Decluttering Tip: Find Out Who You Really Are

 

I can put on a hat, or put on a coat,

Or wear a pair of glasses or sail in a boat.

I can change all my names

And find a place to hide.

I can do almost anything, but

I'm still myself inside.

I can go far away, or dream anything,

Or wear a scary costume or act like a king.

I can change all my names

And find a place to hide.

I can do almost anything, but

I'm still myself,

I'm still myself,

I'm still myself inside.

MR. ROGERS, I'm Still Myself Inside

I have run the gambit of perfumes in my life. I think it started with Love's Baby, Primo body spray, Malibu Musk, and then Sunflowers. Do you remember how strong Sunflowers was? I've also had the fancy department store stuff in my 20's. I went to Bath and Body Works with my very patient sister. I needed a new lotion and spent over an hour sniffing 70 different bottles for the right one. The one I liked the best was fresh linen. Now that I know myself, I realize my favorite scents are Suave strawberry shampoo (smells like Strawberry Shortcake dolls), a plain Dove bar soap, apple cinnamon Renuzit cones and Bounce outdoor fresh dryer sheets. Who I am is not Ja'Dior but actually dryer sheets. Knowing yourself can save you so much time and money. 

We are influenced to think we need to try something new. We have to update and reinvent ourselves. I think if you are over the age of 30 you know the scents you like. You've probably liked them always. You know you. And if you truly don't know your favorites, here are some clues that will help you find out who you really are.

What you really wear is always in the laundry basket, and is worn out with holes. This is the outfit, style, color, and fit that you really like. 

What you really eat are the items that you never throw out, never get freezer burn, or left to rot. A frozen bag of green beans or peas, grapes, tomatoes, wheat bread, or almond milk don't last very long in our house. That isn't the most exciting spread, but this is who we are. What you really eat are the things you are constantly running out of. These are things you always grab every time you are at the store. 

Once you get to know yourself, it helps you stop wasting time. 

1. WHAT YOU LIKE VS. WHAT YOU LIKE DOING

I like to eat complicated dishes, but I don't want to cook complicated meals at home.

I like to see elaborately decorated Christmas homes but I don't want to mess with the production of decorating my home like that. 

When I do something, I want that something to be easy. I know that about myself. If it is not easy, I won't be doing it very often. Garfield is definitely my spirit animal. 

2. ARE YOU MORE MARTHA STEWART OR GARFIELD?

I think generally speaking there are two types of people: Garfield and Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart types live for the details. They have a high drive to create the perfect thing. We all love these people and partaking in their splendor. I think our online world overly highlights the spectacular Martha Stewart types and vilifies the simple folk as lazy bores. Since I am a Garfield, I can't speak much on the Martha Stewart types mindset. This post is mostly for Garfields.

Ask yourself some questions. Do you like upper level things or basic things? Do many finishing touches feel extra special  or overwhelming to you? Do you enjoy the details enough to put in the added effort? Is a complicated way worth it?  Or, do you look for a simpler way?

MARTHA STEWART TYPES:

The Dinner Party, 1911. Jules-Alexandre Grün

Do you like all the small details of something? Do you like elaborate decorations, meals, and gifts? Do you like elegant spaces and many options? Do you like to go big on projects or ideas? Do you enjoy making things just right? Do you like to stand out with your fashion style, house decor, or projects? Do you have a sophisticated palate? Do you like to change things up every year? Do you grow tired of things quickly? Do things bug you if it's not what you envision? Are you constantly thinking of a new idea, place, restaurant, activity, or product to try? 

If you answered YES to these questions you are a Martha Stewart type.

GARFIELD TYPES: 

Evening Spell (After Dinner), 1900. Elin Danielson-Gambogi

Jon strip 28 April 1977

While the Martha Stewart type may find ways to elevate a recipe, an outfit, or a room with lovely details and finishing touches, my Garfield mind is always thinking about how I can make something easier and simpler. Garfield is definitely my spirit animal. I like things simple and easy. I find something I like and stay happy with it. I think of myself as easily content not lazy. I have no desire to chase the next thing. I like rituals and nostalgia. I'm 80% ritual and 20 % novelty. I could eat lasagna everyday and not get tired of it. I know some people who won't eat leftovers the next day.  I get overwhelmed easily with elaborate stuff. I love a scoop of vanilla ice cream. I think Ben and Jerry's ice cream has too many things in it. If you are a Garfield type like me, you can easily declutter....   

1. ITEMS THAT ASK TOO MUCH OF ME

-Recipes with crazy ingredients, multiple steps, crazy appliances, complicated preparations. Recipes that if they don't turn out I would have wasted a lot of time, effort, money. Recipes that have to be done just right.

