Tag: Decluttering

Some Upsides of Social Distancing, Part IV

- Alexis Leave a comment
A toddler pushing his stroller on a wooded path

Here in Tennessee, businesses are starting to open back up again, but my behavior hasn’t changed. I’m still very much isolating at home, and probably will be for some time. I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of this pandemic yet, at least not in our region. Given my pregnancy and autoimmune disease, I’d rather be as cautious as possible for now.

While it’s hard not to see my friends and do some of the things I used to do, I remain in good spirits. Below are a few more benefits of this new lifestyle that I’ve noticed.

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Some Upsides of Social Distancing, Part III

- Alexis Leave a comment
While practicing social distancing, the author's toddler looks at a goose from a few feet away

An important reminder: “We are all in the same boat. We are not all in the same storm.”

This is a continuation of my series on the silver linings of self-isolating. (Click for Part I and Part II.)

  • I’m using up things in my pantry. Limiting grocery shopping trips to once a week has encouraged me to be more creative and resourceful with the food I have. I’m turning excess fruits and veggies into smoothies, using flour and other staples to make baked goods and pancakes, and finding a purpose for random canned goods that have been sitting around for months or longer. I’m reducing food waste while also decluttering my cabinets
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I Challenged Myself to the 30-Day Minimalism Game. Here’s How It Went.

- Alexis 2 Comments

Black and white monotype of interior with stools and plants

Despite paring down my possessions once or twice a year for at least the past eight years, including through six moves, I still often look around my house and feel like it is just too cluttered.  Too many knick-knacks means more to dust, too many surfaces to collect things means more time tidying when preparing for company, and all of this adds up to unnecessary stress.  I sometimes look at the white, bright, semi-sparse home decor photos trending on Pinterest or in magazine articles and think about how relaxing it would be to live in a more simply furnished, emptier space.

I’ve written before about my struggles with decluttering and owning too much stuff, and guest poster Courtney has shared her journey toward living with less, along with some great tips and inspiration.  The mood to declutter tends to strike me around January, both because of the symbolic fresh start of the new year and because I spend more time at home in the winter months.  So when I was invited to join a decluttering Facebook group and shortly thereafter heard of a 30-day decluttering challenge originally proposed by the Minimalists, I was motivated to once again assess my belongings and get rid of what wasn’t serving me.

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My On-Again, Off-Again Relationship with Decluttering and Tidying Up

- Alexis 3 Comments

A black metal filing cabinet with papers on top and folders learning against each side
My filing cabinet, surrounded by papers that have yet to be filed.

Yesterday, I spent some time tidying up my living room.  I hadn’t planned to spend my morning that way, but I came downstairs and saw the ever-growing pile of papers on the table that serves as a catch-all, and I just couldn’t bear to look at it anymore.  This is usually how cleaning goes for me.  I have no set schedule for it, no weekly cleaning routine; it happens in bursts when I feel the urge.

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