I can’t believe I’m staring down Month 3, so I’m a quarter of the way done with my project already. With that in mind I feel like my house should be 25% emptier and I should feel 25% less frazzled. Neither is true, but I don’t mind. I’m trying to find a balance between expecting a lot of myself while not beating myself up, because lots of things are out of my control.
Last month I laid out a fairly specific plan of things I wanted to accomplish, after winging it for the first month without a clear strategy. Neither approach has clicked, though, because I feel like I’m spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere. There have also been a couple times, I must confess, when I’m spurred to action because I need to write something and not because I tried to adhere to my plan. Structure is really hard for me, at least when I impose it on myself.
So this month I’m going to try another approach. I’m going to work on my project every day for fifteen minutes. The last couple days have worn me out, so I’m not going to plan more specifically right now. Since I like my deal-with-what-bugs-me philosophy, I may not plan anything at all. I need to decide when this 15 minute block will happen too. I could not be less of a morning person, so I don’t think mornings will work. Evenings could work but I feel I get into trouble when I leave certain tasks for the end of the day, because by then I don’t want to do anything either. Choosing the right time is going to be key.
I’ve made headway with a few things- laundry, meal planning, and I want to keep improving in those areas. Next Thursday I’m having a donation pickup of at least four boxes or bags. So far I have two boxes so I have some work to do. Every five years or so I get the itch to do a lot of redecorating, which is dangerous from a financial point of view, but good from a decluttering point of view because I’m more likely to get rid of décor which is sitting in the garage and attic. But I’m going to try to rotate stuff and use what I have, and get rid of things too.
So that’s my plan for next month, which isn’t reading like much of a plan at the moment. Maybe a good night of sleep will help me refine my plan a bit.
In the meantime, this little bird has taken up residence outside my bedroom window. Emma’s named her Chance. We both enjoy watching her. It’s surprisingly effective stress relief.
15 minutes a day is a good start but can I suggest a (free) subscription to 365 Less Things for weekly mini missions and (almost) daily reminders. An awesome community which has kept me motivated now for several years to a (mostly) clutter free house.
Moni, such a great suggestion!
I read Colleen’s blog (365 Less Things) too and her mini missions are so achievable. Each of “The Simple Year” journeys as well as Colleen’s blog motivated me so much. Since I started reading them a few years ago, I’ve donated or sold (car boot sale or local noticeboard) more than half of our belongings. It hasn’t happened overnight, it’s been a slow process, but it’s been worth the work and the hassle, and it truly does get easier the more you do. A lot easier. In the beginning it was overwhelming but you keep chipping away and the decisions happen faster.
Best of all, it cures you of any impulse shopping. It makes you afraid of buying anything because you start asking yourself “how hard will it be to (responsibly) get rid of this thing when I no longer want or need it?”
Tracy, I love reading about the progress you’re making and one of the biggest challenges is finding an approach that works for you and your circumstances. I had to keep changing my approach till I worked out what motivated me (such as committing to a car boot sale so I had to find a car load of items to sell. Anything that didn’t sell I donated immediately). It also helped that the local animal welfare charity shop is run by some very lovely people and it really motivated me to find as many good items as I could to donate to them.
Thank you for the feedback Kelly, I appreciate it! That’s a great blog!
Thanks for the suggestion, that is a great website. I found it really helpful.
I think you are doing great…one step at a time. I find getting up during commercials and being productive at that time is useful, I too am done at the end of the day and don’t feel like doing anything.
Thanks! I try to do little things during commercials, but that approach does not work so well while Netflixing, lol..