Sunday 21 January 2018

Decluttering





Over the years I have had a bash at this without much success.  I’m not the hoarder portrayed in those television programmes, more that I have a “just in case” mentality.
Recently, however, I’m having a really good go at it and realise that you have to feel ready to succeed, no matter what all the self help articles say.

Since retiring I have reconfigured my wardrobe, pruned my total number of clothes and thought carefully before purchasing new pieces.  Now I can see at a glance what I have in the wardrobe, I wash and wear throughout the season and no one has ever remarked on how often I have worn a certain item.  Some of the clothes were not “quite right” on me or perhaps the life style I aspired to and they had to go to the charity shop and maybe they suit someone else better.  I haven’t been able to cull my collection of scarves and handbags yet.
 
At my age, I have accepted that there are some skills I will never master and some pending projects which will never come to fruition so that paraphernalia had to go.  Also I remember the heartbreak and guilt I went through when the stuff from decades from four children and nine grandchildren had to be cleared from our parents’ house.  I don’t want to leave that task to my children.   Also we found wedding presents which my parents never used and cutlery and crockery saved for special occasions.  I now don’t keep things for “best”.

One of the best decluttering tips I have picked up is from Marie Kondo, who advises that, rather than go cupboard by cupboard, go category by category.  For example I have/had categories such as toiletries, gardening stuff and stationery in more than one location.  Gathered together to declutter, I could see that I had many duplicates and items about which I had forgotten.

So, why do I not have more room in my cupboards?

Prisons and prisoners

  Fortunately I’ve never been in prison and furthermore hope I never will. However, I have recently seen and read about this topic and it h...