Decluttering After Christmas

It's the second week of January. I wake to declutter the great room after a well-spent Christmas with family. It looks like a typical after-Christmas scene except for scattered masks that remind me of the existence of COVID-19. Placing that thought aside, I start to systematically take down decorations.

I move from the great room to the study gathering items to pack away for next year. As I sit at the computer ready to continue writing, I search for a photo and find old computer files that I have not looked at all year. The 3-second rule shared by a colleague year ago pops up as a reminder. Open a file or an item in the room. If you have not touched it in months or years, it is time to discard it. Whew! Within 45 minutes, I quickly trash dozens of old files. Decluttering makes me smile. I feel energized. “Time spent minimizing possessions is never wasted.” (Joshua Becker) I go off to my Stretch and Pump class knowing that within a few days the boxes of decorations will be stored away and I will have time to reorganize. 

Join me as I sit comfortably on the vintage upholstered chair that now sits in the space where the Christmas tree stood waiting for new memories to be made. (Of course, it will take at least a month to accomplish that.)

It's Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for a world of reflective writers. 

declutter

remove my mess

stand back assess

feel instant peace

quick stress relief

©CV, 2022

I appreciate the pause in life each week where I can slice my thoughts.

https://twowritingteachers.org/2022/01/11/tuesday-slice-of-life-story-challenge-66/

Organized Clutter_SOLSC 17

There's a fine line between a packrat and a serious family historian. 

-Genealogy Blog

As I climb to my attic place,

What comes to mind is 

"Free up space".

What's stored up there

Is beyond compare.

I'm ready to wrestle dusty air.

Family this, school that

unpacking loads of labeled loot-

Am I just a packrat?

Decluttered, feeling free-

boxes ready for someone's

shopping spree!

My attic is a hidden room of clutter but thanks to dedicated time, 

I have lessened my load of days-gone-by treasures.

What's in your attic? 

☵

Each year since March 2015, I have engaged in Two Writing Teacher's Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. Slicing allows me to ponder life, literacy, and learning, capturing small moments poetically through writing, photography, and digital art. Welcome to Day 17 of 31 days of writing with Two Writing Teachers. 

Decluttering To Achieve Balance

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of clutter? 

There are periods in my life that my house gets cluttered and it just begs for a good "spring" cleaning. Piles of paper from a variety of unfinished tasks just sit waiting for a friendly hand to whisk them away into filing cabinets. Other piles just lay in wait as new projects get underway. Clutter seems to bring on more clutter and that seems to transfer over to my calendar that has its share of too many events crowded into a short space. When all of this occurs an intervention is necessary so that order and balance can be restored.

There are so many declutter experts on television these days who work their magic. I have gathered a few ideas on how to bring about order in a more efficient manner. My choice of life hacks to declutter are:

#1: Engage in Reflaction

Reflection with POSITIVE action (a term coined by two educator friends, Cory Radish and Scott Totten) is needed to start my "spring" cleaning process. Goal setting is essential.

#2: Sort and Organize

Divide and conquer the clutter. Set up three strategic areas: For Trash, For Storage, For Immediate Handling. Use the Three Second Rule to rid myself of unwanted items that are not important. Create specific areas or compartments for items that I want to keep.

#3: Step Back, Reflect on Accomplishments, Celebrate

Did I remember to relax with the process because some jobs are quick and others are meant to be conquered in small steps. Applaud the positive thinking and stamina needed to persevere.

Just as we declutter our home, garden, and office, I learned we must declutter our minds to keep balance and peace in sight. Reducing the information intake to allow for periods in the day just to relax is key. 

My Reflaction: Now that my outdoor space has been reimagined and is clutter-free, I commit to bring balance to my indoor space.

With that said, I am off to simplify my life with some life hacks thanks to Margaret Simon at DigiLit Sunday who suggested the topic of decluttering.