Organization Part III - De-cluttering the Technology in Our Lives

I hope everyone has been enjoying the posts about de-cluttering!  Last week I discussed a difficult topic for some, the wardrobe.  This week I’m going to take de-cluttering to the next level by suggesting that while technology has undoubtedly made many positive contributions to modern life, it may also be preventing many of us from achieving, growing and living.  By the way, this is quite the revelation, coming from a former iPhone and Facebook addict!  Clearly, I still have an affinity for technology as I’m writing this for my online blog, and I’m not suggesting we give up on technology all together but perhaps, for many of us, a bit of reflection is necessary.  Just as we need be particular about relationships, food, and possessions, so should we be mindful of how we spend our most precious commodity – time.

The Phone  

I’m sure most of you reading this have a smart phone of some sort.  Maybe you’re texting someone right now, in which case unless you’re telling them how awesome my blog is, then put the phone down!  In all seriousness, as much value as smart phone technology brings to daily life, the dependence upon smart phones can provide severe limitations and also detract from quality of life.  I doubt I need to go into “the rudeness factor” as I’m sure most of you have experienced this by being put on the back burner whilst your companion checks his email, returns a text (or 10), or catches up on Words with Friends.  In my opinion, this is just plain rude, but unfortunately, this behavior is becoming quite commonplace and, therefore, acceptable in modern society.  As I have learned from my own experience, becoming more mindful in these situations helps to gain awareness of one’s own behavior. 

Over a year ago I noticed I was becoming very involved in my phone and decided to, for the most part, eliminate my use of the cell phone.  I still carry my cell phone, but without a data plan and now only use it to place the occasional phone call.  It’s not uncommon for my phone to be turned off for days, or even a week at a time.  Very rarely do I miss the ability to surf the web or look up directions, weather, etc.  I find that now I regularly engage in more human behaviors like asking someone for directions or the time, and carrying a book or journal with me if I know I may be waiting for a while.  It’s refreshing to depend upon myself rather than a machine.  

If you would like to de-clutter the phone usage in your life, please take a look at these simple suggestions:

1.       Become more mindful of your behavior.  If you notice you frequently check your phone for email or texts, or feel the need to respond immediately when you hear your phone’s notification ring, take a step back and adjust your behavior.  Unless it’s truly urgent (see #3), try not to immediately pick up the phone, especially if you are in the presence of company.  On that note, if you are with company and know you will need to answer a call or respond to an email, give your company a heads up.  This is a very polite approach and tells others that you value their time as well as your own business.

2.       Separate yourself from the phone for periods of time throughout the day.  Learning to live without your phone or turning your phone off for a small time frame at some point during the day can help with detachment, especially if you use your cell phone all day for work.  Dinnertime is a great opportunity to turn off the phone, set it aside, and devote time to the family, your pet, or yourself and enjoy a lovely meal, without distractions. 

3.       Learn when to classify communication as “urgent.”  It seems these days everything is urgent…but is it really?  “Urgent” means different things to each of us, but if it can wait, without negative repercussions, then it’s not really urgent. 

4.       Adjust the role of “phone” in your life.  Some people use phones simply to communicate with friends and family.  Other people use phones to play games, check out the App Store, text with abandon, surf the web, shop and occasionally make phone calls.  Whatever your use for the cell phone, ensure it makes sense for what you are trying to achieve in life.  If the hours a day playing games and surfing the web are making it difficult for you to accomplish personal or professional goals, then perhaps it’s time to turn it down a notch.

Television

As part of the de-cluttering efforts in our household last year, we decided to severely downgrade our cable.  Now, notice I said we downgraded, not cancelled, because we just aren't quite ready to give up television all together.  I definitely understand how it can be relaxing to unwind after work with a favorite TV show or watch a sports game at home over the weekend with friends.  However, it’s easy to become caught up in it all, especially with DVR technology, as Dave and I learned... 

It was earlier this year, after we returned from a week-long vacation.  While we were gone, we had recorded a week’s worth of “our” shows, ready for us to view via DVR upon our return.  I felt overwhelmed, knowing that we had to watch the previous week’s shows before the new ones aired that week, lest we should fall further behind.  As silly as this may be, the sheer thought of watching all of these shows in a day or two’s time actually stressed me out!  A couple of episodes in, Dave and I looked at one another, simultaneously sighed and turned it off.  A few weeks later we got rid of the DVR, HD, and downgraded our cable.  As dramatic as it sounds, I immediately felt freed as I had become somewhat of a slave to my TV.  All of a sudden, I had loads of time for other pursuits and no longer felt the need to unwind with TV every night. 

