I’ve made so much progress in my relationship to things in the 7-week lockdown in 2020. I totally fell in love again with my house after spending so much time making room for air and light to enter and throwing things I have not touched for years. I learned it’s a process and not a one-time project from the book Decluttering At The Speed of Life which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to improve their relationship to possessions. I’m so proud that my dresser is still organized the same way I did it one year ago. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about my clothes and kids’ bedrooms, though. We as family still need to make decluttering a continuous habit because we really felt the positive impact of finding our belongings easily and enjoying what we own.

Last week, I was asked to clear out my office desk (apart from my desktop, mouse, keyboard, phone set and desk plant) as it needed to be sterilized by a special team while we worked from home for a few days because sadly COVID-19 is at its peak in my country Jordan these days. I obliged and took what I wanted back home while keeping most of my desk usable/decorative items in the office’s closet.

This week I felt very good when I returned to a clear desk, therefore I decided I will not put things back as they were and would only retrieve what I actually need one at a time. By the end of the week I see on my desk my small sand timers, my candle (check my startup ritual), my mirror, my hand lotion, my hand sanitizer obviously, my highlighters collection. My special pens and planners are also on my desk, but I bring those with me daily; too precious to leave at the office.

So far, I did not put back some things like the miniature souvenirs from friends which added space to change the location of my desk plant. This in turn gave me extra space to lay out my planners and navigate the paperwork I have sometimes which I find so functional and would love to keep.

I know it’s not a new technique, I guess it’s what’s called decluttering by elimination and many people do it at their houses. The general direction is to take it all out and return only what we need and throw the rest.
I might try this at my own home soon, clearing out some areas has been such a daunting task that I keep postponing.

Glad it worked on a small scale at least for now.