I had this post scheduled ahead of time to coincide with my planned "organization party" with friends. We've arranged a "cleaning party" system where we hop from house to house, helping each other purge and organize respective clutter. After all, it's much easier to help other people organize their stuff than to organize your own mess! While in the midst of cleaning I didn't snap any photos during the day with the bright natural lighting I prefer to work with! These pictures were taken into the morning hours after the clean-up was done.
We focused on the cluttered black bins in my IKEA expedit unit. Now all my herbalism homework, art supplies, and tools are neatly organized within. With my friend's helped I forced myself to donate and trash half-finished projects from years ago, along most my "I'm going to turn this into something...one day" bits and bobs.
I'm not nearly done, I want to read my reference books and magazines, take notes, then sell and donate them. I'm also starting a system to scan my business receipts ASAP so I can go as paperless as possible. But the afternoon's worth of decluttering was an inspiring start. My vision is to keep surfaces mostly uncluttered and to have a huge "gallery" statement wall in each room, taking advantage of my apartment's tall-ass ceilings!
Tomorrow I have a huge pile of boxes to drag to the thrift store. I can't wait to take tons of didn't-sell merch and not-done projects down the stairs...for the last time! Unfinished projects and objects you're not 100% passionate about block your energy. BIG TIME. They bog you down, like an anchor tied around your neck...when you're trying to swim for your life! Right now there's a Yuko curled up on my lap. I'm finally adding some pieces that were floating around to my vision book, and my writer's block is clearing. It feels so good to purge and organize!
What things do you have trouble letting go? I was saving broken souvenirs and unfinished projects but finally let them go. By the way, if you look to the right on the blog (click through to the blog if you're reading via e-mail) I have a post schedule added. I want to do organization/home or diy posts every Monday. Let me know if you have any particular requests!
I wish I had a little bit of your ability to let go of stuff.
ReplyDeleteA little part of me wants to fish the broken tanuki souvenir from Japan out of the trash, haha. I used to be more hoardery but now I want as little as possible, I now know I want experiences over stuff. I'm in an apartment and will move eventually, and not wanting to haul loads of stuff is a big motivator, too. Being a reseller for years and loading stuff up and down my long stairwell for a long time definitely cured any acquisition bug for me.
Deletehow cool.. great idea. good for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
DeleteThe idea of helping one another is awesome! I have trouble letting go of pieces for projects I haven't had time for. I'm really trying to work on cleaning that out right now.
ReplyDeleteThose are some of the hardest things to let go, but it's so liberating when they're gone!
DeleteI love your magazine rack (and your Beetlegeuse drawing!). I purged my closets last week, and l letting go of old clothes is always hard. I always think I could wear them again someday... even though it's been YEARS. I gave myself a rule of thumb that if it was more than 2 sizes too big/too small, it goes to Goodwill. No exceptions. Done and done!
ReplyDeleteThank you :) I have a big beautiful Lydia painting above my bed, it's tied for my favorite movie with Transformers The Movie. I used to be baaaad with clothes, now I just let it go. I'll find loads and loads more at the Goodwill by-the-pound store and yard sales for next-to-free.
ReplyDeleteI've been in a constant slow, but steady, purging of things since the new year. I have a lot more to go.
ReplyDeleteI'm always slowly trying to purge and minimize, too. I want to work on my magazine collection next...
DeleteFew years ago, when I realized that the problem is not the lack of storage in my house but the fact that there are simply to much stuff at home, I decided that every year in the summer I will have a decluttering day or two! It feels great! The house is easy to clean and feels spacious.... and I don't miss any of the things I give away! :) Thanks for sharing! Greets!
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea! I guess that if I have friends over to help me clean and organize my place, I'll feel much more motivated to do it. I will also be be glad to help someone with cleaning! I think that if we actually speak with friends about this it is absolutely possible! Thanks for sharing!
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You did a meaningful act!!! things to do
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