Activities

Entertainment comes in many forms, but I believe the best spark careful thought and true appreciation.  Sometimes entertainment can involve technology, but all too often these forms of entertainment can be consuming and mindless.  Try to balance technology in your entertainment activities.  Instead of spending free time gaming or watching reality TV or mindlessly surfing the web, try these ideas:

1.       Swap movie channels for a few quality films and the theater.  If you love the movies, why not cancel your movie channel subscription and use Netflix?  This way, you will look forward to just a few quality films each week instead of watching movie upon movie from the moment you get home to the moment you fall asleep every night.  Even better, try attending live theater or your local independent film theater from time to time to gain a different perspective on acting and film-making.    

2.       Enjoy the great outdoors.  While I most certainly wouldn’t call myself an “outdoor enthusiast” (hey, I live in Colorado, that title is reserved for the truly obsessed!), I do love nature and enjoy a tame hike, camping excursion, or fishing trip.  If you are reluctant to participate in outdoor activities because they aren’t your thing, start small and take a little picnic or walk the dog through the park every Saturday. 

3.       Get a hobby!  There’s quite a lot to be said for developing a hobby, something personal and special to you.  Perhaps this hobby is crafting or writing or cooking or something sports-related, but make sure it’s both mentally stimulating and rewarding. 

4.       Read.  Seriously, it’s a very under-rated activity!  Read whatever appeals to you, whether it’s a book about home design or FDR’s biography.  Or both.  Reading opens the door to new ways of thought and helps to understand others.  At times, read things you would not normally choose or be drawn to. 

5.       Frequent museums, festivals, art walks and other cultural events.  There are so many wonderful people and things to be exposed to in these environments.  Even if you are somewhat reserved, as I normally am, I find a small amount of exposure to these sorts of events to be quite fulfilling.

6.       Learn something new.  This is very fun, as you can choose anything you’d like!  I’ve noticed there are plenty of affordable classes around that teach languages, cooking, and various crafting skills.  If a class is not your thing (it’s not mine either!), try teaching yourself or finding someone who can teach you one on one. 

My personal examples may seem a bit extreme to some of you and an impossible idea for others, but I’m not suggesting that my decisions are the solution for everyone.  We all have our own unique experiences and I appreciate that; however, I truly hope these ideas have sparked some thought and inspiration.  

Organization Part II - Decluttering the Wardrobe

A theme I notice recurring in my approach to life, thereby frequently appearing on this blog, is the idea to confront all areas of life with the greatest of intent.  I believe being intentional with conversations, food, possessions, and relationships helps to improve quality of life on so many levels.  Once this concept is embraced, we can begin to declutter and start living with a deeper sense of fulfillment and a greater confidence in our ability to determine what it is we truly want and need.

One of the most basic ways to be intentional with life is by determining which possessions we need and which are simply causing clutter and potentially prompting stress.  Last week I shared some basic suggestions about how to keep the home clutter-free and am delighted that many of you were inspired to begin working on your own decluttering efforts.  This week I’m going to get more specific and discuss a topic that some of you may be resistant to decluttering – the wardrobe. 

As most of us have heard, the average woman only utilizes a small percentage of her wardrobe and the rest will sit for years, untouched.  What a waste, both in terms of being a waste of space in the home and also a waste of resources!  I’d like to open your eyes to a different approach to the wardrobe, one that may seem unrealistic at first but upon more contemplation I hope you become encouraged to pare your closet down to a more manageable volume.

Disclaimer: I am not a fashionista, just someone who enjoys looking put together and prefers not to be bogged down by clutter.

My husband was my original inspiration for reducing the amount of clothing in my closet.  He would constantly ask why I kept this or that and suggested that by minimizing my wardrobe I might decrease some of the stress in my life.  I began to get rid of things, reluctantly at first, but once my clothing collection started to become smaller I felt oddly relieved.  However, I still felt a bit lost and confused as to what my end goal was supposed to be.  Was I just getting rid of stuff to get rid of it?  Could I add to my wardrobe?  If so, what would I add? 

