I never knew, when I planed out doing a packing party, that it would turn out to be as hard as it was.
It sounded so easy, this idea about doing one room at a time, for just a few days. And I had this notion that it would go by in a flash, and would reap large rewards in decluttered items.
Well, that’s not quite what happened, as you probably have gathered from how long it actually took me to do this!
I started out real good, and then somewhere half way, I ran into a bump, mostly due to the fact that I really didn’t have enough boxes to pack things in. And I did not like how cluttered my guest room was becoming, from all the discarded items from my other rooms. My own fault, as I couldn’t seem to get the items out the door, because I was fumbling around, never taking the time to actually take the pictures and sit down and write the post about them. Yeah, my bad, I know!
I’m telling you, it will be a long time before I try something like this again… if ever 😉
I did learn a thing or two though during my declutter party!
I learned that I obviously have short staying power… the first days out, I wanted to do my whole house all in one, but as I had said I would do one room at a time, I had to pace myself… Yeah! I’m not good at that. I’m more of the the get it done now kinda person, rather than the slow haul kinda person… guess I should keep that in mind for my next project 😉
I also learned that as much as I had decluttered, there are still “mountains” of stuff left that could probably go out-the-door, but I have also learned that sometimes we need time, before we are “ready” to let it out of our lives.
The things that have left my building during this packing party, are things that have survived several culling before, and I can see there are a few items, that made it through this round, that will most likely go out the door, next time around (after I’ve had a minute to think about it).
I guess this is just the way it is, slow and steady getting there, on our path towards minimalism!
Even though I never quite got rid of as much as I hoped I would, there was a few rooms that surprised me in the “loots” they provided.
I expected to find most of my stuff in the living room and guest room, this is not quite how it turned out, even though these rooms wielded the bigger items. It was the kitchen and my bedroom that surprised me most, as these where the rooms I was sure I had already gotten down to the “bare bones”. Guess it just goes to show, that we change our level of needs and wants as we move along minimising our possessions.
Since I have called this post packing party – a sum up, I guess it’s only fair to let you in on what my packing party amounted to in out-the-door items.
So here it is a total of 194 items out-the-door!Â
- Bathroom – 33 items
- Bedroom – 54 items
- Kitchen – 51 items
- Living room – 26 items
- Guest room – 30 items
Not quite the number I was hoping for, but chipping away at it will get me there in the end 🙂 Fortunately this time around there was a few “big” ticket items, leaving me with a bit more “empty” space as a result!
As with a lot of things in life, it’s easier when you get a little help along the way. I could not have done this without some of my fellow bloggers, who have either decluttered alongside with me or cheered me on. There are to many to mention, but you all know who you are 😉 All I can say is, Thank you!
Minimalist Sometimes 
I’ve been waiting for this post! 🙂
And, I’ve also decided that my goal is to get things out the door so that when my kids move out (and that’ll be in like 15 years or so haha!) I’ll be ready to move to a very small apartment with very few things in it. How’s that for letting it take its time? 😄😄
Good job, you!
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Ha, ha – you wish it will only be 15 years or so, right 😉 It’s good to have a loooong time plan… but a 15 years plan??? 😉
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When I first heard about a packing party, on The Minimalists, I knew it wouldn’t work for me. First my lifestyle is different from theirs. I am a mother, grandmother, crafter, and diy-er so packing then getting rid of what I didn’t use in a week or month would be crazy. Take my crochet hooks for one. I may not use a particular hook for a few months but then I need it for a project. With that said I was interested in how doing a room at a time packing party would pan out for you. You did great, almost 200 items out the door. Now what will you do with the empty spaces in your home from the big items leaving? When I did my big purge I ended up with so many empty spaces that I felt the apartment no longer suited me and was left with two options fill those spaces with something else or move. I moved.
