Month: April 2025

housekeeping, Spring Decluttering Challenge

SDC – Week 4

Lori Martin

Oh friends! We are almost there! Yes, it is week 4, but if you remember, we are doing numbers 1-31, so after this week we have one final group of 3 numbers to finish up. BUT – let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before we finish off, we must get to week 4.

The numbers for week 4 aren’t bad.

Sorry for skipping out on you last week! I took a break, pressed pause, and left town for a few days. I highly recommend it, if you can swing it!

Is decluttering dragging you down? Feeling uninspired and unmotivated? Here’s a fun article about different methods to decluttering. Which one HAVE you done, which one could you NEVER do, and which one are you intrigued to TRY? For me, I’ve done the “four-box method” or a version of it. That one comes pretty naturally to me. As a shopper, I’d NEVER do the “one in, one out” method – although it would probably be great for me…but NOT gonna happen. And honestly, the “packing party” is pretty intriguing to me. That section of the article references “The Minimalists Podcast” which I’ve listened to a few times. These people are HARD CORE, man! I admire it, but I don’t live that way at all. Moving has always been a great time to declutter, so the packing party method does seem like it would be really effective. Maybe I’ll do our primary bedroom in that manner. Or maybe not. Probably maybe not. Ha ha.

Well, that’s that. Get going for week 4 and see how many things you can declutter! If you complete this week’s challenge it’s 89 items and 99 with the “bonus”. My areas of focus this week are going to be the living room, primary bedroom and bathroom. I’ve done SOME work there, but those are the spaces we spend a lot of time in and they need some help!

Good luck this week and no matter what, remember that a few things decluttered (or a space) is better than nothing! Progress is progress!

housekeeping, Spring Decluttering Challenge

SDC – Week 3

Lori Martin

Let me just start right out of the gate and admit – I decluttered ZERO items last week – but that’s ok. I’m going to give myself some grace and remember that Rome was not built in a day and decades of stuff isn’t going to get moved out of this house in 4 weeks. Time to dust the week off and move on.

You may have noticed that I like to include a graphic with a quote on each week’s declutter numbers graphic. I like to choose those quotes for how I’m feeling about the process and this week’s quote is VERY fitting!!!

Part of cultivating a good life is knowing when to STOP what you’re doing, switch gears, take a break, and come back to it a few minutes or a few days later.

YES! So much this for me last week. Every time I tried to start going through a drawer, a section of the closet, etc I just got so distracted, kinda emotional, and just generally overwhelmed. At one point I just thought – decluttering is NOT for me right now, and that is OK. I’m just going to circle back to it next week.

As with all households, there was PLENTY of other things for me to focus on, so today I made some meals for next week, transplanted some tomato seedlings that I had started and are too big for their former home, planted some plant starts that I had been propagating, and washed a couple rugs that needed it. Is that a lot for me to get done on the weekend? NO – but you know what, those things were all on my “Tasks” list for this week and now they’re done.

Transplanting some tomato plants instead of decluttering!
Sidebar

Actually, washing the rugs was NOT on my list, but in order to help myself feel more productive, I 100% added that shit to my “Tasks” list and then checked ’em off! It’s silly, but it’s my list and I’m the boss of me.

Something “decluttering” adjacent that I did this week was to listen to a You Tube video that the hubs sent me “5 Harsh Truths About Decluttering for Seniors That NO ONE Talks About…“. OK – first of all, can we just acknowledge that he sent me something for SENIORS? Dude must have some kinda death wish.

Sidebar 2

Here’s a WIN for last week – the items from week 1 are GONE, out of my life, out of my house! I think that pile was one of my barriers to being motivated for Week 2 – but regardless, it’s GONE now and that makes me happy!

Better numbers this week – We’ll have 118 without the bonus and 140 with the bonus. Dunno about you all, but that sounds a lot more manageable than the 162/180 from last week.

Let’s circle back to last week. I’m not giving in on last week. I’m going to focus on THIS week and the 118/140 – and then IF/WHEN I complete that I will go to the numbers for last week. In the end it’s not about doing it on schedule – but DOING it.

So – Week 3 starts now. Get that box, grab the marker to make your tally marks, and get busy. If you find yourself not feeling it, remember this week’s quote and take a break and come back to it! We’ll all get there!

housekeeping, Spring Decluttering Challenge

SDC – Week 2

Lori Martin

OK, let me just say, anyone who decluttered even ONE item last week is WINNING! Every bit that I get out of my space I feel is a personal victory! Now if I could stop brining stuff IN – but I digress.

Week 2. Not gonna lie here folks – we have some pretty big numbers for week two. BUT – we can do it, right? Yeah – totally. We can do this. Same as last week – seven numbers for 7 days of the week and one bonus number for the “in the zone and not stopping now” people. I did all 8 last week and I’m not sad about it. I got a lot of items out of my closets that needed to go. And drawers. And other random areas. I do find myself looking at things now with a “do I really need/want this in my space anymore” focus. The total for Week 1 was 71 items without the bonus – and 99 with the bonus. Week two is making week 1 look like decluttering for amateurs.

Week 2 is coming in hot with 162/180 items. Dang – that’s a lot more but WE GOT THIS!

I’m not gonna lie. This one is making me a bit nervous, but it’s all good. One day at a time – one item at a time. I’m going to follow my own advice. Pick an area of focus, set a timer, and start going through items in that area of focus. Mark off on the box as items are placed in the box.

Anyone have any tips or tricks to share from your experience last week? I need to get rid of the 99 items from last week, so they’re going to someone holding a fundraiser garage sale – and they’re going next week. I need this stuff OUT of my house and then maybe I’ll feel as if some progress has been made.

Week 2 – here we come!!!