Tuesday, November 2, 2010

The Happiness Project 11.2.10

Hi Guys,

I thought now would be a great time to make this post. You may have noticed I have been cleaning out and selling a lot of my makeup and a lot of you have asked me why. I will tell you why and how it all came about.

I have recently started reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. I am only a quarter of the way into it but am SO inspired (watch this quick segment about why she wrote this book HERE ). Inspired to organize and attempt to downsize and live a bit more "simply". I will go more into this later but I decided to start with my clothes and makeup.

I first started with clothing and shoes, I am the first to admit I have a lot of clothes and a lot of shoes. I do not REALLY need all of it (I guess need is a subjective term haha). I first cleaned out 4 bags of clothing and 2 of shoes to be donated to charity. I love donating to charities because you are helping out people and cleaning out and organizing your own space. It makes me feel food to know I am helping out others. A lot of people were fortunate to be born into the families they were and to be able to live as comfortably as they do. I think it is important to give back in anyway you can. Donating clothing and shoes is the least you can do and VERY easy. I urge everyone to try to donate something, even if it is only one piece. There is someone out there that can use it! The two charities I use are the Salvation Army (they have drop offs all over) and VVA (you can schedule a pick up of bags of clothing here http://www.pickupplease.org/vva/veterans-donation.aspx?gclid=CMbU2-XBg6UCFU465QodUleQOw).

After the clothing and shoes were done I moved on to more treacherous territory....makeup! Ah! The amount of makeup I had was actually scaring me. I felt like I should be on an episode of hoarders. Really there is no need for that much, will I still buy makeup? Of course! But, what it has helped me do is realize I don't need so much, I should be pickier and helps me find things easier (which means getting ready in the morning quicker!!). The funny thing is, I do not even wear a lot of makeup daily! Unfortunately, I couldn't donate the makeup, all makeup donations have to be unused and new for sanitary reasons, (obviously), so to make a long story short that is what the reason was for all the blog sales.

I highly highly recommend the Happiness Project to everyone. I am going to review it later on my blog and post some helpful tips in case you are interested in starting to organize also.

Two great tips I will leave you with today are:

- the one-minute rule (learn about it here): If you can do it in one minute, just do it right away. Do not leave it for later. I am so guilty of coming home from work and throwing things around. It would take me one minute to hang up my coat, but I dont. I throw it down and pile other stuff on top. The one-minute rule really helps and I love it! DO not procrastinate. Procrastination is the root of all evil, well not at all but thats funny to say!

- tidy before bed: Every night, take 5 minutes to tidy up. You don't realize but this sort of tidy-ing up really helps to combat the clutter and mess.

Gretchen, the author has a great blog here: http://www.happiness-project.com/

I have also been reading this great blog on organizing daily: http://unclutterer.com/

Hope this post has inspired you to donate to charity and embark on your own happiness project.

Get organizing!
x

44 comments:

  1. So glad you did this post :) looking forward to hearing more about the happiness project :)

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  2. This book sounds amazing! I need it in my life! Love the 1min rule :) x

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  3. That sounds so good! I love the idea of down-sizing, I recently donated all the items of clothing I hadn't worn in 1 year (or maybe 2years) my wardrobe is bare but it felt good!
    next step, 5 minutes tidy up! I like it x x x

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  4. I've been wanting to "de-clutter" for awhile now and think this book will help me get going! Thanks for the recommendation and the inspiration! :)

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  5. I read this book recently and it totally changed my perspective on many aspects of my life. I truly loved it.

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  6. now, how do you get a one-minute rule into a man's head? ;)

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  7. I have recently done/realised a similar thing. There is no need for so much 'stuff' and I have employed the 1 minute rule as well :)

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  8. I need to read this book. Just this week I cleaned out my closet of clothing, shoes and handbags and donated them to a local place which is a center for both Men and Women that need clothing for job interviews. They make an appointment and leave with 2 full outfits right down to the shoes, belts and handbags if needed. I felt really inspired. I'm hoping to go back soon and volunteer my time helping them coordinate their outfits. Great Post thanks so much Dara I'm going to get this book :)

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  9. i love u and think that if you keep doing yt videos u could help and inspire a lot more people... i really miss your yt videos and at least u should do somthing to make the older videos available to watch!! xxx from argentina

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  10. I have started doing the one minute rule and the tidy before bed routine and I read this post and had to comment as it was exactly what I ahve been doing. I used to come home from Sixth Form and throw my things down and by the end of the week my stuff would be everywhere, but now when I come home I will put everything in a designated spot and things are much easier.
    Great post, I really want that book now :) xx

    Please feel free to check out my blog, it would be much appreciated :)
    http://beautyduty26.blogspot.com/

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  11. A great post, i'm so interested in hearing more about that project so please keep us updated!! :-)

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  12. Great post, I love the one minute rule! Going to have a look at the links now.

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  13. I will check out this book now! I need to do exactly what youre doing xx

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  14. This is so crazy! I'm a long time reader of your blog and I also went on an "uncluttering" kick recently. I found unclutterer (her book is amazing!!) as well as zen habits and have been downsizing as well. It seems the highs attained from buying are so much less than the goodness you feel from cleaning out and maintaining a downsized lifestyle.

    kudos to you!

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  15. I'm doing the same. I donated 2 and half bags to donation this evening inspired by this book...
    Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui: Space Clearing Can Change Your Life by Karen Kingston
    My sis read this book and strongly recommended to me to do uncluttering.

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  16. What a great post! I haven't heard of this book, but it sounds great! I have been going through something similar and have been donating out the yang as well. (I also use and love VVA)
    It's so nice to know exactly what you have and what goes with what and what exactly is in a drawer, lol.
    I do the tidy up rule too, though I didn't know it was a rule. Especially with kids--it gets really stressful when crap is laying all over. A quick run-through at night makes for a much more pleasant morning!

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  17. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Stuff like this is always (probably) at the back of my mind but having someone actually post something on it serves as a great little reminder. I'm looking forward to a review! Actually, I think you've already convinced me to buy the book haha. I wish you all the best with your very own happiness project :)
    x

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  18. This is really great! I finally had a big clean-up a few weeks ago and it felt so good. I love giving stuff away. It's very cleansing! And Unclutterer is one of my favourite sites :)

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  19. HI! I read this memoir over the summer and was hoping when I clicked on your post that is was about the book (based on the title). One of my favorite tips from the book was to think about what made you happy as a child and to do it now, for me it is coloring, like in a coloring book- I bought a large Alice in Wonderland coloring book and can't believe what a stress reliever it it! And really my makeup is like "grown up" coloring so I think that is what I really like to do (however, I am 8th grade ELA teacher, lol). Also to feel appreciative of one little thing everyday really puts things in perspective. I love how in the memoir she wants to help other people clean their closets because she loves the immediate gratification so much. I can't wait to hear your review of the book. You may also like Jen Lancaster's books (all memoirs)too! Her blog is www.jennslyvania.com

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  20. You have a blog Award!
    http://lanaindiana.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-award.html
    Love You and Your Blog~
    Hugs
    Lana

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  21. I really loved that book. I found it totally inspiring too. <3

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  22. Dara you inspire me on so many levels! i will def try to pick up that book.

    feel free to check out my blog!
    mysterybeautyblogger.blogspot.com

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  23. I promise, I am going to try this. God know I could use 5 minutes of tidying up! I want that book when you're done with it. It is possible that I need it more than you do.

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  24. This is something I should really look into. God knows I'm the worse procrastinator on earth.

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