Skip to main content

Questions to Ask When Purging

This is part four of a six part series. If you haven't read the previous posts please start there.
Habit and Routine - Read it here.
Finding Your Personal Space - Read it here.
Taking Inventory  - Read it here.

So, purging... Some people love it, most cringe at the word. Let's break down it down some more and work our way through one step at a time. Yes, it might be a big job, but you can only complete one small task at a time, so lets only focus on one small task.

You've already uncovered some great habits in your life and you've hopefully started integrating some new ones as well. You have also found a room, space, or corner to call your own. You've set up some boundaries and rules for that space and claimed it as your safe zone. Now you have chosen a room (hopefully your "personal space" room) and have created four piles as you worked your way through each item in the room.
1) Trash
2) Give Away/Sell
3) Keep -  this room
4) Keep - different room

If you are struggling through each item you pick up, if this is taking super long, or if you have a huge pile of "I'm not sure" items then ask yourself some of these questions.


Clothing - Does this item fit me right now? Is it too big? Is it too small? - It needs to go.
Clothing - Did I wear this item at all during it's last appropriate season?
Clothing - Does this item have an unfixable (or you know you won't fix it) rip, stain, or other problem?

Would I want to move houses with this item? 
Am I keeping this because it was a gift? Would you have bought it? Do you use it?
Do I use this speciality item or do I still just use the old stand by? (ex. avocado knife or peeler vs. paring knife)
Do I have the appropriate electronic/cords to use this item (tape, record, VHS, etc)


Toys - Does this toy help my children be creative? 
Toys - Does this toy do all the playing/thinking?
Toys - Are these two toys similar? (two farm sets, two microphones)
Toys - Does this set have too many expansions? Could I pack part of it away and the basic toy still work?
Toys - Do I have all of the pieces to this toy/game?
Toys - Is this broken?



A thought on decorations

There are a few core items that make a room feel decorated and homey. 
1) Appropriately sized furniture
2) Curtains (or nice blinds) 
3) Good quality decorative pillows
4) Large wall decor (canvas, photo, mirror, etc.) 

If you took out all the little bins, baskets, end tables, trinkets, extra pictures, etc. Does it still look decorated and pleasant?

Do you have other questions you ask yourself when you just can't decide? Do you struggle through purging or find relief in it?

Sarah 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to Make Your Apartment More Homey - Part 5

Welcome to part 5 of my mini series "How to Make Your Apartment More Homey". Once you get a grasp on the first four topics you've really got something going for you. These last two steps are definitely not the meat of the problem.  Today we will focus on - The Color Palette. A little bit of color theory wouldn't hurt anyone. I realize that we are alway feeling the need to try something new and be a little different. It's called fashion, and that's okay. Be different! Make a statement! It's good to try something new. But if it's ugly just say so, don't lie to save your pride. Your pride has already been painted all over that new yellow couch!  You can google a basic color wheel and the different ways to pair the colors or most people have an eye for what looks good together. It's usually a good thing to stick with the same hue (bold with bold, or pastels with pastels, and burnt colors with burnt colors) but even that isn't alwa...

2025 Reading Challenge

 Today Rural Simplicity is bringing you a Reading Challenge for the new year!  25 Books in 2025.      This is a very personalized list that came about when my favorite reading challenge people didn't put out a reading challenge for next year. I plopped myself down in front of my large TBR (to be read) stack and started making a list of categories.       I am going to walk you through my list in comparison to my TBR stack to give you an idea of where you could start. But like any good reading challenge you will nudge it this way and that to fit your needs and lifestyle. One thing I would not recommend is  fitting it to your likes.  One point of a reading challenge is to broaden your perspective and get you out of your comfort zone. One last point to address is that it's okay to not finish the challenge by December 31st. Again your goal is to read, not finish, or rush, or stress out. Just read and enjoy. Let it soak in slowly and cons...

Spring Cleaning Challenge Day 6 Psalm 51:10

Welcome to your first day of rest. Tomorrow is Sunday, a day that should be put aside to worship the Lord and to rest your body from physical activity. Each Sunday we will meditate on a verse that reflects having a clean heart. Because we all know that a spotless house doesn't make us truly happy. Only a clean heart can keep a smile on our faces. Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God,  and renew a right spirit within me.  What does a clean heart look like? Who judges wether the heart is clean or not? Who cares about your heart more than anyone else? Just like we have been pulling out our furniture this week looking for dust bunnies, take a moment to pull out the furniture in your life and look for "Me" bunnies. Search out your heart for selfish things you've tucked away, whether it be a secret, a personal pleasure, a blatant sin, or an old heartache.  When you've found them, take them all one by one and lay them out in a straight row in front of...