Paper, Paper, Everywhere

It is ridiculously difficult to get rid of stuff. Lately I've been eyeing my bookshelves. All that paper that just sits there. Will I ever be free? I bet people born today will never even have bookshelves as grownups.

And yet... I go to the bookshelves, and it's so difficult to decide what to part with. I've realized that working in rounds helps. This round, my young adult fiction is going. Yes, all my Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Golden Compass, and Septimus Heap is in a box bound for the library.

The other thing that helps is making a decision about a space and then doing whatever it takes to achieve that goal. For example, I have a DVD rack that has 4 shelves. When I was unpacking in this apartment, I decided that all my DVDs AND all my workout videos must fit on that shelf. And so I sat there and made decisions until it happened. Although I did pull out some DVDs that I ultimately don't want to keep but haven't watched yet and those are in an additional media bin by my couch. Sigh.

Similarly, I decided when I moved into this apartment that nothing would go under the bed. Roomba can get under there, so I wanted it clear to allow for maximum cleaning and air flow.

This weekend is a big fall cleaning and get organized weekend for me. There was still BlogHer pile-up to be dealt with and the apartment was just feeling a little overwhelmed. I did my regular troll for things for the thrift store. At this point I've been through my stuff so many times it's more difficult, but the rounds concept really does kick in. When you do this regularly you're able to say, OK, I've looked at this purse a million times now and still not used it. Out it goes!

I do sometimes keep things for possible future costuming needs, though. I mean, if you ever need a futuristic metallic wallet, and you once HAD a futuristic metallic wallet but got rid of it, that would be really annoying. And that wallet has a home at the moment, so it stays. If I ever decide that the purse bin has to go, though...

The other thing I did yesterday was get rid of my coffee table. It was cheap, ugly, and I think too big for the space.  Now I have a wonderful expanse of carpet and no need to move anything to exercise.

Later today, I clean (the above working being sorting and putting away). Tomorrow, I buckle down to some creative work in a happier, cleaner space.

Comments

[badgermama]

Well, happy Discardia! I have to make some really tough decisions about books. A boat doesn't have a lot of room.

My mantra right now is, "Will I still want to own this object in 30 years? When is the point when I won't want to own this any more? HOW ABOUT NOW."

[misskate]

Yay, you!
I love the feeling after decluttering, especially if it involves eliminating actual furniture. I thought I had done well in April. I had decluttered over 300 books, gotten rid of a 2 small garbage bags of clothes, and a bunch of household stuff. But then... a friend of mine came over to look at my closet as she is the queen of letting go and we found enough stuff to get rid of to fill 3 110L garbage bags, and 2 smaller ones. It was everything from coats and shoes and she really made me look hard at my scarves and bags. Except for that one plaid flannel (I love flannel), I have to think and concentrate before I can remember what else it was I got rid of.
This season, I am tackling the books again. And burning candles like they're goin' out of style.
The dvds and cds, though, I put into those binders and store the jewel cases away. I'm hoping that if I get a tv stand with storage that they'll all fit and I can get rid of at least one book case. With all the crap about DRM, I want to hold them in my hot little hand and I am loathe to get rid of them.

[lizriz]

badgermama - LOVE that mantra. Reminds me of the Sedona Method, actually.

misskate - I've kept my CDs. I ditched the jewel cases, but keep the disks in a binder. I do figure, if somehow I lost all my music, at least I'd have what I have on disk!