Take it back.

Sponsored by the DEA, this Saturday, September 27th, is National Take Back Day.

Designed to provide a safe way for people to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs,
local collection sites can be located through this DEA link.

The page also provides information about proper disposal of other medicines.

As they say, cold and flu season are fast approaching.
This would be the perfect time to go through your medicine cabinet; check expiration dates, collect half full pill bottles, and clear out the unnecessary  and redundant.

Here's to a Happy Healthy Fall for all of us.
And a little more room in the bathroom cabinet!

Get a visual.

You know how I like to go on and on about putting like with like?

This week I'd like to suggest (which is kind of like nagging but nicer)
you have some of that fun in your clothes closet.

We're not talking a giant purge/sort here, I'm merely offering you the opportunity to get a visual of what you have in there.
If you happen to let some items go (cheap hangers, wrong sizes, ugly color, bad gift, worn out, what were you thinking) that will just be a bonus.

What I'd like you to do is move pieces around so that  like items are all hanging together.
All the short sleeve shirts together.
All your long sleeve shirts in one group.
All your long pants side by side.
All the suits lined up as a section.
You get the drift.

What sections you have will depend on the different types of clothing
you have hanging in your closet.

Within the groups hang like colors next to one another.
I know, it seems a bit OCD, but trust me, we're going for a visual here.

The purpose of this little exercise is to show you, literally,
how many of which kinds of clothing you own.
How many pairs of black jeans.
How many white shirts.
How many long sleeve tee shirts.
How many SWAG polo shirts....

Now the options of what you can do with this information.

You could stop right here in the process.
The benefit would be now when you're getting dressed 

you can easily see what you have of each category without digging, rummaging, guessing.

Or you could make some decisions about how many is enough.
Which of the clothes do you really wear?
Or what looks fabulous on you?
Which items are a reflection of the life you live now?
And what clothes does your current job require?

This visual will also give you valuable information about the kind and types of clothes that you frequently buy.
Which colors do you gravitate towards?
What style dominates?
Which are your 'go to' choices?

If you're up to it, do some weeding out, tossing, donating
and saying good by.

That's valuable real estate in there, make the best use of it.

Getting a visual of what you own, how many you have,
and keeping like with like simplifies your life.
Whether it's in your clothes closet, your pantry or
office supplies.

See your way to a less cluttered life.

Don't think about it.

"Habits allow us to put a behavior on automatic, 

so we don’t have to think about it or 

make decisions related to it anymore. 
In this way, habits can free us from the things we don’t want to think about." Gretchen Rubin

Always put your keys in the same place.
Deal with the mail every day.
Pay your bills on Monday evening.
Don't put things down, put them away.
Fold the laundry when it comes out of the dryer.
Hang up your clothes, don't toss them on the chair.
Ask for what you need.
Be grateful for what you have.

Small simple actions become routine
and the routine becomes a habit.

Let the habits of decluttering
give you less to think about.

Decide what's important.

And ditch the rest.

Decide which clothes you really wear and you feel fabulous wearing.
Give the rest away.

Decide which hobbies you love.
Let go of the supplies and equipment for all the others.

Decide which letters, artwork, gifts and 

memorabilia truly are sentimental.
Be willing to say good bye to the items that aren't.

Decide which relationships are good for 

your head and heart.
Spend your time nurturing those.

Letting go can be a challenge.
Don't let 'I should' and 'what if' keep you 

stuck in clutter and disorganization.

You're the adult.
Make conscious choices that support 

the life you really want to be living.

Thinking vs reality.

You think you wear all the clothes in your closet,
but what's true is you wear about 50% of them.

You think you know what's in all the piles on your desk;
but what's true is you've missed paying bills, lost checks,
and misplaced important papers.

You think you're going to rewatch all those dvds on the shelf;
but what's true is there are always new movies available,
and you didn't even enjoy some of them the first time around.

You think you have the time to finish all those projects you have the materials for;
but what's true is that hobby no longer interests you or you no longer need or want
the object you were planning to create.

Clutter can be the result of the difference in 

what we think we do,
and how we really live our lives.

Take a serious look at what's hanging in your closet.
Let go of what you don't wear.

Sort through the paper piles.
Switch to a vertical system of folders, 

keeping like items together.

Cull your dvd collection.
Consider switching to renting or streaming movies.

Let go of the supplies and projects that no longer interest you.
Make some space in your closet, on your shelves, in the garage.

Create the clutter free reality that supports the life
you want to be living now.

Proof

Photo proof of my excuse for not posting last week.

One reason I choose a simple, uncluttered life is to be able to have time and space for relationships.

Last week at a State Park in Eastern Washington my siblings and their kids (and their kids kids)
met for our  biennial Family Reunion. 

Months in the planning and organizing, with lists and crossing out;
making it all happen was fun as well as challenging.

We ate, laughed, swam, played games, did arts and crafts, played water balloon volleyball,
talked until the wee hours, and ate some more!

But mostly what we did was had experiences, made memories, connected with each other and
left on Sunday a tiny bit richer in our hearts than when we arrived on Wednesday. 

I will admit families can be challenging.
There were moments when I had to bite my tongue.
But, when I'm old (not there yet!)
and I look back on my life,
I believe it will be the experiences I'll treasure and not the stuff.

That was then.

This is now.

Now is where we live.

One cause of clutter, one challenge of letting go of things,
is that we often forget the difference between then and now.

Many of our belongings and habits are left from a time when we had other interests, priorities, relationships, jobs and hobbies.
Sometimes we miss those activities and the people,
or we imagine that somehow we will find the time to resume that lifestyle again.

We think that holding onto the stuff somehow keeps then a part of our now.
Mostly it just clutters up our lives and homes, and can keep us looking back; when we really need to be looking forward. 

Pausing to consider this life now; where you spend your energy, time, money and commitments will help you let go of things from then.

Letting go of reminders, evidence, supplies and equipment from our then self can be challenging.
Yet, choosing to live in the now, surrounded by the items and people that best support our current lives and dreams, frees up space; literally, mentally and emotionally.

That was then.
This is now.
Choose to be present.