How I am jump starting my year!
Raise your hand if you are just not feeling it.
What do I mean by ‘it’? Well, anything really……work, life, etc. More or less an overall excitement for what is now and what is ahead.
I can’t compel myself to motivate on any level including write which has brought my blog to a screeching halt! Not that I was ever a R.L. Stein or anything but I just can’t seem bring myself to sit down, focus and share. I wish I could say this was just the case with writing.
In A Funk
Usually come January, I am all into the new year. I am setting resolutions, making plans, getting excited about possibilities and what I want to accomplish, etc.
But sadly, not this January. I am in a funk. I just feel…..empty.
Here I am nearing the end of January with half-ass resolutions. I SAY my resolution is to simplify my life. Sadly, I have yet to really DEFINE what that means or how I will do it.
The Noise All Around
In the past couple years I have really been noticing all of the ‘noise’ around me. And that noise is really interrupting my thoughts, my happiness, my memories and my stress.
The noise comes in all forms but mostly in an excess of things in my life.
Take this silly example: When I am trying to find something on my phone, it takes me forever because I am scrolling through all the crap that I never use but don’t want to get rid of ‘just in case’. When in all reality, I havent used it in over 5 years and 3 new phones. And if I really needed to, I could always add it when I would actually benefit from it.
This app scenario could be added to just about every aspect of my life like my home, my email, my work, my friends. It causes me to feel like I am in a constant fog. Never quite sure what I need or what I am doing.
The clutter around me is beginning to make me feel consumed, not enriched.
I know I need to pare down to change this feeling, but for a cautious pack rat wrought with sentimentality, like myself, decluttering and simplifying is overwhelming and scary. I dont know where to start. If I do start, I self sabotage.
-》So what now??
Well I guess it is time to step my sweet hiney up and create a pact to myself and a PLAN. So here it goes…..
Promise to Myself:
“This year I am all in. I commit to set aside some time to address the areas of seriously needed nurturing in the form of decluttering and simplifying. And for my hard work and I effort, I will reward myself for ‘good behavior’. I will look intentionally to simplify where I can and celebrate the wins!”
PLAN:
Nothing can happen until you start! Do I know what exactly I am doing and how this big change will happen? NOPE.
I do know that nothing will change unless one is willing to make the jump. So I will start with my house since I believe that your enviroment plays the biggest role in your stress.
Additonally, when I clear out a room or a nook, I feel fantastic….accomplished. When I take those items to the local Goodwill or other organization, I feel even better. These are pretty much rewards in themselves and gives more purpose to the plan.
Now to decide which room to start in? The best way for me to accomplish anything is to make it small to keep from getting too overwhelmed.
There are 12 rooms, 6 closets and a covered screened back porch. That is a hella lotta space so I will pick a room and then a spot within that room. Then I will continue to other spaces in that room until I have finished getting that room in line.
Once that room is complete, I will move to another room and use the same process.
One thing that always happens to me is that I don’t have everything I need when I start which causes me to have to leave the room and then become distracted.
Items to create a smoother process
Here are a few ideas and tips for what I need to get me started. I will add any others that I discover to help keep it moving as I continue this process.
- A box for giveaways
- A bin or box to put items that are in the space I am working on that need to go back to another room.
- Something to put “miscellaneous” items or paperwork in. These are anything that I come across that I can’t figure out what to do with. Do I want to throw it away? Does it need a space to call it’s home but I don’t know where that is yet? Then I am definately putting it here to go back through later. Otherwise, I will spend too much time stressing about it. This helps keep the process moving.
- If there is paperwork that I willbe going through, I have a space (envelope, pile, bin depending how much) that I separate my recycle, shred and miscellaneous in.
It is GO time
At the end of the day, I want to get rid off all of the noise that brings me additional daily stress. I would love to have peace and order in my life and in my space.
To help keep me accountable, I plan to post about this process and I welcome any of your advice in the comments. If I discover any tips or tricks along the way, I will be happy to share.
The first room up is our master bedroom! What is your best advice for this room?
