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    Home » Random Stuff

    Life-changing Tips for Editing & Organizing

    May 26, 2024 by Karen 61 Comments

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    In January I performed organizational open heart surgery on my house. I'm happy to report we both survived the calamity of decluttering. I'm now so organized Philip wags his tail in alphabetical order. This is how I did it.

    nope. still haven't replaced the sofa.

    Let's get one thing straight from the get-go. When I say this edit & organize was life changing, I mean it.

    I also mean it when I say that about Butter Pecan ice cream.

    But in this case I mean it even more. Organizing and getting rid of stuff, even stuff I loved and used, changed my life. Yes, for the better.

    I didn't even really have that much stuff. But I had more stuff than I had space. I also had a psychotic amount of vases.

    Table of Contents

    • How it Happened
    • What I did
    • Life Changing Benefits
    • Maintenance Tips

    How it Happened

    Any home improvement project starts with a good SNAP. One tiny thing after another tiny thing eventually adds up to you coyote-screaming in your living room. Within 8 hours of that scream, you'll be taking action on whatever caused your snapshow.

    It didn't involve drywall or pry bars but getting rid of stuff with abandon was one of my favourite and most impactful home improvement projects to date.

    Editing & organizing is like adding a room to your house and an hour to your day.

    That was my experience anyway. I did a similar thing 15 years ago when I got rid of almost everything I owned and started new.

    What I did

    First Edit then Organize

    This isn't a guide to having a Home Edit look with matching baskets holding 2 decanted bottles of laundry detergent. It's a guide to getting rid of shit that's annoying you and making your life easier.

    1. I went through every drawer, closet, cabinet and shelf in the house getting rid of everything I didn't need. Like what? Like multiple sets of dishes, decorations, VASES, art, kitchen appliances, clothing, electronics, lamps and on and on. Everything. You can read about the main process I went through here.
    2. Got rid of a 2nd laundry basket. I had one laundry basket in the bathroom and one in my bedroom. I never did laundry until they were both full. Cutting down to 1 laundry basket (right beside the washing machine) keeps me on track because SOMETIMES instead of throwing my laundry in the basket I PUT IT RIGHT IN THE WASHING MACHINE.
    3. I evicted things I liked or loved, but couldn't justify their space. I would look at something and if the thought of storing it for the next 20 years gave me tingling toe anxiety, I got rid of it. Which is in keeping with my motto, get rid of anything that sparks anxiety.
    1. Sold my Eames Chair and ottoman. Anyone who knows the back story of this chair knows the significance of me getting rid of it. I loved it but the thought of having to walk around that ottoman for another 20 years made me itch.
    2. Got rid of hundreds of CDs, and cassettes I worked as a music reporter for a few years and accumulated pretty much every CD ever made during those years. I already use Spotify and love it, so I saved my favourite albums there and created playlists. I kept my vinyl and got rid of all my CDs except for a few that are rare.
    3. Made a Google Sheet of my Christmas Card list. This to replace my previous system of ripping the return addresses off the Christmas cards I received and then dropping those ripped shreds into random drawers around the house.
    4. All new bras, socks and underwear. This is something I've wanted to do for years and organizing gave me an excuse to do it. Multiple pairs of plain white and plain black sport socks that I like to wear instead of slippers. No more worrying about matching socks. In terms of casual socks they all match now.
    Remember when I said that purging is as good as adding an entire room onto your house? This is what I mean. This is one corner of things that I edited away from my home. Imagine gaining all the space getting rid of this amount of stuff creates.

    That space is what makes life easier. It's easier to find what you need, easier to put it away and therefore easier to stay organized.
    1. I didn't just make things neater; I got rid of stuff. No more Jenga junkpiles. Everything is easy to access and labelled.
    2. I took a month off. It's not how most people want to spend their vacation but a block of time off helps. Getting rid of stuff, especially stuff you like, is easier if you do it all at once because you're perpetually in a "get rid of it" frame of mind.
    3. Once it's out, it's out. Don't second guess yourself & don't bring it back in.

    THIS ISN'T AN EXCUSE TO REPLACE THE OTHER STUFF WITH FUN ORGANIZATIONAL STUFF.

    I bought a few things that I knew would help save me time, money and coyote-screams but I didn't buy a lot. Next week I'll post everything I bought for organizing and making life easier.

    Would you like to save this stuff?

    We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.

