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How I Use a Bag in My Closet to Declutter With Less Stress

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The vast majority of decluttering tips and methods expect you to pick a time, settle in, and make hard choices about whether to keep or get rid of every item in a closet, drawer, or room. Sometimes, you do need a little urgency to be productive, but I've always found that buckling down too hard is stressful. In fact, I tend to procrastinate if I know I'm supposed to be sitting down and going through all my stuff, making quick decisions on what stays and what goes. What's helped me a lot more is an alternative method: I just use a bag and declutter over time.

All you need is a garbage bag

Of all the cleaning and organizing techniques I've written about, the one I believe most strongly in is cleaning in spurts. It's my job to write about cleaning. I also really hate cleaning, which is what makes me such a great judge of which methods work best for people like me. There are people out there who love tidying, scrubbing, mopping, and organizing, but those people don't need my articles!

It's hard to do a task you dislike for a long period of time and even if you manage to stick with it for hours, the quality of your work will surely decline as you go. Working in quick, 15-minute blasts takes longer overall, since you won't see results for at least a few days, but it keeps your motivation high and your output efficient. It's probably best to use a schedule and accomplish these bursts on some kind of structured, daily timeline, but sometimes, I just clean when the mood strikes me. If I'm sitting on my couch and notice a shelf is in disarray, I'll pop up and give it a 15-minute workover. My bathroom, my kitchen—nothing is safe from my sudden bursts of inspiration and motivation.

That's worked great for me, but it always left a noticeable gap in my results. I wasn't decluttering much, since I wasn't going to take a single shirt to the donation center every day. Thus, I started keeping a garbage bag in my closet. When, in the course of my cleaning, I happen across something that could be donated, I just toss it in the bag. Once the bag is full, I scan to make sure nothing in there is pure trash, then donate the rest.

Why this approach to decluttering works

This works for me because I find it a lot easier to assess items on a one-by-one basis than I do all at once. If I'm sitting down to actively declutter a drawer, I start making excuses about why I should hold onto certain things I come across. I get burned out, overwhelmed, and annoyed—and don't end up tossing out stuff that really should get the boot. But if I come across something in the course of a normal day or cleaning cycle, I can objectively analyze it without any stress. More often than not, I get rid of it.

The bag is especially helpful when it comes to clothes, which is why I recommend storing it in the closet. Getting ready, I try on all kinds of outfits and, typically, find at least one thing that doesn't even fit me anymore. Having a designated bag where I can toss those things is perfect. If I were actively decluttering my closet, I probably wouldn't try on every single thing, so I'd miss a lot of the ill-fitting garments and probably keep them. When I put them on with the intention of wearing them, I can discard them the moment I realize they don't fit. Most of the time, my decluttering bag is comprised largely of clothes, with a few other household goods tossed in when I come across one that should be gotten rid of.

I recommend keeping the bag around until it's full. You can set a timeline if you want, taking it to the donation center every two weeks or so, but it will fill on its own at its own pace, so it's better to just commit to bringing it to the drop-off location as soon as it's ready. The longer you do this, the more you can pay attention to what usually gets tossed out, so you can start to keep the bag in a location that works best for you. Mine stays in my closet now, since that's where most of my donation items are coming from, but if I noticed a heavier concentration of kitchen items going in there over time, I might move it to the cupboard under my sink, for instance.

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SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks

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SpaceX caught Starship booster with chopsticks submitted by /u/lolikroli to r/interestingasfuck
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When you put headset microphones on Tennis players

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When you put headset microphones on Tennis players submitted by /u/copitamenstrual to r/interestingasfuck
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Fall Vibes at Savage Mill

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Fall is the favorite time of year for many businesses here at Savage Mill. The crisp air, golden light, and chilly vibes of Halloween rejuvenate us and inspire creativity. Here are ten merchants who are taking advantage of the season. Check them out the next time you’re here!

1. Candles by Candy

Candles and candle-making classes and events are the focus of this relatively new Savage Mill-based small business. Stop by early to make a candle at Candles by Candy during the October 24 Girls Night Out if you’d like to snag one of these pumpkin candle holders – supplies are limited.

2. Bead Soup

Halloween sparks lots of creation at this friendly bead store, where you can make your own inspiration from the large selection of beads on hand or purchase a bead kit or completed project such as these black cat, candy corn, bat, and witch key chains. Bead Soup will be offering their popular make-and-take earrings during the October 24th Girls Night Out.

3. Bearing Gifts

This treasure trove of gift ideas for all kinds of occasions revels in seasonal celebrations. One of a number of dog-friendly businesses here at Savage Mill, Bearing Gifts plays it up with this cheerful pup-centric Halloween candle!

4. Charity’s Closet

Charity’s Closet, an upscale resale boutique, sells beautiful women’s fashions for only $5! Stop by this store and their sister location, Charity’s First Picks, to create your new fall outfit.

5. Omnihedral

This game store recently expanded into a larger, well-lit space in the Cotton Shed, just uphill from the traffic circle. Among the thousands of board and card games you can try out and purchase at Omnihedral are several to fill a spooky evening, along with 3-D printed items created in-house and hauntingly thematic purses.

6. Roggenart European Bakery Bistro and Café

This cozy bakery is redolent with tantalizing smells of fall – apples, cinnamon, pumpkin and more. Apple strudel is a perennial favorite at Roggenart European Bakery Bistro and Café.

7. Skinsational Scents

Pumpkin spice is being featured in select Skinsational Scents skin care and body products this season. Stop by to talk with their natural wellness and skin care experts and find a product that suits your needs.

8. Clay Coven

Just in time for the fall, Clay Coven pottery studio has expanded their space. We were drawn to the whimsical wood-fired pumpkins and ghoulish mug created by local artist Tim Duncan. Try your hand at bubble glazing during Girls Night Out on Oct. 27 or watch some of the potters demonstrating their talent.

9. ArtCraft

Since they opened at Savage Mill in 1992, ArtCraft has been mixing practical and functional with presentational and unconventional work from more than 500 American artists and craftspeople. We couldn’t take our eyes off this adorable fairy house complete with night light – and isn’t the black cat striking?

10. jules + kate

The curated collection of hand-crafted goods in jules + kate changes seasonally. Among the fall offerings are nature-inspired bags, backpacks made of cork, and long-burning candles in harvest scents. Apple cider donut intrigues!

Fall is the perfect time of year for an outing to explore Savage Mill and the surrounding area. Whether you join us for Girls Night Out or discover our unique shops on your own schedule, we know you’ll find something that intrigues and delights!

The post Fall Vibes at Savage Mill appeared first on Savage Mill.

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This is Henry, he brings his emotional support duck to his hydrotherapy session

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This is Henry, he brings his emotional support duck to his hydrotherapy session submitted by /u/Ill_Hope_2631 to r/Awww
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We could use more judges like this in America

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We could use more judges like this in America submitted by /u/cak3crumbs to r/TikTokCringe
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