Wednesday KatMari

[rachelmanija]

This has really been a breakthrough for me. I have previously never in my life been able to do any sustained organizing that did not involve some favorite hobby. Marie Kondo's show, at least, is basically about being a therapist for people's relationship with their possessions and their living space; once I realized that and started considering mine in those terms, all of a sudden tidying became my own personal therapy and thus an enjoyable and doable task, rather than something I inevitably got bored or frustrated with, wandered off having accomplished not very much, and then procrastinated on trying again for weeks/months/years.

Also, she has some good practical tips. My big discovery is that putting stuff in transparent boxes makes it a million times easier to find things - I'm very "out of sight, out of mind" for a lot of stuff, so it will essentially not exist for me unless I can literally see it. I have been hitting the Daiso (Japanese dollar store) for boxes. I realize that this is one of those things that's easy and tempting to shame people with: "How did you get this old before learning something any normal person figures out at age five?" But in fact I did not figure it out until age 45, due to watching that show.

I am currently working on the kitchen. Alas, I AGAIN forgot to take proper "before" photos. You can extrapolate what it probably looked like by the fact that yesterday I unearthed a box of Kraft macaroni and cheese that expired in 2011, which is probably also the last time I ate it.





Alex and Erin help me sort stuff from a drawer I had forgotten existed for literally years.



Erin helps me sort packaged food. I did not notice the Hello Kitty crackers till after I took the photo.

My kitchen has two of these cabinets/counters, one on each side. Here's what they both looked like "before:"



And after:



Erin approves my progress! (I feel like I need to note that I do eat stuff other than packaged snacks. It's just that the healthy stuff is mostly in the refrigerator.)





I put things I use daily or near-daily, plus non-refrigerated perishables on the counter, so I will see and eat them rather than having them go bad because I forgot they existed.



Please no negativity in comments. If you don't like this topic, please scroll or blacklist the decluttering tag.

Comments

[rachelmanija]

I've never read those but obviously I should.

[rachelmanija]

That is totally acceptable.

[ethelmay]

Tangent: I keep a milk crate in my trunk to keep groceries upright. Had one too many milk jugs leak when they fell on their sides. Even a little sour milk smells up a car something fierce.

[marjorie1170]

I love hearing about organizing and decluttering as that was my project last fall. I also found that once I did a major push it was easier to stay on top of things. In part because there is less stuff and in part because being more organized makes me happier.

Very cute cats.

[catlinyemaker]

Thanks for posting these! I'm following along with interest and making notes for my own (glacially paced) decluttering. It's great to see your success and good that your cats are so hlepful (and cute!)

I wish my husband felt the same about clear containers - we went to get some organizing containers from IKEA and he fell in love with the opaque white bins. Since it's his stuff in them mostly and he keeps up the cabinet they're in, I'm ok with that, but have had to steadfastly resist his suggestions that I buy more of them for my (clear binned) craft stuff. Though it took your post about why clear is better to realize why I was resisting.

[oracne]

Marie Kondo's show, at least, is basically about being a therapist for people's relationship with their possessions and their living space

I love this description.

[rachelmanija]

Thanks!

[rachelmanija]

Thanks!

[rachelmanija]

Thanks!

LA has something like six of them. Not to make you jealous. My city is totally awesome.

[rachelmanija]

That is exactly what I'm hoping for.

[rachelmanija]

The big old-fashioned kind that people kept lentils and flour and such in?

[rachelmanija]

Ahh, what a good idea.

[rachelmanija]

Thank you!

[rachelmanija]

Clear is the new black.

[rachelmanija]

I used to use milk crates, back in my college days, and then forgot they existed.

[rachelmanija]

Thank you!

[rachelmanija]

Thank you! And yeah, that is exactly what I'm hoping will happen.

[rachelmanija]

It really is! I convinced my therapist to check it out and he was also very taken with it, for exactly that reason.

[rachelmanija]

Good luck with it! I'd be delighted to hear your progress.

[mildred_of_midgard]

Ditto!

[mildred_of_midgard]

If you need to write different dates (or any other labels) on the same containers, I have found these erasable labels super useful: https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Color-Dishwasher-All-Purpose-Organization-Jokari/dp/B00PGS9HXC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1548961078&sr=8-4&keywords=reusable+labels

[pameladean]

I keep forgetting that Erin is big unless a particular photo emphasizes it, so I think her proportions are just fine. Vets tend to get squirrelly about absolute poundage without always considering the length, etc. of the cat. I am cracking up at the notion of a cat-carrying workout, but really what could be better?

I am relieved that you too put non-book items on your bookshelves. I suspect most living spaces just don't have enough flat surfaces available, so we make do. Or else the flat surfaces aren't as conveniently located as the bookshelves.

P.

[movingfinger]

For years I have used Click-Clacks "Basics" to keep flours, sugars, nuts, and all the dry-goods type foods in. They are expensive, but I prefer them because they have a seal and they are reasonably durable (though the new ones seem lighter). They stack well, if you stick with the rectangular ones. Bonus is that they don't shatter like glass. I have been buying a few every once in a while as I have extra cash, so that gradually all the foods like crackers go in them too, which cuts waaaaay back on the possibilty of a pest infestation in the pantry and also helps keep things fresh.

[laurashapiro]

Mason jars? Sure, or something similar. A friend of mine also has a label-maker to label his glass jars. Would be helpful for telling various substances apart.

[illariy]

Very cool changes! And even better that you enjoyed the process. I have that show on my to-watch list, maybe I should move it up a few spaces... ;-)