Simplicity: Get Rid Of Crap Week!
by Eric Hamm on October 13, 2008
in Simplicity
Target #1
I’ve been dealing with a little bit of writer’s block this weekend. I’m trying to get Monday’s posts done for both “Motivate Thyself” and Up-And-Coming-Blogger before my wife and I have to attend a wedding which will take up most of Sunday. I’ve got other projects in the works as well as dealing with my consulting clients. So my hands were a little full this weekend. But I realized something that I’ve never seen so clearly until this moment. “I have too much CRAP!”
I generally think of myself as a ‘man of simplicity’. I went through my initial ‘cleansing’ phase around 1999. It was then that I found eBay and decided to liquidate my junk. I sold my entire G.I. Joe collection, my old Nintendo games and basically everything from my childhood. Then I moved onto more adult things. I got rid of a bunch of clothes I never wore, electronics equipment I never used, etc… By the time I was done I was down to a t-shirt and a pair of socks. Well, not really, but I had gotten rid of a bunch of stuff.
Over the years it’s been a game of back and forth. Things accumulate for both my wife and I and then we have our yearly ‘clean sweep’ of the house. Then everything’s nice and simple for about a month. And thus continues the cycle of junk accumulation/junk disposal. I can’t imagine how much time I waste on this stuff. Think about it:
The time it takes to buy something, find a place for it, maintain it, accommodate for it’s existence and then finally get rid of it. All the while you’re getting what from it? Usually not much.
Our mail boxes have become the new trash can.
It drives me crazy when I open the mailbox only to find a pile of paper products that end up going strait into the recycling bin. What a waste! Not only of paper, but my stinking time! (Sorry, this is just a big pet peeve of mine.)
Our intentions create a lot of the clutter.
Much of what clutters up our homes are items that we ‘intend’ to use. That piece of exercise equipment in the living room or the juicer in the kitchen. Or the little things like magazines. I’ve been receiving free subscriptions of Business Week without my requesting it. I figured, what the heck, I have a business, I’ll read it at some point. NOPE! Not happening. They just pile up, only to eventually go in the recycling bin. What a waste of paper, time and energy.
Get rid of crap week!
So my goal all this week is to go through as much of my ’stuff’ as I can and just get rid of anything I don’t need/use. Normally I would call this ’simplifying’, but it just feels better right now to call it ‘getting rid of crap’. Simplifying sounds like a nice, gentle way of cutting down on the clutter in your life. But I want to take a flame thrower to all this junk and never see it again! So we’ll stick with the latter. 
Bailing out the water is futile if you don’t also plug the hole.
The fact is, you can get rid of stuff all day long, but if you don’t keep new junk from coming in you’ll just be stuck in the cycle I’m in right now. You’ve got to stop those magazines from coming. Stop buying stuff you don’t need. Stop making decisions based on your intentions. You need to be clear about what things you need/use and what things you have no use for. Once you plug the hole, you’ll find that rest of the process to be much more rewarding.
Join me, all who have crap and want it no more!
So you’re welcome to join me this week and remove the dead weight in your life. Unless you’re already a black belt in simplicity, you probably have some junk to get rid of. And if you don’t, we’d love to hear what’s worked for you. And if you make any progress, be sure to come back and share it with us.
I’ll be tweeting my progress throughout the week so you can follow me on twitter if you’re not already.
I wonder if I could even get money for the stuff I own. It’s mostly video games, VHS movies, and A FEW books. Hmm. There is some junk in my closest.
This is going on my list of things to do this week.
Matthew Dryden´s last blog post..A Warm Place
I’m looking at my bills now and it’s time for me to clear them off for the month.
Daniel Richard´s last blog post..Wordle I’m Writing In This Blog?
One of the things I’m looking forward to most for my new year is the opportunity to get rid of a lot of junk. The preschool is like a garbage magnet. I believe there’s a number you can call to curb your junk mail, same as the solicitors calling your house.
Writer Dad´s last blog post..Pancake Wednesday
I’ve been debating doing this for a long time. I’m not working today so it would be a GREAT time to start.
(Now, where was that blog on motivation again…….)
Scott´s last blog post..Alco-stress
I was thinking about the junk mail issue the other day, and I decided that if it weren’t for all the ads and “crap” that we get in the mailbox, postal workers would be out of work. Either that, or it would make their job a whole lot easier, because they wouldn’t have to file stack after stack of junk mail into a every single mail box. The would probably cut down their total stops by 90 percent.
Oktober Five´s last blog post..What Will You Do When You Find Out Who You Are?
@Matthew: I’ve found that the only way to get money for miscellaneous stuff like you described is to put it all together and sell it as a lot on eBay. In other words, if you tried to sell an old VHS at a time you may only get pennies for it if anything at all. But if you sold 20 old VHS’ tapes in a ‘bundle’ you may get $10 or $15.
@Daniel: Bills can certainly create clutter, that’s for sure!
@Sean: “The preschool is like a garbage magnet.”
I BET!
“I believe there’s a number you can call to curb your junk mail, same as the solicitors calling your house.”
There certainly is. I don’t know it off the top of my head, but there are services like this. I’ve heard mixed ‘reviews’. It’s certainly worth doing either way, but not always 100% effective.
@Scott: No time like the present! I’m just trying to get my other stuff done so I can get started.
@Oktober Five: I love your point here. When I read it, I was thinking about how many resources we use just to deliver all the junk. Like you said, if postal workers didn’t have to deliver this stuff it “would probably cut down their total stops by 90 percent.”
Hah, what a coincidence!
I joked with my husband that this is the “seed funding” week for the business that we will be starting shortly – as in, “get rid of as much stuff as possible and bring in as much money as possible” week.
