It has been a week.
Half of it I’ve been traveling, the other half had, well, life.
And while the stuff in my house seems overwhelming, this challenge seemed even more so.
Some weeks I’ve be racking up huge numbers. But this week not so much.
Do you feel like a 2014 Things Drop Out?
Here is what to do when you feel like you’re falling behind.
- Take a real look at the numbers. In order to stay on target for the 2014 Things, you need to get rid of about 37 things a week – that’s less than six things a day. You can so do this.
- Concentrate on small areas. Do a drawer, or a shelf. Don’t say, “I’ll do the garage today.” NO. Don’t set yourself up for failure like that.
- Get some help. Set a timer for you and your kids to get as much out of your rooms as possible. I know of one mom who is using the challenge for her kids to earn screen time.
- Ask a friend to help. Get on the phone and the whole time your chatting, both of you can be getting rid of stuff. Everything is easier with a friend.
- Picture your house lighter. Get a vision of what it’s going to look like when you’re done.
We can do this girls.
What tiny area are you going to work on this weekend. Tell me in the comments and you’ll be entered to win The Get Yourself Organized Project!
Aloha,
I just heard you speak on Focus on the Family this morning about clutter and getting rid of 2014 things!! WOW! I was doing that last night. I need help and realize the Lord wanted me to listen to the program so I could find your website for your help and inspiration from others.
I know I will gain so much that will keep me going. Mahalo!!
Take care.
The master bedroom closet. It’s the place I dump everything I can’t find a place for … and then hopefully close the doors.
This weekend I am tackling my nightstand. Two drawers that hold the books I am reading, cards from my kids and other random stuff that gets tossed in them. Thanks, Kathi!
Socks, I hope. And, just two boxes from the garage. My husband already picked which boxes to sort, and we will go through them together. Thanks.
If we come across something that one of us wants to keep, we do. Why? The year is not over yet, and we can always get rid of it next month!
I am concentrating tomorrow (Saturday) on one shelf in the pantry. I cleaned out the left hand side at the end of January and threw out or gave away over 70 things. I can do one shelf Saturday, then I may do another on Monday (as I have the day off). Thanks for your encouragement! It does help thinking about how I am simplying our lives!
I have a week off from work coming up, so I am hoping to tackle the cupboards in our master bathroom, as we are hoping to paint it while I’m off. I know there are a bunch of odds and ends that I no longer use that should be tossed, so fingers crossed I get a few more ‘small’ areas de-cluttered! Would love to tackle my craft room from top to bottom but that just about sends me over the edge with dread!!
I think I will focus on decluttering and getting rid of items stacked on my computer desk today. I have CD’s, DVD’s, old computer diskettes (Yep . . . I know), computer software not compatible with my MAC, candy, office supplies, books, journals, cassette tapes, and lots of paper clutter including blog post ideas, old schoolwork, and passwords written on scrape paper. I am a disorganized mess! I would love to win a copy of your Get Yourself Organized book. I could benefit greatly from it especially since this is just one of the many cluttered small areas in my home. Thank you for the opportunity to win and clean house with your help.
I’m up over the 200 mark. I did just my sock drawer 2 days ago and got rid of 32 pair of socks! I’m taking your advice and doing one small area at a time. I also remind myself that I have 10 and half more months to go- I don’t have to do it all at once! My kids have to get rid of 25 things (they already did) and I’m giving them 10 cents for every additional item, up to $10. 🙂 It sound silly, but having a cleaned out sock drawer makes my mornings so much better! Thanks for the challenge, Kathi!
I am encouraged by the challenge of lightening our load and making our home less stressful by eliminating items we do not use. So far I have been keeping up with the challenge and am up to 157 items donated to charity. That is why this entry of looking at small areas is a plus .I was starting to wonder what else is there? The attic I know will be a gold mine but I will have to be strong without second guessing if I should keep all that stuff hidden and not used for years!
37 things a week sounded scary but when you broke it down to “that’s less than six things a day” it sounded good. I think I will work on some bathroom drawers.
Love your blog!
Our DVD cabinet! The bottom is filled with CDs that we never use or that don’t work…