Today ended the last full week of the school year. In honor of our impending summer vacations, here are a couple things I’ve learned about myself recently.

• I’m averse to throwing things away. Whenever I declutter, I get stuck on things I should throw out. I think about landfills and feel guilty. Even though we recycle diligently and I’ve donated way more than I’ve tossed in the trash, I have a very hard time throwing stuff out. So I’ve decided to add another metric to my stuff in and stuff out count: trash bags. Yesterday I filled a big trash bag and also put 26 items in a donation box. My goal is to fill at least two more bags by the end of the month.
• I’m done decluttering the kitchen. Last month, before my stuff in/stuff out challenge, I agreed to have an online Pampered Chef party and I got a few things at a discount.  I felt a little guilty because I didn’t want to buy anything this month. But I chose carefully, replacing a couple things and focusing on items to help me cook healthier meals. When I got the new things I did one more decluttering round. Since I ordered six things, I tried to donate six things. but I didn’t find six things, just a few mugs. I feel like the kitchen still has too much, but I use everything often enough to keep. The room still needs some organizational help but I don’t anticipate getting rid of much more. All I know is that I’m super happy to have a garlic press again because trying to chop garlic by hand is a bitch.

I can’t wait to use my vegetable steamer. Really.

• I manage my time better when I have less of it. I’ve cut back to one job and have wrapped up Emma’s activities and my volunteer commitments, but I don’t really know what I’ve been doing with all my extra time. I’ve realized I’ve lost track of some of the different things for the blog and I haven’t done as much in the house as I wanted. Other than last weekend’s non-stop activity, I realize I went into vacation mode as soon as my schedule lightened up. The end of school will lead to some schedule changes and I need to revisit my goals and think about how I’m going to reach them.

I’m looking forward to a quiet weekend. We’re going to a used book sale tomorrow which is potentially hugely dangerous to my decluttering goals. I promise to fully confess on Monday.