Declutter & Clearify

Usually as spring comes around, I get motivated to declutter and simplify what’s in my house. I didn’t get to it so I’m noticing a lot of clutter. The second half of the year is a time for me to reevaluate what I’ve done through the first half and what I want/need to ‘Clearify’ to fulfill my passions. Turns out my house needs some attention!

This isn’t a weekend job as I want to get rid of a lot that I’ve been holding on to.

I’m a memory hoarder. I have trinkets and jewelry from childhood, intriguing outfits from high school that show the fashion trends of the 80’s. Perhaps I’ll share at some point! Cassette tapes and players, stuffed animals, my Baby Chrissy doll, many of my children’s toys. They are reminders of different chapters in my life.  Some I keep because there are so many stories that go with them.

I just read an intriguing and helpful book by Matt Paxton: Keep the Memories, Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life.

I loved this book because I teach memoir and journaling, so I understand how important telling our stories are for healing, remembering, honoring our lives/loved ones, and moving forward with life. The author’s major technique in helping people get rid of their things is to share the story with someone. He means having someone go through the items with you in your house but I’m going to share my stories with you!

For the rest of 2022, I’m going to go deeper into the house stuff, getting into the nitty gritty of memories stashed in bins, drawers, hidden spaces. I’m going to go through the boxes that have long been forgotten.

I’m starting my ‘Declutter and Clearify’ journey with 10 minutes a day of clearing out something. Starting small like end tables or a desk drawer. Paxton shares that anyone can do something for 10 minutes with the hope that you’ll be inspired to do more once you see the impact.

Today I cleared out one end table in my family room. Turns out it was more of my husband’s stuff but I figured we didn’t need the 20 pens that I had somehow stashed in there over the past year. Now our remote controls have a home, and the surface is clean!

To get organized, I listed each room and what needs decluttering. I wrote it in my journal but you can list on your computer, a big poster in each room—whatever is a good reminder. Then I broke it down into steps each month.

August:

Bathroom cabinets

Office drawers

Closets—linen, hall, mudroom

Cabinets in my library

End tables

My closet floor (mysterious items are piling up)

Paxton suggests asking why in order to keep you motivated. Why am I going through the house to declutter? As a creative person, I tend to be chaos unleashed. I freely admit it. A clean and organized house with open spaces helps me feel and be more creative. I still work from home 95% of the time. I want to enjoy it. I’d like my house to look lived in, loved, and represent what matters to me and my family—not what no longer serves us.

So do you want to join me?

What can you declutter, clear, shrink, remove, let go, and sift through for 10 minutes a day for the month of August?

It doesn’t have to be a home. It could be a car. It could be your body, mind, or spirit. Whatever you want to clear, know why, then commit to 10 minutes—if this is what serves you best. If not then you can get some entertainment by seeing what I’ve been hanging onto.

But better yet, you’ll see what opens up when I create space! Follow my ‘Declutter and Clearify’ journey on Instagram!