Decluttering

I had heard on one of those daytime talk shows that if you declutter your spaces, you will declutter your life. This was several years ago, but I have found that it's the truth. When my house, vehicle, and whatever area I call mine become cluttered, so do I. I find myself with too many things to do, not enough time, and a very bad disposition. Today started my decluttering. I am tired of clutter and mess and junk. If I don't get my island cleaned off soon, I may find that it has disappeared and been replaced with crap.

I started in the living room. Every day, it seems many times, I have the kids pick up their stuff. Sometimes it's alot, sometimes just a thing or two. I really have them do it before hubby gets home. Not that it stays that way. It's almost a throwback to the fifties or sixties. I want a nice, tidy home for hubby to come home to. I want him to be able to relax for a little before I put him to work. I always think it's nice to come home to a neat house. That's one reason I clean before vacation.

I picked up trash like Sunday's paper that had been read and refolded and was just lying around. Some trash from who knows what came off the end table. I straightened out the corner where the kids schoolwork is kept. I cleaned off last year's curriculum from the book shelf and added this year's. I still have to box some of it up, but at least it's together. Now I need to clean out the cabinet I keep our school supplies in. Yeah, I'm not really looking forward to that.

Since I added this year's curriculum to the book shelf, that opened up a spot in our bedroom. I started cleaning and sorting through all the junk that's on the side of our bed. I rearranged some things, stacking them neatly until I can figure out where I'm going to put it. Then I picked up some clothes that were in the pile and added them to the hamper. I picked up and emptied some bags and got that stuff put away. There was a dress and jacket for the baby and a book with a study guide for the big girl. She may be reading that book for her language arts. It's a mystery so she'll love it. It's written by a Christian author, so I'm good with it. I straightened out our shred pile. Now I just need to shred.

I moved from the side of the bed to my desk. I recycle our copy paper. If I make too many copies, I use the other side for another lesson. It has saved us a tremendous amount of money in paper. I stacked and removed staples from all the paper, making sure it was all facing the same way so all I have to do is put it in the copier. I cleaned up the trash around my desk and got it together. I don't have a trash can around my desk, so all my papaers go on the floor. I finally got that picked up and a box in place for a trash can. I emptied two boxes and got their contents put away. There were some packing slips and a couple of styrofoam cartons that our vitamins ship in. It's nice to come into my room now. Now for the top of my desk.

I have been working slowly but surely on the island. I can see it now, so that's a change for the better. There are a couple of big pots that need to get handwashed, but that's hubby job. One is his peanut pot that he boiled peanuts in. The other is a pot he used to cook crab legs. Those were really good. Then there is the miscellaneous junk that needs to be sorted through and put in a place. Most of it will probably go in the trash. I know that there are a couple of magazines that we will keep, and some receipts that need to be filed or shredded. Then wipe it all down. I have a bag of clothes and a bag of shoes that need to be donated that is sitting in the corner of my kitchen. And I need to clean off the little corner table. That won't be too bad. I do need a bigger container for my prize box for co-ops, but that's easy.

With school, dance, JAM, and co-op about to start, I want to have a relaxed start. I want to start our year clutter free and easy. I also am reviewing for an online curriculum provider called teacherbookbag.net that will take up my time. It will also be providing some really great curriculum. Look for my review tomorrow or Thurday of our first ebook unit study on the solar system. While we will be busy again, I want to be able to go with the flow, and not drag all our baggage with us.