Reaching Out
revolution 
I've heard it said, "that which you possess, possesses you." I believe this fully. And as of late I have felt utterly oppressed by our possessions. After many, many, rants about having too much Josh and I have committed to purging our lives of the unnecessary, and living simpler. Coincidentally, I have this week off work and therefore figured this would be the perfect time to buckle down and work toward this goal.
I have also heard that lack of motivation is often a result of having too many tasks to accomplish (how unfair is that?). I, too, believe this fully. Today I went out into the garage to start to work on the great purge and had to sit down and call Josh because the thought of everything I have set before me to accomplish sent me spinning into terrible panic and anxiety. The mountain seems to big, and I feel too small. In a matter of minutes I was left debilitated and defeated. I told Josh that it feels as if we are buried under an avalanche, and while I understand that we must dig our way out one spoonful at a time, that is so much easier said than done.
So here I am, weak and in need of strong, strong grace to help me through this transition and growing process. I ask the few of you who visit this space for help. How does one succeed when the task at hand seems too great? Yes, one step at a time, but practically, how does one take those steps? Everything seems so jumbled and it is hard for me to see where to make my first move. Where does one find the grace to carry through?
Reader Comments (6)
My advice although basically just one step at a time, is to just pick something. Start with a drawer. Just one drawer, or shelf, or whatever is relevant. It doesn't have to be the fullest shelf, in fact it may help if it's the emptiest shelf. Then give yourself a gift, or something for completing just that one thing.
Say something to yourself like I will work on this one drawer, and when I have completed it, I will go get an Iced Coffee from Starbucks.
Good Luck!
I am a huge, HUGE fan of unclutter.com and zenhabits.net. Especially Zenhabits. He's all about simplifying your life while maintaining sanity. I really can't say enough how much these two sites have helped me improve and simplify. Still have a LONG way to go, but it's getting less daunting. Try http://zenhabits.net/2008/04/18-five-minute-decluttering-tips-to-start-conquering-your-mess" REL="nofollow">18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess first.
In a nutshell, the advice is to pick one surface. Like the top of your desk, or one desk-drawer, or the trunk of your car, or just the workbench in your garage. Whatever. Just whatever it takes to finish in five minutes. "Then take another five minutes tomorrow. And another the next day. Before you know it, you’ll have cleared a whole closet or a room and then half your house and then … who knows?"
There's also the ubiquitous Flylady.net.
I'm in a fairly similar boat myself, just a little further downstream. There *is* light at the end! As the late great Douglas Adams said, Don't Panic and always know where your towel is!
I wouldn't start in the garage. Garages are scary cluttered. Start somewhere fun like your closet. And then maybe move to the kitchen cupboards or another closet. Dump everything you don't want into the garage. Leave the garage until the very end and then have a de-clutter party and let all your friends root through everything and take stuff home and then when they're done, then you can have a go!
Listen to the advice already given. You must divide and conquer.
Try not to look at it as a whole, but instead as ONE box or ONE drawer or ONE shelf.
Also, give yourself a set space for things that are being kept, things that are being thrown away, and things that are being donated/sold. Maybe big plastic tubs (that you can use to store things with afterwards).
Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps.
Oh my thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you! This is such wonderful support. Slowly I am beginning to feel in control. Slowly I am climbing this mountain.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOOXOOXOXOOOXOXOOX
Mags, start with one section at a time. When you feel yourself going cross-eyed, step back, eat a snack, take a break, do whatever you can to just gather your thoughts and re-assert your ultimate goal. Then go back to the madness! :o) I completely understand! I feel like we have so much baby stuff and I just simply cannot think of a good reason we are keeping some of it other than it was Jonah's and he used it once... :o) You get my drift. Don't let it overwhelm you and just do one area at a time. It may take awhile but it will get done.
Loves to ya!