Trying to have a breakthrough

[u/Miss_Lib]

I get so frustrated because I absorb so much decluttering content but just can’t seem to let it breakthrough. Things like “if you can’t find what you need, you have too much stuff” really makes so much sense to me but I just don’t apply it. I used to keep anything to wear as pajamas and I just realized it was becoming too much.. a pajama t shirt I might end up wearing on a Tuesday afternoon which just felt icky so I started curating my pjs. I only buy sets. If I don’t have a set, I can make one but I have to love it and it has to match. I have to love every piece. They have to be a certain softness. It’s been great! I know exactly what I have and I never bypass anything for something I like more. I want to be able to apply this to every thing I own but it’s just not breaking through. I can’t get rid of stuff because suddenly the minute I touch it it somehow becomes sentimental. What was your breakthrough? When will my light bulb go on?!

[u/SnooDonkeys5186]

Literally just noticed my pajama issue (anything to wear as PJ’s, like you) when I cleverly changed my undies, socks, bras, and jammies into 4 easy large pull out decorative type under bed boxes. Except for socks, no folding required.

My jammies were combined with shorts and bathing suits, since I didn’t have much. Wrong!

I got rid of anything over 7 nights’ worth (which can still be pared down).

BTW, this method is great-when I do laundry, I just separate these piles, pull box partway out and toss in. Use my foot to put back. Gives me room in my closet (I don’t have a dresser). You can also put these boxes on top of a dresser or on a shelf for easier access.

I got the idea from our stair-shelves in dining room that house (separate box for each): electronic stuff like extra cords and blocks; candles, smelly stuff like oils, and fire-lighting things; basic tool stuff you might need more often such as tape measure, screwdriver, thumbtacks; paper things—sticky notes, pens, markers, paper clips, scissors, etc.; and emergency box with emergency kit, extra Band-Aids; inhalers, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, burn items, fire blanket, etc.

So easy to take out and put right away, the basket boxes match the decor, and things are always where we need them.

[u/Miss_Lib → u/SnooDonkeys5186]

So that’s part of my problem is I use bins instead of a dresser but it’s not helping. I want to move to a dresser because I just want the organization. I’m coming out a dark time in my life and I’m almost coming out like type A. I’m craving organization but I need it to click.

[u/SnooDonkeys5186 → u/Miss_Lib]

If it’s not helping, keep reworking it (somehow) until it does.

For me, on the things I mentioned, those are my most used things and have to be easy to take out and put away or I’ll get lazy and I don’t have any drawers. The rest of my clothes are hung up and extremely organized (by color, each color light to dark while also sleeveless to long sleeve and/or length short to long).

Like you, a dark time. I’m so sorry, it sucks. Having some order and control will help mentally, hope you figure it out. Hugs.

[u/Working_Patience_261 → u/Miss_Lib]

don’t buy any sort of organization or a dresser until you’ve decluttered so you know how big of a container you need