Daily Declutter

When I don't write things down, I forget things. Yesterday I thought I spent most of the day driving my son to the fair, but that was only because the trip to the fair took so long and I wrote late. Upon further reflection, I realized that I spent most of the morning encouraging him to clean his room. By encouraging, I mean I sat on his bed and told him to "pick up any group of things you see on the floor. Ok, pick up all the pens. Pick up all the post-it notes. Pick up all the school papers you no longer need." He thought the best way to clean would be to dump everything from his school bag and desk (including drawers) into a pile on the floor, so it was quite an undertaking. However, his room no longer makes me hyperventilate, so that's a good thing. He got rid of a lot of papers; he also got rid of a few toys, to give to his cousins, and I got rid of a plastic tote to carry the toys.

I will try to remember better today, and not write quite as late. (I typically check in a couple times a day, as I accomplish things, and that prevents as much forgetfulness.)

I didn't get much of my stuff decluttered, but I worked with my daughter today, cleaning out her room. She had a lot more ...stuff... sitting around. We got rid of clothes that no longer fit, clothes that are too warm (a ski jacket still in her closet in June?), and a few toys she hasn't played with in over a year. She like working together, so it was good time together, and she will be happier if she is better able to find her stuff when she wants something.

On a related note, I pulled my husband's teaching shirts out of the closet. They will sit quietly in the shed until school starts up, and in the meantime he will have better access to the clothes he will wear this summer (that is not you, dark blue high school t-shirt!). Maybe he will enjoy having fewer items in his closet, and groom his wardrobe a little closer next year? One can only hope. (I am the person who puts clean clothes away in his closet, so I do have a vested interest.)

Additionally, a pair of too-small work gloves got donated out of the garage, and some scrap wood is now cute spools for gifting ribbon at Christmas. The scrap wood bin is being reduced slowly, but as I have said so many times before, slow decluttering is better than acquisition.