A few years ago, our family went on some away rotations to five different cities for five months. We had three kids at the time. Everything we took had to fit in our car. The only toys we brought were a basket of cars, the game Jenga, and one stuffed animal. We each packed five outfits only. You can read more about it HERE. From that experience, we learned a valuable lesson, we don’t need all of this STUFF that we accumulate. Our kids didn’t talk about any of their toys from home ONCE!!! They were perfectly content with what they had— cars and jenga— and whatever cool things we found on our walks outside.
For the last year, my husband and I have been trying to declutter our life more than ever. Having four young kids (hurricanes) has thrown us for a loop— things aren’t as clean as they used to be! And to be honest, we have looked around so many times thinking, “Where did all of this stuff come from?”
Maybe you can relate to how we felt. Too much stuff. Too many clothes in our closets, too many toys that just made messes and weren’t played with. Gifts from others that we just didn’t use but felt obligated to keep, TOO MUCH STUFF! For the last six months we have been filling bags in our garage– testing life without these things as we have tried to get all of the excess OUT. As we slowly cleaned out every room, we didn’t miss any of it! It felt so good to get rid of things. I feel like our life feels lighter. There are fewer messes, we can think more clearly, and our things aren’t running our life, and we are not so overwhelmed!
We donated almost everything. Here is the picture of our thrift store load! 20 bags +!
And by the way, the thrift store came and picked everything up for us! (We donated to Deseret Industries) Your stuff can start to own you. It’s amazing how much we can live without. Shopping doesn’t bring the joy that it used to, but I love saving money and spending my time on more important things.
If you are ready to DECLUTTER your life, look no further! The following book recommendations really helped us. Also, we recently attended a great class at BYU Education Week by Marie C. Ricks (I have included my notes from the class below) Our Book Recommendations:
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo
The More of Less (Especially Love this one!) by Joshua Becker
I LOVED this class I went to at BYU Education Week! This lady Marie C. Ricks really knows what she’s talking about!
PUT YOUR LIFE IN ORDER
By Marie C. Ricks
Check out her website HERE.
“Set in order the things that are wanting.” Titus 1:5
When we start to make collections, we reduce our ability to form attachments.
Says in Luke, get rid of half ALWAYS.
“HE THAT HATH TWO COATS, LET HIM IMPART TO HIM THAT HATH NONE.”
My thoughts: If you can declutter your life by 50%, your ability to feel the spirit will increase. You will feel better, function better, and create more of a refuge for your soul to gather strength as you go out and fight the battles that you have in daily life.
Keep in your life tools that are used to help others.
If you want to start decluttering your life, start in your personal spaces. Start in your closet, then your room, then your desk, laundry room kitchen, bedrooms, common areas, storage rooms.
50%!!! Take courage and give it to people who need it more than you. Donate, donate, DONATE. And then DON’T replace it!
My thoughts: This makes total sense to me. You must cleanse your inner vessel before you can begin to help the world around you— most importantly my husband and children. If my life is crazy and out of order, I can’t care for the world around me as well. So start in your personal places and go from there.
TOO MUCH TO DO IN TOO LITTLE TIME
Most of us are over committed.
Learn how to say no.
“I appreciate you asking, I am not going to be able to do that. Thank you for asking.”
Tell them what you CAN do. For instance, “I can’t do it this time, but I cannot do it at THIS time.”
Or if you really don’t want to do it, say “Contact me in six years.” (haha!)
“If you don’t learn to say no, you will never be able to say YES.”— especially when it really counts.
If a person asks you to do something while you are face to face, you don’t ever have to say yes right away. Let them know that you will think about it and get back to them. It’s OKAY to say, “Let me get back to you about that.”
THE ESSENTIALS
Do what is essential FIRST. You, spouse, children, etc.
A juggler can juggle three balls. If they are asked to juggle 4 balls, it takes almost 6 months for a juggler to learn to juggle one more thing! It’s okay to say no or say that you need some time.
When you are going through new situations such as a new baby, moving, new job, or other big life changes, just say no. Take care to get your life in order first.
Be An Organized Person
An organized person is always working to solve problems, you do not have to live with them. Solve one problem however small every day whether it is a problem with your house, car, family member, etc.
My problems:
-I am currently working on giving my four year old more attention. He can tend to get lost in the shuffle with two old siblings overshadowing him and needing so much attention themselves. It’s a work in progress!
The Lord is a God of solutions.
Figure out how to be a solver of problems.
Elder Scott had a problem with getting organized.
Satan works very hard so that the Essential things won’t happen
Give up the nonessential, especially MEDIA.
MEDIA USE
Dinner hour is always a non-media hour.
There is nothing more deadening to relationships than when you are preoccupied in someone else’s presence. (put electronics completely away)
Take the media OUT.
TURN IT OFF.
Media free days on Sunday
Marie told a few stories about how electronics have been ruining so many families and relationships that she has worked with personally! So sad!
What is going to start happening in your life when you eliminate half of everything?
I challenge myself to be UNDERCOMMITTED AND ORGANIZED
When you make changes to declutter your life, you are going to get very
-Uncomfortable
-Distressed
-Disgusted
-Discouraged
Some people are nesters
If it’s not useful to you or them, it is not necessary.
STOP. SLOW DOWN. FOCUS. AND CHANGE.
“And they began again to prosper and to wax great.. and there was great order in the land…”
A worm—— eats dirt and then spits dirt.— in the same way, we use what we need and then get rid of the rest!
Instead of being owners, be stewards. A steward uses their things until they don’t need them anymore and then they give them to someone else who can use it.
Plan and Prepare, BUDGET
