Day 24: Decluttering Your Handbag is a Quick Win

Posted on January 24, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

This is a very easy bag to throw things into when I am in a rush. So much so, that the stuff needs to come out when I’m looking for something. A bit like this…

The contents were not placed for the purpose of the photo, this is exactly the way it fell out when I decided to go through it. About half of it went back in and the other half was thrown away, put away or recycled.

Well, that was a quick and easy decluttering task for today. Being a Friday, I sort of needed that after a busy week at work.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 23: Recycling Unwanted Electrical Items

Posted on January 23, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

We signed up with a new internet provider recently which resulted in a new router, which they placed by the front door. As the new one has been working well for a few days, I decided that today was going to be the day that I scramble about behind the chest of drawers in the bedroom, unplugging and detangling the router leads from other ones that need to stay there.

Luckily for me, I had hoovered behind there the other day during my decluttering weekend, so it was a bit cleaner than usual.

It was a quick and easy less-than-ten-minute task to add to my 2020 challenge.

Now I just need to work out how to or dispose of the old router. Maybe I can return it to the provider or recycle it in some other way, rather than add it to my already cluttered spare room or garage.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 22: Looking for Something in a Box of Papers Has its Benefits

Posted on January 22, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

Paperwork decluttering

Over the years I have used different methods for organising paperwork. Some years I have gone through months of putting things straight into beautifully labelled hanging files, and other years they just get thrown in a box like the above. Since October last year I got fed up with not being able to find things and bought a brand new lever arch file and have been putting things straight in there as they come into the house.

So, imagine my annoyance this evening when I wanted some paperwork for my upcoming tax return and knew that I would have to go through both of the ‘papers’ boxes and other random places around the house.

I did this whilst watching a movie with my girls; however, I didn’t want to put everything straight back into the boxes, so I took the opportunity to divide the papers into 5 or 6 different categories at the same time. These have gone back into the box in different colour labelled carrier bags for now.

Light at the end of the tunnel

This feels like it’s bringing me close to filing/organising them properly, and even if I don’t get around to that for a while, I will know which bag they are in.

Did I find the papers I was looking for?

No! About 15 minutes ago, I remembered that I’d put them in a tray in the utility room downstairs labelled ‘To do’.

I really must take control of all of this paperwork once and for all, and I think this weekend might be the time to do it whilst I am hyped up and motivated. It will not only move me forward with my daily challenge, but also tick off a long outstanding and annoying job from my list.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 21: Don’t Procrastinate… Just Sew the Button On

Posted on January 21, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

This morning my youngest daughter kindly handed me her school shirt as well as the button that fell off it. Much better than hunting everywhere for the missing button or trying to find a spare one on the inside of another shirt.

Usually, I would put the piece of clothing and the button safely somewhere around the house and then many weeks (possibly months) later, have found the shirt and… the button would be nowhere to be found.

This was mainly because I would move it from room to room muttering to myself ‘I must find the time to do that’. During this time, the item of clothing would be out of circulation and more items would get added to the pile, making the job much longer that it needed to be, and not so appealing.

Taking action

Today, I used my challenge ticket, got out my sewing box and threaded a needle with some white cotton… yes, the same day as the button fell off. Firstly because I wanted to prove to myself that it wouldn’t take long and secondly so that I could show my daughter how to do it. She did well.

So, a double win for today:

  1. Teaching a teenager how to sew a button on
  2. Not decluttering the house with sewing jobs

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 20: Getting Another Five Minute Task Done

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

Who collects the sharps bin?

Every time I see this full medicinal sharps bin in corner of the room, I say to myself ‘I must find the number to call to get someone to collect this’. If it wasn’t for my challenge, I probably wouldn’t have stopped in my tracks today to look up the number for the council’s waste team.

I said that if they didn’t answer straight away or I get put on hold, I would give up; however, they did answer and within a few minutes the collection date was booked and I found myself making a note in the diary for when I need to put it outside. And they are going to drop off an empty one at the same time.

It felt good to get such an easy job done that I’ve put off for so long. There are so many of these five to ten minutes tasks around the house, but I don’t feel stressed about it anymore as there are plenty of days left in the year to do them.

The good thing is, every new improvement around the house that I’ve made so far this year is staying that way. Things are feeling tidier, which is making us all happier.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 19: Dining Room Echoes After Decluttering

Posted on January 19, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

Do you find that once you clear the items that shouldn’t be there, the room not only feels clean and clear but it also echoes? I believe that it’s because there is less stuff to absorb the sound.

