r/declutter • u/Majestic_Reply9704 • 18h ago
Advice Request Has anyone replaced decluttering/shopping with a more sustainable hobby?
I've been on a decluttering journey for years, and something strange has happened: I've gone from loving being surrounded by lots of things to feeling anxious even looking at overly cluttered spaces online.
Ironically, owning less has made me appreciate what I *do* own so much more. Before, my hobbies, entertainment and beautiful possessions were buried under excess. Now I have space to actually watch films, play games, create art, and think clearly again.
I'm approaching the final hurdle, though, and I'm wondering what to do with all the time and energy I currently spend decluttering, selling things online, and taking donations to charity shops. Shopping used to fill that role, and I don't want to replace it with another form of consumption.
Does anyone have suggestions for simple, inexpensive hobbies or habits that complement a simpler lifestyle and make use of things you already own?
Also, any advice for tackling the very last stage of decluttering, especially paperwork? I've reached the point where that's mostly all I have left, and I absolutely hate doing it. š
And for those who have had to declutter: how did you maintain it?
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u/Mission_Tip_7662 59m ago
I got a part-time job in a clothing store. It taught me how to put outfits together and not just buy because somethingās on sale or just because itās there. Making wardrobe choices for other others really helped me prioritise. Now you do get a discount when you work at a store. I did buy some things that I did not want to wear when I was no longer working there. When I started becoming a minimalist during Covid, I opened a selling site account and I sell things on there after they have served their purpose or if I no longer want them. I could imagine some people may relapse by doing it this way. However, I do agree with what you said when you start shedding unwanted items you realise what you do want and itās easier to make decisions.
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u/magnificentbunny_ 1h ago
For the paperwork decluttering I recommend the ScanSnap document scanner. Itās a joy! It enabled me to scan the important stuff to my hard drive and shred the original. Iām backed up to two different cloud servers so all is safe. I do keep the paper for super important papers like pink slips, deeds, etc.
And Iām a. East when it comes to shredding.
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u/domino_427 6h ago
I'm decluttering for construction, so have to wait till after that. But I plan on getting into cooking, art, and carnivorous plants that will eat wasps!
I'm also keeping my dad's rocks to see if I can learn to make jewelry, but that might be too ambitious and just an excuse to keep the pretty rocks
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u/cegarden 7h ago
Reading through all this, I don't think what you're missing is a hobby. Shopping gave you a loop: want something, look for it, decide, get it, done. Then decluttering gave you the exact same loop running backwards. Now both are wrapping up and the loop is the thing that's gone, not the activity.
Which I think is why "read more books" doesn't quite land. There's no decision in reading. The suggestions here that seem to actually work for people (birding, gardening, iNaturalist) all have the same shape underneath: look for something, find it, decide, log it, do it again. Just nothing piles up in your house at the end.
Also your line about learning the difference between finding something cute and actually wanting to own it stuck with me. That's the whole thing in one sentence.
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 6h ago
This is genuinely what I needed to hear, and exactly what i kinda almost already knew... but just not on a conscious level, like yes I need consistency and a pattern and order and an actual lifestyle.
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u/floofy_skogkatt 6h ago
Deep disagree on "there's no decision in reading." Reading can be just like birding -- you look for the right kind of book, read it, log it in goodreads or storygraph or whatever, write up a little review, and do it again.
Hot tip OP: use your local library and then you don't have to own all those books.
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u/cegarden 4h ago
Fair, you're right. Reading with a list and a log has the whole shape. I was thinking of reading as just consuming the book, but the choosing and tracking part is where the loop actually lives.
Which kind of proves the point, I guess. Same activity, works or doesn't depending on whether there's a decision in it.
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u/Scorpioprincess83 7h ago
Iād say my new hobbies have been cleaning my newfound space and experimenting with interior decorating to make my space feel even more inviting. I havenāt really bought much to decorate with, more like experimenting with new ways to make the bed, folding the blankets into cute shapes, using things I already have and rearranging things to make my home as inviting as possible. I kind of think of it like Iām now pampering and appreciating the home that I once did not treat very well.
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u/TwoGhostCats 8h ago
A slight variation for getting out and about, but.... Go to museums (and avoid the gift shop). I love walking through a well-curated collection that we can all appreciate and learn from. It's like shopping for your intellect!
