Over the years, we’ve loved the lazy gals guide to simplifying in the home. It’s been amazing, and a game changer for us. It’s a little crazy, however, how much STUFF you really do accumulate over a lifetime, and in various stages of life. Before we moved, we felt as though we easily donated and sold half of our belongings since we were downsizing. Between our business and all things life, we’re ready to hit it hard and simplify even more, now that our basement is {somewhat} in tact. Today I wanted to cover the topic in case anyone is overwhelmed. A little encouragement and motivation if you will, with where to start: Ten things to purge right now.
Since we’re revisiting the topic, here’s a few truths I’ve learned over the years when it comes to organization and simplification. They’ve become my guides and the things I seek out when I know that I’m getting discouraged.
A. You can’t organize clutter.
It just has to go. You can purchase pretty baskets and clever bins and all the other things, but if you don’t know what you have because you can’t even breathe, it’s pointless. It’s time to let go, upward and onward, and any other mantra that helps you move forward. Simplify, because less is the new more.
B. Divide your home into zones.
It can help, if you’re a list person. Confession: I write tasks I’ve already accomplished on my list, just to cross it out. Shhhh, no judging. But divide and conquer, if you’re not sure where to start. Stick to one space, and stay there until you have it complete. Or one item that you want organized, until you’re finished with that one. {Pantry chaos, anyone?} Write it down and cross it off as you go. All the places at once can lead to running all over your house with no real direction or goal in mind. Which leads to just feeling more overwhelmed… Simply put, begin where you feel motivated. And keep your tasks small.
C. Let go of Guilt.
Guilt is overused and over rated. It can impair your judgement and leave you making bad decisions. Don’t have it in your life when it comes to inanimate objects. It’s really easy to get caught up in, and is just plain silly. Question your feelings, because that’s totally okay, and move on.
D. Start small.
Whittle it down. We mentioned this above, but it’s worth mentioning again. The fastest way to feel overwhelmed and unsure of yourself, is when you’re facing a pile of boxes in a storage unit. Trust us, we’ve now whittled three {storage units, not boxes} down to one, {no judging, we don’t have an office and we took on a rehab and moved from a house to an apartment and back to a house again…} so we have that last one left. {Wish us luck.} But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and you shouldn’t feel like you have to stick to a regimen. Do what feels right and it will come easier to you.
SO here’s ten things to purge right now, if you’re still not sure where to start:
1. Things that you meant to repair, and random parts.
Seriously. That toy from the quarter machine that broke and your daughter asked you to paste that she’s now forgotten about? Toss it. The old furniture you purchased on a whim that sits in the corner, unpainted and unfinished for six months? Let it go. The cords to the second laptop you owned that no longer starts up? Let it go. The quickest thing to clutter your home can be lost parts and broken things. And they just sit as reminders of what you didn’t accomplish. Honestly, who cares when you have bigger fish to fry?
2. All the expired things.
Medicine. Food. Personal hygiene and beauty products… Seek them out and get rid of them. Combine bottles and recycle. There’s nothing taking up more room than old meds, fad diets that faded out after a week, half used bottles you keep meaning to get back to, and everything in between. Whittle and consolidate. Your fridge and pantry and cabinets are some of the biggest culprits, and they’re where good intentions go to die. Let it go and move on. You’ll feel better.
3. Surface clutter with no purpose.
Honestly, if nowhere else, start here. You’ll see immediate progress and wonder why you hadn’t cleared it before. Not to be a total cliche, but it’s the first step to a healthier, happier you. Pitch the mail piles, old magazines, school papers and everything in between. Find a real home for the things that matter, but clear off your countertops, dressers, bathrooms, desks, nightstands… should I keep going? That alone is a great place to start.
4. Guilt items.
We touched on this above. But you know what I’m talking about. The things gifted to you that you felt kinda of bad about parting with. The things you inherited that you have no idea what to do with them. The things you spent too much money on that just didn’t work out for you {that dress from last season with the weird cinched waist that looked oh so good on the model in the picture in that flash sale with the tags still in tact} purge and move on. Which brings us to…
5. Items that don’t fit you anymore.
I held onto way too many clothes after way too many babies, thinking they would fit again. They might not, and that’s okay. In the meantime, unless they’re a classic favorite that you just know you’re coming back to, do you really need it? I’m not talking about six months post partum, y’all. Give yourself some grace. I’m talking five years since college and it’s probably out of style now. It’s time to purge. Did I end up fitting back into some of my clothes? Yes. {Some.} I say part with them. You’ll feel better and make room for that cute blouse you really wanted, anyway. {I’ll be reading back over this one when I purge my closet, later}
6. Sentimental items that have become a burden.
This one is going to be different for everyone. It can be baby clothes. It can be something from your grandmother that you’ve just never been able to work with. For my mom, it was her Elizabethan dining room set that no one ever sat at, because it was too small and delicate, handed down from her grandmother. She felt so much better when she finally let go, knew that it went to a good home, and was able to replace it with a great new beautiful set that fits her family well. New memories are made here because we sit around as a family and enjoy one another. She took a picture to remember it, and moved on. My dad did a happy dance. Everyone lived happily ever after.
