Mommy Kudos

Yesterday I did a lot of thinking about shopping: How I shop. Why I shop.  It was all prompted by me trying on a sweater that was similar to one that I had seen on someone else. It looked amazing on her. However, when I tried it on, I didn’t really like it on me.  I then had this inner struggle about whether or not to buy it because it looked good on her and perhaps it looked good on me too I just couldn’t tell?! But I didn’t love it.  Should I buy a sweater that may or may not look good on me because I loved it on someone else.  I mean it’s not like I was trying to squeeze into skinny jeans just because they looked good on someone else.

In the end, I decided not to buy the sweater. After all, I am really trying to live by the “only buy if you love” rule. The whole ordeal had me evaluating my shopping habits for the rest of the day though.  Do I buy stuff when I get in a certain mood?  Do I buy stuff because it looks good on someone else or in someone else’s home?  Do I buy things because I go on  a tangent {like I decide I love turquoise or that I need more picture frames all of a sudden}?

Only buying what I really need and love will take some mental strength and determination.  I need to determine my rules for myself before I go shopping and stick to them!

How about you? What are your shopping habits?  Do you have rules for yourself when you shop?

Quick, what’s one thing you have been putting off because it seemed overwhelming or it just isn’t a seemingly fun task?  Why not do it today?  I know it might seem agonizing to start but I want you to think for a minute about what completing this task would mean at once it’s done.  Would you be happy that it is done? Would you feel like a weight has been lifted? Would you feel accomplished and have momentum to keep seeing these kinds of results in other areas? Those are all great reasons to do it today!

Join me in tackling something today that you have been putting off and lets see how much we can, collectively, accomplish.  I have a full day already but I am intentionally making time for a few things I have been putting off. I look forward to hearing about all that we overcome today {and into the weekend if necessary}.

Which task will you tackle today?

Since we are a little over halfway done with our 31 Days to Becoming an Organized Mom I thought I would remind us all to remember why we do it.  Do you remember the story I shared at the very beginning about what led me to even start this series?  I do so much for others and felt so convicted about letting my family have the leftovers of me and what that said to them. I very much want to live a lifestyle that indicated to my precious family that they are the MOST important thing to me.

So today I am remembering why I do the hard work, why the work toward organizing and decluttering are worth the extra time and energy.  I am writing down my reasons {well, typing them in a pretty font that I can print out and frame. I’ll share tomorrow}. I want to keep my focus so that I stay motivated.

How about you? What are your reasons? What keeps you motivated?

So, if you joined us yesterday was your organizing world rocked? Mine was…is!  I don’t really feel like organizing stuff anymore.  I just want to get rid of stuff and be free. There will always be stuff that needs organizing though.  Such is life. Especially the life of a mom.

Today I thought I would share some practical ways to start decluttering, though, in case you are like me and you are highly motivated to purge the excess stuff in your life.

1. Set your timer for 15 minutes and just start decluttering.

Think what you can do in 15 minutes if you do it consistently over time.  You don’t have to do it all at once.  Just start.

2. Sort items in boxes labeled 1. giveaway/donate 2. trash 3. sell/consign

Be ready to put items in the proper box and take care of that box right away when you are done.  A quick trip to donate goods at Salvation Army is worth it {otherwise it will pile up and sit there for a while…}.  Throw the trash away. List items on eBay or Craigslist right away as you are sorting them {phone apps are handy for this}

3. Be tough on yourself

Ask yourself tough questions like “When was the last time I used this?” “Do I really need it?” & “Is this filling my home and my life with peace or stress?”

4. If you have projects to do, books to read, etc…consider getting rid of them

If these things are weighing you down with guilt every time you think about not having gotten to them yet, then maybe it’s time to break their power over you and just get rid of them. It might be difficult at first but think of the weight that will be lifted off of you!

5. If all else fails call in a friend

Let a friend who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth, help you declutter.  They can ask you the hard questions and really help you reason through your attachment to your stuff.

Now set the timer for 15 minutes and get started.  Yes, now! You’ll thank me once your done. You will be 15 minutes closer toward a more peaceful, organized home.

Do you have any decluttering tips that help you get motivated and get organized? I’d love to hear them as I get ready to set my timer for 15 minutes!