Enough Is Enough
There are some things that are wonderful to have, but when you have too much it’s a problem. Making sure you have enough of the things you need is an important part of taking care of yourself. So is getting rid of the things that are just taking up space or getting in the way. That’s why I’ve created this list of five things you don’t want too much of.
Enough Storage Containers
Yes, I know I ended my last list by saying you can never have too much storage and I stand by that statement. However, storage and storage containers are two vastly different things. Those empty butter tubs and jelly jars are useful and worth saving. But only a few. If all your dishes and glasses are packed tight into one cabinet because your empties are taking up two or more, you have too many. Take them all out and put them on the table. Now think back. What is the most you have ever needed at one time? Add two to that number and put that many back. Be sure to select the ones in the best condition. Leave the rest on the table for now. We’ll get back to them.
Congratulations! You’ve just created more storage (which you do want) by getting rid of something bothersome (which you don’t want). And who doesn’t love a good two for one special?
Junk Food
Comfort food can soothe the soul. An occasional indulgence can help maintain your mental health. Sometimes its just what your spirit needs. However, the rest of your body needs some good old fashioned fruits and vegetables. Look in your pantry and refrigerator. Now be honest. Do the snack foods outnumber the healthy meal options? Is a toaster pastry for breakfast followed by fast food for lunch and pizza for dinner a regular occurrence in your household? If you answered yes to one or both of these questions you have too much junk food in your life.
Put down that cookie and pay attention! This next part is important. An overabundance of junk food is an easy (if not fun) problem to fix. And you already know how. Make a list for grocery shopping and stick to it. Prepare extra meals on your day off so you’re not as likely to be tempted by the fast food places on the way home from work. Don’t keep the snacks anywhere but the kitchen so you have to stop what you’re doing and go get them. And stop reaching for that bag of chips and keep reading.
Enough Twist Ties
You open that loaf of bread and lose the twist tie. You’re hunting for it while your sandwich calls to you. Fortunately, you keep extras. You open the drawer where you keep them and have trouble picking up just one. My question is simple. Why do you have a whole drawer devoted to twist ties? The bread company barely needs that many. Take out a handful. Throw the rest away. Put the handful back. Now you’re all done. And no, that doesn’t mean you can reward yourself for a job well done with a candy bar. Put that back.
Enough Plastic Grocery Bags
The plastic bags your groceries came in are a good item to have a few of. I hope you notice I said a few. You should not have so many that you have to spend five minutes moving them out of the way every time you want anything else you keep in that cabinet. Take them all out. Next, you want to find one that doesn’t have a hole in it. Prop that one open. Find another one without a hole and put it in the first bag. Repeat until the first bag is about 2/3 full then put it back. Gather up the rest and put them on the table with the empty pickle jars and butter tubs from earlier. I’ll bet you didn’t know that extra bottle of dish soap you just spotted was under there before you moved those bags out of the way.
Expired Items
If it’s refrigerated food, has it been expired for more than a few days? If it’s anything else, has it been expired for more than a few months? Did you say yes? Go throw that mess out right now! That’s dangerous!
Now that you’re thinking about it, you can probably come up with more items on your own. Before you do that, let’s take care of the table. Does your community provide recycling bins that allow these items? If they do put them in now. If not, bundle them neatly in the trunk of your car and drop them off next time you pass by the recycling center and show the planet a little love too.
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