I received a message on Facebook over the holiday break from a reader who would like some advice on decluttering journals. Here is her message :-

“Hello I am a follower of your blog which I very much enjoy. I could use some help on one of my final decluttering projects. I have about 20 years worth of old journals which I never look at but can’t seem to part with. I think I am ready to get rid of at least some, but I could use some suggestions as to how. I don’t know if I should save them for my daughter to read (or if I would want her to!) Any suggestions you have would help! Thanks. Steena”

I have never been one for keeping journals so my advice is fairly generic ~ If you think they are clutter than they probably are. However if you could condense them down to a more manageable cross-section of your life – keeping only the pages that give a good insight into the person your were – then perhaps future generations would appreciate this inheritance.

Having dabbled in genealogy in the past I know how important such document can be to future generations. I wish my father’s mother had keep a journal so I would have some insight as to what her internal world was like and way she was the way she was. That being said I would only have needed a sample of the way she thought about life and how she felt about those around her. A little about what her childhood was like and how she felt about marriage and motherhood. I would not so much appreciate piles and piles of journals with years of endless rambling of her everyday life.

Once again this might be different for other people. Any advice in this matter would be helpful. So if any 365ers have had experience with this please chime in.

The Weekend’s Mini Missions

Saturday – Were there any kitchen gadgets or utensils that didn’t get used over the holiday period or the twelve months prior for that matter. Time to embrace the idea that you have no use for them and release them to someone who does.

Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.

“In daily life we must see that it is not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.” Brother David Steindl-Rast

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

I loved this comment in response to Cindy’s post this week. Wendy F has a great way to combat to-do forgetfulness in this comment. Don’t do what I do though Wendy F when I only leave a small note and then don’t remember what I meant by it. Damn early onset Dementia ~ not really, but it sure feels that way some days. Like when I made two first cups of coffee the other morning and then later went to the supermarket only to realise I had left my wallet at home.

I don’t often post my own comments here but I felt this one added something to the conversation.

My happiness goal post also inspired this great comment from Jen and  this one from Ideealistin and also this one from Megan.

There were so many great comments generated from Moni’s post this week but this one from Deb J left me feeling appalled at the ridiculousness of some neighbourhood bi-laws. Of all the places in the world where dryers should almost be completely unnecessary Arizona must be somewhere near the top of the list. I know some owner corporations (particularly in high-rise apartment buildings) frown on the ugliness of clothes flapping from balconies but seriously who disallows people from hanging clothes behind a fence in their back yards.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

Here is a short but thought provoking post from The Minimalists.

Do you hoard your new underwear? I will let Grethen Rubin explain this one to you in this blog post.

I loved this post from Annienygma because it is something I do often.

Here is another thought provoking link shared with me by Cindy.

My ego forced me to add this link from Budgets Are Sexy.

I also liked what Peter Walsh had to say in the short video.

Today’s Mini Mission

Did you have more than enough wine glasses for your liquid Christmas cheer. If so declutter the ones that you avoided using because you don’t like them so much. My daughter bought me the ones I mentioned I wanted in a post prior to Christmas. She was only too happy to claim the ones I have but don’t like.

Eco Tip Of The Day

Fans merely move air around which helps keep you cool by evaporating sweat. Leaving them on after you vacate the room does not keep the room cool, in fact the power necessary to run a fan can slightly increase the temperature in the room. (Read more here) Save electricity buy turning off the fan when you leave the room and aren’t coming straight back.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

As you all know I dole out a lot of suggestions about what to declutter. I even put forward formulas on how many is enough of anything to keep. It is no secret that I’m not a lover of gadgets that are only useful if you perform a task in large quantities and/or frequently. Dusting is certainly not my favourite pastime so nicknacks are no longer my thing. For one thing they require somewhere to be displayed which means excess furniture which takes up space and requires more dusting. Practicality is important to me while status symbols aren’t, so I don’t need fancy things on show to prove anything to anyone. That is not to say that I don’t like beautiful object of which I certainly have a few that I enjoy. And I like to have enough craft supplies on hand to be creative when I feel the urge. Not too many of course…. Therefore my decluttering goal is simply this ~ to reduce my belongings to a point that I am happy with the result.