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I get how it don’t work for everyone, and I don’t think the original packing party would have worked all that much for me either, as I like you, have stuff I only use once or twice a year… Still, packing up one room at a time did after all wield some result, which kinda was the idea. I love the newly generated empty spaces (which are mostly in my closets and cabinets) and I have no need to fill them up again. Neither do I have any need to move to a smaller place as I LOVE my 818 (or so) square feet house with my small garden 🙂
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I am with you on sometimes needing time to be ‘ready’ to let things go.
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Yeah… some things are really easy to shed.. while others, sometimes needs a bit of time.. I notice it especially around sentimental pieces, either family stuff or things that relates to phases in my own life!
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Thanks for sharing your experience! I’d like to try something similar someday. Lately I’ve been going things a drawer or closet at a time. Even though those numbers aren’t as high as you expected, I think they’re still pretty high considering how much you had eliminated before you even started the packing party! 🙂
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A drawer or a closet at a time is still moving along the path, isn’t it? That’s what I have mostly done before I tried this version of a packing party. I’m sure I will get to my drawer/closet at a time stuff again as it creates less “clutter” 😉 I am a little disappointed in the number of items I shed, but as this really isn’t a numbers game, I have to say that any little thing out the door, is a step in the right direction. And that I’m pleased with.
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194 items is something to be proud of. I would be flat out finding that many items to declutter. I could never be a minimalist.
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I’m not so sure I’m a “minimalist” either.. but I am trying… to get there 😉
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You were so successful! That’s awesome! I have not been so successful… yet. I will get to it… I will… someday… 🙂
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Hey… as far as I can see, you’ve been really busy with a lot of other stuff, so why would you worry about not having found the time to declutter, pft… I don’t wanna hear it, I’m just saying 😉 Decluttering is something you can save as a winter activity, when it’s indoor weather time…
For now, why don’t you just enjoy the fact you have passed your exam, done great on your running, are working on your wedding stuff and all the other stuff you have going on in your life! You blow my mind in all that you are accomplishing…
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In your journey have you ever used the KondoMari Method for decluttering? What you did sounds similar so I was curious if you had taken things from her method and customized them in your efforts.
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I have actually never heard of the KondoMari Method, but I’m certainly going to look it up, now that you have mentioned it 🙂 Thank you! It’s always great hearing about peoples ideas and methods for decluttering, as there is always something new to learn.
I’m fortunate that I’ve always been really good at organizing my stuff, so my places have never really looked “overstuffed”… the journey I’m on now (as you might have seen from my blog) is to reduce the amount of stuff I have and get down to the basics. I’m really fascinated by tiny house living, and I would love to get my possessions down to where they would fit in a tiny house, even though I’m not really planning on moving from my 818 square feet house, which I love by the way 😉
Since you mentioned the KondoMari method. Have you by any chance used the method? Did it work out well, or did you find that you customized?
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I have not used it, but my friend has. She really like to process that Marie Kondo put in place and how it helped her decide stuff she really wanted/needed to keep. The process lets you let go of things easier as you walk your way through it. I am transition and my stuff is in storage, but when I get into my new place I plan to apply the KondoMari method.
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The great things about all the “methods” out there, is that we can use the best parts (that speaks to us) from all sorts of different ones, and make our own way. I love getting new hints and tips, and sometimes something sticks with me, and I will implement it into my routines.
It’s always fun moving into a new place, and it’s a great time to get everything just like you want it, when it comes to the stuff. I’m curious how your’e doing with the KondoMari method. Keep us posted will you? 🙂
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moving around so much makes you realize how much you don’t need and i love it! hooray for clearing out the STUFF!
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Yeah… moving is the best declutter tool in the world 😉 I used to move quite a lot and that kept my possessions down to a dull roar, but I have slowed down on the “constant” moves, and stuff easily “grows” when you’re not paying attention. I love how the last few years focus on minimizing stuff have changed my focus on what stuff is needs and what stuff is wants, and how little we really need to be happy 🙂
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Wonderful results! Keep on going, you’ll get there.
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Thank you! Chiping away at it, you know 😉
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Good for you.
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