Decluttering #14: Sometimes you have too much stuff (and should declutter before trying to organize!)

 Hey all,

I definitely have too much stuff! I have a one bedroom apt I have lived in since 2014. I have too much stuff for a small space! I don't know my square footage of my apt but it is a one bed one bath and it's enough space for me, but I do from time to time purge things!

Sometimes, before even attempting to organize things, you have to pare stuff down! I've been in the process of doing so with the flea market and sending things to work( i.e. books in ok condition that I wouldn't be able to sell at the market that I bought or got free at the library's free to own shelf). I don't go to the market as much as I used to but I do go sometimes. Even going once a month to the market is still good!

If you are limited on space like I am, you really have to step back and discover what sparks joy and what doesn't! Spark joy doesn't just literally mean spark joy, but does the item make your life easier or is very practical? You may not instantly think your potato masher sparks joy, but you would be lost if you couldn't mash your potatoes or make apple sauce among other things! While we are on the subject of potato mashers, I have one, but it is in the shape I like best for mashing (not the swirly masher) and it belonged to my grandfather, so not only is it very useful, but I love mine because it belonged to someone dear to my heart!

Once you pare down some items little by little (don't purge excessively! you might regret it!), you can start to organize things. Sometimes we start the organization process, especially by buying solutions before we even figure out what or where we are storing in them/ where we are storing the storage solutions! Buying storage items can be fun but they pile up if you don't declutter items first before storing the keeps in them!

curlyalicia