So I’ve listened to the Minimalists’ podcasts, I’ve read Goodbye, Things, A Year of No Clutter, and Spark Joy, but putting this into action is harder than I thought it would be. I’ve always thought I could let things go, and I’ve donated a ton of stuff, but somehow, I’m getting stuck. (Note: I’ve put the links to the books above, but I’m not getting any commission for referring them, I just got inspired by them. Also, I read their books/listened to their audiobooks from my library app).

I’ve rewritten this post several times, mainly because I keep telling myself that my excuses are not satisfactory and then I’ll go take out the boxes and re-look at them and then try to get rid of more things. I still have a ton of things, but I’m getting more and more used to the ‘throw things’ mentality and hopefully this will help since I still have a longggg way to go. I have two small boxes of stuff with things that I want to sell, so hopefully that moves sometime this week.

I finally got the balls (figuratively speaking of course) to tear up my income policy documents. Those that are in a booklet, I left as is, but the others have been shredded. I tore up all the photos that were blurry (in the age before digital cameras, most of the photos have faded already) and where the people didn’t look happy or weren’t looking at the camera, or just generally unglam. I ended up with I think two albums of my youth.

I also tossed two bags that I never use, with clothes that I hardly wear, books that I don’t read. Those will be cleared by someone tomorrow. I folded my clothes neatly and my husband’s too, and also cleared the floor so there’s some walking space.

Right: Before, Left: After. I tossed all his clothes in the shelf onto the bed and then folded them. 

The right side is the before picture, when everything first came into the house. The left side is how it looks now. Basically, my shelf has become a storage area for all my boxes.

So here are my rules for decluttering, for myself:

1. Is there extra packaging? If there is, I remove the extra packaging and toss it, and then put the item on its own into another box.
2. Have I ever ever used it? If not, then I decide what to do with it. Either post it up on Carousell, or toss it.
3. Do I have multiples of this and which can I toss? (I currently have five nail clippers, just saying).
4. Can I get this online? If so, I tear up the papers (for insurance) or donate the books.
5. Does this fit my hobbies and interests now? I’m planning to donate/sell two rolls of yarn because I don’t and can’t knit.
6. If it’s not a hell yes, it’s a hell no. I think this was from the Minimalists. I don’t really use this, except for that frantic moment in my parents’ house.

Will continue updating on my decluttering journey and see how it goes.