You, on the other hand, may love your nicknacks and get joy out of dusting them for the chance to admire them up close. You might also entertain a lot so prefer to be sure you have enough of everything on hand to cater to a crowd. You could find that the finicky cleaning of kitchen gadgets is worth the time they save you during the cooking process. And when out in public you perhaps feel more comfortable smartly dressed in designer clothes and don’t wish to be seen in the same outfit on a too regular basis. You might find your home to be more homely with lots of furniture to adorn it. But crafting supplies are of no importance to you what so ever and waste no space in your home… Nonetheless your decluttering goal is the same as mine. You wish to declutter to a point where you are happy with the volume of your belongings.

Decluttering isn’t a one size fits all situation. What I require or desire could be completely different to you. However we all want to feel happy and comfortable in our own homes and that should be the only goal each of us sets.

Today’s Mini Mission

Do the same for your crockery as you did yesterday for your cutlery. If you have too much let some go. I ran out of cups one evening when friends came back for coffee and cake after being out for dinner together. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t have enough I just should have put the dishwasher on before we left.

Eco Tip for the Day

Save electricity by not turning on electrical appliances, like irons, hair straighteners etc, too long before you use them and by not leaving them on while you decide to take a break during the task.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Cindy

Recently I did something that made me so happy – I took care of two really, really old things that were on my to-do list. These things were so small that it’s almost embarrassing to tell you what they were, but doing them made me so happy that I will. The first thing was taking the dogs’ beds to the laundromat and washing them. I wash the covers at home regularly, but I can’t put the whole bed into my washer, and they needed it. The other thing was taking two scented candles (same scent) that had burned down so far that neither would light any more, melting the wax, and pouring them together to make another, usable candle. I did this because I loved the scent of these candles so much, and it’s not available any more.

What does this have to do with clutter? Mental clutter! Aspirational clutter! I had these two ideas in my mind for months and taking care of them would randomly pop up and bother me. Including driving to the laundromat, washing and drying the dogs beds took and hour and 15 minutes. There’s a school with a great playground extremely close laundromat, and the girls and dogs went there and frolicked while the beds washed then dried. Melting the candles took virtually no time, because I was working in the kitchen anyway, and I already had the wick. (I’d purchased a package of wicks ages ago as aspirational clutter for the day I finally combined these candles; something else that weighed on my mind when I would open the cabinet where the wicks were stored and think, “Will I ever get around to doing that?”

Neither of these was a big project, neither took much time, but the happiness and satisfaction that I got from getting them off my to do list was amazing. Do you have any small, lingering to dos that will eliminate some mental  (or some other) clutter?

Today’s Mini Mission

Assess your cutlery drawer. Did you have more than enough knifes, folks, spoons etc to cope with a houseful of people. If so let some go. I had set aside a four person set of cutlery prior to Christmas to see if I really needed to keep them. We did run out of forks a couple of times but I could have easily washed some by hand so I think this spare set can go in a box for my daughter to take when she moves into her own place.

Eco Tip for the Day

Encourage family, friends and anyone who will listen to refuse, reuse, recycle and reduce.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

From Colleen ~ Yesterday I introduced my Monthly Habit Changing Challenges. As mentioned in yesterday’s post it was a comment by Moni, where she mentioned her mini resolutions or Mini-lutions as she calls them, which prompted me to do so. I had been considering this idea for a while and Moni’s idea confirmed for me I was on the right path.

On Sunday Moni sent through the following post to share with you all explaining her mini-lutions. So without further adieu here it is.

