You knew this day was coming, right? It’s Day 17 of Just For Today Challenge - 31 Days To A Better You and it’s time to get rid of some of your STUFF.
Look around your home and notice all the STUFF that you have. It’s literally everywhere, if you are like most people. Are your closets overflowing like mine? Do you have multiple electronics like me? I have 3 iPods and 3 computer systems. What do I need 3 of them for? I have no idea. Especially since I only use 1 of each.
I have STUFF that I have bought because I had visions of one day I was going to do this craft project or that craft project. Of course, it just sits in the closet unopened and unused. What a waste of money, space and energy. I know in my heart that I’m never going to finish those projects, so why do I still have the materials? Probably because I like the idea of the craft project being completed and not the actual doing of it. That’s it – they are getting out of my house and out of my mind. I’m not going to waste any more energy thinking that someday I will finish them.
Do you believe that I have bought things that are still in their original packaging, tucked away in my storage closet? They’re not even opened! What was I thinking?
When I look around at all the STUFF I have, I see all the money that was wasted on things that I thought I NEEDED but in reality, they were things that I WANTED. Worse yet, like many people, I put those WANTS on my credit card so now I’m paying interest on some of the junk that I have lying around the house. That’s crazy!
That Magic Bullet Express kitchen gadget that I bought because I had visions of chopping, juicing and mixing healthier foods – it’s been used once. That blender that I bought because I wanted to start drinking healthy smoothies in the morning – it’s sitting on top of my fridge and has been there gathering dust for the last year. Those old textbooks that I still have from university on my bookcase? Why am I keeping those? I have no idea. I’m sure that if you looked around at your house, you can relate to what I’m saying. What is cluttering up your home and life?
I have clothes in multiple sizes (like most women, I imagine). I KNOW that I will never fit some of them again, so why am I hanging onto them? I like the idea of having them, I suppose. One day I may fit them again. Yeah, right. If that ever happens they’ll probably be horribly out of fashion. I’ve decided to donate those clothes that don’t fit me any longer.
I’m sure that you have things that you have absolutely NEEDED but then have realized that you really didn’t. We NEED Shelter, Food, Water, Warmth – everything else is a WANT. How many closets do you have that are jammed full of STUFF that you were sure that you were going to use or thought it would come in handy but have never used?
Just For Today, we are going to get rid of some of our STUFF.
Take this Challenge slowly. Don’t do your entire house in one day. It will be overwhelming, not to mention time-consuming. Pick one kitchen drawer or one closet. Start small so that you will build momentum and get a sense of accomplishment at the end of the Challenge.
Why get rid of some of your STUFF?
- To declutter our homes. By getting rid of the junk you can appreciate what’s remaining and what’s important in your home.
- To liberate your physical space of STUFF that impedes you from using certain parts of your home.
- To make some money. Sell your STUFF – have a yard sale if it’s warm where you are, or put things up on Craigslist. Put a flyer up at work that you are selling some STUFF and offer good deals to your co-workers.
- To declutter our minds. Having all that STUFF around us makes our minds disorganized and cluttered. You will be amazed that once you start on this process how clear your thinking becomes as it’s not inundated with maintaining all your STUFF.
- To give to others. If you don’t want to sell your STUFF, then give it away. You’ll gain a sense of freedom by giving something away that others can use. Donate your STUFF to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, if you can. Be happy that you are helping others who need your STUFF more than you do. There are many organizations that will even come and pick up your things so that you don’t have to drop them off.
- To make room for better things. Let go of the old things that have you trapped in the past so that you can move forward in life. Do you really need your university notes from 20 years ago? How about the report cards from your kids school, even though they are over 25 now? Can you get rid of all those toys no one ever uses anymore? Are you hanging onto your old boy/girlfriend’s letters and pictures? Get rid of them so that maybe a new relationship will come into your life.
I’m going to do this Challenge, too and will be going through one of my closets. I’ve already done the kitchen drawers last weekend. You will be amazed how much an impact clearing away your STUFF has on your life.
Action Steps:
- Take a drawer or a closet and empty it. Put everything in a box (or on your bed if you are doing the closet.)
