I know I've taken a long time to get back to this thread, but I appreciate each and every reply and I've been thinking about the project an all your advice! I've had yet another computer failure (this is my third integrated mouse failure on this laptop), so I haven't been around much.
Laurinda-- Thank you for the advice. I can definitely adapt it to my issues. I am not much of a shopper, so aside from clothing, beauty products, office supplies, and books almost everything that is hanging around are gifts . . . but I can still use the "would I buy this/admire it" logic! I need to get better at tossing gifts that have no use value to me, but aren't really fab either.
Astrid-- I think it is awesome you are also on a purging kick! I had previously seen your thread, but I wasn't sure how I was relating to minimalism so I didn't participate. Looking back, I can more clearly see that my desire to purge to eliminate hassle with moving is its own form of going minimal : )
My biggest issues are purging sentimental and potentially useful items. Useful things include imperfect or slightly damaged things that still function, but aren't beautiful because then I would/might have to replace them and I guilt trip over it. I also have a hard time getting rid of things that I do use, but have a stockpile of. I know I will eventually use all of the office supplies I have if I keep them accesible and remember not to buy more, but in the meantime I am storing a box of them (these are mostly leftovers from my two trips through college, and things from my mom who gifts paper and pens and sticky notes in crazy amounts). I also tend to horde art supplies for the same reason.
I too have a hard time getting rid of books! I never thought I would miss some of my introductory undergrad texts in my field since I was pretty much unenthused about the classes, so I sold them. When I got back into school in a related field and started working, there were several times I wished I'd saved them for reference to help clarify dates/timelines/technical info and definitions that related in some way to a current project.
I also have a really hard time getting rid of gifts. I'm staying with my mom right now, and it is very very hard to toss all the clutter she has bought me over the years while she is around. She is a little bit of a hoarder, and she has instilled a sense of guilt in me over the years. Plus, she really really likes to go through my garbage or donations and pull things out, which usually end up impeding our family space or end up back in my space.
As far as a plan goes, I would really like to be finished with the stuff I have immediate access to by the end of march-- that is the soonest that I could have a completely finalized contract for work. I'd like to have all of the space I am living in, and the easily accessible boxes (those from my recent apartment) gone through by then. That will mean the stuff I actually need to move will be all sorted and in use or neatly packed. I want everything else (including childhood boxes) done by the first of june. My grandmother who has been ill passed in December and we are also dealing with all of her belongings, distributing keepsakes and useful items throughout the family, and hope to be ready to sell the non-special things that no one can use in June as my town has an annual city-wide garage sale. I am having a hard time getting started, I just need to start! Maybe I also need to make some smaller goals for along the way.
Krista, Ali, and Raisin-- thank you! I really think you are all speaking to a similar method. I never thought that fly lady was that useful for me, since I keep a very neat house and have no kids at home and could never get past shining my sink. However, now that I've wrote this whole post, I get it! Maybe Flylady's timer method is a way to get me started. Walking around with a box and plopping down any items I can immediately purge is a good way to start, as well as picking a small chunk of time each day to work on a certain area.
Mander-- I can totally relate to the negative feelings associated with some things, and not wanting to deal with those boxes. After being out of a bad relationship for nearly two years, about a year ago I finally had the ability to go through some of the boxes of things I'd moved from that household (and not used) when I left it. I threw out a lot of keepsakes and photos from those years, because instead of happy memories they mostly reminded me of him treating me badly. It is much much better now that they aren't around, and I've found that the remainder of things from that time now can shine through and make my smile. I haven't even started on the one box of stuff left from undergrad though . . . ugh.
I have problems with the potentially useful stuff too. I have at least a box full of office supplies that are perfectly good that I will use someday-- I just have way more than I can use now, but I feel like I can't give them up. Same with art supplies. I also have a hard time with things that are damaged, but still useful, like a kitchen spoon or spatula with a nick in it, or a comforter than has a small blemish or stain (especially if I would have to buy a new one).
Caro-- I appreciate the idea of gathering like items together, and purging easy things and then going back for multiple passes. I wish I had a bit more space to work, but I definitely think I should use this method when I go through keepsakes and things from my childhood. I really need to get all of that stuff out and together so I can see what I have. I think once I see some of the really special things and the sheer amount I will be inspired to purge more and get it down to a really reasonable level. I think I am going to use the criteria of 1) memories attached 2) shape something is in/display possibilities 3) keeping things for future children. I am a little torn on the 3rd criteria, especially since I am not sure I want to have kids. Still, the childhood things I have from my mom were some of my most treasured. I also have quite a bit of paper-type keepsake stuff with memories, but I'm not sure those things are worth keeping in the long run. I originally thought I would scrapbook with them, but other than gifts for other people, I never scrapbooked, and I am worried about things holding up in the long run and actually damaging memories by scrapbooking, since I've gotten involved in archival work.
Susie-- thank you so much for the link to the UnClutterer--- honestly I found it very affirming. I also love the gift guides, since my mother has hoarding tendencies and I love love love to recieve highly functional gifts, and try to give people things they are going to use.
I definitely need to use the one in, one out method for clothes. I have a hard time purging clothes. I went through a couple years in college and right after than I never had money to replace basics that were worn out, let alone buy new occasional clothes or replace things that were in good shape but didn't work. Even though I am still low on wardrobe items, I think I've finally built myself back up to a level where I could purge without too much anxiety--- I think this would increase my happiness quotient and certainly help with space.
I do have one problem right now that has me stalled on frequently used clutter on my surfaces, so I think I will start another thread soon and ask how people store and organize/pare down their beauty products.
THANK YOU LADIES!!!!!!!!!!!
