Monday, August 27, 2012

Day 37: Downsizing the DIY Dreams


The Task: Downsize my pinterest boards to contain projects I really might actually do some day.

The Why:  Does anybody else feel like they have too much inspiration and not enough time?  Sometimes I get stressed out about all the projects I want to complete even though they are completely optional projects that shouldn't have the ability to stress me out at all!

Plus, I think sometimes pinterest convinces us to make something we really don't need or even really want, just because it's a neat idea.  Just because I can make a handbag out of my old tank tops doesn't mean I should make a handbag out of my old tank tops.  It isn't up-cycling if the finished project is clutter I don't need!

And the convenience of curating all the ideas and inspiration in one place lost it's actual convenience around the time my Pinterest pins exceeded 1000.  It was becoming easier to search Google for a new recipe than to find one I had pinned!

The How:  I created a few new boards and moved all my favourite pins into those few boards.  I left a couple boards alone, like my "recipes I've tried" board, which is uber handy when I'm looking for that peanut butter cookie recipe I know I tried but never got around to writing down.

I made a point of asking myself questions like "Does this project/idea/inspiration fit well with the life we're trying to live."and "Is this a project I may actually want to tackle in the coming year?"

The Verdict:  I went from 51 boards and 1477 pins down to 12 boards and 245 ideas I really think I might use someday. I was reminded of some great projects and recipes that had lost their appeal amid all the digital clutter.

By the way, you can check out my pinterest boards here, if you want!

We are doing one small thing (almost) every day for a year to create a simpler, quieter, more intentional life. Take a moment to read all About Us, check out The Rules of our year long project and sign up for our RSS feed or "like" us on facebook so that you can follow our journey to radical simplicity!

19 comments:

  1. I like this idea! I love pinterest for the ability to organize things but your right sometimes it can get all cluttered up! I try to be careful with the recipes and other pins but I'm sure even I could cut down on them. My question is how do you "un-pin" them?

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    1. click "edit" and then there is a "delete pin" button.

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  2. Pinterest can definitely become overwhelming! Great idea to whittle it down.

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  3. Fantastic idea. I started printing the recipes I tried and plan to make again and keep them in my recipe binder that I use to plan meals for the month. You have inspired me to edit my boards even more.

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  4. I completely agree with you - why bother to PIN something that you will virtually NEVER do/use. I have actually just started week two of Pinterest Projects, which I blog at: http://michellespiritualjourney.blogspot.com/2012/08/day-1-pinterest-projects-part-2.html

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  5. Wow. That's huge. I might need to tackle this as well. Great idea!

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  6. I don't think this would be possible for me to do without starting a new pinterest ... {shuffles}... I have 5,600 pins and 99 boards... ahh http://pinterest.com/ashlee_geesaman/ but I'm not stressed out by pinterest. I have made it a goal to actually do some of the projects (and I have, but probably not even 1% of them). My favorite part of Pinterest, personally, is getting to 'virtual shop.' Our income is at a place where I cannot afford to shop for practically anything, if I think about it too much it's depressing. But I am able to stay at home with my daughters, and that IS what matters to me. So, I tend to use Pinterest to enjoy and browse and experience new blogs. It keeps me from wanting to online shop, or go wander around Target, and I write all the projects that I want 'to do' in my planner so I can find them again. I limit my time on there (although, it's crazy to think that when there are THAT many pins), and I really enjoy it. With all that said, I think it's fabulous that you downsized your pinterest boards to manageable amounts.

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    1. I 'virtual shop' as well. Neither of us is working right now and so we're not spending any money on non-essential (and the internet, of course, for job hunting). On the internet and through Pinterest, I flip all the magazines (that I'm no longer subscribing to) and save all the best photos. I'm (somehow, thank you Lord) content right now and am not even tempted to buy. Still, this is your blog and you do the things you need to do!! Thanks for inspiring us!

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  7. When I started pinterest...I decided to not have more than 5 boards, and to be really critical of what I put up on there. I am finding that it was an extremely smart idea to do so.

    I think it's a good idea to reduce pins. I also think that it's a good idea to carve out time to finish tasks, or not pin something unless you can imagine yourself using the idea in a certain situation.

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  8. Wonderful Post Kelly! I had what I called my "real life" and my "pinterest life"- knowing that I would never complete half the projects I pinned...how silly! Off I go to declutter my pinterest boards and vow to only pin things that fit into "Real" life for me!

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  9. This is exactly how I feel! Too much inspiration, too little time!

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  10. Lots of people I know have lovingly "teased" me because I refuse to get a Facebook or Pinterest account. Honestly, I didn't even know what Pinterest was until a few months ago. But I spend too much time on the computer anyway, so keeping away from such sites is an exercise in self-discipline, I suppose. I've found that my life goes on pretty well thus far without them. Places like Pinterest would be a major "contentment robber" for me anyway. My friends are still my friends outside of Facebook. (Remember e-mail? LOL) Congrats on keeping your "pins" (is that what they're called?) in check.

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    1. I also have a bunch of friends on pinterest and they look at me like I have 2 heads when I tell them I have no interest in joining. Lol! I agree with the contentment robber comment. We have an extremely tight budget so I don't do a lot of projects and if I want a recipe, I go to a favorite food blog or google for ideas

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  11. Thank you and Congrats! I understand that feeling, too much inspiration and too little time! Thanks for the post :)

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  12. I adore Pinterest, it's my zone-out time instead of tv. But I think I need to downsize my pins too, and start living more of the life I dream of! Wish it wasn't so long and tedious to delete each pin one at a time!

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    1. Yes, it is long and tedious. That's why, for the most part, I moved the pins I wanted to keep into new boards and deleted the whole old board instead of each pin individually.

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    2. That's how to do it?! Great idea, now I can stop moving individual pins around and start wiping out my 1500 pins and 800 likes that I never follow-up on.

      (Btw, I found this blog through Pinterest!)

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  13. I don't have a Pinterest account - it helps that I am neither crafty nor particularly into visually appealing things like fashion or interior design - but still, I find myself on that site just through Google searches! It can be great! So my issue is not Pinterest, but bookmarks on my internet browser. I have quite a few folders, many sites not sorted, and way too many I should probably delete. Especially recipes!

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  14. So I stayed home "sick" yesterday with a pulled rib, and decided to take on this challenge. It took me FOREVER to sort through my pins and figure out which ones to keep and which ones I really wouldn't use. I went from 848 pins on 15 boards down to 480 pins. I went through again today on my breaks from work and have whittled it down to 355 on 15 boards. I think this is a number I am comfortable with, and will really use all of these pins. :) Thanks for the inspiration.

    Brittny

    Bsnovelwritingblog.blogspot.com

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