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Gindi Vincent

The Dish on Career, Fashion, Faith, and Family

New Year Decluttering

January 1, 2018 by Gindi 7 Comments

Clutter tends to invade my life.

Cluttered calendar.  Cluttered house.  All leading to cluttered thoughts.

For the new year, I’m decluttering.

Decluttering has an image you might immediately pair with it.  Think hoarders before and after shots.

But decluttering in modern America is far more needed in ways you don’t traditionally consider when thinking about clutter.

How am I decluttering for the new year?

I’m decluttering with a few super simple life hacks.

I’m decluttering my personal email.  Which will also result in decluttering my credit card statement.  Particularly post-house remodel, I’m getting a truckload of “deal” emails.  From furniture stores to clothing boutiques to book deals.  I’ve had enough.  Between now and next Monday, every single “deal” email (which is basically everything except the Times, a couple of bloggers and you) will be UNSUBSCRIBED.

That is going to pay massive dividends.  First, I get time back.  I spend early morning hours deleting emails when I could be praying or working on a critical thought work project.  Second, I get money back.  I can’t be tempted by the deal if I never knew it happened.  I did this years ago and it worked, but the sales emails slowly creeped back in.

Need something to offset your massively smaller inbox?  You can subscribe to my little blog.  Right there, on the right hand side, where it says subscribe by email.  No deals.  And generally two emails a week, since I’ve been struggling to find time to write. (But heck, now maybe three times a week of new blogs with my new state of declutter!).

I’m decluttering our unloading crap.  Sorry.  It’s crap.  Kids book bags?  Shoes (oh my heavens with the shoes)?  Papers and folders?  One spot.  You must put it all by the door.  Granted, I got a little assist with our new mud room.  The kids (and the adults) are using it for its intended purpose.  Hooks for jackets and backpacks.  Cubbies for shoes.  A bench for papers.

Maybe it’s cluttered there, but we have two working parents and three second graders.  Good luck keeping everything pristine with that formulation.  But it’s in one spot.  By the back door.

No mud room?  Who cares?  Hang a couple of $2 hooks from Home Depot by your back door and get a couple of baskets or bins for your shoes.  I think we’ll all feel better if we can stop 7 am fights over I can’t find my shooooooooooooooooooeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss, mommmmmmmeeeeeeeee.

Finally (well, almost finally, I have one for you), I’m decluttering my bed.  We make the kids make their beds every morning.  Yet Bray and I aren’t all that great about making ours.  In addition to the studies that show the value of making your bed every morning (see Admiral McCraven’s advice: If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed), I now have a lovely bed.  Tufted headboard.  Situated in a much less cluttered room.  Beautiful new white hotel-style comforter.  Throw pillows for Pete’s sake.  (Pictures coming.  Next week: series of home remodel posts!)

I am making our bed every morning!  I’m hanging up my clothes when I get home so I don’t have to have a wayward pair of jeans or sweater on the end of the bed (which will end up on the floor…).  I’m putting my purse in the mud room.  I have no excuse.  It’s an easy bed to make.  And it looks really pretty.

Okay, last one is for you.  I’d like to declutter my mind too.  This tactic might sound like more instead of less, but it’s actually just “better.”  Several podcasts have caught my attention and I have a heck of a work commute.  I’d like to start listening to a handful of these interesting news/faith/interest podcasts.  But I have data limits on my iPhone.  I have no Wi-Fi in my car.  And I probably will forget to download the podcast and then delete it to make room for the next one.

Could any of you commuters give me a life hack so I can start listening to podcasts in the new year on my commute?  Pretty pretty please?  This is the last thing on my check list of things to knock out this week.  I go back tomorrow so extra points if you can come up with an idea by 7 am tomorrow 🙂 (And even more points if you share your favorite podcast!)

What about you?  What is the best decluttering strategy you have (or will) employ?  Any life hacks you can share to make all of our lives a little easier this 2018?

Happy New Year friends!!!

Filed Under: Women Tagged With: decluttering

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brandy says

    January 1, 2018 at 7:53 pm

    I’m with you! One of my 18 for 2018 ideas is own less stuff and donate or toss more. I like the Marie Kondo book. I don’t need perfect just tidy! My goal is this- if it isn’t useful or joyful I don’t own it. It just has to go if it’s not in one or ideally both of those categories.
    I autoscribe to my fav podcasts so it’s pretty simple. Gretchen Rubin Happier is the best one for driving to and from work for me.
    For me, journaling helps cut down the mental clutter so I’m doing more of that.
    Best of luck on your plan. And yes I make my bed also.

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      January 4, 2018 at 9:09 pm

      Useful or joyful – I’ve heard that one before. Does that mean I unload the triplets? 🙂 🙂 🙂 (They are currently fighting and not picking up – I’m kidding of course.)

      Reply
    • taniya says

      January 23, 2018 at 11:57 pm

      Bitoodle is one of the favorite online shopping sites that have made it possible for consumers even in the remote areas of India to avail products from the best brands at low prices online. In the present lifestyle of people, it’s no surprise that they prefer to buy online most of the products that they need on a daily basis like clothes for men and women, electronics, cars &bikes mobiles, home appliances, products for personal beauty and care, and the like.

      #onlineshopping #onlinesite #ecommerce #bitoodle

      For more information, you can visit this page-
      http://www.bitoodle.com/

      Reply
  2. Gena says

    January 1, 2018 at 9:55 pm

    Gindi,
    I’ve been listening to The Forward podcast by Lance Armstrong.
    Has become very humble, knows a wide range of people and a great interviewer.
    May want to go back and check out older podcasts and see if any interest you. Usually posts new podcast on Monday.
    Also, Smartest Person in the Room by Laura Tremaine.
    I use Overcast app to listen to podcast.
    I’m a 57 year retired elementary school teacher.

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      January 4, 2018 at 9:08 pm

      I have never heard of Overcast – I’m checking it out tonight. That you so much Gena!

      Reply
  3. Brandy says

    January 2, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Another fun podcast is By the Book. These two funny women pick a self help book- like the tidying up book- and follow it exactly for two weeks. They do everything single thing it says to do and report on the results. Fun and useful.

    Reply
    • Gindi says

      January 4, 2018 at 9:07 pm

      Oh that sounds so awesome – can’t wait to try that!

      Reply

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