If you are in the middle of tackling the clutter in your home, it can seem like the end is way beyond your reach.
If you’re up to your elbows in “stuff” – take heart.
If you’re taking action, you’re making progress.
I was really thrilled to share my story over at Thrifty Frugal Mom. In telling my story, I realized that I’ve made a lot of progress. I don’t take enough time recognizing my progress and celebrating it. It’s too easy to just go on to the next “project.” We will never be done decluttering, but we’ve moved to maintenance mode with the clutter in our living areas.
So this is me, encouraging you to celebrate in the small or large progress you are making on YOUR decluttering journey.
Hop over to the guest post and read the four important questions to ask yourself as you’re decluttering. The 10 Step Decluttering Checklist is available to members of the Setting My Intention VIP Resource Library – sign up HERE.
Hey Thrifty Frugal Mamas! I’m Angela from Setting My Intention and I’m excited to share four key questions to ask yourself while decluttering your home. These are questions that I’ve asked myself repeatedly (too many times to count) since I’ve been decluttering my home with focus for the past two years.
You might be thinking, “you’ve been decluttering your home for TWO years! Are you a hoarder or something?” Nope. I’m not a hoarder. We’re a pretty normal family of five with three growing sons with rapidly changing interests and hobbies.
My Clutter Story
We’re not huge consumers who buy lots of new things. We tend more to the side of accepting items given to us by well meaning friends and family because “that could come in handy someday.” If you’re frugal, you know what I’m talking about. People are going to throw away some “perfectly good (fill in the blank)” and you take it because you don’t want to see it end up in the landfill.
For us, this became a problem when my youngest son was born. There is a six year gap between our middle son and our youngest – we thought we were done with babies – so we had given everything baby related away. Then we were blessed with our youngest son.
We accepted all the baby things that my sister was done with: swings, exersaucers, bouncy chairs, clothes, toys, books – you name it we accepted it. My thought was – if we don’t use it, we’ll pass it along to someone who could.
The only problem was…I didn’t have a system in place of regularly decluttering our home. So things that were outgrown were stuffed in closets or put in the basement and the pile just kept growing…and growing…and growing. Add on to this, school papers, mail, presents, and the normal stuff that kids and adults bring in the house on a daily basis.
This stuff usually grows slowly and it’s easy to ignore. It can sometimes be referred to as “clutter creep.”
My Decluttering Story
For many years I just ignored the overflowing closets, the growing piles, and the out of hand basement. After all, there were meals to be made, clothes to be washed, children to play with, and jobs to go to. I conveniently turned a blind eye to all “the stuff.”
I finally started dealing with the clutter when my youngest went to a full day pre-K program when he was four years old. I suddenly had several hours on the two weekdays that I had off. I had grand ideas of volunteering my time or writing more – but I found myself spending a lot of time picking up, cleaning, and working through the mountain of laundry.
Things had to change.
Read the rest HERE.
This post will be shared at these link ups.
Congrats on your 2 year Decluttering anniversary, Angela!!
Thanks Melinda!
I love the second question! I’m so guilty of becoming blind to clutter. It’s just so much easier than doing something about it. 🙁
I don’t think anyone does it intentionally, but we all have clutter blindness to things in our own homes. You’re not alone Abby!
Congrats.
I’m visiting your site from the link ups (Inspire me Monday) blog.
Hope to get to know you better.
Have a wonderful week,
Emine
Netherlands
Thank you Emine. Looking forward to getting to know you too!
What a brilliant idea! This month I’ve felt driven to do the same, declutter and use things up before buying more! Especially with cosmetics and toiletries. Thanks for sharing this…. #DreamTeam
That is a great idea! Using things up before buying more is a great way to help with clutter problems
Already pinned to “household tips” on Pinterest. Visiting from Motivational Monday and think this post is right on. Hope you enjoy reading my post, 3 Green Summer Veggie Superstars. Perhaps it will motivate you to include more greens in your meal planning.
It’s encouraging to know your decluttering has been a journey. For me it’s been in “as I get motivated” waves. It’s time for the next one! LOL
Hi Donna! I definitely have waves of more motivation, but yes, I’ve been pretty intent on making sense of what I value and don’t. Happy decluttering!
It’s a great idea to declutter regularly and get rid of all the things you no longer use. I usually give it out #dreamteam
Good for you Mrs. Jibril! Giving it away is the best way to get it out of the house quick!
I declutter in spurts and this weekend the spurt will be here in my office which is a mess! #ProductReviewParty
Can relate so much. We have been working on projects like decluttering and organizing. Feels so much better, although we have a few rooms to tackle still. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Sharing.
hehe congrats on your declutter anni! it’s our garage that is the state right now! #KCACOLS
We don’t have loads of stuff either, but somehow we do end up with a bit of clutter every so often. I actually find having clutter around makes me feel so unproductive. #Dreamteam
We have been decluttering every nook and crannie in the house. It feels great.
I de-clutter when I start feeling overwhelmed with stuff. But first, I need to learn how to control my spending habits.
#ProductReviewParty
Ooh, I agree Lou that controlling what comes in is so important to the decluttering process.
It’s easy to make clutter when you have a little one and it’s really hard to tackle clutter when that little one is home. We’re not sure if we’re done with babies so we’re not ready to get rid of all that baby stuff just yet. My little Peachy isn’t 2 yet and she keeps me too busy to stay organized. Every time we make a dent in the mountain of clutter, it just grows again. One day I’ll get it under control, but not today. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
I agree that when you have little kids there is only so much energy that you have – and it’s wisely spent feeding and loving on your baby! I only seriously started decluttering after my youngest started preschool.
We have so much clutter, I can’t wait to dedicate some time to go through and get rid. My wardrobe is first on the list! #KCACOLS
Decluttering my wardrobe was so liberating! Too tight? Gone! Too loose? Gone! Has a hole? Gone! Let me know how your purge goes!