Never Thought I’d See the Day
Well, the day has come. I always hoped it would happen. Every year I dreamed and planned and schemed that it would happen. Somehow, this was the year. I suppose 2020 was enough of a shit-show to make me stand up and take notice.
When I look back on 2020 and realize how much I was home and how little I was able to get done around the house that I’ve always wanted to do, I cringe. Double cringe. I always had big plans for when I “just found the free time at home”.
For the last five-plus years, I have made an attempt on January 1 to follow the year-long Declutter 365 challenge. This challenge is completely free (maybe that’s part of my problem). There is a full calendar sent out in December and every single day of the year has a declutter task to accomplish. This calendar hits every room and nook and cranny in your house. For years I have planned that this challenge would fix all my problems with clutter.
I start out great. Well, good. Maybe combine a task or two if I miss one. Except this grows exponentially, and soon I am 10 tasks behind with no chance of catching up. I always have big plans of catching up. Even in July, when I haven’t completed one task in months, I still think I can do it. I have the tasks in my To Do list, and they just keep accumulating until I finally hide them away, discouraged again.
This year has been strangely different. Here we are on Day 22 and somehow, I haven’t missed a day. I’m not sure if it’s the extra accountability from posting on Instagram, or just something different with my mindset, but this year has been different. I am completely amazed at the amount of things I’ve been crossing off my list every night.
Will it last? Who knows. Maybe I have a few more days in me until this new motivation is gone. Maybe a few months. Hell, maybe I’ll make it all year.
Either way, I’m about 15 days further than I’ve ever made it before, and that feels good. Take that, 2020.
In case you’d like to give it a try, here is The Declutter 365 Challenge
