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[Natureluvr]

I’m noticing a pattern with myself and it’s not a good one. I take to decluttering certain areas of my house, but I’m realizing that a lot of stuff ends up just getting shifted to another area. It’s as though I’m tricking myself into thinking I’m organizing (and I may be organizing that space), but I am ultimately cluttering another space. There are some items I just don’t know what to do with so I move them to different spots, but never seem to figure out a practical and permanent location. Gonna have to work on that.

[rockygems123]

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@Natureluvr wrote:
I’m noticing a pattern with myself and it’s not a good one. I take to decluttering certain areas of my house, but I’m realizing that a lot of stuff ends up just getting shifted to another area. It’s as though I’m tricking myself into thinking I’m organizing (and I may be organizing that space), but I am ultimately cluttering another space. There are some items I just don’t know what to do with so I move them to different spots, but never seem to figure out a practical and permanent location. Gonna have to work on that.

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@Natureluvr I agree, it is really hard to have a good decluttering system.

Volunteering for a local charity on the weekend we had large moving size boxes full of mostly awful costume jewelry yet we had to go through it all, bag it up for bulk sale and look for the stray gold or sterling piece to either sell or scrap.

As when working in a corporate environment of trying not to handle a piece of paper more than once we had to force ourselves not to move one pile to make another ha.  

ps Costco has nice size 44qt bins on sale 6.99 picked up several today.  

[Mom2Dogs]

@Natureluvr   I cannot relate as I LOVE to clean and declutter, but what I have found is this....O H I O....Only handle it once.  Have boxes for donatiion near by as well as a bag for trash and one for keeping.  

Once you decide what to do with the item- put it in one of the three  containers.  Then pitch or take to the donation center.

That should help.

[On It]

@Natureluvr I saw a TV show years ago that had an excellent system for people who had overstuffed closets and garages. They had 3 piles: Keep, Donate, Toss. The point was the piles should be kept of equal size. It caused some difficult decisions to be made.

During the lockdown we decluttered our entire house. We used the system, and it really helped although our piles were not of equal size. We need to do a follow up declutter of the things we have not worn or needed since the first effort. Good luck. Letting go is particularly difficult for my husband.

[jlkz]

@Natureluvr 

May I ask have you continued to use those things that you say you continue to move to different spots ?  Or, do they just sit in this limbo ?

If you are not using them, then you have your answer as to their disposition: Toss or Donate....this is the hard part because it is mourning them / the situation they belonged to.

It is a barrier that will co it use to haunt you until you let go.

Good Luck....it is not the end of the world ( hopefully ! )

[jackthebear]

yes

best to focus on one area,

I started keeping a box at my front door, when the mail comes I immediately put the junk there and take the good mail to the kitchen

[dimin]

"They" don't make it easy.All  the stuff you have to send for electronic recycling, then put batteries on top of trach cans, and no more pick up for donations. I can't throw away old speakers or broken coffee makers. It's a pain. 

[Desertdi]

I move the unnecessary items to the garage.    If I don't "miss them"....then they go in the trash. 

 (Believe me, NOBODY WANTS my old junk, so I skip the "donation process".)

[fthunt]

@dimin Check for a junk hauler in your area.  I just hired a guy twice for broken bird feeders - 2 coffee pots - cardboard, etc.  $75 for first load and $150 for second.

It's easy to do - just have your discards in garage and ready.

[Spacrazy]

@Natureluvr   You are not alone 🙃