The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter: New York Times...Outstanding..

[Stuart G]

Yes, I have clutter, I will try to follow this. I will report back later..


https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/03/well/mind/clutter-stress-procrastination-psychology.html?em_pos=large&emc=edit_hh_20190109&nl=well&nlid=26922970edit_hh_20190109&ref=headline&te=1

[underpants]

1. Reading now but not surprised. When I see someone's home, car, or workplace that's a mess

I think "Nutso" in some way. Sorry that's what life has taught me.

[wishstar]

2. Whenever I buy something new, I donate or throw away something older

I force myself to divest a unnecessary item if I find something new I can't resist. The article is right about getting attached. I'm glad to sometimes break items while cleaning as that makes it easier to remove it! But it's hard living with someone who likes to collect and hoard and is unwilling to donate or throw away stuff but goes to flea markets or yard sales and brings home "bargains" we don't need. I have to sneak around clearing out closets and boxes in order to throw out or donate items, but thankfully my spouse is so disorganized and often oblivious wrapped up in hobby projects so as long as I don't disturb the hobby stuff, I can manage to make progress or at least keep our heads above water. But our property will require professional help eventually to clear things out.

My Dad was extremely possessive, watched everything like a hawk and would pitch a fit if Mom even put an old frayed torn worn out shirt in trash, let alone if she had ever tried to clean out the attic or basement or garage. I spent months going through 60 years of their accumulated stuff and finally had to use an estate auctioneer.

[NJCher]

13. tell hubs that in the end it costs more than it saves

you state: But our property will require professional help eventually to clear things out.

I have a friend who does that kind of work. Wow, is it ever mind boggling what she tells me it costs to get rid of stuff. Thousands! Upon thousands. You would think that it could be sold, but so often an estate sale doesn't get rid of things. The people who run estate sales know this and build it into their agreement with the homeowner. Yep, it takes time, money, and resources to divert household possessions to places that can distribute them (think large second hand store operations--in NJ we have Goodwill and Unique). There really is a market for the stuff, it's just that all the buyers don't come to the sale. Regardless, it takes time and money to channel everything to the right places.

Also, wanted to add, your techniques absolutely do work buy an object, remove an object). They require discipline, but that discipline isn't hard to acquire when you realize that you're saving yourself thousands when it comes time to move from one house to another, downsize, head to an apartment or whatever.

[Stuart G]

3. I was just thinking ..Would anybody here like some old lesson plans used in high school

in the late 80s?...or some books that have not been read in 20 years? how about some rocks that I picked up on a hike in Florida? Old newspapers ? Maps? old plastic cups?...etc..

[Lars39]

4. eBay those old maps

[flygal]

5. I finally convinced my husband to get rid of 25 year old college books.

I showed him how everything is online if he really needed to look things up. He also had his notes.

[Stuart G]

6. Thank You for reminding me..would you like some old notes too?..I got those..

[NJCher]

14. yes, the online thing is a blessing

as a teacher, it has saved me many a square foot of storage space!

[crazycatlady]

25. old plastic cups might have a use

Is anyone you know hosting a party anytime soon? Do you (or someone you know) work in an office with a water cooler?

[fierywoman]

34. If you garden, they are good for starting seedlings.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. It does weigh one down.

And sometimes it's the result of plain old sloth. I have a pile of boxes of miscellaneous stuff that I need to sort through - it's stuff I acquired when my dad died, and then when I retired and brought my office stuff home, and more when the attic and a couple of closets had to be emptied for some remodeling. It's an overwhelming chore and I keep putting it off because I'm lazy and I don't want to do it. But I also don't want all that stuff cluttering up my small house. Somebody said I should sort just one box at a time. Guess I should do that before I go nuts looking at this crap and not doing anything about it.

[Stuart G]

8. I don't think it is "lazy" for me.....there is just ..."too much"

Last two sentences are the real key....."one box at a time" and ... "avoid going nuts..!!!"

Say 20 to 30 minutes a day, working on the problem..
Just one pile at a time......(for me, the clutter is in piles and piles of stuff)

After a couple of weeks, there will be a whole lot less
And much of it will be in order so I can find it. But getting started is almost too much.
and I don't want to do it.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But like any project, you got to start somewhere,,,and guess what?
Anywhere we start on de-cluttering is ok..anywhere is ok..
..Anywhere????????....Yes Anywhere.....cause you got to start..somewhere..

[NJCher]

15. well, I can certainly identify with that

It's like you can only do so much of that stuff at a time. It really does drive you crazy and it's not fun.

Here's what I do, but I'm not saying it would work for you or anyone else, for that matter. I use the old standby categories that you can find anywhere on the internet ("donate" box, "sell" box, etc.). I even have made-up signs (which are kept in a permanent folder in my file cabinet because I use them all the time). I set out the signs, put the box on a table, and start diverting each item to the designated area. I set a timer, telling myself I only have to do 3 20" increments. After each 20", I get a "treat." The treat is usually 10" spent with an interesting book I've been wanting to read. Or maybe some one-on-one time with my cats or a house plant. Also I can listen to some music or a podcast to make it a little more palatable.

