I’ve been extremely remiss this year with my in-home decluttering projects. I’d allowed piles of “stuff” to accumulate not only in the storage room but throughout the apartment. It was throwing off my vibe. Fortunately, astrology came to the rescue and I spent the last few days tackling my mess. It feels so good.

And major shout-out to the AstroTwins for getting me off my butt with this month’s horoscope.

Over the next two weeks focus on your top home goals and go on a decluttering mission. This is a huge and important transition, and you need to take it one tuned-in step at a time!

AstroTWINS, Leo Horoscope 10/21-11/3/19

Fortunately not only were the stars aligned but I was really in the mood.

For decluttering to be productive and satisfying, you have to be “in the zone” and absolutely ruthless when it comes to what gets tossed vs. what stays. If you’re dithering and undecided about every little item, the job will take forever and nothing gets accomplished.

I read on clutterfreenow that going through your stuff is like a historic excavation which is why it’s often such a struggle. Some people even consider decluttering sacred work. I know that’s not true for me. I’ve been into minimal-living for years so decluttering is now more about organizing than anguishing over whether I need to hang on to some sentimental trinket or send it on its way.

This weekend has been so fulfilling.

The place looks great. Besides tossing and donating quite a few things, I’ve reorganized bookshelves and closets. I went through all the files and paperwork cluttering up my desk. I even checked financial documents so I am in good shape for tax season.

Scroll down for 5 highlights of the “big declutter” as well as photo-documentation of my handiwork.

Highlights from the big “declutter”

1. Old stuff is heavy. I was shocked at how heavy old tech gadgets are versus newer models. My old printer must have weighed a gazillion pounds versus the one I have now. I got rid of the heavy one a few months ago but in reorganizing my desk, I realized I now have all this extra storage space where the printer used to live. Also, I no longer have a desktop computer so I rearranged my desk around that as well. If you’re wondering about the guitars and amps (pics below), I have not joined a band. Brad, however, has co-opted that space and turned it into his recording studio.
2. When you don’t know what you’ve got, you end up buying duplicates. In cleaning out the storage room and the kitchen cabinets, I realized I had five jars of mustard stashed away and three hoisin sauces. I also had multiples of cleaning products that I just kept reordering because I hadn’t seen them in the mess.
3. The energy shifts when you get rid of stuff. I feel so much “lighter” with all this excess stuff gone. Also, when you reorganize things, it changes the vibe. Everything feels fresh.
4. As I now look around my home, I only see things I love. That is probably one of the most profoundly satisfying and pleasurable things about decluttering.
5. NYC Sanitation Department’s Bulk Pickup Service is amazing. It works like a charm. Not much in the city works well these days but the people working at the Dept. of Sanitation are my heroes. I had a super heavy 70lb door in the storage room that I’d been wanting to get rid of. The hardest part was dragging it down three flights of stairs (thank you, Brad!). But arranging for the pick up online was a breeze and sure enough, the next morning, the door was gone just as they promised.

Photos of my handiwork

Storage room: BEFORE. What can I say? A mess!!

STORAGE ROOM: AFTER. Feels so good to have this room organized. Less about tossing than organizing here.

desk/office: before. Not bad but hadn’t been attended to or given any love in a while.

Desk/office: After. Shelves Reorganized, displaying new items.

Kitchen: Before. Again, more of an organization project than decluttering.

Kitchen: after. A place for everything and everything in its place.

A word about donations.

Everyone is decluttering, few people are acquiring.

DO NOT bring your cast-offs to Goodwill or Housing Works just because you feel bad about tossing them. If an item is not in top-notch condition, in good working order or still useful, don’t bother donating it.

In these post-Kondo times, everyone has been decluttering and thrift and second-hand stores are up to their eyeballs in stuff nobody wants. Housing Works has actually limited the hours during which they accept donations for this very reason.

My recommendation is to be more mindful of what we buy in the first place.

Bottom Line.

I’m not a big Marie Kondo fan but I do believe there is something very satisfying and “right” about decluttering your home and ridding it of items that no longer reflect your values or your tastes.

I also believe in doing this kind of work at the end of the year so that you can go into the New Year without a lot of clutter weighing you down.

I have some other year-end rituals I’ll be writing about over the next few weeks.

In the meanwhile on this rainy, dismal Sunday in NY, I’ll be finishing my declutter mission focusing on my bedroom closets and the bathrooms. Then, ta da, I’ll be done. I will add those photos to this post as well.

Stay dry and have a great Sunday everyone!!