Moving is the perfect excuse to lighten the load. I've written before about how much I detest stuff, to the point where I'm convinced there is probably a medical name for the sense of dread I feel at things like overstuffed drawers and generously filled gift bags alike.
I'm pretty good at getting rid of things. I'm not as good at stemming the tide against things coming in. I'm trying, though. Here are my latest tricks in the ongoing battle:
When the mail arrives, I immediately tear the back cover off all unwanted catalogs before pitching them in the recycling. When I get a minute I call the 800 number on the back and cancel the catalog. The other day, I took 4 back covers in the car with us to karate. While d'anjou napped, and mini-pear practiced her blocks and kicks, I canceled all four catalogs.
I've also tried to stop rationalizing the need to pick up little brochures and other ephemera. I tend to end up with little piles of museum postcards, flyers for classes/community events, etc. As if I need proof that I was there or something. For the most part, the same information is available on the internet. I hope I spend less time filing stuff away or sorting and throwing away most items in an accumulated pile six months from now.
Oh, god, this is so much like me. I've noticed that I get a LOT of email from places I've ordered, so I have started immediately taking myself off of those emails. I've been deleting them for so long that I didn't really see them anymore. All the piles in my house are driving me crazy!
Posted by: Deb | January 29, 2009 at 12:14 PM
so i detest clutter too...i mean, i hate it. i got into an email tiff w/ my mother who is staying in my house in aruba b/c she loves clutter and was cluttering up my house and i had to ask her to stop. did not go over well. so glad for you that you are moving and can seize the day and dejunk yourself a bit more. i loved when we moved 3 mos ago...i totally destashed. also, cannot find/remember the name of our movers. sorry :(
Posted by: Anne | January 29, 2009 at 11:46 PM
"ephemera"? That's a word I've never heard! How about a word of the day post?
I want to de-clutter, too and am slowly taking steps. But I've been doing the junk mail/email canceling, too and it feels great.
Posted by: .Flo | January 30, 2009 at 09:50 AM