THE CAPSULE WARDROBE

Through one of my favorite blogs, The DailyConnoisseur, I was introduced to the idea of “The 10 Item Wardrobe.”  It sounds extreme (and it is!) but I believe there’s a lot to be learned from this concept.  Most importantly, I’ve learned how to create a capsule wardrobe for my own lifestyle.  With no real direction I had been paring my closet down for over a year, but it wasn’t until coming to understand the concept of the capsule wardrobe that I began to take a more decidedly aggressive approach to eliminating my clothing clutter (it actually took quite some time for me to accept that my precious clothing could even be considered clutter!).  As you will notice in the photos below, my wardrobe happens to be much larger than ten items; however, the idea is not necessarily to achieve a certain number of pieces in the wardrobe, but instead to only keep or add items that are necessary, well-fitting, (mostly) timeless, loved by you, and of good quality.  These items, your capsule wardrobe, should make up the bulk of your day-to-day outfits.  Also, keep in mind that a typical capsule wardrobe is season-specific.  My wardrobe pictured below is for fall/winter, while I keep my spring/summer wardrobe in storage (a mere 15 pieces of clothing which fit nicely in a dresser drawer).  A capsule wardrobe will usually not contain nice tee-shirts, shoes, special occasion outfits (cocktail dresses/nice suits), workout/hiking clothing, blazers/jackets/coats, scarves/accessories, and undergarments/pajamas - these are extras.  However, if you embrace the concept of the capsule wardrobe, you will most likely begin to think differently about all of your clothing possessions. 

MY CLOSET

Over the past two years, I have eliminated close to 70% of my wardrobe, the majority of the purge occurring within the past 3 months.  To give you a point of reference, I have 52 inches of hanging space in my closet, 12 of which is for long hanging items (dresses, long skirts).  My clothing has plenty of breathing room and it’s much easier for me to decide what to wear – there aren’t a ton of options, but everything I own I love, is well-fitting and versatile.  I like to hang as much as I can so I can clearly see what my options are and it makes dressing in the morning so much easier!  There are a few items I keep folded in drawers, like a couple pairs of jeans and a few sweaters, but for the most part this is it.  Clearly, I wear a lot of tee-shirts and still have some paring down to do! 

TIPS TO ELIMINATE CLOTHING CLUTTER AND CREATE A CAPSULE WARDROBE:

1.       Evaluate your lifestyle and make a list of what you would like to include in your capsule wardrobe.  If you work from home and spend your free time hiking in the mountains, you clearly will have much different wardrobe needs than someone who works in a professional environment and enjoys fine dining and theater.  Perhaps you may even have two small capsule wardrobes if you split your time between two very different settings.  When making your list, focus on classic items that will get a lot of wear and could possibly even carry from one season to the next.  If you enjoy following trends, think carefully about where you would like to add trendy items into the wardrobe. It's also helpful to pick a color palette and stick to it. 

2.       Eliminate unnecessary items from your wardrobe.  It will be hard at first as you will be thinking about the money that was spent on the clothing or perhaps you may even have sentimental attachments to some pieces.  Look at the item objectively. Are you really attached to your 15-year-old high school sweatshirt?  Doubtful.  What about your great-grandmother’s favorite shawl?  Perhaps that holds some true sentimental value.  If you come across items that are ill-fitting or no longer suit your taste, or those which you simply don’t wear anymore, please consider getting them out of your closet!  If it becomes too difficult for you, emotionally, try putting all of the garments you’d like to get rid of in a separate closet or under the bed until you can come to terms with letting them go.  Sometimes the simple act of physically removing the clothing from daily eyesight can make it much easier to detach. 

3.       Begin to embrace the concept of quality over quantity.  As you start to build your capsule wardrobe, you may notice that you have all the pieces you want and need right there in your closet!  Lucky for you, but the majority of us won’t be that fortunate.  As you begin to consider adding items, remember to stick to the list you made in #1.  Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean that you need to purchase it.  Be picky!  Becoming more mindful of the quality of clothing items we purchase will cut down on “clothing waste” and help to build a more enduring wardrobe.  When I was first introduced to the idea of quality over quantity in the wardrobe I thought the idea was a tad pretentious, but now I understand why this works.  Whatever happens to be the best you can afford will be that which you take the best care of and from which you will find the most enjoyment.  Now, of course I’m not saying we should all be walking around in Gucci and Prada – that’s unrealistic.  What I am saying is perhaps we should try to think about things differently than most of us are accustomed to.  Here are some questions to ask yourself when shopping:

·         What is the best quality I can afford at the moment?

·         Do I need the item right now, or do I have time to save up for a month or two in order to purchase something of greater quality? 

·         Is this an item I’d like to make a staple in my wardrobe?

Consider the versatility of the item (both in color and style) and take into consideration how often you plan to wear it.  Keep in mind that better quality doesn’t necessarily mean designer labels or a huge price tag.  Look at things like materials used to construct the garment and quality of the stitching.  Also, do not forget about consignment stores or online marketplaces like Ebay.  There are wonderful deals to be had on great quality clothing items, usually at a fraction of the price of retailers.  I’ve also received a number of lovely pieces from friends as hand-me-downs.  Whatever you should decide to purchase, make sure it fits your criteria and is something you can proudly display for years to come.