I have a lousy track record with New Year’s Resolutions, my best intentions to better myself tend to falter around mid January and are usually deemed defunct by February at the latest. Through the years I have googled various plans and techniques to succeed with New Year Resolutions and there is a lot of good advice out there. However, I’ve yet to learn to speak Spanish, run a marathon (or even around the block for that matter) or do a night school course in Mediterranean cooking. Statistically speaking, this puts me in the bottom 92% of New Year Resolution entrants, yes that’s right, only 8% succeed and the common theme amongst the success stories, is that they were short term, achievable and quantified.

So this year I’m going with Mini-lutions. I’m going to pick one or two small areas of my life/household that need some improvement and I’m going to set a time limit of 1-3 months to improve those areas. Once I have completed this challenge, I will pick another area of my life/household that needs some tweaking. Often we baulk away from something that we feel isn’t do-able or just doesn’t seem a high enough priority, but it takes just 21 days to establish a good habit and if I tackle even just 4-6 small areas in a year, over the next few years that has got to add up to a lot of improvement in how I run my home and life.

My theory is linked to two challenges that I participated in here at 365 Less Things, the first was Project 333 which was to run from April to the end of June, but is still is in effect today. The second was “Keep It Tidy November” which initially took some effort but eventually the new habit entrenched and systems fell into place to help maintain the concept through to 2013.

 So, back to New Year’s Eve, while everyone around me resolved to get into shape, drink less, travel more and cut up their credit cards, I devised my first two Mini-lutions. Both are very humble in the scheme of things and spectacularly unglamorous, but both are areas that I knew I had loads of room to improve, were achievable and could make a difference to the bottom line of my household budget.

ONE: I am going to reduce my dryer usage. (I did mention ‘unglamorous’ didn’t I?) I now have two friends who don’t own dryers and though they both agree it isn’t always easy in a country with a fairly high rainfall count, they both manage. I’m not planning to never use my dryer again, but I’m going to save it for the times when all other options are out. I’m going to look at whether it is a time management issue or simply just a long established habit. 

TWO: I am going to reduce the amount of wasted food in my house, especially from the refrigerator. There were improvements in my household over 2012 especially thanks to ideas from 365 Less Things, but I want to see this wastage stopped and this means I need to rethink the quantities I purchase, possibly how I purchase, how I prepare meals, how I deal with the left overs and how I can make sure that food doesn’t get overlooked in the fridge. As someone who describes herself as “Cateringly Challenged” this definately requires some re-education and research but there is some great advice and tools via the internet that I have put into action.

So, fellow 365’ers…..what Mini-lutions do you have?

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter any baking trays or cake pans that weren’t used over the holiday period. Let’s face it if they weren’t use in December when will they be. I came up short for one spring form pan which I borrowed from a neighbour. This is something I would rarely ever use anyway so I don’t feel the need to own one.

Eco Tip for the Day

Use some sort of reusable splatter guard when heating in the microwave. This can be rinsed off and used over and over rather than wasting paper towel or plastic wrap. I use a large plastic microwave safe container lid when reheating most dishes or a glass casserole dish with a lid when cooking from scratch. 

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.

The holiday season is done and dusted and most everyones visitors are gone by now. The kitchen has been the centre of activity on most days and as a result is probably due for a good overhaul. I know mine is. The pantry requires excavation whenever I need an can of something or packet of noodles. Some things have come to light that aren’t really necessary and can be decluttered. And I think natural progressing decluttering ought to be in effect on some of my microfibre clothes. So join me this week for a good old fashioned kitchen clear out.

But before we begin I have decided to set you all a Habit Changing Challenge each month. Similar to last November’s Keep it Tidy Challenge. Inspired also by a little nudge from Moni when she mentioned her Mini-lutions in a comment on the weekend. I will, along with the first Monday’s mini mission post each month, include the monthly habit changing mission. If you are lucky you will already have mastered the challenge and won’t need to participate but if you haven’t why not give it a go. This month, since I am late I will set a simple challenge. This month I want you all to make your bed as soon as it is vacated. This may be a time challenge for some but a whole new experience for those who never make their beds. I always feel that a made bed seems fresher to sleep in but you can decide for yourselves.

