My writing journey is my number one wellness habit. Then comes walking, gardening, painting, and surprise, decluttering.
None of this arrived in my life with a star sign saying-
Hi, I want to make you feel better!
They just came and, over time, have wiggled their way into my daily routine in such a way that I miss them if I don’t do them. Even decluttering.
Clutter is inevitable. That’s why, daily decluttering is the only option to help me stay on top of the cleaning game.Housekeeping is never really done for anyone. Unless you have an army of invisible people doing it.Invisible, because I like my home cleaned and beautiful without feeling awkward about too many people around the house.
I like doing my own work if I have a good company like my husband.He does all the heavy lifting,while I envision my dream spaces. Reality check- it doesn’t happen that way.
We have a supremely messy second bedroom in our rental apartment, undergoing a pre-Durga puja cleanup. Wanting to re-use a much-loved travel cot, we found out it wouldn’t fold! The eight years of not being folded have worked its dust and moisture work its dubious magic to make a folding travel baby cot unfoldable.
The cot is in otherwise perfect condition and pretty. But we have a problem.
Now I digress.
I was talking about wellness habits. I have tried decluttering alone.
I simply fall into a never-ending pit.
I want to recycle, upcycle or reuse everything ,until it falls into dust. But that’s impractical and is a big space hogger.
The husband is practical, but he wasn’t around much for that part of home upkeep. A recent re-juggling of our work schedule, has made it possible for him to declutter half a room in two days. Now we can plan organization better.
I am trying to reuse the stuffing from a few old ignored soft toys, to restuff limp cushions, and that’s strangely fun. Maybe I will even try my hand at using the much ignored Singer sewing machine. For now, it’s not decorating but decluttering, which is giving us a lot of happiness.
So why Decluttering? Why not decorating?
Oh well, as someone wisely said, imagine spending money on storing old torn clothes which will not help anyone?
You can donate.
Reuse, recycle, whatever.
But if I haven’t used it for 8 years, it’s unlikely I will do it now.
That was the thought behind the Decluttering adventure.
The short version of the Decluttering adventure
- Focus on one area.
- Keep trash bags ready.
- Sort into piles according to two main categories. Useful for you /Could be helpful for others
- Giveaway if not useful for you.
Marie Kondo says, decluttering works best if you do it with the person whose things they are. Otherwise, it can cause havoc.So be careful about tackling other people’s clutter.
Holding onto old things, emotions, hurt, weigh on us .Over the years, that increases.The sad part is we don’t know when we need help. We change homes, towns, jobs carrying about the clutter inside us and with us. Paying the movers to shift things that we don’t need or love.
A physical decluttering is almost like a mental signal to declutter our minds. Out with the rusty useless thoughts and treasure those golden nuggets that age well and help you navigate your life now.
It’s a life now which gives us happiness . Not the one in the past and nor the imaginary one which is to come.
But they all add up.
As Steve Jobs says-
“You can only connect the dots looking back.”
For now, collect your wellness dots.
I don’t like housework too much. Who does?
But I like decorating. Again most people like that part.
With the interiors for our new home being finalized with the design team, I am trying to remind myself why I want storage space. What’s going to be there?
It’s overwhelming when you give instructions, and you don’t know.
That’s why inspiredroom.net by Melissa and her room decorating tips have always been my favorite.
What’s not to love about simple, elegant, and pretty?
How often do you declutter?