A tidy apartment that stays tidy and tidy – who doesn't want that? But we always drag in new stuff from our shopping trips. And at some point there is no more space, the closet overflows. Instead of buying a cupboard, tidying up and mucking out is the order of the day. However, we have got used to the shopping bag method so that we can permanently create order and not (again) get into the vicious circle of chaos and overdue tidying up. This is the only way we can bring order to our home in the long term.
The shopping bag method is so simple and simple and works great if you stick to it. What do I have to do? The rule is simple: don't bring anything into your apartment without having mucked out the same amount beforehand. Do you want to buy new clothes? Then think about what you can get rid of to make room for something new. And by getting rid of it we don't mean: throw it in the trash. Donate, give away, sell at the flea market – there are so many ways to deal responsibly with things and resources. What is of course broken is probably best stored in the trash.
Something new is moving in, something old has to be removed
How can I integrate the shopping bag method into my life without giving up? Anyone who comes home with a bag, bag, package (or whatever, the shopping bag can stand for many things) empties the things – and then puts things that are no longer needed in the bag – and then disposes of them consequent. Something new is moving in, something old has to be removed. Very simple. It is important, however, that we do not put it on the back burner. Whoever starts with "I'll do it tomorrow" is guaranteed not to do it. It takes a while to get used to this principle, but once you have internalized the method, you generally start to question purchase decisions and even save money in the end.
And whoever believes that he has nothing to sort out is wrong. There are guaranteed to be things with you that you probably own too much of. And even if it is difficult to separate yourself from things, you should internalize the following mantra: People and memories are important in life, not things.
Just try it. And if you have to tidy up first, you also start with smaller shopping bag projects. Mucking out here and there is easier at the beginning than trying to do everything right away. And best of all: small successes encourage us to stay with them instead of quickly giving up again, overwhelmed by the chaos.