Virtual Hoarding

I have been in search of ways to simplify in all walks of my life. Then it hit me. One of my biggest hoards isn't cluttering my halls, closets and bedrooms. It's cluttering my computer. My virtual hoard.

I don't know about you, but I use to have SO many bookmarks. Things that I wanted to make sure I saved for later. Then, along came Pinterest. It was amazing. Organized. So like so many people I began pinning almost anything and everything that I could get my hands on. Was it pretty? Pin. Funny? Pin. Looks tasty and master chef level to make or bake? Pin that too!

The other day I realized I had around 40 boards on Pinterest. FORTY! I want to just say, I am in no way knocking those with loads of boards etc. It made me realize though that it is super easy to virtually hoard ideas, pretty things, stuff that just clutters up the stuff I actually want to do via Pinterest or other similar medias. I am currently working on decluttering my Pinterest boards, combining them and removing stuff I won't do anything with or is just a waste. For example, I deleted an entire board planning for my 10th Anniversary 'do over' wedding. My husband and I pretty much were miserable with our wedding and have always wanted to redo it. However, now that mark is only about 2 years away it seems less important. I moved the pins I saved of new wedding bands (which I think we will likely do) and deleted the rest. If we end up renewing our vows, awesome. I will make a board then. If not, no worries. I have been married for 7.5 years, have two kids, and doubt the plans I had are really what I want anymore.

Another virtual hoard in our house is pictures. I can't do anything about that at the moment as our move is underway and most of our electronics with our photos etc are packed and shipped. However, I save all pictures, even bad ones. We have spent the last few years traveling and of course you have to take a picture of every.single.thing least you forget it. I am hoping to work towards either making prints, photo albums or deleting some of the space but it's difficult. I love photography and my husband loves having photos. However, the fact I have an emotional response to deleting poor quality photos of my daughters, or of a place we have been shows the level of attachment that I don't feel I should have at all. Why am I so attached to a blurry photo of my kids? You can't even see what is going on!

So in an attempt to de-clutter my virtual space I have made goals. For example, I only pin non-hobby crafts if I actually plan to do them and then date them and have 6 months (at the moment that time frame could change) and if it doesn't get done, delete. On the flip side of that I am an active yarn crafter (knitting and crochet) and I sew so I have left those boards alone for now. Stuff with helpful information for others (or myself) stays at the moment as well. For example, my breastfeeding, cloth diapers and baby wearing boards all have information that can help others and promotes them so no deletes there.

How do you keep a handle on your virtual 'stuff'? Do you at all? Do you find things like Pinterest overwhelming or a helpful tool?

Kay xxx