-Books that are over 300 pages long, that I need a dictionary to read, that are way too scholarly for me, or stories with a lot of characters to remember.

-Albums with only a few good songs so you have to skip songs.

-TV Shows that will leave you in suspense for 7 years. I only watch shows that are stand alone episodes like Murder, She Wrote.

-Anything that involves complicated payment systems, logins and passwords.  

-Too many decisions, or options. Researching an Amazon purchase can drain me. Why are there 200 can openers?

-Things that are very delicate, precious, irreplaceable or fragile. I got rid of all our glassware. I was dropping them or knocking them over and spending hours picking up shards of glass and worrying about stepping on glass. I ended up buying plastic diner tumblers. The problem is solved, and I never have to worry about it again.

-High maintenance plants, systems, and clothing. High maintenance furniture or objects that are hard to clean or dust. High maintenance rituals and meals. Skin care routines. Exercise programs, budgeting or calendars.

-Are you forgetful? Maybe houseplants and clutch purses aren't for you. I only wear cross body style bags for fear of sitting it down and forgetting it. 

-Are you clumsy? Maybe the delicate plates and high heels aren't really you. It's okay. I got rid of all our glasses and now use only plastic cups.

2. CLOTHES. WHERE ARE YOU REALLY GOING?

Do you have too many fancy clothes?  How many times a year would you dress fancy? Do you have clothes you love but would feel too uncomfortable to actually wear out? Are you the same person or size you were when you bought the items 15 years ago? Do you want to be noticed or does it make you feel uncomfortable now? Do you want to iron and go to the dry cleaners? Is it age appropriate?

3. HAVE YOU CHANGED? DO YOU HAVE LESS ENERGY OR TIME? WHAT SEASON OF LIFE ARE YOU IN NOW?

Think about the meals that you and your family like that are easy to make. Think about the meals you make that are a real pain in the butt. Does anyone really like them? Can you scale it back to the most essential parts?

Our first Thanksgiving married, Mr. Peasant and I made a blended feast of all of the foods we were used to having. It was quite a spread! Over the years, we have scaled it back to the core foods that are non-negotiable and wouldn't be Thanksgiving without it foods. This is a fake turkey cutlet, canned cranberry sauce, stuffing with mushrooms, and green beans. (Lovely bonus, but not crucial. Mashed potatoes and gravy, pecan pie bites or yams. This is our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter meal uniform. It is super easy to make and inexpensive. We love it. 

Things I am currently figuring out ways to make it easier....

How to make changing ceiling light bulbs easier. Easy light fixtures to replace the bulbs without a ladder and a prayer. Easy to prep and freeze vegetables to grow. Easy to maintain landscaping. Easy bread recipe. 

4. THINGS YOU ARE AFRAID TO USE  

Are you scared to use it, eat it, wear it, make it, or try it? This could be a pressure cooker, a power tool, a recipe, or a racy outfit. I decluttered my Chinese herbalism books with weird recipes. Would I really trust ordering herbs online in packaging in a different language? Other things you may be afraid to use including weird spices, toxic cleaners, a medicine, beauty products, old tupperware, bug poisons, or that expired can of food you are afraid to actually eat.

5. THINGS THAT CREATE MORE WORK

Some items can create more work for you. Think about what items are frustrating and eliminate them. Here are some examples of things I've gotten rid of:

-I switched from deodorant sticks to roll on deodorant. I no longer have to scrub out the white gunk from the armpits of my shirts. 

-I try to always buy dark colored hand towels so less white lint on my dark clothes. I like to wash everything together in one load.

-I threw out my polyester microfiber bath mat that always stunk after getting wet once. Now, I only use a folded cotton towel on top of my rubber bottom bath mat. I can throw it in the wash easily and hang it up to dry after each shower. It never smells.

-I stopped using a liquid bug killer with a pump sprayer for around the house. I used to have to wear a face mask, goggles, long sleeves, and gloves. I sweat my butt off in the summer. Now, I  only use bug granules I shake around the perimeter of the house.  So easy!

I hope these questions will help you weed out the clutter in your life. Having less stuff to manage can help lower our stress. Even removing just one thing a day will quickly add up. We have a staging area where we place potential items to declutter.  That way we can really think about it. This isn't a race. You can do it intentionally, slowly, and thoughtfully. Thank you for reading. God bless you in the new year.

Be the Best of Whatever You Are

If you can't be pine on the top of a hill

Be a shrub in the valley but be

The best little shrub by the side of a rill

If you can't be a woods be a tree

If you can't be a highway then just be a trail

If you can't be the sun be a star

It isn't by size that you win or you fail

Be the best of whatever you are

Be the best of whatever you are

MR. ROGERS