The FALL Sort & Pare Down Challenge.
Oct 6
5 min read
Episode #29: This week, the "Living Smaller & Loving It!" blog post explores sorting and paring down...the tasks most people dread, but the ones we're best at...it's our SPECIALTY!
Life fact: We all have too much stuff hanging around in our homes. In closets, under beds, on bookshelves, in kitchen cupboards, on garage shelves, and stacked in basements — anywhere it can find a foothold, it will gladly occupy the space.
Clutter can be a small annoyance or the "elephant in the room". And it can stand in the way of living a simpler, more rewarding life.
Where has your excess stuff taken up residency? Do you spend a lot of time thinking about the clutter in your home and what you'll do about it?
It may be time to sort through and delete the unnecessary if:
You're constantly moving your stuff around, always making new piles or carving out spaces to store or hide it.
The tripping hazards are growing, and you spend too much time walking around or over your clutter.
Finding the right outfit to wear has become an everyday ordeal.
Parking the car in the garage is a feat unto itself, and getting out of the car once parked, is next to impossible.
You've stopped asking friends and family over because you'd have to organize or hide the clutter.
You "dream" of sleeping peacefully under the bedcovers and not piles of clothes.
The stuff in your pantry and kitchen is more than any one person uses or needs.
Your workbench has been overtaken and is no longer a place to "work".
...and on and on it grows!
Below are some very brief examples of how and where we help our clients sort and pare down. Your CHALLENGE: Pick one task in your home that needs your attention. Make your plan of attack and start! (Please see blog post: "Making a Plan" for guidance.)
If your kitchen is out of control, it's time to tackle it. Start small and work your way up, because kitchens can take time to sort through. Assess what you have and what you actually use. Do you have too many pots, pans, and baking dishes? What about coffee mugs, drinking glasses, cooking utensils? Expired foodstuffs and spices? Be honest about how much you cook. I call it the "reluctance hurdle" because it requires admitting what you no longer do, need, or use. Clear it out and move forward with less. Keep only what fits your lifestyle today!
Is your clothes closet a mess? Is it difficult just to put an outfit together? Take everything out of the closet. Now, decide what you actually wear and what you'll never wear again—you either like it and wear it, or you don't, and won't. Sort your shoes, purses, and accessories and cull what you don't wear or use. If you share a closet, this challenge may be a lot harder. You will have to work together to resolve space issues, and it may require some creative negotiations. If you have an off-season storage space, move clothes and accessories there. Look for ways to make your closet work harder with storage-friendly solutions that fit how you live.
The garage can become a dumping space; it's easy to do. When all else fails, "take it to the garage". To begin your "reclaim", set up a work area (table) and bring items to the table in small, manageable batches to sort. (If you run out of space to sort, move items to the floor.) Gather "like" items and sort them, deciding how many or how much of each you need—you don't need every screwdriver or hammer you come across. Make your choices and set aside the extras for donation. Depending on the garage and how much stuff it has, it could take several days or weeks to work through it. Plan accordingly and don't lose sight of your goals.
If your home office is full of too much stuff, sit down and start sorting in an area that makes sense to you. Paper clips, push pins, pens, pencils, pads of paper, and Post-it Notes have a way of multiplying. Determine what supplies you can do without and pack them away until you need them. (Note what you have in reserve so you won't buy more.) If you don't have a file cabinet but have papers that need filing, or if your filing cabinet is full of outdated materials, it might be time to either buy a new cabinet or take time to purge the one you have. Filing cabinets are lifesavers!
TIPS to Stay Focused and on Track with Your Sorting & Paring Down Projects:
Make a plan. Decide what area of your home needs the most attention and why.
Define your goals. What accomplishments matter most to you?
Always keep your objectives and goals in mind.
Be realistic about your time and energy. Take breaks when necessary.
Be flexible and adjust your schedule as needed, but don't abandon your goals.
As you sort, triage. Assign things to: keep, gift, sell, donate, recycle, or trash.
Make more than one pass through an area, and especially through your "Keeps."
Track your progress. Take before-and-after photos of the areas you're working in.
Stay focused on the area you're working in. Don't task-hop.
Ask for help if and when you need it. The right help can expedite the process.
CELEBRATE your accomplishments!
"Desire and determination are requirements for simplifying our lives and the spaces we live in."
C. Murphy, Downsizing Simplified
Images used in this article credit: AI
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Coming mid-October: "Relax, you're going to do great!"
In the book, I share 20 years of experience and provide step-by-step guidance whether you're considering a downsizing move, currently on the journey, or choosing to stay in your home and want to pare down, declutter, and freshen up your environment. This how-to guide will take you through the downsizing process, from beginning to end.
Reserve your copy today through the website's Contact page.
(You will be notified with publishing and purchase details.)
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"Downsizing is about making life more manageable. It's about assessing what's most important, editing, and eliminating the unimportant. It's living a smaller, more enjoyable life and loving the outcome." -Cindy Murphy, Downsizing Simplified
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