Being the weekend, I had a bit more than 10 minutes to spare for today’s challenge, so I was determined to declutter the dining room as it just attracts clutter that we bring in or leave around. This is what I was faced with…

Not as bad as some rooms in the house, but no one could really get around the table to sit down because there were bags and recycling in the way. Not to mention the unnecessary items on the table.

As you know, I started with the right hand corner of clutter yesterday, leaving today to finish the rest.

So, I cleared the space and found a place for everything lying around.

I don’t particularly like our table so popped a tablecloth over it, which brightened up the room.

To top all of that we actually sat at the dining room table as a family this evening to eat our dinner.

So that’s a double result!

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 18: Start With a Corner of Clutter

Posted on January 18, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

It’s easier to tackle a corner of clutter when you have time on your side, which isn’t often when you are a busy working parent. Usually it’s something that you walk by and say under your breath… if only I had time to sort that out. You know it won’t take long, but there’s always something pulling you away from it.

Today, I sat at the breakfast bar looking at the dining room area and knew that I wasn’t going to have the time to declutter the whole thing. So, I focused on this pile of magazines and papers in the corner…

… and recycled the ones that I didn’t want, leaving just a small pile for reading.

This motivated me to make a start on the other mound of stuff sitting next to it – most of which ended up being split between plastics and cardboard which I took straight out to the recycling bins.

After a quick sweep of the floor, the dining room corner looked much tidier.

That’s it for today’s challenge.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 17: A Purse Full of Stuff…

Posted on January 17, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

A purse full of stuff

Today, I wanted to quickly find a handwritten credit note that was given to me in a local clothing shop. I took a whole chunk of papers out of my purse and (typically) it was the last one that I checked, but at least I found it!

So, that brings me to today’s mini decluttering challenge, which is to clear my purse of unnecessary stuff.

These ‘wanted’ receipts go in my concertina file under December for easy retrieval if I need them…

Receipts to file away

and the papers that I don’t need can go into the paper recycling bin (making sure that I shred anything confidential).

Now I have a much slimmer purse to put back into my handbag and I have also done some recycling.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 16: 10 Minutes Away From Having a Clear Desk

Posted on January 16, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

10 minute away from a clear desk

This evening I really wanted to spend some focused time writing a few reflective learning logs for a coaching course that I’m doing at work. The best place to do this was at my desk in the spare room but it unfortunately looked like this…

Desk before the 10 minute clear up

The stuff is basically just a combination of remains from various family members (including me!) doing their work or dumping stuff there over the last few weeks.

I thought about walking away to either awkwardly prop myself up in bed to study or to try and do it from the sofa (both ideas very bad for my posture), when I remembered that I hadn’t come up with a decluttering challenge for today.

So, I set the timer for ten minutes and started clearing the mess. With just 9 seconds to go, I ran for the polish cloth and gave it a spray and wipe. Done!

I’m now writing this blog which has taken about five minutes, leaving me plenty of time to read through my course notes and complete what I need to do online.

If I had decided to study from the sofa or bed, I would most certainly have fallen asleep and given myself a neck ache.

My tip for today is to never feel overwhelmed. Jut give yourself a helping hand. You could be just ten minute away from calm.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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Day 15: Shredding Your Personal Data

Posted on January 15, 2020 by Sandra Madeira

Shredding scissors or herb scissors

I have always had good intentions of shredding anything containing names, addresses, bank details etc. that is on paperwork that I don’t require. I add it to an ‘already high’ pile and over the years these piles have become hidden in various places around the house. The time never comes to actually sit down and action the pile.

Today, I have made a decision to shred stuff as soon as I see it, using the shredding scissors that I bought many years ago (but only found recently in one of my decluttering sessions).

So, the improvement around the house for today (as part of my 2020 challenge) was to place the scissors in the cupboard under the kitchen counter making them readily available to deal with unwanted post as soon as it comes in. For example, if it’s junk mail, I will use the scissors to cut through the address – first few cuts one way and then turn the paper to cross cut straight into the recycling paper bin. I’ll then throw the rest of the letter in as it is.

So, I’m recycling as part of today’s challenge as well… and I’ve shredded today’s unwanted mail.

What I’m not doing is dealing with the historial piles of shredding, but that’s for another day.

Another use for the scissors

You can apparently use the scissors for cutting herbs as well, but I didn’t know that until I googled ‘shredding scissors’ and found their intended use. I might just purchase another pair for cutting herbs.

Until tomorrow…

Sandra

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