7. DVD’s you’ll never watch again.
Really. It’s the digital age. Y’all may cringe when I say this but we just donated all of ours. We don’t even know where our DVD players is, and it felt so good to get rid of box after box. Unless it’s an absolute favorite, and unless you just habitually love to leaf through your DVD collection, let go of the ones you’re not going to watch. I’m looking at you, Rambo part 2. Shhhh. No judging.
8. Excessive amounts of picture frames.
It’s okay. We all have our thing. But display a few with your very favorite photos. Stick mostly to the walls. It’s a recipe for winning. Don’t cover all your surfaces with ALL THE FRAMES. Especially the one that once sat in your dorm room in college if you’ve been out for a decade. And don’t shove them in a closet, promising to use them later. It’s time to move on and whittle it down. Yes, I am side eyeing myself.
9. Good intentions.
Once upon a time, we purchased our children three ice cream balls. Why? Becuase we thought that it would be a fun project for our kids, and that they would enjoy making ice cream with said ice cream balls. We put them away when we moved and never used them and totally forgot about them. Until I peered over the edge of a {quite perilous, mind you} pile in the {shameful} storage unit that we have left the other day, and saw them there. We’d actually moved them from our house, into a storage unit. And from that storage unit into another. And forgotten about them. So shame was layered on top of shame like the layers of dairy created by an ice cream ball, and that’s where our good intentions died. It’s okay to sell brand new things on eBay, {or donate if you can’t be bothered – which is what we usually resort to} put them toward your next vacay, and move forward.
10. The fondue pot.
Once upon at time, circa 2001, we were engaged and we found this magical thing called a registry gun and we had a little too much fun in Bed Bath and Beyond. We registered for a fondue pot. We had so much fun thinking of all the parties we would have with said fondue pot. We received the fondue pot, and in fifteen years of marriage, we’ve used it a total of three times. Which is probably more than the average fondue pot user. It’s time to let it go, along with the really cute William Sonoma dishes that came with. Maybe yours isn’t a fondue pot, but I do think we don’t really need five sets of measuring cups, twenty stirring spoons, that juicer we stopped using six years ago, and the dusty fondue pot. Time to free up all the new real estate in your kitchen. And be glad for it.
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We hope our little lists of simple truths and ten things to purge right now gives you something to work with when it comes to sticking with those new years resolutions, and simplifying all the things. Check out the older posts from the lazy gal’s guide, here.
What’s something you’d like to get rid of right now?
Have an inspired day!
Jamie Razor says
Nice tips on removing the clutter and organizing the home better, you are right we can never organize the clutter, only way is to dispose them of.
Jen says
Ahhh…a kindred spirit! I also write things down that I’ve accomplished just so I can cross it off!! I really really needed this today. I find myself completely overwhelmed by all. the. stuff. I am the person who is so happy to find that when I go on vacation, I miss none of it. NONE OF IT. I can live out of a suitcase and be perfectly content. And then I have to come home, and I feel as though I am drowning in all the stuff. It’s everywhere. And I become paralyzed by it–not knowing where to start. So this is a great way to start my weekend. Attack and conquer. And maybe finally get the Christmas decorations and tree (ahem) put away.🤪 Thank you!
Theresa says
I’ve been working thru our home. Much needed purging. Great tips. Thanks for sharing this at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Pinned & sharing.
Justine says
Awesome suggestions! Love it.
Andrea @ MouseInMyPocket.com says
Between the baby (who is almost a year old now) and my mom recently deciding to “gift” me with some heirlooms she thought I would want, I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed with the clutter in my house. I feel like there isn’t a flat surface in the house – from the kitchen table to the floor) that isn’t covered in stuff. I think what I really need is someone to come to my house while I’m out and just toss things for me.
Nigel William says
I loved this article for so many reasons, what liked me the most it was the “no guilt” remarks. I was wondering if you are planning to create a post about how to efficiently organize?