    Bonus Tip: Even if something is huge and ridiculous you might decide to keep it. That's O.K. For me it was my candy floss machine.


    Life Changing Benefits

    1. I put things away now because it isn't hard. Nothing topples over in the medicine cabinet when I take out the toothbrush, I don't need a vice to crank my pajama drawer closed.
    2. I have a dedicated snack drawer now. I have to share it with a dog, but it's a fun thing to have regardless.
    1. I'm less frantic because I have so much more time. I genuinely feel like I've gained an hour a day.
    2. I get my prescriptions refilled before I run out instead of days or maybe weeks later because I have time and my mind isn't filled with a jumbled mess. Apparently my mood mirrors my home's interior.
    3. When you aren't overwhelmed with stuff it's easy to stay organized.
    4. My seedlings have never looked better.
    5. My basement has NEVER been more functional.

    I always said hours of my life was taken up with finding things and trying to put them away. I didn't realize just how true that was.

    EVERYTHING from making dinner to doing laundry is easier now. Everything has a place that it easily fits into and out of which makes grabbing my drill to fix something easier. LIFE CHANGING.

    Grabbing a pan and utensils to make dinner is easier. Tidying up the house quickly is simple because now there's a place for everything to go.

    Picking a vase for flowers is definitely easier.

    When in doubt always go with the Plantasaurus Rex obviously.

    Maintenance Tips

    I keep these few tips in my head at all times because I am now rather militant about maintaining this newfound hour a day.

    • Don't put it down, put it away.
    • If it's going to take less than 30 seconds to do, just do it.
    • Keep it up. Decluttering is an ongoing thing.

    I've sat in front of my laptop for half an hour trying to think of the perfect way to convey to you how helpful organizing has been and the best thing I can come up with is an example that happened the other night.

    I was taking the garbage out and couldn't open the gate I hide my garbage cans behind because the step to my potting shed had shifted and was blocking the gate.

    Normally this would have prompted me to smash the gate open with a sledgehammer because that would be faster and easier than fixing the problem.

    Instead I lifted the offending step, moved the gravel underneath of it, reset the step and opened the gate. There was no swearing, rushing, crying or coyote sounds.

    I just did it.

    My motivational advice to you? Set a date and just do it.

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    1. Vicki

      August 09, 2024 at 11:26 am

      I REALLY need to do this but I live with a husband who can’t quite seem to get onboard. But we got some new den furniture and that gave me a reason to do a total clean-up of our den and outlaw dining in the recliner which led to decluttering the kitchen table. Baby steps!

      Reply
    2. Lili

      June 05, 2024 at 4:32 pm

      Ugh!! This is EXACTLY the article I needed at this time in my life!! Our house still had most of the original 1974 kitchen, we are finally gutting it after 26 years of living here! So I must purge many cabinets and drawer spaces of accumulated items I rarely and 'one-day-I-hope-to' use. I SO needed this motivation and curt approach, reassuring me how good it will feel after I evict these items from my life. I'd love to write more but I have some radical organization I need to get to!

      Reply
      • Karen

        June 07, 2024 at 12:33 pm

        Good luck! Keep me updated. Honestly honestly life changing. ~ karen!

        Reply
    3. Michelle Runge

      May 28, 2024 at 11:25 pm

      I love you. Because of how you make me happy. Sometimes life sucks and then I read you. Then I get back on track! So thank you for that. whew. I have began a home staging business with the "crap" and "stuff" I almost donated and now have a whole new career! I have a hard time departing with my favorite goodies and decided to share my loved collections with others. It's a win for us all. My problem is the glassware my aunt gave me from grandma's china closet. Where's the guilt in that karma?
      My moto: Get out of your rut and into your groove!
      All of my good groove to you my friend! Michelle

      Reply
      • Karen

        May 30, 2024 at 12:47 am

        Why thank you Michelle. I catch your groove. ~ karen!

        Reply
    4. Judy

      May 28, 2024 at 3:46 pm

      I am curious about the signature artwork on your wall. Is there a story there?

      Reply
      • Michelle Runge

        May 28, 2024 at 11:32 pm

        I always dial in on that piece too! It's so cool!