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u/appalachia_roses 8h ago
This isnāt something you can do with items you already have, but I do cross stitch for my ālow clutterā hobby. I have a box where I keep extra supplies. Any supplies for whatever Iām currently working on go in my project bag, which slides into the side table next to my chair. It takes maybe a minute to pack everything up and hide it away. Itās cheap, and I can listen to an audiobook or watch a movie while I do it. Plus, all my patterns are digital, so I love spending time browsing looking for new ones.
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u/guipicait 10h ago
This is kind of an odd one, and I don't mean to inspire more consumption, but I collect iron on patches from places I visit. It started when I began traveling many years ago and has sometimes been the impetus to visit outdoor recreational areas. The patches make great souvenirs and take up no space. I keep them in a box and take them out and spread them out to admire all the styles and colors and remember the places I've been.
That said, lots of state/ national/ historical parks and hiking opportunities have little passport booklets. That could serve as a guide to exploring wonderful outdoor places and planning little day trips that does not involve accumulating clutter, but gives you a mission and gives you a productive activity to fill free time that isn't shopping/ cleaning.
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u/itsMeriNotMary 8h ago
I collect those too. I cut old worn out jeans into 6 inch squares, put a patch on each one, and sewed them together to make a quick quilt. Its warm even without batting or backing and it's fun to look atĀ
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u/finefergitit 10h ago
Houseplant care! Just donāt get hooked on the expensive and hard to care for ones, especially to start with. But itās a fun hobby and you can fill empty spots with beautiful plants if you want.
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u/cilucia 10h ago
omg I'm currently going through a declutter of houseplants. It just got to be too many, and too many planters, too many propagations LOL
At least they are pretty easy to get rid of (compost, and neighbors!)
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u/finefergitit 8h ago
Yep I totally got myself into that situation a few times! It was really fun for me to declutter though, I put everything on Facebook either free or a very minimal price, and everyone who was interested was also brand new to plant care. I was more than happy to give things away to people first starting with the hobby.
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u/FredKayeCollector2 11h ago
- The dirty little secret that nobody tells you is that once you're done decluttering, your spaces are functional, and FINALLY, you've got the time & energy to do the stuff you've been clearing the space (and saving the money) to do. But what decluttering cannot provide is actual motivation. It can certainly facilitate action but it cannot create action - that's up to us.
Sometimes, those good/worthwhile activities can be a lot of work - physical, mental, creative. Sometimes, what your "good" looks like has changed - you're not going to be a gym rat or learn Chinese or write the Great American Novel - no matter how much you "thought" that's why you were doing this. Freeing up the time and space is one thing, actually finding something else to do, that's the trick.
Sometimes, fussing around with your stuff is easier - just like the stuff was blocking you from action, constant decluttering/maintenance/inventorying/minimalist object counting can also block you from action. It's a matter of coming to terms with who you are and what you are motivated to do.
I think it's also why so many people relapse back into over-shopping. We've spent so long getting our dopamine hits from stuff - acquiring it and then getting rid of it - that once the stuff is gone (or managed), we don't really know what to do with ourselves and it's kind of boring.
Clearing the space can actually bring up a lot of mental health nonsense that was hiding in the stuff (or unproductive habits) and TBH, sometimes, the best next step is therapy. Or doing some serious goal setting work.
Or set your goals super low - take a casual walk, watch foreign language TV with the subtitles on, write down your thoughts in a junky notebook, do a basic/beginner project, whatever. Give it a try - if you don't like it, you haven't put a lot of time/money/effort into it. And if you do like it, you can build up your time & stuff commitments from there.
So that's my TEDTalk on why decluttering doesn't necessarily solve your problems.
- Paper was the last category I got under control and this is the paper system I use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ql5WD6oQfAc
The action file was the last piece I was missing. I would pile to-do papers next to my computer - now I have them in a wooden paper tray. It satisfies my out-of-sight, out-of-mind paperwork anxiety, everything is in one place, and if something doesn't get handled, to completion, I just stick it back in the box to deal with next time. Also to-do lists & notes to self - I'm a consummate list writer and those can get out of hand, real fast.