Fits in nicely with your Get Rid of Crap week.
Okay – off to list some stuff on ebay, I will be back to share my progress!
Maya´s last blog post..The key to happiness and balance is right with you, just learn to use it – Part 2 of the thinkmaya framework
Great idea. I’m proud to say that I don’t really need it – I’ve been living clutter-free ever since I left my parents’ house.
I HATE clutter.
Eric,
Your quite the popular guy in town huh? Didn’t you have a wedding last week too?
Great post though. Right on point. We live in a society of excess. Too much eating, sleeping, toys, gadgets, etc.
If you haven’t already, check out on of my favorite blogs, unclutterer.com, for great tips on decluttering your life! Good luck with getting rid of your crap! I’m in a constant struggle to do the same. Last week I sold about 50 DVD’s that I only watched once (a couple that I NEVER ONCE watched)! Next month I plan on going through my summer clothes and ditching what I didn’t wear once this year…and there are definitely plenty in that category.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy´s last blog post..My Inspirations: The Blog-O-Sphere
good GOSH Im in.
and Im dragging the husband in with me.
the toddler? she has no say
MizFit´s last blog post..Monday Facetime: The Other Side of the PINK Couch.
@Maya: This is great stuff.
“Okay – off to list some stuff on ebay, I will be back to share my progress!”
Please do. What business are you guys starting?
@Vered: “I’m proud to say that I don’t really need it – I’ve been living clutter-free ever since I left my parents’ house. ”
WOW, good for you!
@Atiff: “Too much eating, sleeping, toys, gadgets, etc.”
Though I love my ‘toys’ I must agree that we have become gluttons for so many things. It feels great to ’shed some pounds’ in the junk department.
@Matt: Thanks for the tip on the website. I’ll have to check it out.
“Last week I sold about 50 DVD’s that I only watched once (a couple that I NEVER ONCE watched)!”
Isn’t it amazing how much ’stuff’ we own that we sometimes never even use?!
@MizFit: Great! Be sure to check back and update us on your progress.
“the toddler? she has no say ”
I love this line! Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Eric.
I’m going to respond to your call and dedicate this day and tomorrow to clearing out the mess on my desk. I need some order! Cutter is getting to me too!
Evelyn Lim´s last blog post..Can The Artist See The Big Picture?
@Our mail boxes have become the new trash can
This takes awhile but has a huge payoff in the end…..I very rarely get junk mail anymore.
First, every credit card offer that shows up in the mail, I take a black marker and write “Please remove me from your mailing list. Thank you” across it and circle my name and address so they know exactly who(m?) to remove. Then I put it in the postage paid envelope and let them pay to remove me from their lists.
Second, any catalog that I didn’t request or that after flipping through it once doesn’t make me think I will order anything, I call the 800 number on the back and tell them to remove me from their mailing list.
Also, anyone trying to sell (or give) me a magazine subscription, I ask if there is an online version. That way at least there is no paper waste if I don’t read it.
A couple of months of diligence and you will see an impact.
@Evelyn: It’s so easy to let it build up, especially in our work areas. Let us know how things go.
I spent last night going through all the book shelves, drawers, tables and even the floor, and grabbed up all the magazines I could find. I then packed them in a box that I will take to be recycled.
MAN we have a lot of useless reading material. And the fact is, they’re about 25% content/75% ads.
@rrr: Thanks for the tips. I think it’s just a matter of making yourself do that kind of thing. It sounds like it’s worth the effort, though.
I have been feeling the need to “nest” lately and to get rid of all of those “intended” items laying around the house. I can relate with the magazines and the fitness equipment. I feel a sort of commitment to read those magazines since I paid for them – so what if they are 3 years old! I look at the exercise equipment as motivation, so I will leave it where it is and maybe someday, I will be motivated – lol.
http://down-to-earthgirl.blogspot.com/
We have four people, two kids, two adults, one rabbit, a three legged dog crammed into an 800 square foot house built before indoor plumbing and closets. We have indoor plumbing, but still no closets.
I so need to throw out crap. Actually, I need a whole team of people to help me throw out crap. My husband and oldest son are both packrats! I keep my desk spotless and sparse, but the rest of the house sees piles moved from one room to the next as I attempt to find places for everything.
I like RR’s suggestion. I will start that one tonight.
Jamie Simmerman´s last blog post..For Sale: Ran Great Yesterday
Woo-hoo! Bring on the flamethrower! I love this idea. I have a very easy time moving stuff into the “get rid of” pile, but the pile itself? It tends to stick around for a very long time. I’ll be tackling that this week!
Sara at On Simplicity´s last blog post..Weekly Links: Stinky Couch Edition
Okay, i will be selling my first item on ebay this weekend. What does not sell will be going on craigslist. Not bad for a start
I am working on an internet based startup relating to children’s books. Am storyboarding the whole thing now. I hope to be ready for implementation in a couple of months.
Maya´s last blog post..Born Into Poverty : Blog Action Day 2008
@Jennifer: “I feel a sort of commitment to read those magazines since I paid for them – so what if they are 3 years old!”
I know, isn’t that crazy! But we all do it.
@Sara: “I have a very easy time moving stuff into the “get rid of” pile, but the pile itself? It tends to stick around for a very long time.”
I’m the same way. I have a place for everything, but when everything goes in that one place, we have a problem.
@Maya: Thanks for following through on the update. Keep ‘m coming.
“I am working on an internet based startup relating to children’s books. Am storyboarding the whole thing now. I hope to be ready for implementation in a couple of months.”
This sounds quite exciting and interesting. My wife and I had thought about writing kids books (kind of a passing thought more than anything). So it’s great to hear you’re actually doing it. Let us know how things develop. Eric.