Focus Challenge - Month 12 (2010)

For all of us who accepted our 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge for 2010 at the beginning of the year, we are almost at the end of our challenge. I truly hope that no matter how you may judge your progress, that you feel amazed at what you've accomplished because any clutter gone is better than none!

The last Focus Challenge being issued this year will be another thinking one; a little something to consider as we head into the new year, fresh with promise. Write down all of the reasons behind why you chose to accept your 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge. Look over your list and put a "P" (for positive) or "N" (for negative) next to each one. My list is below.

* to decorate my home with items that I would choose today (not keep just because they had been given to us when we were starting out) P
* stop eating so much processed food or going out to eat N
* only buy what I will use P
* don't get stuff that will be put off on my future self to do N

As you can see, they are all good for me, therefore positive. However, I didn't word them in that way. I was using these "improvements" to mentally beat myself up about choices I'd made in the past so that's why I gave them a (N)egative rating.

The challenge is to inspire a routine approach to looking at our stuff for signs of it being clutter. A routine that we can keep up with and develop into a lifestyle change...not to get on a decluttering high that will lead to a de-motivating crash & burn.

To me, decluttering doesn't end. We all buy. We all consume. And we all have the potential of letting clutter in the door or keeping it here when we get more stuff. Pretty much, we all have to decide what stays and what goes, because there is always more clutter trying to make its way into your space and into your mind.

The act of decluttering is not meant to be a weight around our neck dragging us down either. The processs is meant to lighten our baggage, both physical and mental. We are doing this to better our lives so each reason on our list of reasons should be, or can be redefined to be, one that is a (P)ositive in our life.

Over the next few days, consider revising the wording on any items that have a "N" next to them. Your past self was doing the best it could do at the time; now your present self is going to use perspective gained during your decluttering challenge to spin those reasons around and make them positive. I hope you'll also add a few more positive reasons why, from this time forward, you are doing this decluttering for you.

Here are mine:
* to decorate my home with items that I would choose today (not keep just because they had been given to us when we were starting out) P
* stop eating so much processed food or going out to eat N
* remove processed food from kitchen & purchase fresh food to eat P
* only buy what I will use P
* don't get stuff that will be put off on my future self to do P
* think about future self's needs more P

For those who are still in progress on their challenges, past Focus Challenge ideas are available to inspire you during the months ahead. And I am here, ready to share motivation and cheer you on, if you need it. My email address is in my profile.

Are you accepting another 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge for 2011?

Top 5 Posts:
How I Define Clutter
Decluttering: A How-To
I'd Rather Stay Home From Work and De-junk
Decluttering Made Simple (27-17-7)
Ever Felt Afraid to Declutter?

Focus Challenge - Month 11 (2010)

This month's Focus Challenge was inspired by Mary Jo's post at reSPACEd on shifting your perspective when it comes to decluttering.

Your Focus Challenge this month while preparing for your holiday guests is to not think about decluttering. Instead, start noticing your favorite things, the things you most want guests to see, admire and appreciate. These are your "fire drill" items.

When you zero in on what it is that you truly love, need, want and use, the rest stands out and apart. The clutter hiding right in front of you will reveal itself. You may think you're just too busy at the moment to do anything but, at the very least, you can shift your perspective and identify that hidden clutter.

Bonus points to you if you kick it out of your face and out of your space!

Top 5 Posts:
How I Define Clutter
Decluttering: A How-To
I'd Rather Stay Home From Work and De-junk
Decluttering Made Simple (27-17-7)
Ever Felt Afraid to Declutter?

Focus Challenge - Month 10 (2010)

Again, I do apologize for forgetting your September Focus Challenge. And, now, I must apologize for missing October's posting as well! Sigh.

Putting up the missing September post and prepping the October post has been on my to-do list for the entire month of October. Really. Just carried over from one day to the next, hoping that today is the day when I'd make time to get it done. They don't take much time to think up and format for posting, yet I just kept procrastinating. As I said, hoping that the ever-promising "some day" would finally come.

Unfortunately, the tail end of the "busy season" at my day job was also filled with final preparations for our first ever Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to honor local high school athletes, coaches, officials, administrators and benefactors in our area. Planning a first event is always a challenge and this was no exception. We've seen our guest list swell from 180 to a maximum capacity 520 in the last 2 weeks! Oh, and the event is tomorrow. Talk about people waiting until the last minute. It has been some exciting but harried last few days. Everyone in my office has helped to plan the event and we will all be truly happy when Monday, October 25th is here...the day after the event.

So, again, I deeply apologize for putting the 365 Days of Decluttering Challengers on the back-burner not once but twice. Since you've had to wait so long, I definitely want to give you something extra. Below is your Focus Challenge for October and bonus inspiration courtesy of MaryJo, writer of the reSPACEd blog. Enjoy!

Focus Challenge:
As the holiday family time and events are coming up upon us, consider decluttering time, energy and money "commitments" that you don't feel committed to any longer.

Think visits to family and friends that can be edited or deleted; meaning they come to you this time instead of you going to them, separating visits into more than one day instead of back-to-back in a single day or skipping them this year altogether. And those holiday events and parties that feel numerous and overwhelming...they aren't really when you choose which are important to you and you "get to" attend them instead of "have to".

** I just realized that the Focus Challenge on this very same month last year, reminded us not to give up the power of our choice to holiday gift clutter, both of the physical and mental kind! **

I know this is much easier said than done sometimes. OK, many times. However, becoming more aware of your needs and filling them is your top priority. Clutter is anything we don't love, need, want or use and committments are no exception. Any change you make, even if it's just in thought rather than action, will still help you clear some clutter!

BONUS:
Try this quick organizing trick to make decluttering a snap.

Top 5 Posts:
How I Define Clutter
Decluttering: A How-To
I'd Rather Stay Home From Work and De-junk
Decluttering Made Simple (27-17-7)
Ever Felt Afraid to Declutter?