For the past few years I haven’t done a lot of decluttering. It’s not like things have piled up, it’s just that I never got around to dealing with certain projects and areas.
Why were these areas of clutter ignored?
Partly because they were hidden. And partly because I didn’t hold myself accountable to take care of them.
Hidden Clutter
Years ago I created systems that helped me keep the everyday clutter under control. For the most part there isn’t a lot of mess laying around, at least not what a visitor would see. Most of my clutter is hidden inside drawers, closets, in containers under the beds, and in my storage room in the basement.
Although these areas are “hidden” they are not really out of sight or out of mind.
- Upon opening the closet in the home office I see file boxes and stacks of papers that need to be decluttered.
- When I open a drawer in my dresser I see clothes I haven’t worn for a long time.
- Each time I go in the spare bedroom I remember all the photos hiding in the boxes under the bed, patiently waiting for me to declutter and organize.
- When I need a paper from a folder in my file drawer, I’m reminded of how stuffed the drawer is and it’s overdue for a decluttering session.
I’ve attempted to tackle some of these projects in the past but I never seem to make much progress. Everyday life gets in the way. At least that’s been the excuse I keep telling myself.
After a lot of soul searching I’ve come up with one main reason why I am struggling to take action on the “hidden” clutter projects. I don’t have a system or routine to hold myself accountable!
How I Held Myself Accountable In the Past
In the early 2000’s I found Flylady online. Her daily emails helped a lot. Through her, I was able to find a local Flybady group that met monthly. Although that larger group didn’t last too long, there were 5-7 of us that created our own monthly group. We encouraged, inspired, and help hold each other accountable with our decluttering projects. Unfortunately, we have only met a couple of times since the pandemic.
In 2008 I started this blog with several goals in mind.
- I wanted to share the lessons I had learned over the years on how to declutter.
- I also wanted to write books and create a profitable business with the blog.
The first goal I was fairly successful with. I focused on writing what I had learned by doing decluttering projects and sharing that info. I knew the only way I could share this info was by either actually doing the projects or at least researching enough to create systems that could help.
Blogging regularly helped keep me accountable. So did posting info on my Facebook pages and groups.
Unfortunately life circumstances got in the way of the second goal above. As a result, it got harder and harder for me to stay motivated to blog and write on a regular basis.
How to Hold Myself Accountable Now
Since blogging on a regular basis helped me in the past, I believe it’s a good tool that can help me with addressing my hidden clutter. I will have to live the stories by doing the work before I can write about them. It will probably take me awhile to get back into the routine of decluttering along with regular blogging.
Since blogs take a lot more time to write, I also plan to send out quick updates by an email newsletter (maybe weekly) on my progress with decluttering the hidden clutter. This way I can hold myself accountable to take decluttering actions on a regular basis.
If you would like to receive the newsletter, please sign up on the sidebar of this blog post.
I also plan to get back to posting on my Facebook page and Facebook groups. They’re an easy place to get a conversation going which will help me and also help you. Connection to others always helps with keeping ourselves accountable.
Cut Clutter With Scissors Facebook page
Controlling Paper Clutter Support Group (Facebook group)
Clutter -Use It or Lose It (Facebook group)
It’s A Journey, Not A Destination
I learned a long time ago that decluttering is a journey, not a destination. Somehow I lost that concept regarding my hidden clutter. I want to embrace that concept again to help take the pressure off having those high and perfectionist expectations.
A journey implies that we are traveling along a path. We get to choose what luggage we carry with us along this path. If we have less luggage to weigh us down, we can enjoy the journey and experience more adventures along the way.
When we are constantly weighted down with unnecessary stuff (both physical and mental) it’s hard to fully experience those adventurous opportunities when they come around. We may not even see those opportunities when they are right in front of us. Our vision and brains end up being blocked by so much stuff around us. This is simply because we couldn’t let go of the old to make room for the new.
For years I have ended my blog posts and newsletters with the saying, “To a lighter load along the way”. It’s time for me to start following my own advise.
To a lighter load along the way.
Janice
Your post was wonderful. I want to join your journey. Thanks for posting it was very informing.