No matter if you are becoming a minimalist, just de-cluttering a bit, or attempting to get your spending and/or shopping under control, I am willing to bet that you will unearth multiples of the following:
food (pantry items)
paper products (kitchen and bath)
bath & beauty products
I am willing to wager because I was guilty of this in the past.
If you're hesitant to donate your excess, here are some ideas for using up bath & beauty products.
Soap can double as shampoo and as detergent for hand-laundering bras, tights, etc.
Shampoo can double as shaving cream and as detergent for hand-laundering bras, tights, etc.
Conditioner can double as shaving cream and as cleaning agent for your sink and shower (in-between deep cleans, of course)
I am fully invested in The Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up, but if the idea
of gathering ALL of your clothing and sorting it in one go is too daunting,
start with your socks.
Perfection Paralysis
Sometimes, it isn't feeling overwhelmed that stops us in our tracks, but perfectionism. Do not allow
the desire for perfection to paralyze you and to keep you from starting the
process. Seeking perfection is an exercise in frustration, and it immobilizes
you. It keeps you from trying something new or from starting on a new path.
Crush Compromise
While you don't want to be a perfectionist, you don't want to abandon your ideals and desires completely.If you have a very specific idea of the type of bookshelf that you want to buy, wait for it. The books can remain boxed up for another month or two. Just don't let those boxes hang around forever.
Stop Storage
How many areas of your home serve as a storage unit? Attic? Garage? Basement?
Do you know or need what is in those boxes? What binds you to the
contents? If it's guilt or fear that you'll need it someday, forget it. I've been
donating and de-cluttering for 20 years, and in
that time, I've regretted purging ONE item. One.
Is your house a home, or is it a
storage unit for you, your kids, or your friends? If so, give them the incentive to remove their
possessions: a deadline to retrieve or an invoice. Assuming that it is wanted, saving
grandma's vintage vanity until your child finds her/his first home is fine, but storing 15,000 albums for a child is another story.
Double Duty
Recently, I
read Skin Cleanse, and it made me
re-think my relatively streamlined skin care regime. Why not use extra virgin olive oil to remove my mascara? One product, two uses! Think about
secondary and tertiary uses for products that you already own. Use an expired lip balm to soften your cuticles and to polish leather shoes and handbags.
I plunged into The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up as a way to really streamline my possessions before moving house. Since moving, I have done a bit of tidying up (aka de-cluttering) in the komono categories. I even broke the rules and tidied me mementos before finishing all of the komono because I knew it would be a quick win.
However, it has been far too long since I focused my attention on tidying, so I pushed myself to tackle my electronics today. Thankfully, I am not a big geek when it comes to electronics and gadgetry, and it was stored (except for my Kindle) in a small/medium paper shopping bag.
After a weekend of purging knitting books, magazines, yarn, and other notions, I was dragging my feet over diving back in and purging my knitting needles. I forced myself to do it, and a two-hour session (maybe less) yielded great results.
Additionally, I decided to purge my yarn winder, yarn swift, and... my entire yarn stash!