Sorting...

Most of the obvious stuff is out.  Now it's down to the sorting and organizing.  And still a good bit of throwing out, because it's easier than figuring out where to sort and place of this stuff.  Cables and cords... oh the cables and cords! I have audio cables, I have printer cables (USB and Parallel), I have power adapters, I have cables that adapt one kind of cable to the other kind of cable! I have cables for things that I'm sure I don't own! [Where did those come from?]



Sorting.  What to keep. What to toss.  Where to put the stuff that's kept.  Tools, glue guns, soldering irons, tape, and the like should go somewhere specific.  Not sure yet, but maybe the garage.  The garage!  That's the next dumping ground that needs attention.  But I can't even start thinking about that wasteland yet.  For now, I'm working to get like items gathered together.

Today I spent some solid focused time in the "Room of Doom".  I've got more floor space uncovered.  More trash bags ready for the dust bin.  More things to give away.  I making my way towards the walls, and I'm making progress.

It's amazing, the things pile up slowly.  And I know I was doing it when I did it.  But I feel that I turn around and suddenly it's an avalanche of "stuff".  I'd like to blame something or someone else, but I know it was me.  It took me time to build this pile of stuff, and it's taking time to disassemble it.

I'm developing my skills.  It's slow going, but I'm getting better at this.  I'm quoting a clutter control page that I like by Heloise on the Good Housekeeping site:

"When serious decluttering is in store, try the ABC method. Select a cabinet or closet that's been bugging you. Take everything out and arrange items into three piles: 

A: always used
B: used during the holidays and special occasions, or seasonally
C: not seen or used in a year or so

Then do a final sort:  

Step 1: Toss or give away C items unless they are valuable or have sentimental worth.
Step 2: Return B items to the back of the storage area.
Step 3: Place the A team in the front of the space so those items will be handy for immediate use."

Read more: Clutter Control - How to Get Rid of Clutter - Good Housekeeping

 

If anyone is in the same situation that I'm working on, let me tell you -- it gets easier.  It's difficult to start, I've put this off for years.  Before this, I felt emotionally attached to every object I picked up.  I couldn't throw it away, we have a "relationship".  This "thing" depends on me. Or maybe I'll need it tomorrow if I throw it out. The list goes on of excuses and rationalizations.  That way of thinking results in me feeling like this image:

I don't want to feel that way anymore.  So I'm cleaning it up, sorting it, giving it away, or throwing it out.  But it takes an investment of time and energy.  I'm doing it!  Easy as ABC!