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Declutter Challenge: Setting Goals

Last Updated on August 2, 2017 by lydiaf1963

It’s time for another purge…better known as decluttering. I’m going to take the opportunity presented by the upcoming Lenten season to clear out a few areas in my life that could be better organized, and I’m inviting you to join me. The task for this week is a simple one: define the areas that need to be addressed.

2016 Declutter Challenge ~ Define Your Goals ~ Life Beyond the Kitchen
By Tomwsulcer (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Even the most organized person has an area or two they’d like to improve, and I’m far from the most organized person in the world! In order to help stay on track during the challenge I need to set a few goals. For the challenge I’m going to focus on three areas: my clothes, my crafts and my blogs.

GOAL ONE: My side of the closet and my dressers

We have two closets and two dressers. The closet in our bedroom holds the bulk of my clothes and about half of Rick’s. In the spare bedroom we store tools, equipment and the overflow from Rick’s side of the closet. We have two dressers, but I use both of them. Other than the kitchen cabinets, and space under the bed, that’s the extent of our storage.

When Rick and I moved overseas we each brought two large and heavy suitcases full of clothing and other essentials. Weeding my clothes down was surprisingly liberating. I only packed things I loved, in easy to care for fabrics (this paid off since everything must be line dried). Now, almost three years later, I’ve come to the realization that some of the clothes I brought with me are just languishing in the closet for one reason or another. I need that space for clothing that will serve me and I want a wardrobe full of pieces which work together.

GOAL TWO: Hobby Space

Even though we don’t have a ton of storage space, I could definitely  be better organized with regard to my hobbies, and I’m including the camera equipment and photo props I use for blogging. When I’m working on a knitting project it tends to grow and take over my space. And my desk could definitely be improved. I sometimes feel like I’m fighting with the way I have things arranged…a good sign that changes need to be made.

GOAL THREE: Blogging Time

This has been an ongoing project for me since December when I decided to make an effort to blog on Life Beyond the Kitchen on a regular basis. At the same time, I’m still posting two or three times a week and promoting posts for Lydia’s Flexitarian Kitchen. I’m in the process of examining my blogging activities and determining which activities give me the best ROTI (Return on Time Investment) in terms of page views. I need to find some balance or risk burning out.

Join Me!

Your goals don’t have to be the same as mine, but let’s pick 3 and commit to spending two weeks on each one. You may not need the entire two weeks to accomplish a particular goal, or you may find you’ll need more time. The important thing is to get started and build momentum. Define your goals and prepare to begin next Wednesday.

NEXT POST: A helpful resource guide.

Which areas in your life could use a little declutter?

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17 Comments

  1. THose are some great goals! I have been organizing and cleaning out a lot and things are so much simpler now.

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      It makes a difference, and once it’s done, it’s easier to keep up with. Thanks!

  2. OMG…my closet. I don’t even know where to begin. UGH.

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      I made the mistake of pulling everything out once. The only good thing about it was I got rid of clothes I would have otherwise kept because I was tired of dealing with them! Since then it has been a shelf or a section at a time, lol.

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      That’s a good one, and not overwhelming

  3. My dining room table needs clearing off-desperately. At this point my cat is pushing things off the table onto the floor to make room fir her highness–so the entire area needs to be cleaned-mist of it thrown out I suspect. After that–my closet. Well I do have to do my taxes which means I will have to find all the stuff I need that is somewhere on that table–my cat will be very happy once it is a table again that you can see!!

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      I have a spot that seems to collect stuff, too. Mine is a shelf in my bedroom that is rarely cleared completely.

  4. I started decluttering projects recently and started with my kids’ closets. I need to move to the toy room next.

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      My kids didn’t want to get rid of anything! But funny how they didn’t miss the stuff I boxed up and put into the attic 🙂

  5. We just sold our house, so I’ll be de-cuttering as I pack or unpack boxes. We’re on a tight time frame to move. Can’t wait to get started! I’ve done some already, but now the big challenge begins!

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      Congratulations on your move! And remember…the more you get rid of, the less you’ll have to unpack! 🙂

  6. Those are great goals. I’ve had my own challenges with all of those things myself! Great job!

  7. The key is that after you’ve decluttered you don’t buy anymore!

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      You definitely have to have some sort of plan in place for dealing with the “stuff” 🙂

  8. I just de-clutter all things that we won’t have to use anymore, and tomorrow I will de-clutter our clothes.

    1. lydiaf1963 says:

      Good luck!

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