Decreasing annoyance

[fred_mouse]

Sometimes, for me, uncluttering isn't so much about getting rid of things (although that can be a great side effect) but about dealing with something that annoys me. So, this morning, I've just spent a productive 5-10 minutes sorting through my scrap paper pile, and I feel so much more relaxed about it that I did.

As a household with three kids, one of whom is through high school, and the other two still in high school, we've generated a lot of 'unused' paper through the last decade -- mostly half used scrapbooks and note books. We have a shelf that this gets put on, and then any time anyone needs to make notes or doodles, they grab paper out of there. However, there are different 'grades' of such paper, depending on how easy it is to get more/the proportion of it in the stack. And every time I see one of the kids grab some of the coloured construction paper (which means I usually can't read the notes), the heavier card stock, the graph/manuscript/dotted thirds lines paper, I take a moment to go 'don't use that, use the real scrap paper'. And mostly they do, but sometimes they just grab what is on top. And when what is on top is what has just come out of someone's desk drawer, it could be anything.

The sorting was pretty simple. I took the top 15-20cm off the pile (of ~30cm), and then anything I didn't care about that was roughly A4 sized went straight back on. Coloured paper and construction card were put in one pile; all the other 'precious' paper types in another, and scrap that was smaller than A4 was either sorted into a notepad pile or binned. The 'precious' papers have been put at the other end of the shelf (vertically, between existing dividers), and the small note pads have been put on top, so that they can be used first. Random bits of card, covers off scrapbooks, pieces too small, all in the bin.

And now I have a neat and tidy shelf, and I know that if I grab the top piece of paper off the active pile, it will be something I can throw out after I've used it, because it really is scrap.

Comments

[adafrog]

Yay!

[fred_mouse]

:}

[adair]

I have begun sorting through a batch of magazines I kept in a biggish basket with a handle. These were some I did not toss because of the ususl 'it might have good advice." I did get ride of the Consumer Reports from 2009 and 2013, kept because of specific articles that are now certainly out of date. I also tossed a batch of Organizing magazines; I know all the suggestions they have for storing books and cds, and what I lack is enough space to build these wonderful storage units. Pictures of ideal, and prettily arranged book cases don't do anything for my needs, so out they go. I also have 3 Trycylce and Shambhala Sun magazines - Buddhist stuff that I read once and apparently thought I might read again. These are from 2015 - out they went.

It does not make a lot of space, although I can use the basket for more current items, but it does mean I let go of things I hung on to for vague reasons. That is always a problem for me - I am happy to have conquered that practice at least in the case of this basket

[fred_mouse]

Good job on realising that the reasons you kept things are no longer valid, and letting go.

[peaceful_sands]

I was going to say that I hadn't done anything (apart from another box set of DVDs - but that would have been boring!) but then I realised there is a crate at the bottom of the stairs which I have filled with stationery supplies - files, folders, wallets, plastic inserts, dividers, slip cases, notepads and the like - my nephew is about to change schools and I had a bit of a stock pile of supplies that with my change of job last year I now don't progress through as quickly (these were self-bought, not taken from work I hasten to add). Rather than my sister having to buy 'everything' I am passing these onward to them so they don't just go to waste. Once he's there and knows more definitely what he needs, she's going to come back to me and see if I have any of that spare. Kids invariably seem to stick things on and draw all over their folders etc, so just because some of these are in boring colours shouldn't matter. I have also earmarked a set of desk trays (of the in/out/pending variety if you know what I mean), that I shall offer for his homework space once he's settling into doing homework should it help. He isn't currently in the habit of regular homework practice or of having a given organised space in which to tackle it - there is a possibility this may change with the school move.

[fred_mouse]

A crate of stationery supplies is quite the feat! I know what you mean though - I have a stash in the laundry that I used to keep stocked for each new school year, and then take from it what was needed. I really need to add that to my list of things to sort through and declutter.

[yukonsally]

Exactly! Even straightening up a desk or clearing the dining room table (...what? I mean..) has a great impact on our attitudes and ability to work within the space. That's why some people need a clean desk to work!

[fred_mouse]

I must admit, while I don't *need* a clean desk, I do like working at one.