Quick and Easy Decluttering (Imperfect Homemaking Challenge)

Just like with deep cleaning, I have a tendency to hang onto the mindset that unless all my “regular” cleaning is done, I can't do any organizing and decluttering.

My daily schedule is so full that I can't even set aside 15 minutes to work on it.

So instead I do crazy stuff like look at the same thing 20 times, thinking “Why do I have that?” instead of just getting rid of it right then and there!  It's mental clutter, ya'll, and this brain of mine is so full that I can't afford to be cluttering it up with stupid stuff like that!

“Well, I need to sell it on eBay or at least put it in the yard sale pile,” I tell myself.

Look, if I don't have time to think about it, I certainly don't have time to sell it on eBay!  And do you know how much work it is to do a yard sale?  Who am I kidding?

Instead, I need to do some quick and easy decluttering by sending it to one of three places  — immediately:

1. The trash can.

2. To church, to see if someone there would like to have it.

3. To the thrift store.

Gasp!  You would throw away a perfectly good item?!

Why yes! As a matter of fact I would!

Let me tell you about the super-organized people I know.  (If they're super-organized, they obviously know what they're doing, and I could stand to learn a thing or two from them.) One thing I've noticed is that they're constantly throwing stuff in the garbage.  They understand the concept that time is money.  They could make a quarter off their junk at a yard sale later, or they could just pitch it now, and quit using up valuable time and energy, space in their house, and space in their brain on an item they no longer use or love.  It seems to me that all that trouble is not worth a quarter.

(Don't get me wrong — I think there is a time and a place for yard sales, and we've held some very successful ones in the past.  However, there are seasons of life where you just need to get rid of your things immediately and move on.)

Today's Challenge: See how many things you can find today to get rid of.  You don't need to go on a full-out decluttering spree. Just take notice of things as you go about your day.  If it would only earn you a quarter at a yard sale, pitch it.  If it's something nice that someone else may want, put it in your car immediately and drop it at the thrift store next time you're out or give it to a friend at church.

Instagram challenge: Post a picture of what you did to spend time with your kids today.  Use the hashtag #imperfecthomemaker to encourage other members of this community!  (Follow me here.)

If you’re just joining the 31 Days of Imperfect Homemaking series, you can see all the posts here.