Why am I always going through boxes, cabinets, closets, and storage bins in an effort to declutter?
My garage is still full from the move and I really want it cleaned out so I can actually put my truck in it. That’s what garages are for, right?
So, my thinking was this… I’ll bring a few bins in, get rid of as much as I can, and then only put a few remaining storage bins in the basement.
As usual, that’s not exactly how it goes.
I filled up my entire small living room, some went into the dining room, and I really couldn’t get myself to let go of much because most of it was from when my kids were little.
It literally started looking like the old house and I could hardly stand the hoarding feelings it brought back.
No more.
I’ve got spring fever bad and can’t wait to be doing things outside. I have huge plans for a garden this year and won’t have time for going through boxes and storage bins all the time.
There’s also another big surprise that I’m waiting to share…. coming soon!!
But no more with this stuff!! I found places for a few things, put a few bins in the basement with Totescan stickers, eBay stuff in the eBay area and got the rest out of the house. Yes, the garage is still full but I’m not bringing anymore in now unless I know where it’s going. No more sorting in the house either.
The stress is too much when it’s all in the house. So for now, I’ve decided not to touch it. I do a little bit here and there when I can but that’s it.
Taking care of what’s already in the house and being used is number one on the list. Spring cleaning a manageable amount of stuff is so much easier and achievable!
Here’s the questions to ask yourself: Am I ever going to use this again or will it just sit in a storage bin for another 20 years? Why am I keeping it? What’s the real reason?
Hi Jen!! I also struggled with decluttering stuff from when the kiddos were “small”. They are now in their 30’s. I’m pretty confident if you asked them to go through even one box, most of the stuff would be gone from it. They may not even remember the item.
I know it is the last thing they want to do but it might help you realize it is just old stuff. Get it out asap.
I know we’ve talked about selling vs donating vs trash. Selling things was just too much for me. Watching money go away was difficult at first but it was already gone. I then used my work hourly wage as my baseline of selling and realized I had very few items that would qualify. Maybe determining your “hourly” wage might also help with getting rid of some of the stuff.
Can’t wait for your news!
It does help getting their input!! I would get so stuck that I would call my oldest up and ask her if she would be mad if I got rid of something because she has kiddos now. She did want me to keep quite a bit but not everything and then I would ask my youngest and she was always like, “I don’t even remember that.” The stuff they didn’t even remember were the easiest to get rid of!
I know! And things I saved for years, they didn’t even remember. It definitely made it easier.
Of course, my kids are the two extremes. One hates any clutter and rarely keeps anything around while the other leans towards hoarding.