The Great Big Creating Order 2009 Declutter Challenge! Catch-up

Boy, it seems like ages since I last reported in on my progress with the Creating Order 2009 Declutter Challenge!  But that doesn’t mean I haven’t been actively seeking opportunities to clear unnecessary stuff from my life.  The recent bushfires here in Victoria have served to highlight what’s important in my life – life, love, family, friends, home, safety, and many things I sometimes take for granted – and what isn’t.  Here’s a list of what isn’t, and therefore what I’ve been decluttering from my life.

152: a packet of glittery fish stickers.  How did this end up in my home?  Never mind, I know a girl turning 10 who will love them.  There you go, Freya.

153: a half-used hand cream sachet which was getting in the way sitting in my pen holder.  On checking, it had dried up.  I really should moisturise more often.

154-157: Inheriting my parents’ household appliances came in handy when my daughter moved out.  However, being quite old to begin with, they had a short lifespan and all returned to live in my garage when they died.  And there they waited for our council hard rubbish collection.  I love those semi-annual collections.  We got rid of broken pool hose, a washer, a dryer and a TV.  None of these things actually stayed long enough to make it into the garbage truck.  They were all scavenged before collection day.  I love that someone else can make use of these items.  I just hope they weren’t hoarders adding to their collections.

I spent over an hour today trying to buy concert tickets online.  What do you do when you’re stuck at your desk clicking a mouse every 5 seconds?  Declutter the desk drawer of course.  It wasn’t bursting at the seams, as you can see, but it could do with some improvement.  And I got the tickets!  I turfed…

158: an instruction booklet for something I don’t have any more.

159: a battery compartment cover, returned to its rightful place, covering the battery compartment.

160-161: 2 empty containers.  I just combined their contents with other like objects.

162: a broken magnet.  Let’s face it, I’m not going to fix it.

163: one stub of pencil.

164-173: 10 pens that don’t work.

174-183: 10 pen lids for different pens!?

184: an allen key.  If my husband wants it he can store it where it belongs, in the shed (that’s a no go zone for me. I respect his space).

185: 1 hole punch. I already have 2 – one in my office upstairs, one in the “communication station” downstairs.  Perhaps my son, who’s started uni would like it?

186: 1 stapler. ditto

187: 1 torch.  I already have one in the desk drawer.  It’s there for when I need to crawl under the desk and do computer repairs or adjustments.  This extra one can go back to its home under the stairs, where our emergency lighting lives.

188-189: 2 sharpeners.  Where did they all come from?

190: 1 tape measure.  Same.

191: 1 letter opener.  I’m happy using my thumb.

These are all small items.  Getting rid of them will make a small difference in my life.  I’ll be able to find what I need a little faster.  I’ve also decluttered some more things which will make a big difference in my life.  They are…

192-194: 3 e-newsletter subscriptions.  Losing these will give me more time and less distractions.

195: Book of the Month posts.  Tying myself down to a book review each month was disproportionately taking up my time.  From now on, I’ll do the occasional book review.  Of course, if anyone else would like to write one, they are very welcome to submit it for my approval.

196: And finally, decluttering one committee position from my life has lifted a weight off my shoulders and given me a good chunk of time.

This is all well and good but I’m running behind.  Mathematically speaking, I should be up to 347 by now if I’m to reach my goal.  It’s time for some real action.  Next time I report in I promise to have decluttered at least <big breath in> 300 items.  There, I’ve said it.  How’s your decluttering going?  Are you ahead of or behind your goal?