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:

Hi @Lougle good time to join as we will all need inspiration for second half of the month.

Today’s haul.
12 items
1-3 shoes
4-6 socks
7 lonely popsock
8 lipstick
9 straws
10 guide book
11 candle - I will melt the remaining wax into a tealight holder
12 body oil- out of date

Photo !

Day 10 was 10 children's dvds to the charity shop. (Easy one )
Day 11 worn out clothes (2 jumpers, various items of underwear) and 3 worn out towels. Definitely no photographs of these!

@THOSEcobwebsareDECOR you are doing well. Im ok because im disabled and at home most of the time. My children are adults but still make a mess.

Day 12

Still on underwear.
11 pairs of odd socks (thought it might be cheating to do them individually
Pair of tights for my daughter. (She doesn't live here so they're leaving the house)

@YupIFreakilyHave I somehow missed seeing earlier that you'd done your clothes! Jolly well done - what a huge achievement.
How are you feeling about it now a couple of days have passed?

Day 12

1 ice tray, yes another one as I decided I don't need more than one
1 stapler, spare one (JIC item)
1 lampshade from bathroom, no longer needed
2 key rings
1 casino token
1 tweezer, spare
1 wallet, awkward to open so never been used
1 set of playing cards, spare
1 memory game
1 mini-figure with bike, not played with any more
1 pencil box, no longer used by DS

Total: 78 items

Photo

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats children's DVDs = genius. So is the freezer @Lougle. I am going to make use of both those ideas!

Day 12 - another swoop through the cupboards of doom to collect today's 12 items (so much to choose from...!) plus some bonuses of 9 old bits from child car seats (infant pads, seat belt covers and the like) and 4 pairs of my tights/leggings - I've been in denial but they are definitely too small. Sigh.

On a cheery note though they bring my bonuses up another 13 to 135. I'm actually now really hoping I might make it to 2 x 465... that would be incredible and would make such a difference in our lives. But there are lots of big days coming up so I'm trying not to get too excited. Just have to keep my head down and keep going!

Hi @YupIFreakilyHave! I seem to have cross posted with you when asking about your dresses - maybe telepathy! (or maybe coincidence ) Anyway I hope you are feeling lighter now after saying farewell to them

today 10 pieces of old bed linen and hand towels

@Declutterclogs It's hard to accept that I will never be that size again and even if I do get to that size, my body shape has changed so they wouldn't fit me right, anyway. I feel not so bad, after the distance of a few days. More room in the closet too. 👍🏼

@Trumpton love your photo collage.

Day 12 - shoes, shirts, scarf and bits from the bathroom cupboard that I have now given a good clean inside and replaced all the keepers in pleasing rows.

@YupIFreakilyHave and unless the clothes are classic items they are probably not something we would choose to wear again.

@RedCake oh gosh I would absolutely wear them again, if they fit me, even if they are not design classics. But they did need to go. Actually, just expressing my thought about it has helped. So thank you.

And yay at your neat and tidy bathroom cupboard. I imagine your lotions, potions etc all lined up like soldiers

Loving the updates as we get further along!
Mine were quite straightforward today:

3 baby cards from when I had my youngest.
4 birthday cards given to me
4 plastic plant pots
1 apron from a cooking class we did years ago.

I seem to have kept the cards as I liked the pictures on them and a couple had quite nice messages. But they don't have a home and none were THAT special so off they go...

It’s the tiny slim cupboard (I am a woman of many stuffed cupboards) but I did a bit of faffing and rolling of flannels on one shelf and that looks nice.

I would so wear my size 8 clothes again if I could get in them - who am I kidding

Day 1. 1 old coat

Day 13.

@se22mother hello and I thought it was 1 old goat 🐐 at first. 

Well done @Trumpton

Day 13:

1 London bus
1 black cab
2 camper vans
9 assorted mini cars, pick trucks, SUVs etc.

All not played with any more and all with DS' blessing.

Total: 91 items

[quote YupIFreakilyHave]@se22mother hello and I thought it was 1 old goat 🐐 at first. 

Well done @Trumpton [/quote]
I'd never throw out a goat . Thank you for the welcome

Welcome @se22mother and @lougle. Well done everyone. @Declutterclogs you're doing amazingly. @Redcake I love a tidy bathroom cabinet, I find they tend to stay tidy for a long time afterwards too. YupIFreakilyHave well done for getting DS on board.

I have cleared out a handbag full of papers and crap that I stopped using about 2012. It was well over 60 bits but I'm counting it as my Days 11 & 12 (20 and 19 items) Not sure if this is cheating, because they're quite easy really and could almost count as 1 item, or something to be really proud of. I'd been avoiding this full handbag and moving it round untouched for 10 years. I know this is really stupid, but still, it's gone now. The bag itself is in the charity box.

Day 13 (18 items) - 10 pairs tights and 15 Crayola Twistables, which my children have outgrown.

@MissCreeAnt definitely not cheating and you should absolutely be proud of it. Emotionally weighty possessions are big ticket items in this decluttering game!

Day 12: I've got rid of 21 pieces of rubbish from the car.

So 66 items to yesterday, plus 12 today = 78
I got rid of 30 yesterday and 21 today, so 27 items remaining to catch up.

Total to date 51; 27 needed to catch up!