The march towards Minimalism continues...

[MissAnnersleyismyhero]

Hey all, thought I'd make a new thread to encourage us all to keep going on the journey to minimalism!

"Eighty per cent of your to-do list is crap. Look, the stuff of life never ends. That is life. You will never clear your plate so you can finally allow yourself to get to the good stuff. So you have to decide. What do you want to accomplish in this life?" (From 'Overwhelm' by Brigid Schulte).

Thank you for this. I always think I have to wait until the mundane stuff is done. Every bloody day I clean the kitchen, pick up the toys etc. Every day. So what does it matter if I miss a day or two?

Well errr I'm at park enjoying coffee alfresco having done all playgroup park play

My house now looks like the carboot gone wrong I can safely say my to do list works

I love that quote Harriet. I am so guilty of thinking that the good times will begin once I've cleared my debts, lost weight, culled my belongings etc etc etc. Its hard to put down the To Do list and focus on the present and I know I need to work on it.

Prosecco my preschooler has too many! I need to count them to be sure but I would say roughly
10x knickers
8x vests
3x socks
5x pyjamas
6x tights
5x t shirts
5x trousers
3x skirts
8x dresses
2x dress up dresses
3x jumpers
2x coats

She has a small wardrobe and a two drawer chest of drawers so it doesn't look unmanageable but I know she has too much as I'm constantly drowning in washing!

Oh, and wellies, trainers, shoes, crocs and slippers, so 5 lots of footwear. Roughly 55 items if you include undies etc which I know 333 doesn't.

That is a great quote.

Prosecco too many! When they were preschoolers I'd say roughly 10 times tops, bottoms, at least that many pants and socks. 2-3 jumpers, plus a couple of dresses and tights for DD. 5ish vests and PJs.

I only do laundry once a week normally and neither DC is brilliant with toiletting so I never really tried to minimise their clothes. The theory is that by doing the washing in a big lump once a week, it's all put away by Sun night and does't accumulate in piles around the house. I stress it's just a theory :)

I am seriously thinking of doing project 333. I suspect I actually do it anyway, in terms of wearing the same tiny amount of stuff over and over, while my wardrobe groans with all the stuff I never wear.

I have cut it by about half in a year, I used to have 2 walk in wardrobes plus chest of drawers, and a bad habit of buying charity shop clothes to alter/repair/dye a nice colour/because they were a good brand.

At least I didn't pay full price for it all I guess.

But I think I could cut it more - off the top of my head I have 2 sun dresses that I haven't worn despite all the gorgeous weather but when I go to throw them out I just can't!

Hi everyone! Just signing back in as this had once again fallen off TIO

Had a phase of little relapses lately so not done much. Going to start a separate thread for a boost in the summer holidays. It is beyond ridiculous, it's hideous in fact. Minimalism is thankfully helping me not to add to the mess with stuff but am really struggling with what we already have.

Got to catch up with the last few pages of this thread but skimming through I see there is a new arrival, huge congratulations everton :o

Aaaaaaargh!!!!!!

We are decorating our bedroom to make it our DDs' new room (we'll have their little one) so upstairs is currently a disaster zone.

Yesterday was taken up with sorting the garden shed and cupboard. It took ALL day and 3 tip runs. And we didn't get round to weeding and sweeping so to the untrained eye it looks untouched.

The kitchen is packed with decorating stuff that has no home (well, I say its home is the bin but DH disagrees ) and a muddy bike trailer, also with no home atm.

Plus the usual house mess exacerbated by a stomach bug that got us this week so DD1 didn't go to preschool (thus making more mess).

I'm surrounded by mess, clutter and people and I'm gonna explode!!!!!

It's one step forward and 20 steps back.

Totally understand that feeling jimmy! You just have to remind yourself of what you HAVE achieved rather than what you haven't

Thanks fuzzpig. Bit of a grumpy day yesterday.

Same! Somehow though it's easier to be compassionate to others than ourselves isn't it?

Hi Buffy.

That must be hard for you. I'm lucky my DH is pretty much on board but I do get frustrated when he disagrees with me!! I would get rid of lots more on my own but know that I can't ignore his wishes to keep something.

This is helpful. I got rid of lots of books/CDs/DVDs and after a while (we're talking months) DH did the same...but I hadn't asked him to. I had obviously led by example

I have decluttered about 7 baby/child blankets that have never been used and have taken up a massive drawer. I kept them for mythical cold situations where we might appreciate them! Also approx. 1 million child coat hangers.

The DDs' room is progressing. DH has had a burst of energy and is putting skirting boards on (this room has been waiting for skirting boards for 3 and a half years!) Got a wardrobe from Gumtree for £20 and it's lovely. We have been sharing one wardrobe as a family and when I transferred the girls' clothes I was able to declutter those too.

fuzzpig I took on board what you said, thanks for the support, especially when you aren't finding it easy. Hope you have had a better day

Got some planting done with the boys yesterday :) Gardening is one of the things I'm making space for. I don't really know what I'm doing in the garden and have given up planning - because the plans are usually unrealistic and keep me in the thinking stage rather than actually taking action - but we planted some herbs plants and seeds and will see how it goes.

Bit fed up of renting and moving every five minutes... But if I think of myself as a nomad, it's easier.

Hope you all get a chance to feel the sun on your face today!

Hi everyone. The good news is I'm off crutches and stating to get back to work. The bad news is that the flat is worse than ever and I'm lazy and want to sit in the sun finding I'm getting really tired very easily so don't get as much as I should done!

Arti, I should think that sitting in the sun is precisely the thing to help you towards full recovery. No doctor ever prescribed wading through domestic crappery as a post-operative remedy. Turn your back on it and put on the sun cream! (Can you do your work in the sun?)

Just checking in! Arti - glad you're on the mend.

DS2 is 1 month old now. Where does the time go? No minimising going on here. If I get to the end of the day with the same 3 DCs I started with, alive and fed then I'm happy. If they're clean, that's a bonus

I can so relate to the baby blanket situation. We have 3 shop bought, one given by friends to each child, and 3 homemade (my nana (my 37 year old one!), my mum and me) I don't feel I can get rid of any of them yet, but this summer baby has no need of any of them at the moment, so they're just taking up space for now!

Oh yes, handknitted items. The emotional stress with those is baaaaaad! I have 4 knitted/crocheted blankets that I cannot declutter but we don't use them. In fact, 2 have never been used at all.

Great news Arti. Have you decluttered your crutches yet?

7 bags for the chazzer and a framed picture. It all seems to be going out but I don't have my minimalist house yet, I don't understand

Knitted baby blankets - possible uses for non-precious ones:
Donate to dcs for use with dolls/teddies
Put in dressing up box for dcs
Use in garden as "sit on" rugs while the weather is nice
Allow dcs to use for den making
Make into cushion covers/bean bag covers for dc rooms
Allow dcs to use as "cuddle up" blankets while watching tv (obv in cooler weather next week )

Cushion covers, that's brilliant!

hello just marking place again. ive been away on holidays, it wasnt very minimal.

Just seen this on Facebook and thought it was useful for avoiding recluttering!nourishingminimalism.com/2014/07/18-non-toy-gifts-for-children.html

Hi everyone! Yesterday was the first proper day of the holidays so I've started my Summer Holidays House Blitz :)

Trying to organise a few particular places at a time, and using 'the toothbrush principle' making sure I make the most efficient and sensible use of space. For example at the moment the cupboard under the TV has a load of old manuscripts that we need to sell, but I'm changing it round for wii games and VHS as they desperately need a home!

Hope you're still on the mend arti - take it easy x