We have a very narrow entryway. When all five of us arrive at home at the same time it is claustrophobic. I decided that the first spot to get serious about clearing the clutter would be our entryway and coat closet. I am decluttering the entryway as my first project.
Before photos
To the horror of some, this is not the first time I’m cleaning out this closet! A few months ago I went through and changed our outerwear for the seasons. As you can tell in the photo, however, I left the outdoor gear and the out of season shoes stuffed in the nooks and crannies.
How to edit?
I pulled everything out of the closet and swept the inside. I made three piles – Keep, Donate, and Toss:
Keep Pile
Donate Pile
Trash
Some things were easy to designate in the Donate or Trash pile – broken and incomplete board games, mismatched shoes, and shoes and coats my youngest has outgrown.
There is a large age gap between my middle and youngest child. A lot of things that I am holding onto are for my youngest – books, clothes, shoes, toys. This creates a lot of clutter, especially when one doesn’t intentionally and regularly sort through them. *Ahem* – finger-pointing at myself.
Rationalizations
As I was sorting out the items, I found myself rationalizing why I should put things in the Keep pile.
“Oh, I forgot about those shoes! Those will be cute for the Spring”
“I’ll hold onto these for when my youngest will fit into them. I don’t want to have to buy those again in a few years”
“I played this game when I was a child.”
Realizations
I was thinking about my rationalizations after the first quick sorting session and trying to understand where they come from. Three strong realizations came through for me.
I am holding onto things out of:
- a desire to save money in the future.
- a hope for how time will be spent versus how time is actually spent.
- a vision of what I or any member of the family could wear versus what we actually wear.
I’m writing these down to clarify for myself why I don’t want to let some of these items go. I expect that these will be the same as I declutter other areas of the home.
What are some of the rationalizations that go through your head as you declutter?
Hi Angela!
Your post intrigued me, and allows me the freedom & decision to start my own blog! Our daughter just sent me this link, as I checked the parts out I found Sol Jordan (our Extra Daughter in Love) & Jazmin Jordan Lister ( our Extra Grand Daughter). So I knew it would be good people,!
You are brave, and I applaud your posting of CURRENT. CLUTTER ( of course to tell the truth, it looks more like organized accumulation that grew bigger and messier until you said, “that’s it”!
I, too, have been DECLUTTERING and would. Love to come alongside, so to say, as a Co-Clutter-Captain.
I am answering your question:
1. One day this may fit!
2. Maybe so and so would like it!?
3. I may use it as parts, or to make such and such.
4. I like it!
5. I need to trim down to no more than 3, well maybe 5, no. 7 of like items to make the display on this shelf, knick knack curio, ledge, corner.of vital collectibles!
6. Do you realize how much I/we paid for it?
7. Do you know how much this is worth?
8. I’m going to sell it on eBay once I figure out what to call my “shop”, new email address just for selling, figure out how to do it!
Warm regards,
MimiMarte
Mimi, thanks so much for commenting! I knew I wasn’t alone! The blog is really about the process rather than just the product – although a clean area definitely feels great! Stay tuned for after pictures. I’m on Facebook and Twitter too – would love for you to join me there and post before and after pictures of your projects.
I really like your rationalisations and realisations (I’m from Australia hence the spelling!). It’s great to see someone putting into that type of terminology.
Thank you Carla! Are you doing any decluttering this year?
Angela! Yes I am nearly 30 weeks pregnant, we are building a shed and a carport and I’m trying to get ready. I still don’t have a nursery as I have nowhere to put it! it’s a huge stress!
We have been decluttering and moving towards a minimalist lifestyle, very slowly, but it’s having a huge effect on me, I feel so much freer and more positive!
Carla, congratulations! It sounds like you’re doing great and making progress. Keep us up to date on how it’s going!
I’m glad to hear you’re building places to put your stuff; we never did that when I was expecting our first child and I almost feel I never recovered and he’s 3 kids since then, though we have finally built a garage that if I just had some heat or maybe I should just bundle up real good – you know it’s winter here now – how’s the weather there? – I should go out there and clean it out of all the stuff I did throw in there when we got it built because of course in the process I’ve naturally accumulated in the house
You are so right! I just did this with my clothes closet. Rationalization is the key to clutter! Thanks for sharing on Merry Monday!
Thanks for stopping by Megan!
I too hold on to things out of a desire to save money in the future. It’s a constant balance for me. I find that I really have to keep that in check and be rational about it, or I’ll end up keeping everything for “someday.” Thanks for sharing on #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup!
It is a balance – frugality/practicality and realistic evaluation of our stuff is a tough balance
I’m always holding onto things thinking I will be in need of them in future. ..ugh! This is such a great post on the importance of decluttering our items, but also our mind of all the excuses. Thank you so much for joining our Small Victories Sunday Linkup.
Hi Tiffany! It’s so easy to hold onto those excuses, isn’t it? Thanks for reading and commenting!
The hard part is getting started something or someone comes along that throws me off track including myselft.
That’s so true Susan. I’ve experienced that many times while decluttering. I’m finding it easier to get back on track the longer I keep working at decluttering.