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:

@declutterclogs what a lovely way to put it. Thank you.

Day 13 - the day the enormous jar that held Percy Pigs goes.

@Lougle nice work! Getting there

Welcome @se22mother

Declutter Clogs - nice thinking on the emotional items. I'm finding even the most inane stuff surprises me with my emotional reaction. Currently I'm looking at some packaging that contains something I should be doing something with.... It's a complete mental block - I'm just not doing it! but this bag is still glaring at me every time I'm in the kitchen making me feel like I can't get stuff done, and don't know what I'm doing.

Right, there's nothing for it
I'm going to do it now......

@freezerdinners You can do it!! We are all cheering you on

Can you take a peek inside the bag and just sort the top item @freezerdinners? Just one item. Then put it away.

I'm feeling quite euphoric because my 13 items today included 2 wedding presents, which were perfectly lovely and we appreciated but unfortunately weren't to either of our tastes - but which I nevertheless felt compelled to keep (for years and years and years...) even though the people who gave them to us (who are also lovely) never come around and I'm positive wouldn't have minded anyway. So I'm finally ridding myself of that unnecessary sense of obligation - and gaining some cupboard space - and feeling much lighter for it!

I won't include the photo that has those but instead here are 13 bonus items - some jars and bathtoys

And 23 stones that my child captured and brought home last month, and which I have now liberated back to their proper habitat. I'll just count those as one item though as they were an easy job lot. So regular total now 91 - gosh it's creeping up isn't it! - and bonuses 149.

@freezerdinners good luck

Thanks for the support! It was a less than five minute job to take stuff out of the bag and put it where it's supposed to be! I've done it! (Only taken 3 weeks!!!! But ..... I'm keeping the packaging bag !!!!!! In case it's useful (eek!), But I actually think it will be - to take stuff to the charity shop!

BRILLIANT idea to raid the children's nature box , which is essentially a shoe box of sticks and gravel. Will remember that later on.

@Declutterclogs that sounds so rewarding!

Decluttering definitely feels like a muscle which improves with use!

Had a manic day yesterday so needed to do Day 12 and 13 today. It’s been much harder to find things but has definitely pushed me to get rid of stuff I was keeping but never used.

So: sad looking bathroom plant, 2 x plant pots, egg separator thing, piping bag, 2 pots of horrible cold infuse bags, 1 massive vase, 4 candles down at their dreg ends, salad spinner, dinosaur cake moulds, 2 x baking tins, 2 x saggy nursing bras, 2 x pairs of socks, 1 tshirt and 4 greetings cards that I don’t really like so will never send to anyone!

Phew I think it is going to start getting tricky now.

Coming back in with an update. Was in the office one day so decluttered a filing cabinet in my office which felt great! Also wrapped lots of birthday and Christmas presents to give to my sister who was visiting - so I've saved a lot on postage.

Also cleared out all my coats and jackets - including 3 velvet coats/blazers I got from my mother in law. I love velvet so much but they didn't fit and they didn't suit me - and I loved my MiL but she died last year so I wasn't able to let them go. Until now -so I thank you minimalist October for helping me move on.

I also looked out all my old magazines (i usually take them to work for others to read) and gave them to my sister.

House feels a bit lighter 🤣

Forgot - I sorted through the birthday cards we'd received this year and stuck the ones I wanted to keep in a photo album

Day 12 - 12 cd's free from newspapers years ago.
Day 13 - another 4 cd's from the same source, 4 small plastic toys for the charity shop and five really random bits of crap (photo) .

Hello all. You're all doing amazingly well. I'm finding this very satisfying.

Still in the bedroom drawers.

Pair of furry pot pourri mice I had since teenage years. I'm quite fond of them but i only see them when I clean out the drawer. A bit sad.

Tights, pop sox, head bands, perfume atomiser (unwanted gift) , 2 pairs sunglasses cleansing pad, small bag, small pot.

I'm realising that a lot of my stuff are things that dh has bought home from the boot fair.

Hello, hope you don't mind if I join in too at this late stage?
Day 1: paperback novel has been olio'd.

Now to catch up with the other days

Day 2: kids dvd put on olio, If no takers I will charity shop next week. A disc for a memory card reader for PC no longer needed.

Day 14.
It’s getting interesting now!
I know I can find books and craft supplies easily to bulk out number but it’s getting harder. I think because I don’t buy a lot and have operated a “One in- One out” system for a while.
Anyway today’s photo is clothes.

Day 2 - 1 old phone charger and one discarded pot of moisturiser that had sat in the bathroom for months

Day 14

1 jumper, with tiny holes
1 set of wand magnets
1 set of all magnets
1 pile of pretty magnetic circles
2 euro adapters, DP keeps buying these for some bizarre reason
8 various DS books

Total: 105 items

It is interesting, isn't it @Trumpton. I started on the minimalism journey a few years ago. I have a place for everything and I know exactly where everything is and I even have empty spaces in cupboards and drawers. But I still have lots of things I don't love or use and many just in case items. Many things that I am blind to because they are always there so this game has really helped me (as well as DP and DS) to really look 👀 at our stuff. Also, I am so pleased with DS because he is a hoarder and gets attached to everything.

Lovely collections everyone! I'm really enjoying your photo collages @Trumpton

As you have probably all gathered by now I have NOT started on any form of minimalism journey prior to this, and even by the end of my (hopefully) double-total month my house still won't be even close to minimalist. But goodness it's fantastic getting going!

Day 14 for me- a top I love with tiny holes that I'm really hoping are not from moths 🤞🤞🤞 and various scarves and belts collected over way too many years

And for my bonuses, 19 items from the shelves of shame in the bathroom. How many hotel minis can a household possibly require???
Bonuses 168

I am in awe of all you amazing people who are running out of items to declutter already. That is so great and reflects that you manage to keep on top of things on a regular basis. I hope you are all feeling quietly proud of yourselves about that - plus it is very inspirational for me and I hope next time I do this game (I'm already thinking I might try again next October!) I might be in a more similar situation