Good luck with your decluttering efforts!  I’d love to hear about your progress!

Organization Tips - Part 1

The holidays are upon us!  I hope everyone is able to relax a bit and enjoy some time with loved ones.  Since many of you will be entertaining over the next month or so, I’ve decided to include a few posts about organization and keeping the home in order.  As organization is something I believe I have developed a true appreciation for over the years, I will be sharing a series of suggestions and ideas in this and future posts.  I hope you will find my suggestions helpful.  Happy Holidays!

Others frequently tell Dave and I that our house is always “SOOO clean!”  While I certainly appreciate the compliment, I also don’t want to give the impression that I’m constantly walking around with the vacuum and duster!  I think that, quite possibly, our home gives others the illusion that we clean much more than we actually do.  Yes, I like things to technically be clean and do make sure to give my home adequate cleanings on a routine basis, but it’s also my very humble opinion that a clutter-free home will always appear much cleaner than one constantly filled with stuff.  Quite simply put, if one makes an effort to tidy up their own messes and always have a place for new items brought into the home, things will just naturally fall into a tidy state.  Don’t get me wrong – we have those days when it would be a complete and utter embarrassment to have anyone step into our home (those are usually the days the neighbor or a friend makes an impromptu stop by to say hello!), but those days are few and far between since we’ve begun to implement our “no clutter allowed” policy. 

Now, the task of decluttering may be easier said than done depending on the sheer volume of stuff that has been acquired.  It is also understood that those with children may have even further challenges when dealing with clutter, but the idea in the beginning is to have an attainable goal and take it step by step instead of becoming overwhelmed.  Dave and I consciously made the effort to begin decluttering when we moved into our 920 square foot condo two years ago.  Some friends and family members questioned our decision to downgrade: “Where will you put everything??”, causing us to wonder, “Why do we need so much stuff in the first place?”.  We then began the process of decluttering, which is ongoing and trying at times, but quite freeing and a wonderful exercise in self-control and letting go.  Along with the minimal closet space in our condo, we also have a very small storage unit which houses mostly seasonal items, sporting goods, and some of Dave’s woodworking supplies (we do not have a garage).  Our condo is a highly functioning space and contains only a coat closet and a small alcove in which we recently installed a custom master closet.  Other than that we have had to make our own storage space within the home.  This is all we have but, to us, it still seems like too much and we are constantly pairing things down to the bare minimum.  We both feel much lighter and I must say I don’t miss anything I’ve gotten rid of.

Some of you may be thinking that since you have a large home then decluttering is not necessary as long as you have the space to house things.  I must argue that everyone can benefit from this process, whether you are a hoarder or a minimalist.  The idea is to start thinking in terms of quality rather than quantity, not a new concept by any means, but it is one that many of us don’t take to heart.  Try embracing this concept in every aspect of life: relationships, food, clothing, house wares, furniture, entertainment, travel, etc.  Not only will you be freed from the idea to “keep up with the Joneses”, but you will also begin to learn what it is you truly love and wish to include in your life.  Give it a shot, trust me on this one!

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

1)      Keep baskets on hand to store stray items.  Sometimes we don’t have time to file or shred or store items right away.  Having a few nice baskets around can help with this problem.  This will keep clutter contained and out of eyesight when guests come over or will help if you’d simply like your place to look a little more polished.  But don’t forget to clean out and organize frequently!

2)      Constantly review the items in your wardrobe, kitchen, garage, etc.  Do you have duplicate items because you think you may need the extra someday?  Chances are, these items are unnecessarily taking up space and perhaps even causing stress if they are creating clutter.  If this is you, check out #3.

3)      Donate!  While there are many ways to get rid of unwanted items – garage sales, EBay, gifting to friends or family – I have found that often times a trip to Goodwill is the best way to go.  Especially if the items are not of significant value but still functional, then it may be best to donate instead of letting the items further collect dust while you figure out how to get rid of them.

4)      One in, one out.  Simply speaking, if you buy something new, be sure it is either necessary or will replace a current item.  This is a particularly helpful rule to follow when shopping sales.  If a replacement item is purchased, be sure to immediately discard, donate, or recycle the old item.

5)      Remember, “stuff” is not your whole identity, but should be a reflection of who you are.  You are you regardless of how many shoes you have or the great deal you got on all that stuff that sits in the closet unused.  When you think in terms of your belongings being a reflection of yourself, it becomes much easier to eliminate the stuff that’s just taking up space.

Good luck!