Update on the bed making:~ Over at 365’s Facebook page Elaine suggested that the bed could do with a little airing before making. I think this is a good point. So let’s change the task to “…mkae your bed within an hour of vacating it.”. Thanks Elaine that was a good idea.

Now for this week’s missions.

Old Spice Declutter

Monday – Start a use it up challenge on excess pantry items that have accumulated over the holiday season. If there are any spices that you didn’t use during this time they are probably ones that you never will use. Offer them to someone more likely to use them or throw them out because they are probably out of date anyway. This is something I will be checking in my pantry.

Tuesday – Declutter any baking trays or cake pans that weren’t used over the holiday period. Let’s face it if they weren’t use in December when will they be. I came up short for one spring form pan which I borrowed from a neighbour. This is something I would rarely ever use anyway so I don’t feel the need to own one.

Wednesday – Assess your cutlery drawer. Did you have more than enough knifes, folks, spoons etc to cope with a houseful of people. If so let some go. I had set aside a four person set of cutlery prior to Christmas to see if I really needed to keep them. We did run out of forks a couple of times but I could have easily washed some by hand so I think this spare set can go in a box for my daughter to take when she moves into her own place.

Thursday – Do the same for your crockery as you did yesterday for your cutlery. If you have too much let some go. I ran out of cups one evening when friends came back for coffee and cake after being out for dinner together. The problem wasn’t that I didn’t have enough I just should have put the dishwasher on before we left.

Friday – Did you have more than enough wine glass for your liquid Christmas cheer. If so declutter the ones that you avoided using because you don’t like them so much. My daughter bought me the ones I mentioned I wanted in a post prior to Christmas. She was only to happy to claim the ones I have but don’t like.

Saturday – Were there any kitchen gadgets or utensils that didn’t get used over the holiday period or the twelve months prior for that matter. Time to embrace the idea that you have no use for them and release them to someone who does.

Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.

Good luck and happy decluttering

Eco Tip for the Day

When you are out and about and there is no provision to recycle bring your items home if possible and not ridiculously inconvenient

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

On Fridays at 365 Less Things I share with you my favourite comments from my wonderful readers and my favourite web finds of the week. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did.

Favourite Comments. Enjoy!

Wendy B gives us a great example of how happy she is with her decluttering efforts and how they are all coming together. Read about it in this link.

Jen has only been commenting here at 365 Less Things but she sure does get what this decluttering thing is all about as you can tell from this comment.

Maggie has been reading through the archives and left this comment recently on the post ~ Who can resist a sale. I thought it was worth sharing with you all. Send Maggie your encouragement to resist making any purchases in January.

Deb J gives us a little update on what she, her mom and S and has been up to regarding decluttering and in this comment. Way to go everyone and especially to S.

Favourite Web Finds. Happy reading!

From Cindy sent me this link from happiness-project.com ~ 7 tips for sticking to your new years resolutions

Also from Cindy ~ www.apartmenttherapy.com –10 things that will make you happier at home

Steve found this one from the web site for the Sydney Morning Herald

Steve also brought this one to my attention. I believe I have linked to it before but it is worth reading again. www.becomingminimalist.com – Don’t just declutter de-own 

This site may only be useful to our American Readers but it is certainly worth bringing your attention to BetterWorldBooks Makes donating old Books to charity so easy you don’t have to leave the house.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something that your children or grandchildren have grown out of. This could be clothes, toys, shoes, eating utensils, books, games etc.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Every home has items that are never considered for decluttering. Mostly useful items that are in service continually but also beautiful items that are admired or sentimental items that you wouldn’t dream of letting go. These items never feel like a burden to the household because they are a valued part of everyday life. They are used and used again, used up and then replaced or on display somewhere where they can be admired or remind us of happy times, successes or loved ones.

