Decluttering Life

Today I am determined to start decluttering my life. Everywhere I turn is clutter. There is clutter in my heart, clutter in my mind and lots of clutter in my home. I am finding out that all of this clutter is bringing me down and weighing heavy on me. Picture me with all of this clutter heaped on my shoulders and breaking my back. I just can't do it anymore. I have decided I am going to get started and declutter a little at a time until all my mess is cleaned up. Now where to start...

How about I start with a little bit from each area that is plaguing me - heart, mind and home?

First, my heart... Living with my parents, sister and her family and my own sweet monsters has become a little stressful. I admit with all that is going on in my life I have not held up my end of chores and parenting. So I will start off with helping out more in the kitchen. I will do those dirty dishes. I will take the time to put away those cluttering items on the table and the counter. Keeping a tidy kitchen goes a long way in keeping chaos under control.

Second, my mind... My counselor began teaching me about cognitive therapy. I will learn a little more about this and start the process. Get rid of those distorted thoughts. Just because my life is in chaos does not mean everything is bad. I am going to focus on thinking about the good things that have come about in the last 21 years of my life. I will not feel like I am losing everything and throwing away those past 21 years. After all, I do have 4 beautiful kiddos that came about because of my marriage. Focus on the positives and let go of the distorted thoughts.

Third, my home... I have been talking to James and we both now agree that the best place for me and the kids is in our home. Up to this point, I have been dead set about going back to our house because of all the stuff and all of the memories. I am realizing that I need those memories to help me see the positive and to help my kids through this trying time. So I'm going to start decluttering the physical stuff that is taking over our home. I'm going to take back my home and make it a clean, clutter-free zone. I'm going to make it a place where more happy memories can take place. I've compiled a list of clutter to start with that won't take much thinking and should be easy to accomplish. This list is more than a one day adventure, maybe 3 or 4 days. Here it is:

1. Bathroom: Throw out old beauty products and products that are no longer being used.
2. Kitchen: Throw out old outdated and stale food items.
3. Throw out old worn out and too small shoes.
4. Kitchen: Clean out and reorganize freezers.
5. Sort and throw out old medications.
6. Mate and sort socks - Throw out socks with holes and no mates.
7. Sort and organize DVDs.
8. Sort and organize videos.
9. Sort and organize CDs.
10. Sort, sell, throw away old games and game consoles.

This all seems like a lot but it is doable and it is my goal for the week. Attack the clutter and simplify. Simplify is what I need to do to make it through this difficult time in my life. I am learning what is important in life and it is not stuff! I want it to be crystal clear that I value my family for that is truly what is important!