugh. Not too long ago my facebook post was something like..."I have a problem. Cleaned out my purse and there were 16 pens." I just love good writing pens and I think it may be the only thing I hoard. I don't steal them I just keep buying more of the ones I love plus we've collected woodturned pens for years. If I gathered up all the pens in the house there would be over 100. I'm trying my hardest to carry only 4 pens in my purse now but when I go by the drawer where the majority of my pens are the pull to add just a few more favorites to my purse is so hard.

[sweetana3]

This book is on order at our library and I am 161 on the waiting list. Looks like it will be a long time. Cannot see buying it for the ideas.

[Chicken lady]

well, Float On, this reminds me how far I have to go! I took a moment - there are 36 things to write with in my kitchen - I didn't look in my purse. or my car. There is a canning jar full on my desk, plus desk drawer with pens plus dh desk plus scrapboking area, plus art center in the workshop. PLUS the full shoebox I am slowly pulling pencils from.

My mom has been working on her house and she called me this week and said "never buy another pen or pencil. I have enough for everyone." I told her about my shoebox. She said when it is empty, let her know and she'll refill it for me. Oh joy.

[Float On]

My mom has been working on her house and she called me this week and said "never buy another pen or pencil. I have enough for everyone." I told her about my shoebox. She said when it is empty, let her know and she'll refill it for me. Oh joy.

Oh this is too funny. I just went to pinterest and typed in "pen" "hoarder".......it rings true.

[pinkytoe]

For me, the book has only a small amount of exact instructions like this one. It could be condensed easily to a simple list. However, the Japanese perspective makes it very interesting to me. The author attaches a persona so to speak to inanimate objects. I never thought about my stuff that way. However if you contemplate the fact that for some reason every single object you own ended up with you specifically, then they become almost mystical and animated. If an item does not spark joy, let it go so that it can be useful and loved by someone else. If kept, then you honor it by loving it, using it and storing it properly when not in use. She also advises thanking your possessions for taking care of you. It is definitely a different perspective than what I know. I am starting with glass jars since they are in several different locations, I have too many and I am not "attached" to them other than their function.

[Ali]

For me, the most helpful thing has been thanking things and then letting them go to a new home (wherever that may be). I have let so many things go ...it's liberating.

[lessisbest]

I've thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone who is going through their clutter and need a little help on the subject. Our adult son was home for a 3-day visit and we filled his car with things we were getting ready to donate, things he could actually use and needed.

[pony mom]

For me, the most helpful thing has been thanking things and then letting them go to a new home (wherever that may be). I have let so many things go ...it's liberating.

I always feel bad about the things I get rid of so thanking them helps a lot. The best thing is that once they're gone, they're forgotten.

I vow to never again take a free pen because it's free. Usually they don't write well, and they are usually advertising something. My retractible pencils (with extra lead) are always sharp and ready to go---love that.

Sweetana3, read the reviews on Amazon. You'll read enough about the book to get you started before actually reading the book.

[pinkytoe]

The thing I struggle with now is all of the things from my past and letting go of them. Some belonged to my parents and represent their life and my memories of them. They don't really spark joy but they do spark memories and emotions - not always pleasant ones. I guess they represent my life in the past and in letting go...that life becomes vapor. Hard stuff - at least for me. Perhaps it is just a guilty feeling at letting go of them.

[19Sandy]

This is a lot like the Marie Kondo method!