Then there are those items that are only lingering because we haven’t got around to donating, selling or tossing them. Stuff we’d have no qualms about decluttering if we could face the prospect of weeding them out and dispatching them. These items are the easy ones to let go of when we finely decide enough is enough it is time to declutter. Parting with them is only a physical thing no a metal challenge. These are the items to concentrate on first when we begin our declutter journey.

And then there are the problem items, these are the ones which we have trouble letting go. You know the ones.

• Items you keep out of obligation, such as things that have been gifted to you by someone else and you feel obliged to keep them even though you don’t really want them.
• Aspirational items that your inner most being craves to make use out of but the right time or creative inspiration never seems to strike or has long ago left you. Memory tells you these items are useful and that you should hang on to them but all they do is linger and make you feel a that you have failed them in some way.
• Then there are the sentimental items whose lesser significance to the truly loved memorabilia merely relegates them to a box deep in the attic somewhere. Sure when you pull them out you oooh and aaarh over them remembering good time but then they get sent back to where they came from for another ten years.
• And lets not forget the I might need you one day items. Sure you may have a use for some of these items one day but to say you may need them could be stretching reality a little. Stop and think about the things you do use all the time, even some of those are things you could live without. So don’t allow the thought of future regret plague your decision to let go of stuff the isn’t being used and hasn’t for a long time.

This blog post was inspired by a segment in Gretchen Ruben’s new book ~ Happier at Home. She talks about engaging with the items that you haven’t used or appreciated in a while. If you are having trouble deciding whether to keep them or to let items go try putting them into service ~ use them, bring them out and put them on display for a while. Give them one last chance to redeem themselves and if you still aren’t loving them or finding them particularly useful then just liberate them to someone who may find them more useful that you do.

This process can be applied to a few items at a time so you can focus your attention on them for enough time to assess their worth. This can be done while you continue to declutter the items that you are happy to remove immediately. With the slow and steady approach both processes can go on simultaneously so no time is wasted.

I have done this with many items over the last three years of my possession downsize. Some things I have used up and not replace. Some things I have put into use but not found them useful while others I discovered a newfound appreciation for. Things I have kept out of obligation have been viewed with a new neutral mindset and have either past muster or been added to the donation pile. Either way I have been satisfied that I am making the right decision for me and my home at this time and followed through on that decision.

So if in doubt give the item one last chance, in other words either use it or lose it.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter a pair of shoes that you no longer wear. Perhaps ones that are pretty but a torture to wear. Ones that are old favourites but are really so shabby you never, or shouldn’t, choose to wear them anymore. Or maybe a pair that are so ugly you wonder why you ever bought them in the first place.

Eco Tip for the Day

Add a few one pot meal to your weekly menu. Cooking everything at once saves on electricity and your precious time. I often also cook the meat portion of my meals separately but cook all my vegetable together one way or another. A slow cooker or a set of steamer saucepans come in handy for this method of cooking.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow

Cindy’s Weekly Wisdom

Cindy

My girlfriend R stopped by my house two days before Christmas, looking mighty cross. She started spewing about how aggravated she was to be buying gifts for her many family members “just to be buying them something.” Her family is Jewish, and they celebrate Hanukkah as well. She’d tried to tell her brother that they shouldn’t exchange gifts, but his response was “Too late. I’ve already bought you something.” In addition, they don’t drawn names or limit giving to children, so everyone is giving a gift to everyone! R was definitely not feeling the holiday spirit. Here is the advice I gave to her:

First of all, you have to do what you’ve always done this year. Hanukkah is already over, and Christmas is in two days. You can’t change the rules now.

Beginning in January, though, you need to talk to your family about how you want to change your traditions. Maybe you should only do Christmas or only do Hanukkah. You could include Jews in Christmas or gentiles in Hanukkah – celebrate the holiday that works best, religiously and culturally, for your family.

