Last month, I finished decluttering my kitchen. Well, I finished decluttering almost my whole kitchen. I ran into a roadblock when I got to my built-in desk, which doubles as my home office. There were papers, pens, photos, envelopes, coupons — current and long expired. Then, there was the junk drawer. Oh, the junk. So, I did what any sensible person who was on a decluttering mission would do. I called it quits and chose to savor the work in the rest of my kitchen.
Still, I was bitten by the decluttering bug, and the only solution is less stuff. So, I committed to tackling the rest of my kitchen this month. That meant that nothing was safe. No errant paper, no miscellaneous Post-It, nothing. After carefully combing through my office supplies, I was able to abandon 68% of the items that were currently taking up space in my desk.
So what did I ditch?
Office Supplies – I eliminated over 52 office supplies, and chose to donate all of them to students in need. In all truthfulness, I could not believe how many pens and markers I had squirreled away in various drawers.
My main desk drawer now contains:
- Two pencils
- Two pens
- A permanent marker
- One eraser
- One pencil sharpener
- Scissors
- Tape and tape dispenser
- Stapler
- One glue stick
- A handful of paper clips
- A handful of rubber bands
- A note pad
- Two packs of Post-It Notes
In many respects, this list seems far from minimal. However, it is important to remember that Mr. P and I are both teachers. While I do much more grading than he does, having these supplies on hand makes both our lives easier.
Coupons, Receipts, Store Flyers – I had over one hundred coupons stashed in my cabinet, many of which were long expired. In addition to coupons, I had current store flyers, plus I had dozens of receipts from shopping trips that I made over a month ago. They are all now resting in their graves within the recesses of the recycling bin. Obviously, this deep clean underscored the importance of reducing the amount of paper that comes into my home. In addition to ditching junk mail in the recycle bin before I come in the house, I also started using the Key Ring app to get rid of store loyalty cards and the Shoeboxed app for receipts. This exercise was also the final nudge I needed to finish enrolling in online bill pay for the last few bills that I had not previously switched.
Junk Drawer Junk – I cannot even begin to explain the clown-car-like experience that was emptying this drawer. As soon as I thought we could not have possibly jammed any extra stuff into this drawer, there was another handful. While many items were tools and parts that belonged in the garage or basement, there was also an abundance of unnecessary items. After transplanting the essential items back to their rightful homes, we discarded another 41 items.
Knickknacks – I do not keep picture frames on my desk, and I do not have much use for bric a brac in my office, especially since my office is in my kitchen. Still, there were five trinkets that I was holding onto more out of obligation than anything else. As a result, they are now being sold or donated. While it may sound a bit crass or unappreciative, I am not keeping things that do not add utility or happiness.
So what’s next? Ultimately, I gathered up 305 items in my office and was able to eliminate 209 of them. While I still have belongings in my four desk drawers, I also now have an entirely empty cabinet above my desk that fits my 2:1 tablet and purse.
Be it human nature, strategic marketing, consumer culture, or maybe a mix of all three, it seems that we are programmed to fill up every nook and cranny in our lives. I realize now how freeing empty space can be. As a result, I’m committed to spending the rest of 2016 creating more of it in the remainder of our house.
So Tell Me…How do you keep clutter at bay? Do you have any decluttering tips or tricks?
Katelynne
I did this recently and had a cookie tin FULL of pens and pencils that I had through university and the last 7 years of working. I apparently developed kleptomaniac tendencies as 70% of the pens I could identify from which of the office I’ve worked for (and which I had initially purchased for school). I found someone within Girl Guides to take them off my hands for their unit and I felt this huge wave of relief. Now I have a single, small drawer with highlighters, pens, pencils that will do me just fine.
Great post! Good luck with the rest of the decluttering!!
Gary @ Super Saving Tips
I definitely need to declutter my home office/desk. I recently went “fishing” for a replacement battery and it took me a lot longer than I’d like to locate them with all the junk stuffed in the drawers. I think the only really tip I could add is to have a place for everything. For example, I always have some extra paper and ink toner cartridges on hand so I don’t run out and there needs to be a spot for them. Things that don’t have a place need to go or they’ll just end up cluttering any open space.
Our Next Life
Congrats! That’s a big win for decluttering!
We rarely feel like we have the time to declutter, though do keep a donation box open at all times to toss in stuff we come across that we no longer need. Our best strategy instead is to be ruthless about what comes into the house. We open the mail over the recycle bin, we say no to freebies, etc. That stuff piles up quickly, or fills up that junk drawer before you know it. Think of it as: a good defense is the best offense. Defend yourself against unwanted stuff to keep your house free from clutter.
(Of course, saying that, I’m looking around my home office and thinking about all the things I need to toss! Maybe I’ll spend five minutes this afternoon doing that!)
Peter @ How To Live In The U.S.
I’m currently decluttering my wife’s office. She racked up a ton of paperwork over the year and it got too intense at one point resulting in a ton of clutter. Luckily the rest of the house is pretty decluttered.
I honestly love decluttering. It’s a wonderful feeling seeing your place get cleaner by all the work you’ve done.
Peter
Robin Lewis
NOW TO MY COMMENT my office is in our bedroom because of no office space. I was working 2 job’s out of here. Now just 1. The whole room is cluttered with clothes I’m going to sell, shoes too, and makeup. Plus my personal makeup no room in bathroom. Can’t get to the desk I bought. Sit on bed and work. I’m also adhd which makes it hard to know how to declutter. I love pens. I ask or trade before taking or buy or grab my husband’s from work he leaves out. It writes blue and I read if you write with blue you will remember longer. Then last week I heard the color was purple. Already had two purple pins. I can’t imagine working with only 2 pens. I hope I can get somewhere near that downsize in all areas. I counted in my purse one day 35 total included in that count were, pencils, highlighters, permanent pens, regular markers, multi color pens red, blue, orange, etc, pens that are also a stylus for tablet. I was shocked. You have encouraged me to really down size. I do enjoy my multi pens never know what color I write with the next hour or which one I can find. I wish I could attach the picture I took. I’ll be glad to send it to you. I want to downsize my entire life. I’m frozen can’t find anything. Thanks for the eye opening article on how normal peopke do it.