I swear, my mom spent the latter third of her life getting rid of stuff in a responsible way. Yeah, anyone can throw it out at the curb and many people do. However, as people who are concerned about our planet are aware, each of those items took energy to build. That's why it's worth it to make the effort that the item find a place where it can be used--hopefully not the back of a station wagon, as a poster upthread mentioned!

[IcyPeas]

9. subscription darnit!

[NJCher]

16. google it?

sometimes you can get the story that way.

[IcyPeas]

19. just did.....

all articles lead back to the NY times article. did catch a few paragraphs though. thanks.

[WePurrsevere]

30. Try right clicking and opening in a private browsing tab...

That usually, not always (darn it), works for me.

[MissB]

10. If you have Netflix, check out Marie Kondo's series on decluttering

I’m the opposite of a hoarder. My mother is a hoarder.

Clutter sends me right over the edge.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. Thanks for the reminder that I need to turn off the computer and

get back to cleaning. No, not actually cleaning, but throwing things away. You can't clean if you can't see the floor.

I'm snowed in today. I'll check in later, when I've lost my mind from tossing just a tiny portion of all this junk, and I need to take a break.

[Harker]

12. There's a Zen saying that one needs only one robe, one bowl.

I have many bowls and a shitload of robes.

[In_The_Wind]

17. I own far too many robes.

I'm still looking for the perfect bowl.

[Harker]

22. I have it somewhere... n/t

[IcyPeas]

18. I have one robe, but...

I haven't put it on for about 10 years. think I could donate it? LOL

[Harker]

20. Sure.

I'll make room for it. Thanks!

[IcyPeas]

21. okay. it's pink terrycloth, okay?

[Harker]

23. Um... errr... n/t

[Stuart G]

24. I have only one robe, but I am wearing it right now..The real problem is the stuff...

I got stuff....Stuff, stuff, stuff,
..............When is it enough.
..............When I think I am done,
..............And get rid of some..
...............Then I get more stuff...

Now here is the issue: Would you like some old lesson plans from the 80s and 90s?... How about some pictures taken in 1970? How about some slides?.....?..............? Calandars from the 90s?..
Well what else?..I got 50 year old Mad magazines, they must be worth something..what do you think? How about a 1974 newspaper that quotes Mr. Nixon..."I am not a crook"

.......WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL How about a complete collection of the first season of "Star Trek the Next Generation from 1987?

Here is a great one.........Did you know that if you have a 1991 Calandar, you can reuse it for 2019? I bet you did not know that! Also, you can reuse 1985 for 2019........

Have a nice day....

[Coventina]

26. Hooray! My Duran Duran calendar is good again!!

[Lefta Dissenter]

28. LOL,

My daughter just gave me a 1985 calendar that my mom had given me and then I had put into storage. My daughter kept it stashed away until the right year rolled around.

Edited to add that mine has Boynton cartoons.

[blur256]

27. My wife just told me about

Marie Kondo. We are getting a book she write about decluttering. Should be interesting!

[lunasun]

29. Older folks don't leave it for your family if you can help it and are able. I used to go to a lot

of estate sales and there were so many times frustrated families they didn’t know me from boo but always start talking about how they had to go through stuff . Please take this junk or I don’t know why she , he kept all this or they would complain about how long it took just to pull it out from the closets and drawers or this is what is left that is good to sell after 2 dumpsters were taken away filled

[Stuart G]

31. Thank You for this post...It might, I said might motivate me to get rid of lots of stuff..

........THANK YOU, THANK YOU ,,,AND THANK YOU

[lunasun]

33. Yes It motivated me at a young age to not "get there" but I have friends that throw every thing out

and have a real spartan thing going .
I mean gone and pronto nothing saved and I’m not like that and don’t think I’ll ever get to that other end of the extreme either . Balance and within limits is my aim . Actual space , sq ft. often gives you assigned limits
Hoarders are different from clean but cluttered IMO
these estate sales were decent homes not full of dirt just tons of clutter the deceased had acquired over a lifetime of saving too much, then left and by the time of the sale post sorting , it was only the good stuff for sale which often was still more than 1/2 of it just old junk.

The sad part was often the stuff had been in boxes and drawers not out or displayed or used

People with collectibles displayed (within space limits ) are at least appreciating their valued items and can look at them . Too many people store stuff for sentimental reasons but not display
If it’s memories take a picture of it and give the actual items away if you can’t or don’t have room or desire to display was a hint i picked up somewhere.

[lunasun]

32. The Unbearable Heaviness of Clutter...1 expert ties it to actually holding on to excessbody weight

https://m.

[Stuart G]

35. A moment ago, I thought of something totally usufull in my closet..

I am embarrassed that it is there, and is needed by someone else. Perhaps tomorrow, I will take it to a resale shop. After I do, I will tell you what it is..And it is worth a lot of money..(in my opinion)