Project Simplify

Hello, my name is Erin, and my living space is cluttered.

It was the last 20SB Blogger Carnival topic that really brought this revelation to me, I think, though the semi-formed thought had been in my head for a while.  The topic: What Can’t You Live Without?    My response: I looked around my tiny apartment and realized that besides the essentials to stay alive, my family, my pets, my computer, and maybe my Diet Pepsi, I could survive just fine.

Then why, oh why, do I have so much stuff?

I’ve lived in my little bachelor apartment for just over 2 years now, and stuff has accumulated.  It’s not stuff I need, really, just stuff I’ve come across and not wanted to get rid of.

Have any of you seen my dining table or my closet floor recently?  Because I’m not sure they’re still there.

I read design blogs that have beautiful living spaces that I covet.  I drool over the Ikea showroom, for goodness sake!  I know those aren’t really my style, I’m much more eclectic than any designer would come up with.

But eclectic doesn’t have to mean cluttered.  Eclectic can be simplified.

So I sat down and typed up a list of things I can do to simplify my living space… and I realized I’d already started.

Getting rid of my cable just over a month ago was the big first step, I think.  I didn’t use it enough to be able to justify spending $40 a month on it.  Sure, it was nice to have, but I didn’t need it.

 

I want my space to be nice, and I want it to only have the things in it that I want, like, or need.  If I’m not really using it, I need to get rid of it.

And that, my friends, is the basis of Project Simplify.

So here I am, blogging about it.  But it’s more than just blog fodder.  You guys can help hold me to my word.  I’m not giving myself a time limit, because this working full time thing leaves me pretty tired.  But I’ve divided the things that need to be done into manageable tasks, which I am going to post here.  Then, I’m going to post about the Project every few weeks with updates.

And just in case you feel like doing this along with me, you can get the banner here.

 

Here’s my list of goals, with the completed ones crossed out:

• Get rid of cable tv
• Recycle old magazines
• Organize medicine drawer
• Clean out under kitchen sink
  
• Get rid of make up, hair products, etc. that I no longer use – ongoing
• Clear off magnetic bulletin board, move it somewhere useful
• Clean up computer desk and containers under turtle
• Organize jewellery stand
• Wash and sort clothing on closet floor and shelves, donate stuff I don’t wear, organize what I do wear
• Get rid of shoes I don’t wear
• Organize craft supplies and photo albums  – get under bed containers
• Completely clean off dining table
• Clean out fridge and freezer
• Prune plants, get rid of ones that won’t survive
• Return items from Mom and Dad’s house to their house
• Organize bookshelf
• Replace old posters with framed art
• Clean out bottom drawer of bedside table

Yes, I am fully aware that you all think I am a complete slob now.  But that’s that.  It’s what I need to do.

Wish me luck!