Next you need to decide who you want to give to. R already gives charitable gifts to her parents. A donation to Heifer International for her dad and the elephant sanctuary in Tennessee for her mother. Maybe all her gifts should be charity; maybe she doesn’t want to continue with charitable gifts every year. In addition, she needs to think about the extended family that’s accustom to getting gifts from her: her brother, sister-in-law, their children, as well as her husband’s siblings, spouses, and their children, plus others who might be on “Santa’s” list. Does she want to eliminate all giving to adults? Draw names? Only donate to charity? Eliminate giving to everyone?

However, I also cautioned R that she can only control herself, her giving, her pocket book. She cannot force her siblings or in-laws to comply with her wishes. She can think through how she would like the gift-giving traditions in her families to evolve and make proposals. She can state firmly and clearly what she’s willing to do, but she can’t force others to bend to her will.

Today’s the day to begin this conversation: The holidays are fresh on everyone’s minds, and other people might be feeling the fiscal, temporal or environmental stress of having overbought, as well. Starting the conversation  well in advance, so no one is surprised by a sudden change in tradition, is the kindest gift of all.

Paper Free Grocery List

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter something that you have way too many of than you really need. This could be cutlery, crockery, glassware, craft supplies, stationery items, tool, jewellery pieces, shoes etc.

Eco Tip for the Day

Here’s one way to save paper. Write your grocery list on the fridge with a whiteboard marker and then photograph it with your cell phone and take that with you when you go shopping.

It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow.

In a bid to empty my inbox the other day I came upon this post from over at The Change Blog. It is titled ~ Why I stopped chasing happiness. I wanted to share it with you because the principle behind it is something that we should apply to our decluttering efforts. Take a read of it now if you like before you read what I have to say on the subject.

The problem that Isis was dealing with in her life is similar to when people just like you or me decide that the clutter in our homes has become overwhelming and we need to do something about it. Immediately most people get a vision in mind of what they want their homes to look like at the end of the process. They focus on how happy they are going to be when they meet that goal. The “reality”, however, quickly sets in when they start to think about what it will take to achieve this goal. They become focused on how much work will be involved, get confused as to where to begin, get frustrated over what their plan of attack should be and agonise pessimistically over complications they may encounter along the way.

The good news is that this doesn’t have to be the “reality”. This is just the reality that we conjure up in our minds because of the instant gratification society that we live in in this modern age. It has become apparent to me that instant gratification is not all it is cracked up to be. Ultimately it only teaches us to take everything for granted and not appreciate how lucky we really are all of the time not just when we accomplish the big end goal. But I digress…

Instead of being frustrated, impatient and miserable with the process of decluttering we can actually choose to enjoy it. Get your mind around the following ideas rather than the self defeating ones that may be going on in your mind.

• Be joyful each time you identify the next thing you choose to declutter.
• Be happy that every little thing that you remove from your home leaves it slightly less cluttered.
• Feel strong and free when resisting the temptation to bring something new into the home.
• Gloat a little on the space you have freed up with every item you remove, no matter how small.
• Let “Take that clutter!” to be your new war cry.
• Revel in the fact that not rushing the process gives you time to cement this new habit of living with less as a new way of life rather than just an occasional nasty chore.
• Feel generous when donating your items to a charity where they will become useful to someone else and the funds raised will help others.

It is possible to enjoy the process if you can believe it is so. I have to say the I have thoroughly enjoyed my declutter process. Yes there are elements of it that I find less appealing than others but in the end even they feel like great individual little achievements once done. S

o enjoy the process by thinking positive and being happy with every little successes every single day.

Today’s Mini Mission

Declutter a gadget that you no longer use. Maybe something from the kitchen that you thought would make foodpreparation easier but fell short of your expectations.

Plastic String Bag

Eco Tip for the Day

Reuse all plastic that comes into your home. Little mesh bags like the one in the photo are great to reuse for bagging little grocery items like snap peas or mushrooms.

For a full list of my eco tips so far click here