We had to evacuate our house a week ago. It was scary. The fire was nearly on top of our house. Literally 500m away with a 60km/h wind blowing it straight towards us. I really thought that was it. Livery yards around us were moving horses while nosey onlookers were blocking our drive way… I had to ask them to “please move your car, we need to evacuate".
Seriously. Some people really can’t think for themselves.
They would’ve probably been the same people taking a video while all our belongings burn to the ground.
Miraculously (there is no other word for what happened) the wind changed direction all of a sudden and for a short while a little rain fell.
But during it all the hardest decision to make was what to take and what to leave. All of a sudden my entire life boiled down to a maximum of 30 minutes to take what you can and run.
I don’t see myself as a hoarder. I chuck stuff out very easily. If it has no use why keep it? It only gathers dust. I won’t say I’m not sentimental, but I’m realistic about what I need and what I don’t. I’d rather give clothes that I haven’t worn for a year to someone who needs it and will use it.
My short list of necessities started with the dogs and my cat, their food, important documents, photo albums, a toothbrush, other bathroom stuff, shoes, saddles, bridles etc., a computer, the TV, and some odds and ends from the kitchen that I will never be able to replace. That was about it. The rest could’ve all gone up in smoke…oh yes…nearly forgot…I saved the chocolate from the fridge.
Anyway…after unpacking all our things I decided that it was a good time to declutter. Here are some tips I got from the internet.
Whether you tackle it as part of downsizing effort or simply to simplify your life, decluttering an entire home is a big job.
The best way to tackle it is in stages - to focus on one room, one space, or even one zone within a room (like your kitchen cabinets), completing the job fully before moving on to the next space. This will also build confidence as you experience visible success at each step.
You don't need fancy tools to declutter your home, but you do need five baskets or bins defined for these five purposes:
Put Away: This container is for items that have crept out of their storage spaces. This could mean a coffee cup in the bathroom or a sweatshirt in the kitchen. These are items that will go back in their designated spots.
Recycle: This bin is for items that need to be recycled, such as paper, plastic or glass.
Fix/Mend: Use this container for items that need further tinkering, such as a pair of shoes that you love but which need to be cleaned.
Trash: Designate one basket for items that are simply trash—things that can go into the household trash immediately.
Donate: Designate one bit for items that you can donate to a charitable organization or another person. These should be items you can imagine another person wanting or needing.
You can use bins, baskets or even just cardboard boxes for this task. You can bring these bins into each room as you declutter or leave them in a central place in your home while you work. The important thing is that you don't go hunting for containers while you're decluttering—set up the bins before you begin.
