Beyond Decluttering, Does It Ever End?

So, you've spent a few months, or maybe a year, decluttering your home.

You've dumped all your clothes on the bed and only kept what you love...folding them neatly Marie Kondo style, you've pared down your bookshelves to only your favourite authors, you've given away all your nicknacks, emptied the basement and garage...you've even tossed all of the expired medication! You can finally breathe a sigh of relief...it's done! Until you open a closet or cabinet and aaaarrgh it's overflowing again! Or the junk mail and flyers have once again piled up on the kitchen counter! Picnic plates in the winter? And what are those tools doing in here? Please tell me I'm not the only one who's had this problem!

 It seems I've been here before...Lately, I've been decluttering my many blogs, moving and updating posts, much like decluttering my home...recycle, reuse, upcycle and chuck out anything that is no longer necessary or needed. In the process, I came across a very old post on decluttering, and thought...

"Wow! Does this ever end?"

I thought I'd share this post, partly because it's a good reminder, but also because it made me laugh. Somehow, when the urge to declutter strikes, I ALWAYS start with the linen closet...why is that? Probably because I tend to stick things in there that really don`t belong!

 This particular post was part of a series I was doing at the time, called Monday Morning Resolutions.  Here's the post:

Week # 2 Monday Morning Resolutions

Years ago, when I worked as a health care aid, there was a nurse, Mrs. Finch, who had a saying, "A place for everything, and everything in its place." At the time, I was 17 years old, and really didn't have an appreciation for Mrs. Finch's wisdom, but now I long for such an orderly world as she lived in. Our family has moved many times, and every time we move, I get rid of stuff we don't need. So, how is it that after three years in this home, every closet is bulging and the bookshelves are overflowing? Has anyone else noticed that stuffed animals somehow multiply? I don't know about you, but I tend to get stressed when my house is messy, and with three boys, (four if you count my husband), one little girl, and numerous foster children coming and going....well, lets just say there are times when I can feel my blood pressure rising!

The problem is, my own bedroom is as messy as the kids. One reason is that anything that doesn't have a place ends up in there. The other reason is....(deep breath)....I'm lazy! There, I said it...wheeew...This confessing my faults is getting easier!

So, what's the solution? To just decide to make a change, and do it. Unless I set the example, why should I expect my kids to do any better? Unfortunately, I tend to be a binge cleaner, which isn't all bad. I do get a lot done when I go on a cleaning frenzy, but it's the day to day stuff that I have trouble with. I need to get in the habit of organized daily cleaning, but for this week, I want to focus on decluttering.

Proverbs 14:23a In all labour there is profit

I tend to do my best thinking and praying when I'm working, so maybe as I deep clean the hidden corners of my house, I can spend some time doing some internal cleaning too....letting the Lord shine his light into some places that have been kept shut up. "In all labour there is profit." I'm counting on that promise.

Lord, this week I resolve to unclutter our home, one closet, one cupboard, and one shelf at a time.

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So, in response to the question, "Does decluttering ever end?" The answer is NO! 

Of course it doesn't...because decluttering is not something I can do once and be done. I have to stay on top of it...there are always going to be items coming into our home that we have a temporary need for...clothing, toys, sports equipment, even furniture, and periodically we need to sort through these things and purge. But then there are those everyday items that tend to come in the door and rather than be put away immediately, they get tossed in the most convenient location...usually the kitchen counter...one day I'll write about my dislike for the 'open concept' trend...but I digress...Books, magazines, miscellaneous papers, and yes, tools...these are the things that drive me to distraction! 

  But as I said in my old post, there IS a solution...one I needed to hear again... Just take it one day at a time, a little here and a little there. Allowing things to pile up is where my stress and discouragement comes from. I need to remind myself to take  Mrs. Finch's advice... A place for everything, and everything in its place. Easier said than done, but it's worth it to have the peace and contentment that comes from an uncluttered home and mind.

Proverbs 13:19a The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul:

Read more on this at Just Put One Foot In Front Of the Other

Follow our Downsizing and Decluttering journey.

And stay tuned for upcoming posts. Downsizing to a smaller house means I now have a stack of tubs and boxes in our basement to sort through...after we waterproof the basement! Figuring out how to replace my pantry and make good use of the closets and storage in this small house are an ongoing process. Nope, it never ends!

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