We Did It! So Can You! {Michelle’s journey}

Do you have clutter in your home but don’t know where to start purging?  Do you feel like you don’t have enough time to declutter?  Have you seen some of my decluttering posts and thought “I really should do that”, but you keep putting it off?

You’re not alone! There are many reasons people want to declutter, but don’t actually do it. But you also don’t need to stay in your paralyzed state.  You CAN declutter!  And to prove it I want to share some stories of people Just. Like. You. 

Welcome to the “We Did It! So Can You!” series.  This series is about real people decluttering their homes, one day at a time!  Busy people, with too much stuff, who decided to take the plunge and purge.

Ready to be inspired?!  

Today I want to introduce you to Michelle.  She’s been part of the 365 Items in 365 Days Facebook group since the beginning and has been doing a great job decluttering!  She actually came up with the name for this series when I was crowdsourcing ideas!  Thanks Michelle!

{Note: this post was originally published on my old blog shortly after the 365 Items in 365 Days challenge first started back in 2014. There have been many people doing this challenge throughout the years and this story still showcases how even small decluttering efforts by everyday people can have a big impact. So I’m showcasing some of these stories on this blog to inspire you to declutter too!}

Michelle’s Decluttering Journey

Michelle is a mom of 2 and runs a home daycare in her apartment.  She’s got kids coming and going all day and is constantly dealing with toys, clothing, and kitchen clutter.  Her bedroom (like many of ours!) is the place to stash things to deal with later.  But then other things take priority so the clutter builds up. She also had what she called an “I’ll just stuff it in here for now closet”.

Michelle has been working her way, one bag at a time, through the clutter in her home.  She even got her hubby involved!  She commented early on that seeing so much floor space was exciting.  I love comments like that!

With 2 growing children and a home daycare, Michelle had lots of outgrown clothes, shoes, and boots, as well as lots of “haven’t been played with awhile” toys. And of course kids’ artwork and creative projects.  And kids’ books.  She started decluttering each of these categories in order for her home to feel less overwhelming and more peaceful.

Michelle also determined how many clothes she really needs for each of her children and purged extra hand-me-downs instead of keeping them “just in case”.  That’s a huge way to prevent clutter from building up!

Michelle purged her own clothing, too giving away clothes that no longer fit.  She even parted with some of her childhood clothing that she’d been holding on to.  Like her grade 8 grad dress in the back of her closet.  Sentimental items can be hard to purge, but really wanted her closet to function better on a daily basis so she let that dress go!  Think about how much easier it will be to get ready with a less-cluttered closet.And hopefully someone else can make use of that dress.

One of Michelle’s Decluttering Projects

Everyone loves good before and after pictures for decluttering projects and this is one of my favourites from Michelle. 

Isn’t that difference incredible?  She went from what several people in the 365 Items in 365 Days group pointed out is a fire hazard with papers and other “stuff” all over her toaster and microwave, to having clear surfaces in that whole area of the kitchen!  Most of the clutter was moved back and forth from the toaster/microwave to the table, over and over.  But Michelle found homes for the items and recycled things she didn’t need.  Much better than moving things all the time!

A few months after she originally posted the above pictures, Michelle posted an update.  Those surfaces were remaining clear due to her daily maintenance, a strategically placed recycling bin, and a great little basket.

Isn’t that great?  What a smart and creative way to deal with a clutter “hot-spot”!  And even better because it’s working. Plus, by sharing this idea in the group, she inspired other people to do it too.  I love our 365 in 365 Facebook group!

How Does Michelle Declutter?

Michelle makes use of little bits of time here and there, like while her kids are eating lunch.  She does a little at a time and it has really added up over the months.  She also takes advantage of times when her hubby can watch their kids, so she can work without distractions. 

Michelle tracked her decluttering progress by highlighting a day on her calendar for each item she purges.  Check it out.

She’s done so well that she completed the entire year in only a few months and she has already moved into next year!  And she’s still going! 

Decluttering isn’t just about physical clutter.  Michelle tackled her electronic clutter too.  She decluttered her 3 email inboxes and tackled the files on her hard drive.

What does Michelle do with the items she purges?  She has given items to friends and family, the church nursery, her husband’s work’s daycare, families in need, and thrift stores.  She’s also sold some items. And along the way she has tossed some things in the garbage and recycling. 

How Does Decluttering Help Michelle?

One of the benefits of decluttering is that Michelle has been able to organize her home better.  So life can run smoother.  Especially with the things she uses in her daycare. 

Here are a couple of posts from Michelle about how she’s feeling:

5 months and I have given to families in need, donated to charity, and even sold a few items. Most (65%) of the items I have decluttered were clothes. Seeing the total of 455 items makes me so excited and proud of my efforts. However I know there is so much more to go through. I feel now that the easy stuff to declutter is done, now I will be going through more bins that hold items I really don’t need but struggle to let go of. I’m ready to begin part 2 of my decluttering and organizing. 

Feeling great today.  …  I sat on the end of our bed with my hubby today and took note of the floor space we have gained. I first thought… where did it all go? Our usual places to move clutter around to is remaining clutter free. Still have more bins of stuff to go through but we are beginning to see a difference now and it feels great!  

Michelle has been such an encouragement to others in the 365 Item in 365 Days group, cheering them on, sharing her ideas, and answering questions, all while being vulnerable, sharing her progress, and asking her own questions.  Thanks for all your contributions to this challenge Michelle and congratulations on all your decluttering efforts!

Doesn’t this make you just want to go and declutter something?! If Michelle can declutter her home, while taking care of her own family and her daycare children, then you can do it too!

If you’re overwhelmed by clutter, join the 365 Items in 365 Days Challenge today and get started.  A little bit at a time makes a big difference.  Start letting go of things and start living the life you want!

What’s your motivation for decluttering?  What holds you back from purging?  What area of your home will you tackle first?

If you need help decluttering, contact me for in-person organizing services in the Mississauga area, or virtual organizing services anywhere else.

Happy decluttering!