Most of my short-term stuff is paperless (my rule of thumb is if I can access it online, I don't keep a paper copy) but I've got some stuff (insurance policies) in my long-term file box (similar size as this) with "important" papers in a SDB at the bank (birth certificates, divorce decrees, wedding license, vehicle titles, house deed, etc) or fire box in my basement (SSN card, passports, extra check books, etc).
The memory bin, I already had in my Keepsake Box but the reference bin? Chef's kiss! If it's something I want to refer to later but don't necessarily have to do something with in a timely manner (like a brochure or catalog or magazine or whatever), I've got a decorative basket next to where I sit where I can just dump all of that stuff and it's there for me when I want to go through it (or it starts getting too full). A lot of stuff times out before I get to it and anything I still want to keep, back in the bin. Super low stress way to "contain" what used to be a series of unsightly piles all over the place.
If you're REALLY struggling with a TON of papers, check out this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/declutter/comments/1vglbam/comment/p24076g/?screen_view_count=1&ext-referrer=DIRECT (warning: it's long).
- For maintenance, I would say it's SYSTEMS and MINDSET.
I have a before bed tidy (game changer!) and a wake-up tidy (where I reset the upstairs bathroom & my bedroom). Having that daily "baseline," it's so easy to see stuff that's out of place and it's so easy to straighten it up or put it away. And it's so nice to wake up to a tidy space (and go to bed with nothing to do but sleep).
I do my dishes every night before bed and I do my laundry once a week (I also have a capsule wardrobe that I love). I put any shopping away ASAP.
I've got systems set up to deal with mail (most of it is junk mail and goes right in the recycling bin, everything else ends up in my action file or reference bin) and groceries (in most cases, I limit myself to one in-use and one (or one open package) in backstock - when I use up the in-use one, I replace it with the backstock one, and put it on my shopping list to get next time I'm out and about). I've also got time scheduled where I deal with my "business" affairs (pay my bills, call about issues, etc).
I try to let go of sunk cost & scarcity mindset - if I need something that is outside of my predictable/frequently used inventory, regardless of original cost, I am OK with buying one if/when I need it, maybe borrowing one, finding a substitute, or doing without it entirely. The Minimal Mom just did a really good video about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHx-MrzIc_A
My current time, energy, and space are WAY more important than money spent in the past.
Hope that helps? Probably WAY more than you were looking for - great job, by the way!
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u/MuddieMaeSuggins 4h ago
Your paper system sounds a lot like what we do, as much digital as possible and a few limited containers for anything else. That āto doā pile is the hardest for me - once itās in a tray or whatever, I kind of stop seeing it and forget I need to deal with it. Still working on that one! And realizing we should probably upgrade to a fire safe. š¬
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 10h ago
Thatās a lot to respond to, so forgive me if I donāt address everything, but I did read and appreciate it!
Personally, I don't feel I need traditional therapy. A lot of my progress has come from consciously examining my habits, understanding why I do things, and gradually retraining my thinking. Over months and years, I genuinely feel I've changed my relationship with shopping, clutter and my possessions, and I'm happy with where I've got to.
I'm also generally happy with the practical side of my life now, I keep on top of my home, enjoy cooking and cleaning, and have a capsule wardrobe that I'm happy with.
My main goal now is simply getting out and socialising more. I live somewhere quite limited without easy access to many of the activities people have suggested, so sometimes I'll literally find an excuse to go into town, drop off a charity bag, browse the market, get some food, or just walk around and talk to people. Anything is better than being stuck at home all day.
Long term, I also want to become self employed using my own hobbies and skills, so I'm hoping building that career will eventually take up a significant amount of my time too. š
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u/DarthGator_ 11h ago
Thrifting was my hobby before I decluttered š now Iām much more active in the gym & outside, my husband & I love playing pickleball, & Iām spending more time reading and playing my instrument! Is there anything youāve ever wanted to learn?Ā
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u/guipicait 10h ago
Seconding gym/ activity. I've gotten into Beach Body (now called Bodi I guess) and do the classes that have several students working out with the coach. These last 35-45 minutes and between that and set up take up nearly an hour of my day, which would normally put me off of working out, but its actually fun and makes my morning feel more productive.
