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.
Do you have things cluttering up your place that you would use if only something about it was too hard. Items you know could be mighty handy if it wasn’t for that things that makes them unappealing to use. I have had stuff like that and I bet you do too. So this week we will declutter this kind of stuff.
Monday – Declutter something that is too hard to use. It seemed like a time saver in the sales demo but turned out to be not so easy to use.
Tuesday – Declutter or rearrange something that you don’t use because it is too difficult to get at when you need it so you achieve the task some other way.
Wednesday – Declutter something that is too hard to clean ounce you do use it so it is easier to use something else. Garlic press and pretty much any kitchen device you can use a knife instead of.
Thursday – Declutter something that requires assembly to use so you can never be bothered with it. Perhaps a complicated kitchen gadget.
Friday – Declutter something that you bought in order to make something from scratch but after a couple of uses decided it was too much bother. Perhaps a pasta maker, sewing machine, ice cream maker…
Saturday – Declutter something that you thought would be useful but turned out not to be. Perhaps a camera bag that wasn’t so practical, a pocket multi-tool that would be confiscated at airport security,
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
It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow
Yes, Colleen, there are so many things like this we encounter over the times of decluttering. I have decluttered several things like this and have a few more to go.
I’m happy to report that Mom looked at me yesterday and said we needed to go through the house and declutter a lot of stuff. I was shocked. It will take time because of our low energy but I’m excited.
Wow Deb, happy dance. I hope you both find and untapped source of energy so you can get on to this before she changes her mind. Those pots and pans are in plain view perhaps you can start on them. 😉
That is good news indeed Deb J that your mom is ready to let go of even more stuff :).
Deb J – that is great news! I was wondering how your friend S is getting on with her decluttering?
Moni, S has done a lot toward decluttering but still has lots to do. It is mostly things in the garage and her husbands office. The husband has not been the best help with it all. What is great is that at church yesterday we had some visitors who wrote a book called “Declutter Now.” It’s about decluttering your life including your home. The husband bought a copy. S and I are praying it will get him on board more. They need to sell the house and downsize but he hasn’t been agreeable to that either.
Deb J – good to hear that S is still going. Husbands can be reluctant participants, my husband describes it as being on a par with going mall shopping with myself and our daughters. Or at least the early work was on a level with that. On the weekend Adrian pitched in because I needed to make some fast progress and some brute strength was needed, he said he didn’t mind that kind of participation. He’s not keen to be involved in the going thru the box of papers piece by piece. His answer was to dump them in the fire. I think guys prefer big heroic type action/results and unfortunately decluttering is a gradual process and I think it is highly emotional and psychological, which has Adrian running like he has a wolf pack after him.
Moni, you are so right about men. Most men do run the other direction. S’s husband seems to hang on to every paper from his work life, every paper to do with anything. S is thinking she will give him time to read the book he bought and then bring up some of these things. She is coming over today and I’m sure that will be part of our conversation. We are strategizing. Grin.
I have a carboot full of stuff to be dropped at charity shop tomorrow and then a desk to be dropped off too. Always looking for more though.
Well done Kat and thanks for the photo on the Facebook page.
I think my juicer fits that category nicely. For the benefit of a glass of juice I end up with a jug of pulp and four odd shaped plastic containers to hand wash plus a stainless steel filter that is time consuming to clean. It sits silently at the back of the cupboard, forgotten. Time for someone else to use it.
Cheers
Hi Wendy, I had a juicer once that ended up doing the exact same thing. Sitting in the back of the cupboard unused. These days I don’t even buy juice never mind wish to make it myself.
I was thinking of my juicer that I got rid of a few years ago. It was way too much work to clean. Now, I love my garlic press so that is staying!
Yep, I am another one who culled the juicer (which was a gift) ages ago. Turned out nobody in the house liked thick pulpy juice, or cleaning the juicer. Everyone preferred to just eat the fruit.
Today I got rid of all my old mismatched plates and bowls from the kitchen, plus several glasses and coffee mugs.
Someone on Freecycle was happy to come and collect them. 3 fruit boxes full are gone. Hooray!
Good mini missions this week, lots to challenge ourselves with. I sent another full bag to the donation center this weekend, along with some miscellaneous bulky items. That was yesterday, and today I have started another donation bag. It never ceases to amaze me that I find more items on a daily basis that will make their way out of the door and every single item makes a larger dent in the decluttering of my home. That is a very good thing.
Good for you Jen. I was excited to see my husband photographing items for ebay today. He then showed me a group of items which he told me I could give away. Yay!
Colleen, I’d be happy dancing over that one. I just love when more goes out the door.
That is awesome!
Good mini-missions, I think I have caught most of these type items over the last couple of years but who knows what a fresh perspective will turn up.
We had a big clear out in the garage on Saturday which was our drop zone for each room as we painted, we had visitors coming for the long weekend and although there are a couple of boxes which hold stuff which needs further consideration (so my Sunday Mini Missions are covered for a few weeks) but we got the garage floor back! Two pieces of furniture leaving the household!
Good for you Moni, you must be so glad that the task is mostly our of the way. I actually have an item coming into my home on Friday but it should help get the place a little more organised. It is a secondhand 70s sideboard that we will be using as a TV and display cabinet. Two smaller pieces will be leaving to make it possible to accommodate it but I have already reshuffled my craft supplies to make that possible. Woo Hoo!
Great post Colleen, I’m going to go through my kitchen since I think this is where I’ll find those not-so-useful, useful objects. I’m sure I have a few items in the sewing room that seemed like a great idea but now are just collecting dust. Time to let them go and clear space for the things that are truly functional.
You’ve got the idea Barbara and I wish you success with your missions. The kitchen sure is the best place to look.
Two friends have been moving lately and actually are needing some stuff at the moment. A great opportunity to get rid of kitchen ware and a little excess furniture! (of course given with no strings attached)
With the cold weather that we are getting in the US, shelters are in need of warm weather gear. I was able to donate 2 twin-size comforters, 1 twin-size blanket, 1 boy’s coat and 2 women’s scarves. Nice to know that it will be used immediately! My son had outgrown the coat, the scarves were ones that I hadn’t worn in forever and we upgraded my daughter to a queen size bed so no need of the twin size stuff anymore. Plus my daughter received community service hours that are required by 2 clubs she’s involved with in high school. Win for both of us:)!