{"id":1596,"date":"2012-01-12T15:49:49","date_gmt":"2012-01-12T22:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/?p=1596"},"modified":"2012-01-12T16:00:10","modified_gmt":"2012-01-12T23:00:10","slug":"simplify-your-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/simplify-your-life\/","title":{"rendered":"Simplify your Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>My mission this year is to <strong>Simplify Life<\/strong> and I have just printed a new card to kick this resolution into 2012 and show you that I mean business!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2668.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1695\" title=\"Simplify your Life, Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2668-727x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"901\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2668-727x1024.jpg 727w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2668-213x300.jpg 213w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2668.jpg 1546w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Despite the millions of labor saving devices our ancestors never knew about, we are none the less generally too busy, stressed, over stimulated, overwhelmed and tired. \u00a0It is the modern curse.<\/p>\n<p>So this year, I am going to focus my blog largely onto the subject of <strong>simplifying life<\/strong>. Physically and mentally.<\/p>\n<p>And I am going to start with the very physical world of &#8216;<strong>stuff<\/strong>&#8216;. \u00a0A world that we can, to a large extent, actually control and a world that can have a huge impact on our mental wellbeing.<\/p>\n<p>Imagine your home clutter free and ordered.<\/p>\n<p>No, I can&#8217;t either but you have to admit, it makes you feel good just thinking about it.<\/p>\n<p>Clear sides, organized drawers, systems in place&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>So, I am going to start small and kick off with some basic de-cluttering tips and one very manageable project.<\/p>\n<p><strong>DE-CLUTTER PART ONE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Two-Top-Tips To Start With&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Just pick <strong>one<\/strong> small area to tackle. \u00a0One drawer, one cupboard, one corner&#8230;<\/li>\n<li>Give yourself <strong>one<\/strong> hour to tackle the job and no more&#8230;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I began with my office drawers and gave myself one hour&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>Looking good from the outside&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_26021.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1726\" title=\"Appearance of Order! Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_26021-1024x828.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"517\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_26021-1024x828.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_26021-300x242.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>But the inside, these babies are filled with stuff. \u00a0Who knows what&#8217;s in there?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2621.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1665\" title=\"Cluttered Up Drawers Filled With Who Knows What! Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2621-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2621-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2621-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>So, here&#8217;s what to do&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>1. <\/strong>Take the drawers out and put them on the floor.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2623.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1669\" title=\"Take the Drawers Out, Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2623-1024x760.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"475\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2623-1024x760.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2623-300x222.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;\"><strong> <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;\"><strong>2. <\/strong>Take everything out of the drawers one by one and put in one of two piles &#8211; either <strong>KEEP<\/strong> or <strong>CHUCK<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif; line-height: 24px;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2632.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1670\" title=\"KEEP or CHUCK, Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2632-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2632-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2632-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>3. <\/strong>Clean out empty drawers with a damp cloth.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2636.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1679\" title=\"Clean Drawers!  Oh La La! Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2636-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2636-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2636-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>4.<\/strong> Go through the KEEP pile and decide what is going back in the drawers and what needs to be put back somewhere else in the house. \u00a0Make little piles.<\/p>\n<p>(I found a lot of stuff that needed to go into my small art cupboard in the kitchen and tons of sewing stuff that could be re-distributed into some mini-Ikea drawers I have for that purpose. \u00a0Strangely, I had lots of unused Christmas cards which I re-directed to my Christmas decoration box etc.)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2634.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1671\" title=\"Piles of Stuff, Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2634-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2634-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2634-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>4. <\/strong>See if more could be added to the CHUCK pile&#8230;be brutal, if you haven&#8217;t used it or thought about it for two years&#8230;chuck&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. <\/strong>Throw away or re-cyle\u00a0the CHUCK pile.<\/p>\n<p><strong>6. <\/strong>Scurry around the house putting away the bits and bobs from the KEEP pile that really live somewhere else and put everything else back in the two drawers in neat piles.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2656.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1672\" title=\"Much Reduced Clutter Free Drawer, Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2656-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2656-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_2656-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There you go! \u00a0That took me just under an hour and frankly, it made me want to do more.<\/p>\n<p>Now it&#8217;s your turn &#8211; let me know what you can do in one hour&#8230;.and no more. \u00a0I mean it, I am waiting to hear!<\/p>\n<p>Back soon with more,<\/p>\n<p>Ros<\/p>\n<p>ps. \u00a0If you have jumped over from the lovely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abeachcottage.com\/\">Beach Cottage<\/a>, a big welcome!<\/p>\n<p>pps. \u00a0If there is someone you know who you think might like my blog, just send me their email address to roswyatt@greenplumdesign.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject! \u00a0Thanks for all the emails you have already sent.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_4534.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1716\" title=\"Stinson Beach on New Year's Day 2012, Green Plum Design\" src=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_4534-1024x575.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"359\" srcset=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_4534-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/IMG_4534-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My mission this year is to Simplify Life and I have just printed a new card to kick this resolution into 2012 and show you that I mean business! Despite the millions of labor saving devices our ancestors never knew &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/simplify-your-life\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[38,31,15,63,8,37,39,32],"tags":[182,41,3,46,18,13,42,153,9,12,152,151],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1596"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1596"}],"version-history":[{"count":55,"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1596\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1725,"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1596\/revisions\/1725"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1596"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1596"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/greenplumdesign.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1596"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}