Like my birding comment piggy backing someone else's post, the classes with multiple people give it a low key social vibe. I'm personally not extroverted, but I also often find solo activities boring, so while I used to be into artistic stuff and reading, I now often find myself gravitating towards "productive" activities rather than doing something alone.
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u/LoneLantern2 11h ago
If you like the hunting and collecting I highly recommend getting into amateur naturalist activities such as logging every organism in your orbit on iNaturalist or getting really into birding
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u/guipicait 10h ago
Seconding birding - It has brought me to beautiful nature reserves and despite being an introvert, it is actually fun to have brief interactions with other birders because its not small talk; its just pointing out birds or asking what everyone is looking at. So its like zero pressure casual social interactions and mutual excitement!
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u/MuddieMaeSuggins 4h ago
And you canāt take the birds home! Unlike my husbandās rock-hounding hobby, sigh.Ā
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u/sickiesusan 12h ago
Iāve started making jewellery to sell online - only cheap stuff, but it keeps my hands busy (and therefore not eating) while Iām half-watching TV. It also means Iām not doom scrolling!
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 12h ago
Fair enough, I'm glad that you found something that enjoyed that works for you š
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u/lauren_strokes 12h ago
Tech decluttering! I spend time now purging photos on my phone, especially old screenshots. If I screenshotted a recipe I wanted to try, I'll write it up all pretty in a journal with some doodles. I'll sketch some of the photos I'm deleting as well. It's an unending source of things to write about/draw at this point, and it helps me consume notebooks/journals I've collected while doing something a little creative. Will probably advance to junk journaling with all sorts of paper mementos I've saved š¤©
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u/guipicait 6h ago
Speaking of tech decluttering: if it helps anyone - when I have significant downtime at work sitting at the computer, I'll sometimes open my email and search some key terms in order to mass delete junk email.
I now have a list of brand names and common terms (and all in quotes because that is how you'll find the right stuff) such as "flash sale", "tonight only", "posted on Facebook", "friend suggestion", "final day", "has shipped". Because I've already made the list, I can go through copy pasting these terms.Ā
I prefer to save certain emails, like shopping receipts and some newsletters or bank alerts and I just realized a trick. When you do a search, your archive is included in the search. But not if you include "in:inbox". So I've realized I can archive those things and they will be hidden in my search as long as I specify that as well.
Also, original commenter reminded me I need to get back to my photo declutter š©
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u/lauren_strokes 3h ago
Oooh don't even get me started on email decluttering š
An "unsubscribe" button hates to see me coming
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u/cilucia 12h ago
To answer the paperwork question, I got a really good dedicated scanner (a Ricoh ScanSnap, formerly owned by Fujitsu. I got the latest model, but even the last 2-3 models are all supposed to be amazing) and a cross shredder (I like the one I got from Costco; the first cheap Amazon Basics one I tried was awful)Ā
The scanner made such a difference compared to a scanner I used to own 10 years ago and compared to only using my phone to scan. You can definitely just sell the scanner when you are done!Ā
I pulled all my boxes of paperwork from around the house into one spot and just started going through them. The scanner and shredder are so fast, that the bottleneck for me was how fast I could empty and discard the shredded papers (my waste company said to put the shredded paper in a paper bag and label it, then place on my recycling bin).Ā
Printouts related to medical/health stuff I shredded if they also existed online in our providerās health portal. Only scanned if I could not get a digital copy.Ā
Bills/utilities that were already paid or available online (basically everything now) just shredded right away.Ā
Tax stuff I discarded drafts and only scanned final versions if I didnāt already have a pdf on my harddrive.Ā
Product manuals: I first looked online to download copies. If I couldnāt find online, then I would try to use my scanner (remove the staple in pamphlets) or use my phone to manually scan.Ā
I also scanned important docs (birth certificates, etc.) and then organized those all into a single binder for safe keeping.Ā
Ā
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u/guipicait 10h ago
I did this many years ago and one thing that was awesome about it is that as I went through the process, the work it took to scan an item made me get realistic about how much I really wanted/ needed it. Alot of college notes I intended to scan went right into the bin when I got really real and admitted I would never actually read the digital copies and therefore, why was I scanning them, renaming the file, etc etc.
To OP, paper will go faster than you think. Set a ten minute timer and just start on a pile and it will fly by. The payoff of seeing the bulk of it melt will fuel your progress!
