De-cluttering (again)

              

Think I may developing a slightly obsessive trait to my personality. I have got rid of make up that's surplus to requirement, significantly and ruthlessly whittled down my wardrobe (though still holding out for a new pole to be fitted and new hangers so it looks even tidier) and bagged clothes for friends to reject before taking it down to Oxfam. Went through my documents cupboard and got rid of old magazines that I'm never going to read (but kept the National Geographics as they will help with my planning of world trip to obscure places), got rid of old Times Educational Supplements under my bed. In short, I is on a roll.

Coming to many realisations; mainly that I just have too much 'stuff' and that stuff consumes too much personal time and energy -the amount of time I spend tidying my wardrobe because it's bursting at the seams, the amount of time I spend sorting through paperwork. It's all too much.That's just on a personal level, we've not even looked at the environmental or societal costs
With work as well, biggest bugbear at the moment is that my emails are sinking me and that really drains my energy, not to mention all the paperwork that I need to sort out. Soooo, whilst I'm really an age away from the inspirational people who live a totally clutter-free and waste free life, these are my resolves following the start of my journey to minimalism:

1. No printing of personal things to read at work
2.  Minimal printing of work documents (never print emails or directions - write down notes in notebook)
3.  Don't buy newspapers or magazines (apart from New African which can't be read online)
4. Go to re-fill Ecover products - don't buy new plastic bottles
5.  Don't buy new books - borrow from the library and read ones currently owned
6. Really take care of what I do have so they last longer, polish and re-heel shoes, fix broken zips and buttons, wash clothes and beddings appropriately
7.  The only notebooks I need are: daily notes, work notes and diary - nothing else)
8.  I have enough souvenirs from around the world - my memories can be captured in my photos
9.  In as much as I love CDs and sleeves etc, I end up scratching them and breaking cases, so buy all new music as downloads and save a kazillion times once I have my BOSE set (yes I know that's another acquisition but it means that my broken disc player can go
10.  It's ok to pay a bit more for things that last or that look good or help to decrease clutter (i.e matching hangers that don't damage clothes) but recognise it's not an investment