Keeping things simple...by simply not keeping all your things!

Zeal · ‎29-07-2016

Hey everyone,

I've been thinking of starting this thread for a while now, especially as there isn't one on "decluttering" (which doesn't surprise me!)

I must confess that not many people share my love of decluttering! Having a thorough and relaxed bedroom clean-out is something I enjoy during uni breaks, and something I did from early high school. Having too many possessions can end up being stressful, especially if it results in losing items or avoiding having guests. Clutter can be emotionally frustrating, makes it more tedious to move house or pack for a holiday, and creates more distractions. It is psychologically healthier to live in an uncluttered, tidy and simpler home or space. Charity stores appreciate donations of items such as clothes and books, so decluttering has a greater purpose!

I live with my parents and sister still, so I usually just declutter my own bedroom. I have decluttered my family's pantry, bookshelves and "games cupboard" though. Getting rid of unnecessary items is a good project, and can be done at your own pace and at a time that suits you. Never try to declutter your entire house (or even a whole room) in one day though, because that is overwhelming for anyone! In a bedroom for instance, you could work on your desk one day, your chest of drawers the next, and so on. It helps to have plastic containers or cardboard boxes with the labels "Keep", "Chuck out" and "Donate". A maybe box is okay too, though overusing it may be a problem for people who struggle to part with possessions.

Here are some great sites on decluttering:

http://www.becomingminimalist.com/the-simple-guide-to-a-clutter-free-home/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/entry/things-in-your-home-to-get-rid-of_n_4748455

https://www.ted.com/talks/graham_hill_less_stuff_more_happiness?language=en

If anyone here has recently decluttered or wants to start, share your story (or tips)!

All the best,

SM

blondguy · ‎29-07-2016

Hi SM and what a great topic!!

SM Said: "It is psychologically healthier to live in an uncluttered, tidy and simpler home or space"

I am love your topic so I just had too quote what you said SM 🙂

I have a female sibling that is middle aged and she always 'keeps things because they will come in handy' . They dont...period. The house is full of clutter that may come in handy if people live to about 400 years of age.

Just my humble learned experience from trying to help others to declutter. Just some of my tips 🙂

If you havent worn clothing for 2 years...donate it..or dump it

cluttering also clutters the mind...we dont need our brain to be any 'busier'...
hard rubbish collection is a gift....be strong and put out the broken garden setting than will never be fixed
be ruthless...donate or dump it....it feels great to have a clean slate 🙂

What a positive and self nurturing thread SM 🙂 I have clean lines in my home...bigger rooms and more living space and love it after decluttering over the last couple of years.

Kind thoughts

Paul

Zeal · ‎30-07-2016

Hi Paul!

I'm so glad you liked this topic/post! Your female sibling reminds me of a few people I know! I completely agree with feeling like you have a cleaner slate and more space to live in once you properly declutter 🙂 I legitimately find joy in owning only things that are important to me (mostly). It's normal for people to keep a small amount of non-essential belongings, despite knowing you can part with them. The only thing I struggle to throw away is old uni (and even some school) notes. I have halved the old handwritten notes and sheets, but I cannot just clean throw them out! They aren't cluttering my room though, and are neatly stacked at the top of my cupboard (which has free space anyway). Thankfully, I am able to keep only what I need when it comes to most categories of things. Getting rid of clothes is probably easiest for me, which is perhaps not the norm for other young women!

Thanks for your positive input Paul - it's much appreciated!

Best wishes,

SM

blondguy · ‎30-07-2016

No worries at all...I had to stop myself from over replying...I could be happily doing so for hours...:-)

Its an important...positive and therapeutic topic. There are people who may get a bit aggro at me for the 'it will come in handy some day' comment but if I dont quote that classic response from someone in denial then we wouldn't have a forum.

Nice1 SM 🙂 Love your attitude...very refreshing and healing x

Cedge · ‎14-09-2016

You have touched on a topic that I have struggled with all my life. I have purchased stuff all my life as it gives me instant feelings of happiness and other stuff gives me hope that one day I will be able to enjoy using this stuff. Alas it's only fleeting and then I have the guilt of wasting money on stuff I have no where to put or unable to use because of my ADD. Then the depression sets in and the anxiety of how I am going to get my way out of this mess. It is a continual cycle that I can't seem to jump out of. It's not only stuff I purchase it's also animals and when it's so difficult to get myself out of bed just to shower or do housework can you imagine the self inflicted stress/anxiety I put myself through having to take care of them each day. The guilt I feel each day for putting my family through this is even more overwhelming and it all could have been avoided. I need to end this cycle but the urges to keep all this stuff are stronger than to declutter. I have spent thousands and thousands on it and I have already given truck loads away in the past and selling it on gumtree is too stressfull and time consuming. I can come up with more excuses too but the biggy is that I wasted all that money that we really didnt have at the time and to give it all away would be frightening. Damned if I do damned if I dont...

