Content at Minimum Weeks 5 and 6: Running Behind

Hello! I let myself get a bit behind on writing, so this post will cover the last two weeks of my Content at Minimum project.

The Linen Closet

After tackling the bookshelf, I needed something a little lighter this week. Our linen closet has been full-to-bursting for a long time and hard to keep organized (read: I was doing nothing to keep it organized because it was too stuffed). Decluttering it has been on my list since long before I began CAM.

Luckily for me, my mom visited again to help out. I knew I wanted to go through the closet with her, not only because it would take a long time to do on my own, but because she has access to textile recycling. Textile manufacturing and waste is an enormous strain on our environment and it’s something I’m passionate about. I won’t go down a rabbit hole here, but let’s just say it was very important to me to avoid throwing away any linens if at all possible.

We were able to greatly reduce how much we had in the closet. We filled up a big box for donation and recycling. We also filled a box with linens that don’t see as much use and don’t need to be in rotation. That included things like winter blankets and sheets for our guest bed which is currently disassembled. I also set aside a worn-out comforter and pet blanket that I intend to use in sewing projects.

One of the major benefits of having my mom help me is that she’s willing to match my pace. I can get tired quite quickly and injure myself easily, so I have to take things slow. Decluttering can also be mentally and emotionally taxing work. Even when you’re not dealing with sentimental or emotionally charged items, just making a choice on what to do with each of dozens of objects takes lots of energy. On this visit, my mom carried one armload of linens at a time to me while I sat on the couch and sorted through them. When I got tired partway through, she was unbothered and did her own thing while I laid down for twenty minutes. Even if you’re not chronically ill, pacing yourself and getting support is a necessity for a big decluttering day!

Some Tips for Decluttering Prep

Instead of doing a CAM project during week six, my partner and I deep cleaned our fridge. Since it didn’t involve any decluttering aside from throwing out an expired jar of pesto, I wrote some tips to help you prepare for your own decluttering projects.

Pick an area to work on that realistically fits within your limits. Those limits could be the time you have that day, your energy level and physical ability, or your emotional capacity to sort through things and make a lot of decisions. I am strongly against the idea that you should declutter all in one go. It’s just not achievable for many people, especially disabled, chronically ill, or neurodivergent folks.

Once you have an area in mind, think about what you need for the decluttering process. I usually have a cardboard box for donations and sometimes I need a trash bag or recycling bin. I may also use a box for items that I’m not sure what to do with or that need a new place to belong. Use this box with caution! It can easily turn into a problem of its own if you don’t actually go back and address what you put in there. Usually, I’m pretty good about rehoming all those miscellaneous things, but I will admit that I’m currently sitting next to a small, overfilled cardboard box labeled “time will tell.” Try to keep your decluttering supplies simple. Remember: decluttering and organizing are not the same thing! You don’t need a bunch of baskets, bins, or a label maker to declutter.

Consider any chores you need to do to facilitate the decluttering. For the linen closet, I did some laundry in advance, so nothing was hiding in the dirty laundry bin. Other chores you may need to do are washing dishes before working on the kitchen, cleaning a counter or table for you to work on, or cleaning a space on the floor so you can spread your belongings out. I recommend doing this the day before, so you aren’t adding chores on top of your project.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to comment, tell me if you’ve kept sheets that aren’t the right size for your bed tucked away in your linen closet. (I’ve been guilty of this before and was surprised to find that I had managed to get rid of all our full-sized and college era twin XL sheets before now!)