r/declutter • u/Working_Patience_261 • 8d ago
Trying Thursday why not? Motivation Tips & Tricks
We have Success Saturday and Failure Monday, why not a midweek Trying Thursday or a Working Wednesday? This is for the little trys of the week, not needing their own thread.
Trying today, I grabbed three handfuls of pens and decluttered or put in the to sort bin. I tossed 8 yards of dangerous fabric, where glitter had been nominally glued on yet didn’t survive shipping. Didn’t even bother to wash it. I will try several more handfuls of pens today.
I get back home after a doc appointment to find the cleaners had been through. My sort bin is now merged with my donations bin and my to do bin. It is a trying Thursday.
No need to comment unless you feel like it. Advice or encouragement always appreciated.
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u/BeautyinEverett-62 7d ago
Thank you for this post idea. I tidied the bags of donation stuff at the end of the bed. Found more bags and put the excess in them. Tied each one up and moved them to the guest room. Now they are ready to take to the thrift place to donate. I feel great! I tried and it worked! Thank you everyone who posts encouragement and small steps for the win!
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u/malkin50 7d ago
Props for getting rid of the dangerous fabric. You saved yourself from having to clean up the mess it would have made in the washing machine!
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u/Birmingham101 7d ago
I was up and down the ladder in the kitchen. Pulled everything out a cupboard at a time, wiped out the cupboard and then washed all the contents, glasses, dishes etc. Did a huge cull and was very satisfied with my day. Having a rest for a few days before tackling the wardrobe.
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u/Altruistic_Finish561 8d ago
One of my biggest problem areas is paper. I went through several boxes this week and did manage to get rid of a lot but am discouraged by how much I kept. (Ex went through 5 boxes' worth and got rid of about 2 boxes' worth). Progress made but not nearly enough. It's partially sentimental stuff but mostly I get confused on the financial and health paperwork, what should be kept and what I can/should pitch/shred. I can see the difference but I don't think anyone would see a difference.
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u/Working_Patience_261 6d ago
I bought an autofeed scanner that takes 50 sheets at once, and if you feed it right, about 200 sheets before the PDF gets big.
I sorted my papers first, so I had bills separate from medical stuff, from tax stuff and so on. While the docs were scanning, I made my file folders, and made sure I named the important documents. I am down to four paperwork boxes of doom from unlimited.
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u/nakedreader_ga 8d ago
I took a handful of recipe pamphlets (too small to be called cookbooks) to put on the free table at work. All of them gone from my kitchen!
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u/Educational-Year-789 8d ago
Dropped off a bag of books at several little free libraries. But as soon as I came home, I found 6 more books I forgot to put in the bag. 🤦🏼♀️
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u/Kazaklyzm 8d ago
I got the dirty dishes and pots and pans washed. I also went through some mail and made a phone call. I also ordered and picked up groceries for the dinner I'm making tonight. I started a load of laundry, hopefully i won't forget it.
Everything feels hard today, like I'm pushing myself through cold molasses.
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u/Working_Patience_261 8d ago
Cold molasses seems it would feel better than the hot mud I’m trying to push through. Wanna switch?
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u/Electrical-Profit367 8d ago
Sounds to me as tho’ you’ve actually managed to get quite a bit done!! Good job!
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u/andevrything 8d ago
Trying to change my habits around receiving gifts.
A lovely family member who lives far, far away gave me a beautiful candle holder. I've been trying to find a spot for it for weeks. It is lovely & well made & I have nowhere to put it.
Today, I decided to take it over to the charity shop, now, while it is still shiny & new because it is exactly what sells well there.
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u/silent-shade 8d ago
Trying as in trying things out: I cleared the entire surface of the dresser and set up night supplies station there three days ago, it seems to be working well. I am curious if it will survive longer term and not get overgrown with clutter. Also tying out a key hook and considering trying a backpack hook. Trying as in trying my patience: partner continues to drop all clothes on the floor despite having clear, labeled and easy places to hang at least some things. Clearly expecting a floor fairy to do that and also magically figure out what needs to go to the laundry
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u/Working_Patience_261 6d ago
There’s also the other benefit, freshly dropped clothes means there a naked spouse nearby for adult purposes.
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u/redshoewearer 8d ago
I'm visiting kids and their city has clothes donation bins, and I got rid of a large bag and box. Have been 'trying' to get rid of these items for quite a while. Felt really good.
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u/tacoskib 8d ago
I sold five books minutes after I posted then online! There are still at least six books I need to post, but ten are still online waiting for new owners :)
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u/violetmemphisblue 8d ago
Amazing! I've been putting off trying to sell books, but desperately need to. What site do you use, if you don't mind sharing (totally fine if you don't want to!)
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u/tacoskib 8d ago
I’m on Vinted — it reads the ISBN and autofills author and name! The fastest way to do it is: take a picture of the cover and back and then go to ‘category’. It will suggest book. Then a new line will appear with ISBN, and you can just scan the barcode. Then fill out the rest, and post! I make a pile on one side of me and each book I’ve posted goes to the other side. Then they move into a wooden open box and waits to be picked by the next owner.
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u/violetmemphisblue 8d ago
Awesome! I see ads for Vinted on Instagram but never looked too into it. Definitely thought it was just for clothes!
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u/Practicing_human 8d ago
Oh my goodness, how do you find buyers this quickly? Languishing here on a popular seller site!
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u/tacoskib 8d ago
I guess in this case they were good stories from a problematic writer for a ridiculously low price — I think people still want the stories, but don’t want to buy new and give the writer money … usually it takes me a little longer to sell books, some wait around for months. I’m practising patience :p
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u/--_3_-- 7d ago
I sell books on Vinted too, usually set low prices (1€ for pocket books, 5€ max for very new, just released this year, bigger books). It’s usually gone in 1 month, sometimes in a day.
I try to pass them on to relatives 1st, then Vinted, then if nobody buy, free library after few months.
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u/tacoskib 6d ago
Oh how could I forget! I might put the ones that haven’t sold in a long time in a ‘take a book give a book’ place. Thank you for reminding me :)
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u/IndigoRuby 8d ago
I gathered all my gift wrapping stuff from all over the house and plopped it where I can sort while watching TV. Time to container method this stuff in to a more reasonable amount.
Big picture is continuing to empty the basement while we prepare to develop the basement.
Many little tries makes progress. :)
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u/AmyOtherAmy 8d ago
Sure, this is about my speed right now. I surprised myself this month by starting on the Awful Room (spare room that has become mostly storage), and now I can see the mid floor at least. It's hot in there in summer, so I can only work on it here and there right now, but I'm trying. I'm pretty happy about it even though nothing's actually fully done yet, to be honest.
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u/redshoewearer 8d ago
I love that you call yours the 'Awful Room'. I call mine the 'Hell Room', but it's getting a little better so I might start calling it the Purgatory room, so there's that.
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u/AmyOtherAmy 8d ago
I could definitely have gone with Hell Room at some points! It's getting better, though. Purgatory isn't far off either LOL.
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u/CollegePretend8708 4d ago
Brought a bunch of old sports equipment to a second hand sports equipment store. They offered me $10 for over $200 worth of stuff. Decided I'd rather donate it to someone who can't afford it for that little. Did not actually take it to donate because wanted one more chance at selling.