Challenge #21 - Shoes

Brace yourself to tackle a potentially emotional challenge. Today it is all about shoes.

Let’s recall the process we are using throughout the month:

THE PROCESS

• Gather your supplies:
  • Boxes or bags labeled with:
    • “Donate”
    • “Elsewhere”
    • “Store”
  • Trash can/recycle bin
  • Damp rag/wet wipe

• Empty challenge area for the day. And by empty, I mean EMPTY.

• Once the area is empty, wipe it clean with a damp rag.

• Now sort the items into these categories: (The Seana Method’s R.E.D.D.S. system)
  • R- “Restore”: items to go back in
  • E- “Elsewhere: items to keep, but which don’t belong in this space
  • D- “Donate”
  • D- “Dispose”: trash or recycle
  • S- “Store”: items to keep for sentimental reasons, or perhaps for a long-term future use, but which are not regularly used. (These items will eventually need to go into a bin/box in an attic, basement, or closet.)

• As you are sorting, put items into the boxes/bags you prepared.

• Once you are finished sorting, put the “Restore” items back into your designated area.

• Carry the “Elsewhere” box/bag around your house and redistribute its contents.

• Move the “Donate” box/bag to the car to be donated.

• Trash/recycle the “Dispose” items

• Put the "Store" box aside for now. When the month is over, these items will be packaged for long-term storage.

THE TASK

Many of us love our shoes. They are fun to buy, fun to wear, and a way to express ourselves. However, as with all things in life, too much of a good thing is a bad thing.

Start by removing all of your shoes from your closet(s). Gather them if they are strewn around the house. 

Throw away shoes that are:

• broken,
• torn,
• irreparably damaged

Give away shoes that:

• are no longer to your liking,
• hurt your feet,
• you don’t like wearing,
• you are keeping out of guilt (“but I paid sooo much for them…”)
• are very similar to others you own (how many flip flops do you need?)

Clean/polish shoes that are:

• scuffed
• muddy
• dusty

Now that you have sorted through them, think about how you want to store them. Here are a few tips:

1. Keep boots & bad weather gear downstairs near the door.
2. Pick the best storage solution for your space.
   1. If you have shelves… put your shoes directly onto the shelf. If you like, put shoes into clear plastic shoe boxes – especially those “special” shoes you seldom wear but want to keep nice. If you really want to be organized, put a photo of the shoe on the front of the box to find it easily.
   2. If you only have floor space… consider buying a tiered shoe rack to gain more space by going vertical.
   3. If you have very limited closet space…. hang a shoe organizer on the back of a door.
   4. If you can’t fit all of your shoes in your closet… consider using an under-the-bed box (they make them for shoes with dividers) for out of season/seldom worn shoes.
3. Organize your shoes by type (pumps, flats, sneakers, boots).
4. Nest flip-flops so they take up less space.
5. Put support into boots to keep them standing up while not in use. You can buy boot trees, or just use old paper towel cardboard rolls.

As always, the best tip is to keep only the number of shoes that you can easily accommodate in your space. It’s tough, but the rewards of being able to see and access your shoes easily far outweigh the emotional cost of letting go.

Submitted by Seana Turner, founder and President of The Seana Method