stationery
I did my last declutter update at the end of March. Read more here.
Another 3 months have passed and while, I’ll give you an update, I also want to add some thoughts about my feelings on this project.
General decluttering:
I have just finished batch 8 of 24 items – that’s 192 items that left my home. We’re on a net lighter item number because some of the things that left were lovely big things like a bed, a car seat and two booster seats, as well as all the other bits, mainly clothes, etc.
Use up 24 in 2024
I have finished this project and continued on. I particularly want to use up all the little sample sizes of things like Advent calendar goodies, many half-used lipsticks, etc.
Stationery
13 items used up or donated, and I’ve given 7 gifts made up of several stationery items. If I donate another 4 stationery items, I’ve reached my full goal and we’re only half way through the year.
What I’m learning:
General decluttering
This is already a well-established habit and I probably don’t have to focus on it for it to continue being a fixture in my life.
I have good systems – my one in, one out rule works very well to keep things under control, and I love limitations of space as a trigger to get rid of stuff.
Use up 24 in 2024
I really had no idea I had so many speedsticks, soaps and body lotions around. I mean, I’ve been using them up and still I have lots. I want to persist with this one because it’s good to force myself to finish up things and not just buy something on sale. Also, when I truly need something, it feels like a real treat. E.g. I have about 2cm of body wash left and I bought a new bottle last week when I picked up my prescription. Every morning I sniff it and I cannot wait to start using it. It’s the small things 😉 I also find immeasurable joy in the new lipstick I bought.
Stationery
I actually have too much to use up myself so I’ve been making gifts for others (if they’re into stationery – surprisingly, not a lot of people get such delight from stationery as I do).
More importantly, I’m using my stuff. No more keeping the nice notebooks for “one day”; I am using them now, even if only for boring work notes!
In summary
I will continue with the beauty, body and bath stuff (just so I don’t break loose and go wild) but also occasionally treat myself. The goal here is to not hoard or stockpile but still enjoy a lovely lip or nail colour. And hopefully use up all those darn speedsticks and body lotions. I actually found myself thinking yesterday, “wait, do I actually have to go BUY face wash?” (yes, once the one in the shower is used up, I will check my stash just to make sure)
And I have to remind myself that I do not need any more notebooks or gorgeous pens.
My domestics’ children will be getting a lot of their pens and pencils from me at the end of the year.
How are you doing with your decluttering projects?
This is so timely! I just did a major declutter of two spaces just this morning. I tend to tidy as I go, but with two kids (and a husband) it’s amazing how quickly those clean spaces get cluttered again.
I really need to come up with a checklist of places/spaces to rotate through. One a week? Or break it down into small things (i.e. dresser in Master bedroom), and tackle 3-4 of those places a week. I LOVE to declutter and tidy, and it’s always more enjoyable if it’s not overly cluttered to begin with. I think that might be one of my goals this summer – sit down and make a rotating checklist? Do you use something like that to regularly cycle through places and to help keep track of what you’ve done and when?