- As you pick up each item, ask yourself “Have I used this in the last year?” If the answer is no, it goes into a separate pile. If yes, put it back into the drawer. You don’t need to ask anything else. Have you used it or not? If you think you will at some point, we all know how unlikely that is going to happen. Besides, if you really do need it in the future, don’t you think the store will have another one?
- For your clothes, as yourself if you can fit it today? Is it worn or stained? Have you worn it in the last year? Does this look flattering on me or does it look unattractive on me? Toss it if it fails the questions.
- Take your box or pile and either decide to sell or donate the box. A good way to get rid of your STUFF immediately is to put the box near your door so that you are forced to go by it when you leave your house. DO NOT PUT THE BOX IN THE CLOSET. Out of sight = out of mind. You want that box out of your house ASAP.
- Make time to repeat this until you have gone through every drawer, every closet, every bookcase until you are only surrounded by things that bring you joy and that you truly love to have in your home. This will take more than one day, but you can do it! Get the entire family involved. Make a game to see who can get rid of the most stuff from their rooms, if that works for you.
What did you decide to get rid of today? Let us know by leaving a comment below. How did you feel afterwards? Remember to start small.
For a list of all of the Challenges, see the Just For Today Challenge page.
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Oooo… This one is just calling out for links to ZenHabits, Unclutterer, or possibly even Flylady. I’ll refrain
Getting rid of your stuff is a brilliant idea, it might be scary at first, but then you realise you’re actually happier without it all. Great post Karen!
Heather´s last blog ..Life Drawing by Bridget Woods
Hi Heather,
Glad you like this idea. Those are great sites for people to check out. There tons of
resources on the web about decluttering your home, mind, and life.
It’s amazing the difference between the before and after when you get rid of the STUFF that is holding you back.
Thanks,
Karen
I love this idea! I hate clutter so I don’t have a TON but there is some for sure.
Something I AM proud of is that we do not use credit cards (or most credit) AT ALL. We pay cash for 99% of everything we buy (not including mortgage of course). If we do not have the cash or can’t save it up we DO NOT buy it! I love this about the way we live. No credit worries for us!
P.S
Oh and wanna sell me your bullet lol??!!
Hi Trace,
That’s fantastic that you don’t use credit cards. They are so easy to abuse. I try not to have a balance and pay them off each month, but it can be really hard sometimes. I’m generally pretty good with my money.
No so with clutter – my place is nice, but there are a lot of STUFF that can definitely go!
Karen
Have you been spying on me Karen?! When we moved here 7 years ago we had lots of empty rooms and I was pregnant with our first child. Three children later and our four bedder is full to bursting with clutter and mess.
I am going to do this. It will take me longer than a day but email me in a month and it should be done
I’ll let you know how it goes!
El
Eleanor Edwards´s last blog ..God Bless Technology
Good luck, Eleanor!
Try and get the entire family involved. The kids can donate old toys and clothes that they don’t use to children who need them.
Once you start the process, the entire family will see a big difference without all the stuff cluttering up the home. Clutter really does mess up your thinking and clearing it out clears the mind as well.
This is great Karen,
I’m going to use this for when I move here in a few months. It’s important to realise that some things you just don’t need any more. My only problem is that I have a lot of stuff for one guy – and some of it has sentimental value. I have a stereo (a nice one) in the living room that I haven’t even touched for a year. It sits there on the table and looks cool and if I were to use it it’d sound great. My Grandmother got it for me a few years before she passed away.
I would rather hold onto things of that nature but anything else that I bought and “need” I should just get rid of.
Eric´s last blog ..Inspiration, Smart Work, Success | The InfoPreneur
HI Eric,
Where are you moving to? Moving can be a great opportunity to purge your stuff and get rid of some of it (take it from me).
Definitely keep those sentimental things that have meaning to you. There are some things that I have that I wouldn’t give toss, no matter what. They mean too much to me. But, there are a lot of other things that I have spent a considerable amount of money on and wonder “what was I thinking”?. But, you know what? that’s sunk cost and I’m not going to get that money back. It’s gone. I can’t let it affect my current situation.
Good luck with the move.
Karen