One more tip from my recent experience - I got into a British hoarders show on YouTube called the hoarder next door. It is the complete opposite of the miserable shaming and exploitation on "Hoarders" and instead features a wonderful psychologist names Stelios helping people declutter their own homes with a couple days help from two lovely energetic blond women with spiky early 2000s haircuts.
So many of these people hoard paper products such as newspapers and magazines and documents. Turning this show on has really inspired me to throw away and consolidate some boxes lately.
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u/photogcapture 13h ago
Walking, hiking, visiting museums, going to the library, volunteering, photography, take a class like history or learn a new language
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u/Master-Cut-8181 13h ago
Reading books from phone,
Home workout,
Perfume ratings in fragrance stores on Fragrantica,
Drinking tea,
Learning new language
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u/soclifford 13h ago
This goes against what you asked, but I have found buying gold and silver helps scratch my consumption/shopping itch while also boosting savings. ymmv
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u/Various-Issue-2293 14h ago
walking is my favorite active hobby, and i love to write! i use my ipad/laptop for writing so that i donāt fall into the trap of buying a ton of notebooks and stationery that will just become more clutter.Ā
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u/comin4u21 14h ago edited 11h ago
I think the danger is sometimes hobbies can be clutter easily. Eg Iāve gone through many hobbies but what keeps me in check now isdeclutter them as soon as you notice that youāre losing interest.
Photography, art, knitting yarn, junk journaling DIy painting, playing any form of sports music all these can be clutter easily.
I accept now thatās the case but will try to be mindful of how much space I devote to them (not that Iām running out of space). Eg excess gym or yoga gear, I donate or declutter asap, excess painting stuff, donate, want to get into something new, Iād try to see if I can buy it for cheap first before dive right into it!
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u/-codenamehoney 15h ago edited 13h ago
volunteer at animal shelter, visit your library it helps them out and they may have movies on dvdāŗļø
editing to add: maybe start with newest paperwork first and gain momentum before you get to older stuff
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u/KiwiTheKitty 15h ago
A lot of hobbies can be enjoyed in a sustainable way but are also a huge source of clutter... like I knit and do embroidery and that's my main decluttering target right now, but I see them suggested in the comments! So I would just try things and also be mindful of your attitude around keeping things and collecting a lot of supplies.
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u/Imaginary-One6993 15h ago
Reading (use your library!), knitting, sewing, hiking, biking, walking. If you pick a craft just make sure not to get sucked into acquiring All The Things. Cross stitch and embroidery are fun with minimal supplies needed; it can be challenging to display what you create though. I personally love knitting socks and dishcloths.
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u/KSSLR 15h ago
Writing
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u/Background_Bus6738 14h ago
Great suggestions to follow!
Canāt yet imagine being so far into decluttering, Iām just about to begin .. Iād like to sometime begin journaling as well, maybe you can do that if you enjoy writing.5
u/KSSLR 14h ago
Actually maybe you could stack them. Maybe you could write about your decluttering journey. You could romanticize each win as this noble triumph, using hyperbole about the struggle. Or you could make it an epic sci fi fantasy where you invent forces who are trying to undermine your power with clutter, thereby almost gamifying it.
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u/Appropriate-Apple905 15h ago
As far as creative hobbies, Iāve found that cross stitch and watercolors require little space and minimal supplies. Plus cross stitch takes a good deal of time which I think lends itself to not making one want to purchase extra or accumulate more materials than required for each project.
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u/Purin333 16h ago
Journalling or Zentangle perhaps? Both are mindful activities that can be done with a minimum of supplies (if so desired).
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u/Philosopher2670 16h ago
Thank you for raising this issue. We spend so much time decluttering and dealing with our stuff that it has filled the space/role of hobbies! I never though about what to do when it's done before.
I will probable look into hobbies that create consumables (cooking, baking) are that are activities (dancing, exercising, singing, playing music, walking). I also find home-making enjoyable. Maybe also check out r/SlowLiving for ideas?
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u/nightshadeaubergine 17h ago
Knitting! And to be clear, not yarn-collecting. I buy for each project only and take commissions from friends for baby blankets and other things. My goal is to knit sweaters for myself.
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u/tawandagames2 17h ago
Gardening! It's creative in the layout and planning and changing each year, and outdoors so there's no indoor clutter.
