how to declutter your home after 50

One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to stay out of craft stores, and the other was to get rid of half of everything I own. So I need to learn how to declutter your home after 50!

The first one isn’t going very well.

The second one is one I am honestly working hard on.

So how did I get myself into this mess of so much junk?

Well let me tell you a story.

When I was 18 I joined the Army. From that moment till my 3 years after my husband’s retirement we moved every few years. When you move with the Army you have a weight limit. So many times we did a purge and cleaned out all that stuff we didn’t need or want anymore.

Three years after he retired we purchased our first home. And it was like it was my goal to fill this huge house up.

Twelve years later I am regretting that. Stuff needs to go

Decluttering Tips for Women over 50

My first tip is

Find what motivates you!

Right now I want to remodel my kitchen! We, my husband and I, also want to start to travel more.

The clutter brings me down into a depression. So does my very old kitchen, but you get this.

I want a different lifestyle, but first the old one needs to go. I can’t be traveling knowing that my home looks like this.

When I come home I need it to be a respite. A place of peace and to recharge. Living amongst all this clutter does not fit this description.

If you haven’t used it in a year or more it needs to go

Now I am not saying this applies to everything. But most things? Yes!

My Dad told me if you have a moving box that you didn’t open from the last move do you really need it?

He was a very smart man, my Dad.

Declutter one of my closets. I did have a box I never unpacked from 12 years ago. And I am happy to announce that box is now on it’s way to the Goodwill.

Stop saying I may need that someday

I am an avid crafter. The joke goes that crafters are collectors of craft supplies. I recently moved my Mom. And if I am over 50 then well, you do the math. Her craft room was out of control. But when I returned home I was like: She isn’t the only one.

I have a ton of supplies for that project I want to do someday. Or for the project I started and then lost interest in or was distracted and never finished.

I couldn’t even walk into my craft area without feeling overwhelmed and depressed. It was in disarray, and stuff was just piled everywhere. I will tell you I just got rid of a lot of it. Stuff I have kept for multiple moves for that someday projects. I had to admit that those projects were never going to happen.

I also had to admit that if I decided to do that project the chance that I would actually be able to find the supplies in my mess were slim to none. So chances are I would just go and buy it again and then have duplicates.

So far I have cleaned off my supply shelves and I will tell you the stuff I hauled out to the car for Goodwill has really lifted my mood. Let someone else benifit from my forgotten projects.

And an added bonus, I can find the stuff I need on those shelves now!

Don’t just save things for their sentimental value

Yesterday as I was cleaning out my closet I found an old stuffed bear with a heart that said, Best Mom. It was cute, but, I didn’t remember what kid had given it to me. It was stuffed in the back of a closet so it was not a great priority. I talked to my youngest who said that she had given it to me.

Now this kid is helping me in my declutter/get rid of stuff journey. She turned and looked at me and said, “no, it won’t hurt my feelings”. She knew I had wanted to send it to the Goodwill. So it’s not the bear that meant a lot, but the daughter who got what Mom actually wanted. And that was priceless.

Savor the memories, not the objects! They are worth so much more!

Furniture isn’t sacred

This one is so hard for me. I have a table, a rocking chair and a dining room table that were my Mom’s and my Grandma’s. I will never part with them. They have been on a lot of moves with me. So many memories made around that dining room table. And I remember my grandma sitting in that chair at that small round table crocheting the dolly that now sits on it. My husband gets this and thankfully these aren’t big pieces and fit in nice with our decor.

The thing is we got a new couch for Christmas. I love it! The old one just wasn’t my style any longer. So tell me why the old loveseat now resides in my dining room? Hubby wants me to take it to the curb, but I have yet been able to do that. I need to learn to let go of that.

It was expensive. We have many family memories of all the kids watching movies sitting on that couch. But it needs to go. I need to call someone and have it hauled away. Putting that on my todo list for this afternoon.

Again, it is the memories not the stuff.

The Beginning of the Journey

This is just the beginning of my journey. It is a big house! This was just starting my work area. I will be sure to update you along the ways!

Remember to give yourself grace! You didn’t accumulate it all in a day. It’s going to take more than a day to get it all under control!