In our online program, we teach that the process of getting organized is a lot like losing weight, in that a realistic and workable approach includes Prevention (minimizing the inflow), Reduction (removal of excess accumulation), and Maintenance (new habits that keep up your results long term). When you are losing weight, you often make a list of junk foods to avoid, like donuts, candy, and fast food. You can do the same for your house as well! I wrote a previous post called, "High Calorie Clutter," that ended up becoming a television segment on Better Homes & Gardens' Better TV, in which I explained that items like these that our member is avoiding are truly the "junk food for your house."
As these items will be different for everyone, I love the idea of focusing on Prevention by making your own
personal list of domestic junk food to avoid. To inspire you, here are some things you might consider in your own declaration, starting with those suggested above:
- Candles
- Sweaters
- Shoes
- Cookbooks
- Purses
- Magazines
- Books
- Cosmetics/Toiletries
- Craft Supplies
- Collectibles
- Jewelry & Accessories
- Clothing in general
- Media- CDs & DVDs
- Flea Market Finds
- Toys, Video Games
- Gardening Items & Plants
- Perishable Groceries (without a plan for when to eat them)
- Office/School Supplies
Your list could also include electronic information, if you are having trouble digesting what you attempt to read and learn (see previous post, "Are You An Information Glutton?"). What is your top five list of preventable clutter items to avoid? Better yet, what is your top ten? Let us know what you are swearing off in the comments! (PS: Doing this helps you save time and money too!)
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Another thought-provoking post, Lorie. Only I would add that as with any “reduction plan”, for some people the surefire way to instigate failure and prompt a “binge” is to state that we must absolutely, totally declare to give something up. I love the list above, but know I will still buy many of those items as time goes on. I’ll run out, I’ll want a new, more stylish sweater to replace the worn, dated one, etc. I totally agree though that it is an excellent practice to be very mindful of how much and how often we OVER-buy, OVER-collect, and OVER-stock these items. Vowing to pause, think, re-think, and cut down (or give up altogether if it feels right) is such an empowering statement. I am catching myself regularly – what an epiphany! Thanks again for keeping us on track as we move along on our Clutter Reducing Journeys!
I’m with Patti! We’ve started a rule about books. If you bring one in, you have to take one out. Looking at the list, I think I need to implement that rule period in our house. If you bring something in, you must remove a like item. One sweater in, one sweater out. One magazine in, one magazine out.
About a year ago, I realized I was dumping all the mail into a bag from our post office and bringing it in the house, where it sat and sat. Now, I rummage through it quickly while still at the PO and throw away the junk right there, they have plenty of trash cans. I end up bringing home around 1/3 of the mail I was. I open it at my desk, tossing the waste in the recycling and shredding anything that needs to be (we are also paperless, so we scan/file/shred). It SO helps with the piles that were accumulating. I do feel bad that the junk is going to a landfill and not a recycling center, but I have saved my own sanity a little bit.
Hey, Patti, thanks! I think I want to explain my post a little better– I am not saying everyone should give up everything on that list forever. I am saying that people (you know who you are) have certain trouble with certain items, and they sometimes need to put a temporary ban on those until they “get a grip.” 🙂
– Lorie
Kitchen Gadgets, vases, art supplies for the kiddos, water bottles, reusable tote bags (for groceries), BOOKS, movies on VHS or DVD – we like the freebies, but we just need to STOP with all of these!
Thanks!
Dang, someone had to mention kitchen gadgets! I was doing pretty well on everyone else’s lists until then!!
Other than the kitchen, my issue is more about strategies with the stuff I have because I don’t tend to bring much else into the house. But definitely time for a very critical clear out… Will be trawling the archives for objective questions to ask of my “stuff” to decide if it stays!
I gave up garage sales years ago. I thought I was saving money by buying toys and clothes for my kids, but what I was really doing was filling up my house without setting a limit because the stuff was such a good bargain. When I pay full price, or even retail sale price, I think much more about weather I really neeeeeeeeed something.
Now that’s quite a list.. Cant wait to prepare my own list..
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