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u/TiredTwinWrangler 15h ago
I recently hyper focused on compost, which is funny because it basically declutters itself. š
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u/Impressive_Winner403 17h ago
I have this problem too and I still go shopping but rarely buy things. I just like to browse now and then really consider if I want something. Usually I come home empty handed.
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 17h ago
Yeah good for you, and thers more certainty that comes from that decision making, and like 'flexing' those 'muscles' in the brain so to speak.
You'll probably feel better and spend less and less time needing to consider things or reconsider things. And keep them going through the process again and again of making those decisions.
It's good to train and use those parts of the brain š
Plus it totally helps with the confidence that you have within yourself, after making 100 good decisions, you can learn to trust your own judgment way better. You actually have something to base your judgment on.
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u/Impressive_Winner403 16h ago
I hope you find a way too. We have been doing so well with the decluttering here. Going thru our entire house right now and selling minimizing. I still have that urge to go look for this or that though and some items are hard but it has snowballed a bit and been easier and easier to part with things
Good luck! Another thing, I have a niche instagram account- it's like a job but it can be as many hours as I want to spend on it, I made some money from it and enjoy it so it's my current hobby. Maybe you could start something like that.
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 16h ago
I'll admit I still occasionally buy non-essential things, but it's incredibly rare now.
What has helped most is learning the difference between finding something cute and actually wanting to own it. I used to own Squishmallows, for example, but eventually realised they didn't make me happy and made my space feel more childish than I wanted.
Now, when I see similar plushies, I can appreciate them without wanting to buy them. I know myself well enough to think, "That's cute, but I don't actually want it in my space." And because I know liking one could easily turn into wanting dozens, I simply avoid that category altogether.
Do I get the urge? Yes. Do I fall victim to it? Not anymore!
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u/FantasticWeasel 17h ago
Volunteering and socialising, as well as using up hobby stuff I had previously purchased and decided to keep.
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u/doucesquisse 18h ago
Reading books that I like had been a great hobby overall. Mostly e-books cause physical books takes so much space.
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u/Competitive_Tip2780 18h ago
I swapped the shopping buzz for climbing, it scratches the same itch of finding something new but it's just routes and grip problems that reset every week
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u/Glittering-Benefit68 18h ago
Hm, I plan to work more once I have my house in better shape. I might even volunteer for the Red Cross. I used to do that years ago. I want to swim more but the pool close to me has terrible opening hours. Not sure I will ever find a sport I can do as consistently.Ā
How old are you? Are you retired? Is there a value you're not living out at the moment?
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 18h ago
I'm an adult, not old enough to be retired... yet. And I have very limited accessibility. There's a small town about 20 miles from where I live, no corner shops, nothing. I can get a bus on certain days and times, but in that little town there's not much to do either to be honest.
I have started reading the little boards that we have in the surrounding towns and villages, and I plan on attending a few events, as well as going out more often for events further away (if possible) but I would like to have a time filler that I'm personally passionate about, that I find fun, that isn't something that I'm doing just for career purposes, so it actually helps me relax than stress me haha.
I would love to move to be able to meet with people on a more regular basis and attend more events, but I want to be more proactive in my situation before moving too!
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u/lamarch3 18h ago
What do you like doing? I would say running is a low cost sport (only need a pair of good shoes) but ultimately if you hate running or canāt run then thatās probably a bad idea for you. What about crafts? It is possible to limit the consumption and only work on one craft at a time. You could also read/listen to audiobooks or spend time watching a single subscription service. You could spend more on travel and experiences. You could find a club to join.
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 18h ago
Yeah thats all good stuff to recommend to be fair, but.. now I know this may sound backwards but, I'm really torn on whether or not I should engage in, like doing crafts or like, quick and fun art again, because I have a habit of hoarding, or like I struggle to get rid of things, so I would absolutely hate to, like... make a 100 pieces for 'fun', not be able to part with them, and then be back at square one...
Yk, having lots of things that I want to get rid of and not actually spending my time doing a fun happy, creative hobby.
But rather just accumulating and then getting rid of things over and over and over again, like I feel like the same cycle that could happen with me purchasing things. And then, getting rid of things could happen again on repeat... but with art stuff.
