Playing the Minimalism Game

[YupIFreakilyHave]

For the month of October I am challenging myself to playing the 30 Day Minimalism Game as described by various people on their YouTube channels including The Minimalists. I prefer Jolita Bartkus' video on this. I know October has 31 days but the last day is for reflecting on how the month went.

How to Play: On the 1st you declutter one thing, on the 2nd you declutter 2 things, on the 3rd three things and so on. By the end of 30th day, 465 items should have been decluttered. Well, that's the aim.

I've been on this decluttering lark for a few years now so it'll be an interesting project. I'll try to update everyday of what was decluttered and maybe a little story of some of the items. I'm doing this online as a way to hold myself to account but I would welcome anyone who would like to join me.

It starts tomorrow. Eek!

Jolita Bartkus' video:

Oh and we have also had a few ins to balance out.

New dog clippers = old ones straight out to recycling
Two games for DD for Xmas = ball and old bit of broken Christmas chain that has been hanging around with the toys for all eternity have gone in the bin
New more grown up cutlery set for DD = water bottle bought from her school that constantly leaks chucked in the bin where it belongs!

Some great finds and binning today. Funny how we all hold on to similar things.

Day 9 - two dressing gowns over 18 years old and bits n bobs.

Day 8 and 9

Old travel Mouthwash bottle
Old body lotion
Make up items
Hip Flask
CDs
Books

Posted some little gifts to my nephews that had been hanging around for a while.

*bonus - I bought the wrong cigarettes and had half a packet floating about in my bag for a week. Gave them to my boss yesterday as he had forgotten his.

I managed! Went through the kids' craft drawer and the cupboard under the stairs. Lots of boxes for things like headphones, light bulbs etc, pens, old colouring in books, batteries, old freebies from aeroplanes... also found some random things to pass on to others!

Sunday 10th
1-3 old watches that no longer work and I don’t need.
4 lanyard
5 brooch
6 fabric brooch
7-8 silicone wrist bands from festival
9 charm bracelet from cracker
10 bracelet

Morning

Sunday 9th

T-shirt with stain
Trousers never worn look like pjs.
Cardi with holes
Dog Santa outfit the dog hates.
Scour
Beach shell
Scart lead
Elastic thingy
2 remote controls.

Ooh just realised that was yesterday's. I'd better het cracking.

Already had some of this sorted.

Sunday 10th

My daughter is having some of this. Does that count ?

Boots I can't get on,
2 hats
Slippers
Gym top and trousers
Packet of seeds
Black top
Blue top.
Book

Does anyone else find this painful?
I'm feeling quite anxious and guilty especially when I have to throw things away that can't go to charity or be recycled. I just put a lot of odd socks in the bin.

@mrsjackrussell yes!!! I honestly think this is a big part of the reason my house has ended up the way it is - the guilt associated with sending things to landfill. I feel like if something COULD be used again, even just MAYBE could be used again, I should either find another genuine home for it (which is hard work and so doesn't happen) or keep it - which is exactly what happens. And then I feel guilty about not being able to manage my clutter. Gaah.

Of course another factor is associating lots of my 'things' with feelings and experiences, and so feeling like I need to keep the things or I might forget the feelings/experiences that are associated with those things...I think I'm worried about losing the memories of my own history if I get rid of the things. I'm still not sure how to manage that really. But as I said upthread I'm finding mentioning them on the thread is good - i feel like at least I can come back and read the thread in future and be reminded again if I want to.

@Declutterclogs you've got it right. Iv got bags of stuff Iv had years and don't wear. Trying to give it to my daughters and feeling very anxious. One of the items is a scarf I knitted and is lovely but don't wear it. . I think we just have to bite the bullet and when it's gone it's gone.

Another factor is of course just being a bit time poor and disorganised which is how the meaningless tat builds up!

@MissCreeAnt my absolute dream would be to get to 2 x 465!! I honestly think I could do this game 3 months in a row without finishing the job but I will clearly not be able to actually sustain it daily for several months so I'm just trying to grab the momentum and do as much as I can this month!

So getting back to it:

Day 10: random kitchen bits and some glass bowls that used to be sentimental but now I've forgotten which lovely elderly relatives they belonged to (oops)

Proper total 55

Bonuses - some much loved tops (too small but hard to part with!) and much less loved swimwear, and a surplus coffee grinder - 11 things bringing bonus total to 102

I have had a very easy day today. Husband has been brought on board and he has binned 10 items from his bedside drawer. No idea what they were though!

@mrsjackrussell I think it's so hard when it's something you've made isn't it! I have a couple of things in that category that I can't bring myself to even think about yet ... hopefully in a week or so.

Would you like to tell us more about what the scarf reminds you of / what you love about it? Or maybe post a photo? We can all help you say goodbye to it together.

Nice work on the outsourcing @SandwichDistraction

I feel that we've got some real momentum going between us.

I've just done Sat and Sun - 23+22 bits of paper from "long term piles", plus a bonus 17. Ideally of course these piles shouldn't even exist, but at least now they are smaller and easier to manage. My mantra for today is "done is better than perfect".

@mrsjackrussell it's your game, it's totally up to you whether you want to count things you've given your daughter. Personally I'd count it if it's stopped being something you have to manage.

Adding todays 10 to my outstanding 30 = 40

So far today

🔴 old diary
🔴 rusty tin opener
🔴 dummy pot
🔴 medicine spoon
🔴 measuring cup
🔴 notebook
🔴 instructions for perfect prep

33 remaining

I'm late to the party but may I please join in? I have got rid of 55 things today. Mainly crap like little empty rum bottles I thought I'd find a use for one day, or the cocktail suggestion cards they came with.

I got rid of some poly pockets and balloons, would you count each one individually or as one thing total? I bundled them all up as one each cause it felt a bit like cheating otherwise although maybe I should have saved them for the last few days of the month

@Athenajm80 I think that you can make your own rules. If you're happy to do it as a bundle and your not finding it too hard then go for it.
@Declutterclogs good idea. I will fish it out one day when I'm ready and you lovely lot can give virtual support.

Day 10 - bundle of hangers.

I’m finding it helpful to open cupboards and just remove the daily amount as a whole cupboard would be too time consuming. The cupboards are starting to look more manageable now bits have gone.

Books today!

Please can I join in. I did start a few days ago inspired by this thread. I keep losing track of where I am up to so have devised this. It represents Friday through till tomorrow. I am counting taking out bags of rubbish and recycling as I am in a first floor flat and it is a pain to take it all the way down so it gives me more incentive.

Day10

8 dresses, too tight for me
1 top, too tight for me
1 skirt, way too tight for me

That was hard. Really felt that, even though I know they needed to go.

Total: 55 items

@mrsjackrussell

Does anyone else find this painful? I'm feeling quite anxious and guilty especially when I have to throw things away that can't go to charity or be recycled. I just put a lot of odd socks in the bin.

I had a couple of lightbulb moments binning kids' toys when I realised it was literally just rubbish, no one wants old broken toys. If I try and give utter tat to charity I'm just creating work for someone else. So now I only give the best things to charity. Anything borderline I stick it up on a Freecycle group and if it doesn't go within a couple of days, I can bin it with no qualms. Round here our non-recyclables get burned for energy recovery, which helps a bit. It's a bit of a pain dealing with people not picking up, but it's easier than worrying about whether to charity shop or bin anything borderline.

I do still find it hard though.