My kitchen is looking tidier. I’ve not necessarily thrown much out yet, but now there’s space, I feel empowered to keep things I want and need, and let go of the rest. The small mankey fridge the landlord gave me as a stop-gap is defrosting overnight, and I’m hoping to replace it with a second freezer, which will be much more use to me.
With luck this clarity can spread gradually to the rest of the house, and eventually the garden.
Fingers crossed 
Decluttered the bathroom today! 2 small but very heavy bags of expired/ “never gonna use” items have been removed. Drawers and cupboards wiped down.
Also cleared the carport. Threw away rubbish that had built up, swept up leaves, popped plastic boxes back on the shelves. Now it’s open and safe for the kids again! Maybe I wont trip over things as much, too.
Hmm. Okay. we reclaimed 24 square feet of this place, this week.Our home is approx. 1700 square feet, not including the porch. If I add the hearth, the last major area “cleared,” it’s about 52 square feet we’ve recently reclaimed.
That’s a whopping 3%
I think the only…the only way I can use the square footage as a yardstick is if I also deduct the space we’ve always kept clear. The entry is 3 x 4 feet, etc.
Even then, it probably wont help my depression!
Progress is progress, no matter how small.
TY, you’re right!
Today’s clearing: 16.975 square feet, rounded about 17, another 1%.
I have someone who is coaching me off and on, and she continually talks about the importance of doing the 1%, and just the 1%. Then resting and celebrating the win, and going again when the energy is there for it again. She’s a Wellness Coach at my local doctor’s surgery, and I have to say, this is really helping me gradually get things done.
So, you’ve done your 1% here. Good work!! 
They stack up, these 1%s, they really do…
I have another 26 or so feet cleared. This sounds like I’m being really productive, right? They come starting today to replace our windows. So there’s a cleared alley in front of 2 of the 3 banks of windows which are up for it. Still do do? ✓ The boxes of books/piles of books in our bedroom in front of that last bank of windows. That’s my job this morning.
My van will be STUFFED.
I’d do this now and then take a shower, but I have no idea when these people will arrive so a shower sooner than later is my plan. DH is in the shower now. I can do the very next piece or so, but not much more than that.
In front of the window is clear, DH got the blinds down. Nothing has been hauled into the van as I’ve just had my shower…(7:44) DH is working.
Woah, there’s a declutterring group!? Nice!! I just started declutterring a couple months ago after realizing how much the stuff in my apartment was contributing to my worsening anxiety + ADHD. It was making me feel overwhelmed without me even realizing it. At first I had a hard time letting go of things due to nostalgia/sunken cost fallacy, but now I’m happy to know that someone else can get good use out of the clothes I didn’t wear or random things I didn’t use.
I donated 6 full garbage bags of items to a local service that picks up from your porch for free and distributes to local thrift stores. It was a huge relief! I’ve also been donating books to the little free libraries around town. It feels so good to finally let go. Especially because books are the most annoying to move with lol they’re so heavy.
went to put aside a couple of decor magazines. the drawer is full. so now I’m pulling out the stuff already there.
Apparently I have magazines from 2010.
Had.
in this drawer are also notebooks from prior jobs. they’re heading out too.
I was holding onto them to review for additional thoughts for some stuff I was planning to write, but that isn’t interesting to me any more, and I don’t need to keep them in case I change my mind.
National Prescription Drug Disposal day is coming up on Saturday in the US if anyone has some kicking around in the back of the cabinet that they didn’t know what to do with.
https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/takeback.html
If you miss it or it’s not happening near you, a pharmacy near you might have their own program or be able to tell you what to do with it.
I have hit the loose pages, these I feel more obligated to review closely, so they are in a pile on the table to go through a bit at a time over the next week before the recycling pickup.
this rash of posts come to you thanks to the youtube algorithm pushing videos of people cleaning out their parents garages.
2 hours ago this didn’t close
Does anyone here have Ridwell and would like to share a promo code? Sorry US specific I think?
I have reached the limit about the amount of styrofoam that I can keep in my house. Time to go!
Yes! I will message you
Empited a “file” box of papers, some got filed, some got put in the to be filed drawer, some got put in the shred pile, a lot got put in the dump bin. The file box is now filled and ready to go to the dump. The other paper bins that will go to the dump today are full of books… and the usual recycles.
We’re working on backlogged chores: paperwork, pulling out the air conditioner, etc. Usual fall clean up.
I suggested to my mom that she clean out her underwear drawers for stuff that no longer fits her. We have full white garbage bag to go bye-bye. She was surprised she had that much stuff.
tart pan that was a sidewalk find, and the big cake carrier from pampered chef that was always too large because I don’t make multi tier decorated cakes.
sparkly spinner thing from my MIL that does not match my aesthetic and which never came out of the package, so someone can gift it for the holidays
I’m still struggling with the boots and dresses - I fear if I donate them, that they will be thrown away, while I still think they have some wear in them and I am contributing to global crisis. And two of the three dresses are arguably spring/summer weight. But then I’m only donating one dress, which seems pointless.
I don’t know if you’re looking to spend money, but I just learned these drawers exist. Apparently, they expand to fit different cabinet widths and you can install them on easy mode with included sticky stuff. Or you can screw them in for a more permanent solution. I think turning a deep, dark cabinet into a drawer is brilliant. But I’m renting so I’m putting my excitement on hold until I buy a place again.
Oo. We have some drawer cabinets but didn’t do all of them due to cost, maybe we could do a couple more now that we know how we actually use the kitchen.
