My new minimalist living space (the confessions of a hoarder)

I decided to take a week off from writing the blog in order to clear some space in my life (both the tiny flat that I live in, and also my schedule) and create some order. Now I would like to return triumphantly with reports of dazzling success, a new minimalist living space and feelings of serenity and calm.

Alas, that isn’t exactly what happened.

Last week I set myself the challenge of ridding myself of 100 things I no longer wanted/needed/used by the end of the month. I was committed. I was willing. I hadn’t decided what 100 things, but that was just a minor detail. To make it even easier, the weekend was a long weekend with a public holiday, so an extra day for sorting.

But despite my best efforts to sit on the sofa whilst willing the decluttering to miraculously begin, berating the general lack of action, and chastising my boyfriend every time he settled down to read a book/magazine for not helping, we didn’t manage to clear out anywhere near as much as I’d hoped.

We managed to fill a box with stuff to take to the charity shop. We also managed to get rid of two wastepaper baskets of recycling. I wish I could say it was a commendable effort, and a good first attempt, but in three days, I think I should have managed a bit more. I think I should have managed a LOT more. I like the idea of the stuff being gone, but actually doing the tasks that make it happen is another thing altogether.

100thingsjpg

This one box was the result of three days of sorting. I think it demonstrates quite well how most of the ‘sorting’ actually consisted of (me) moaning about the sorting, and (me) talking about how great it would be once the sorting was actually done, rather than actual genuine sorting. We (actually, no, my boyfriend did that) did put an additional couple of things on eBay and Gumtree, but actually, they’d fit inside this box too, so no extra points for those.

And that’s the thing. It’s me that’s stopping the process. I just can’t get rid of anything! Every time my boyfriend threw something in the bin I scurried over and fished it back out. He tested a drawer full of pens and threw the ones in the bin that didn’t work, but even then I was tempted to get them back out and test them myself just in case one of them could be saved. Why?! We have a million other biros that work and we don’t need those either.

And then on Monday evening when we went to bed, I said that I wished we’d got it all finished, and he looked at me in amazement, and said “but it’s not a job that’ll be finished and then you’re done. It’s a job that you’ll always need to keep coming back to.”

What?!?!?!? How can that be true?! Surely I can spend three days sorting out my things and then I will rejoice in my clutter-free space and will never need to declutter again? What if I declare never to buy or acquire anything ever again? What does he mean, I’m going to have to go through this all over again in a few months time?!

Of course, he’s right. Maybe some people could do it, but I am never going to be a true minimalist. I’m probably never going to be close! I hate waste too much. I have three pairs of shoes in my closet that I haven’t worn for over a year – in fact two of them I haven’t worn in two or three years. But I can’t bring myself to get rid of them.

I think when people accumulate stuff, and the stuff starts to get in the way of their lives, they have two choices. They either get a bigger house, or more storage, in order to assimilate their possessions and not have to really think about them. Or they decide to have a clear-out, in which case they have to face up to the money they’ve wasted, the dreams that never quite came true (even though you bought the book on paper maché crafts or the home candle-making kit or whatever new hobby, you just never quite got round to it), and the emotions which come with that (be it guilt, anger, resentment, or simply frustration at having too much stuff). Maybe some people really don’t care, they happily just chuck it all in the bin and head back to the shops to get a load more shiny new stuff, but for me, I find this second option really confronting.

What it means, though, is that on the public holiday weekend, whilst friends of mine are spending a few days relaxing in the beautiful Margaret River region down south and having a glorious time, I am at home fishing things out of the dustbin. That is the consequence of my having too much stuff. And it’s rubbish – literally.

So I’ve decided I need to rethink my challenge in order to actually make some progress. I think it’s going to be easier for me if I break my goal of 100 things down into bite-size chunks. I’m going to commit to getting rid of 5 things every day for the next 20 days. That will take me to the 24th June. Hopefully if I’m on a bit of a roll, I’ll be able to keep going until the end of the month.

I think spending a few minutes every day is a much better option than dedicating three days to achieving greatness, and then feeling miserable about my lack of achievement. And as that didn’t work anyway, I’m not going to spend another weekend floundering.

So, small steps. I’m off to find my five things to get rid of today. Wish me luck!

9 replies
  1. Sunnyplace
    Sunnyplace says:

    Good luck! I found that once I started (last month) I built up a momentum. And when I thought I was done, more stuff would glare at me. I actually made quite a bit of money too. :)

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Thanks! So far so good… I’ve also made the rule that if I find extra things I’m not allowed to carry them over to the next day – so if I find 7 things one day I still need to find 5 the next. I’m not sure I’ll make much money though, I don’t think much of what I’m needing to clear out has any value. Shame – it’s definitely easier to get rid of things if you get money in return!

      Reply
  2. Hoarder Comes Clean
    Hoarder Comes Clean says:

    I am SO with you on this. Most of my stuff is my late partner’s, so it took me a long time to be able to address it without too much emotional involvement. I’m doing better now! btw, I’m having good luck selling used books on amazon, better than with ebay. All the best — Sandy

    Reply
  3. Heather
    Heather says:

    I find it’s easier to get rid of things when they aren’t worth much monetarily. It prevents me from being able to say “I’ll sell it online” and procrastinate. I find that setting a clock/timer for 15 minutes helps me bust out of that lethargic will-the-clutter-away-from-the-couch mode. And focusing on one area at a time (clothes, shoes, books, DVDs, CDs, etc) helps me maintain focus and not get distracted. I reduced my belongings to 9 medium boxes from Lowes (plus a mattress, two chairs, a small side table, and a small bookshelf) and moved halfway across the country in less than a week. I plan to reduce that by half again before I move again.

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      I think I’m the opposite! If I can sell things then I feel like I’m getting a return, and someone else will be able to use it, whereas when things are worthless they’re often not even suitable for the charity shop and I feel guilty sending things to landfill, so I keep them!

      Reply
  4. Heather
    Heather says:

    I also don’t allow myself to go back through the bag/box once I’ve designated something to go to the thrift store. I think about what I ultimately want to do in my life, and ask myself if that object helps me or hinders me in obtaining my dreams. More often than not, it’s a hindrance. Going through things repeatedly enables you to release things gradually — it took me a year and a half to pare down to what I currently have. I went through phases where I did nothing, and phases where I was ruthless and constantly getting rid of things. Just give yourself time and revisit the item. I read a tip that said not to hold an item while considering whether or not to keep it — just look at it, as the physical act of holding it makes you more likely to want to retain things.

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Thanks for the great tips! I definitely think repetition is key – I plan to go back through everything every few months. I guess I’m impatient and want to be clutter free now, but being able to give things up takes time, at least for me. I need to learn patience!

      Reply
  5. Alison Deacon
    Alison Deacon says:

    One mans trash is another’s treasure!
    In the UK you can freecycle

    The pleasure of giving something you do not want anymore is wonderful

    I’ve been given lovely things too – an old Morrocan pouff for my daughters flat

    Some things are worth selling but perhaps some old clothes could be used by crafters for patchwork

    Women’s refuges need clothes and toiletries and kids clothes to use – give to service users – not to sell

    Reply

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