Zeal · ‎14-09-2016

Hi Cedge,

You're in a tough situation. It's good that you recognize that this is an area you want and need to work on. Many people are in denial when it comes to overspending/hoarding. I recommend seeing a psychologist or counsellor, so that you can get to the bottom of the triggers and major factors influencing this behaviour. You can just start with a few sessions. There is no obligation to continue seeing someone, though it could be quite helpful. It's possible you have a form of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but only a professional will be able to determine this. If booking to see a psychologist seems a bit intimidating, seeing your doctor (GP) first is an option. When you next go to your doctor for a check-up, you could mention the problem you have with spending and hoarding, and that it's a cycle you cannot break. They may be able to offer advice about community support or professionals who can help.

I hope you don't mind that I recommended help-seeking options for you. I have OCD myself (my issue is with contamination/germs), and I know how frustrating compulsive behaviour can be. While I don't have personal experience with hoarding, I do know it is an issue for many. There is even a TV show called Hoarders: Buried Alive (or something similar) on Foxtel.

It would be great to hear back from you 🙂

Best wishes,

SM

Guest_1055 · ‎15-09-2016

Hi

I too have had an issue with purchasing things just to get a happy feeling or a high. Mostly it was books, mainly second hand ones from opportunity shops or garage sales. The high I felt was addicting I think, possibly because I thought I was getting real bargains or something. I kept these books for many years, until I made a choice to sort through them all and only keep the books, where I actually liked the story line, then they also had to be in good condition and not smell musty. Many books I tried to sell at our garage sale. But most were given back to the opportunity shops or thrown out. I felt lighter somehow after the books were gone. Lighter in the head or something.

I have also been de cluttering my home. I have been doing it bit by bit. I look at an item and say have I used it in the last year or have I worn it in the last year, does it have sentimental value, then do I actually love it.If the item does not fit in one of these categories then it goes.

I am now working on my pantry mainly organising it, so everything has a place.

Anyway great topic SM

geoff · ‎15-09-2016

dear SM, a good topic, where we live on an 8 acre property with an enormous garage/shed that I put up, it could fit about 5 cars in it, but being a builder/handyman you could imagine all the junk that I kept thinking it may come of use one day, now I live in a 2 bedroom flat by myself with Moo-Moo so with the couple of moves I've had you can only imagine how much junk although sometimes there were so many useful items that I had to give away, or to the op shop or just throw away I had to do by myself, and at this stage I was deep in depression, to now where I have a single car garage.
There are a couple of houses up here where I live that store anything they can find, so they are full of junk, which can be an OCD trait and would hate to throw anything out, such as, frig's, tv's, prams and the list goes on, so for them to declutter would be the last thing they would ever want to do, but when you drive past them all I want to do is clean it all up. Geoff. x

blondguy · ‎16-09-2016

Hey SM

My elderly dads 25 year old microwave died a few weeks ago.....my sister grabbed it because it had 'sentimental value'.......oops!

I can only do so much SM.....Great thread!

Paul

Zeal · ‎16-09-2016

Hi Geoff, Shelley Anne and Paul 🙂

Thanks for contributing here!

Geoff - I'm glad you were able to downsize and get rid of extra belongings you no longer needed. I can imagine how incredibly cluttered your neighbour's house and yard must be. Hopefully a relative will eventually come in and take some action!

Shelley Anne - your strategy for getting rid of unneeded possessions is a good one. It's great you are doing it bit by bit, rather than trying to tackle everything at once! I remember reorganising Mum's pantry a few times during my childhood. I even liked decluttering from the age of 10 or 11!

Paul - your sister is certainly unable to see items get given away or thrown out! A microwave with sentimental value is a new one! I suppose at least your Dad doesn't have it anymore. If your sister lives with a partner or friend, maybe they will convince her to part with it!

Thanks for your stories everyone!

SM