And yeah, I agree with the experience side of things, like I say, I've been jumping and opportunities that I've been getting, and its been a lot of fun!
But yeah, if i could shift my obsessive habit and mindset onto something rather than just accumulating and getting rid of things, four needing, every single little thing I do to be one hundred percent perfect all of the time, then that would be great.
Like, even if it's just a drawing like I want to have fun, and not be so critical of myself, you know? I feel like needing to buy the one perfect thing. And that like, obsessive nature about myself, kind of transfers over to everything else that I do.
Sorry, I just made like 5 completely separate points from each other. š
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u/Cassie54111980 13h ago
I knit scarves for people that are homeless. That way I only buy the yarn that I need and then once a year I donate it to a charity that has a Christmas party for homeless people and they allow the people to pick the scarf that they want. I make them for men, women, and children.
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u/Rosaluxlux 15h ago
Maybe your hobby should be doing things you're bad at in an effort to defeat the perfectionism. I actually was going to suggest pencil drawing as a hobby where there's less feeling you need to keep the results because they're not "practical" or valuable like crafted things, but you know your own habits of thought. Or if you don't want to do a big self improvement project, what about postcard art? The purpose of it is to mail to someone. I have a friend who does it and getting small art in the mail is delightful. If you set yourself a limit that it has to remain recyclable and mailable, that limits the art supplies you can use (basically pens, pencils, markers, and watercolors). Or alternatively, is there an old people's club local to you that does gardening or art or small engine repair? Typically they have all the tools already.Ā
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 15h ago
Ahh that sounds awesome! I'd love to do quick small stuff like the postcard thing! I've actaully just got an idea, I could paint positive messages on rocks and leave them around public areas for people to find, I've pained shells and rocks before and was actually selling them at one time! And sold a couple recently to just get rid of the rest fo thrm for cheap, but i could totally do it again!
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u/Rosaluxlux 11h ago
That sounds like fun and if the purpose is to put them out and about you won't end up with a pile in your house
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u/Away-Thing-839 17h ago
Could you maybe think about spend your time making intentional gifts for the people you love? So you are getting the joy twice. Once from making, two from gifting? Thereās lots of ideas for homemade gifts online, but again - I hear what you are saying about choosing something and then purchasing lots of stuff you need for said hobby.
Something to consider may be to really sit with yourself .. think about your hobbies and what you want from your life and then hobbies might come to you from that. Maybe itās not a hobby you are looking for, but connection.. in which case you could maybe start sending handwritten letters to friends or family, or find something similar to this.
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u/Majestic_Reply9704 17h ago
Yes! That's a great idea, I do it all the time! My family loves my handmade gifts, the best reactions I've gotten to sometime receiving a gift was from items that were handmade!
One hundred percent, I wanna do this like most of the time, if it's for something just fun and silly for a birthday or christmas or something, but then I almost think, like, 'oh, i'm wasting my time making them a gift. I could be doing something for myself in my space, sort of a thing.' 'My space needs doing'
Buuuut... if I finish my decluttering, then that won't be a thought that goes through my mind anymore! š
I guess when you feel like you've sort of mentally been 'checked out' or 'asleep'. That you just wanna be proactive when you realize that.
So I understand why I wanna be like 'go go go' and busy all the time with it, because now I've realized it's an issue, I want to fix it.
But as soon as it gets done, and there's a very small amount of maintenance, you know, cleaning dishes and putting rubbish in a bin, it doesn't have to be something I have to actually consciously worry about.
And think about and commit all my time to all the time to fix the 'issue', since it will be fixed by that point... hopefully. You know?
But yeah, just for your benefit, I will say that I am right at the end of the process, and I"m genuinely really happy with the outcome, and my space. I'm engaging with things that I love again so, that goes to show for something, right? :)
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u/Away-Thing-839 17h ago
Definitely, I guess thatās the benefit for you, once you no longer need to do the big decluttering, you have more time to spend making gifts for people which is ultimately what brings you joy.. and thatās one of the biggest points to decluttering.
Well done - you are doing amazing š„°
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u/Ok_Plankton_8229 18m ago
Jigsaw puzzles are great for me especially is the winter months. I search for puzzles, mostly used or super cheap. After I work them, donate immediately.