        Reply
      • Karen

        May 30, 2024 at 12:45 am

        Hi Judy. There sure is a story! A favourite artist of mine is Cy Twombly. However I'll never be able to afford one of his works, and if I could there are so many fakes out there that I'd be afraid to buy it anywhere other than an art auction. He was a ... I don't want to say graffiti artist, but some of his work did have that street tone. So to curb my craving for his art, I forged his signature on a huge canvas I painted white. It is now my Cy Twombly. ~ karen!

        Reply
    5. Melissa

      May 28, 2024 at 6:59 am

      I read the book, "Nobody Wants Your Shit." It's like "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" except written more as a step-by-step guide by someone with snark-- someone like you, ironically. Karen, did you secretly write this book?

      Either way, it's helping me to slowly purge & to tackle those projects that Ive been waiting to do-- so kind of like SODS.

      Hmmm, now I really am wondering if Messie Condo is your pen name...

      Reply
    6. Hettie

      May 27, 2024 at 8:44 pm

      Well done indeed! I'm due another clutter purge. As soon as the garden is well established I'm on it!

      Reply
    7. Jody

      May 27, 2024 at 8:20 pm

      You are a wonder woman. This post is so inspirational. I'm dang organized but still sometimes life gets chaotic and disorganized and this definitely shows up in my alter ego and the F bombs are flying. The front room has been a dumping ground due to a renovation project which will be soon be completed. I can't wait to get in that room and have some crazy cleaning fun.

      Reply
    8. trish

      May 27, 2024 at 7:46 pm

      Thank you as always Karen ! Life changing decision and month that's gonna ripple out into so many lives eg mine, my daughter's , her circle ... the vases photo is my favourite pic still laughing and not sharing pics of inside my two top kitchen cupboards in a 14 (small) cupboard kitchen. Thank you !

      Reply
    9. Ann

      May 27, 2024 at 3:26 pm

      LOVE THIS! "Get rid of anything that sparks anxiety!" Going through a similar purge process myself. I'll never be a minimalist, but I'm tired of managing everything (or not actually managing anything because there's just too much). Diving in...wish me luck.
      (Very sorry about your Eames chair and ottoman, but sounds like it had to be done.)

      Reply
    10. Cara

      May 27, 2024 at 2:58 pm

      Well, this is a pretty amazing post. You ARE the warrior princess: courage, fortitude and now peace as a result. I have one question ? Besides the Eames chair and ottoman, did you try to make any money on what you discarded? The reason I ask is that instead of just getting rid of things (donate) I delay because I tell myself something has a value and someone would love it so much they'd happily pay me to own it. This desire for profit as well as need to discard immediately puts on the brakes to eliminating objects. A tag sale is not the answer. Even if you do all the work "customers" nag at you and get nasty about the price you've assigned. Any advice, please??? OH and p.s. you have done a very good job and should be very proud of yourself. I'll bet it was a huge help to your mental state of peace and calmness.

      Reply
      • Addie

        May 30, 2024 at 3:34 pm

        Cara,
        I LOVED your last sentence, I'll bet it was a huge help to your mental state of peace and calmness." I too, slowly, have been doing this. Friend had a garage sale last weekend....2 days and I made $80.....??? Not really worth it. Besides staying there, pricing, washing and hauling back and forth...??? Yeah...this caused anxiety. Big time.
        My new plan, as I have much more to do, is to think that I enjoyed/used and have moved on from these items. Donate. Bigger items sell on media sites. Freeing up space feels GREAT!!!

        Reply
    11. Vikki

      May 27, 2024 at 2:46 pm

      Along with your best advice--sometimes, there's nothing to do but to do it!!
      (You certainly were over vase-d!) Good job!

      Reply
      • Wendy

        May 28, 2024 at 1:28 am

        Bravo for decluttering your life. But, please, tell us what you DID with all your stuff. Hold a garage sale? Donate it to charities? Sell it through Nextdoor, Craigslist, etc. This is the dilemma my husband and I are facing as we prepare to downsize to a smaller home. What do you do with a lifetime of accumulations?

        Reply
    12. Alice

      May 27, 2024 at 2:24 pm

      Thank you for this posting. You might have changed my life!

      Reply
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    My name is Karen Bertelsen and I was a television host. In Canada. Which means in terms of notoriety and wealth, I was somewhere on par with the manager of a Sunset Tan in Wisconsin.

    I quit television to start a blog with the goal that I could make my living through blogging and never have to host a television show again. And it’s worked out. I’m making a living blogging. If you’re curious, this is how I do that.

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