Monday, February 7, 2011

The DeClutter Project Report - Week 6

One thing I am learning about decluttering is that you have to be in the mood to do it.  If you're not, it can be an exercise in futility.

That's how yesterday was for me.  I think part of the problem is the fact that I was busy all day Saturday, leaving just one day to do all the things that need to get done on a weekend, like laundry

I did sort through some things. I rearranged my collection of papers into 3 boxes/categories: images, vintage and colour.  While doing so, I pulled out a bunch of fodder for a birthday present I am making.  I cleaned off my dining room table for the 2nd day in a row, tidying up and putting away all the supplies Marilyn and I had used the day before.  I told myself I was going to clear off all the miscellaneous "stuff" I had piled on the bed in my guest room while working on last week's declutter project and I did make an effort, but in the end, I just seemed to be moving things from one pile to another and not actually clearing off or putting away, so I stopped.

So, here I am on Monday, learning to cut myself some slack and telling myself that it's not the end of the world if I didn't complete a task this week.  Learning to ignore the inner critic who is telling me I didn't do enough and/or didn't do it "right".  I took a little bit of action and contributed to portions of bigger projects that will be completed later.  As Sark would say, I took some baby steps towards the bigger goal.  For yesterday and today, that is enough.
Photo by Bliss Boutique Photography,
via the Internet

5 comments:

Roberta Warshaw said...

Sometimes when I am trying to de-clutter I find myself just moving piles from one part of the house to another!

Zoe Nelson said...

Really, we're told "set a goal" and "stick to it", but we're never taught how to not feel guilty when we back slide a little. I'm a big fan of giving yourself some slack!

Cynthia of Cynful Creations said...

Roberta, I was tempted to just pile everything on the bed into a box and hide it in the closet, but then I'd just have to deal with the box when it comes time to do the closet, which is also on my list! :)

Zoe, it's so true, isn't it?

Annette Gendler said...

You're so right, one has to be in the mood, but since one rarely is, those pesky projects don't get done. I've embarked on my own decluttering project now (check it out) - the idea is to do one little thing each day. It's a bit scary but I'm trying to go against my inclination to wait until the mood strikes and then clean out an entire closet. That mood strikes too rarely, and those big chunks of time hardly ever open up in my life.

HDD said...

HAd to come back to you & your decluttering.
I seem to have caught the "bug" too! Began on my kitchen. A section each day.
Having a day off today but yes oh yes sometimes you seem to just move it all to another spot yet to be reached.
H