Best intentions
I’ve been using the new year buzz to get on with a bit of de-cluttering (read “throwing all my crap away”) and to try and get a bit less dirty and dusty. Those wood fires always look so lovely in photos and in reality, they pile out the dust and the dirt.
You think it’s going to be all
and in fact it’s all
And even if you get it all sparkly spotless and lovely, you make your stove burn inefficiently (that layer of ash is great at insulating your wood and making sure it burns slowly… honest)
And… even if you get it all sparkly spotless, all that nasty ash is everywhere, all the time, all winter long.
Oh well.
The best bit has been that I have sorted through a stack of CDs I had – been tidying up all my CD cases and sorting them out a little – and have found at least twenty of my favourite CDs which have been gearing me up to keep going.
In reality, it’s all that knitting energy. I made so much time to knit in December that I don’t quite know what to do with myself now it’s finished. Besides, it’s about time I got around to throwing away a lot of the rubbish I’ve accumulated. I have a nasty habit of hanging on to things.
I like the idea of minimalism and simplicity. In reality, I have too many hobbies and crafts and obsessions. I’m a bit of a hobby butterfly: painting, drawing, chalks, acrylics, oils, pastels, photography, sewing, embroidery, knitting, reading, music, cooking, gardening. I just like too much stuff. This year is my year to really re-focus on photography and writing. I finished my higher level photography qualifications in 2005, right at the time when it was becoming less practical to keep a film camera and so it’s ten years since I really got inspirational with my camera. Now that the fundamentals of photography are easy, aperture, lighting, depth of field, shutter speed, I admit I don’t push myself. I like to think I have a good eye and have no problem switching to manual where circumstances allow.
The idea is that if I can simplify my life a little, well, I’ll have more time for the things I love doing. I found a lot of inspiration with this Simple Living guide. I am already a big fan of Zen Habits and Be More With Less which provide me with daily inspiration.
Anyway, here are five sites to help you if you’re starting the new year with a decluttering mission.
- Throw these 116 things away – it’s going to be tough to throw out all those little souvenirs that I have kept for many years! I’m saving an evening for going through all the old souvenir boxes I’ve been since I was a teenager. I’ve got four of them and they do need a little sorting! If I can’t remember what the souvenir is for, it’s going in the bin!
- 30 Days to De-Clutter – it’s the kitchen cupboards today.
- What Not To Do when De-Cluttering – I’m definitely following the ‘little and often’ advice! “Complete each task completely” could be written for me. I know I start with the best intentions.
- 15 Minutes of Decluttering tasks for January is great for clearing out your kitchen.
- Another 30 Day De-clutter list
