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:

Long story short I lost my health in the process and my life has been for ever changed and pretty hard in the last 11 y since but I do have two healthy lovely children . I have been donating everything to charity shops that’s been in good condition which is pretty much everything I have . Some are brand new or nearly and expensive but I don’t want to start selling anything at this point I’m happy the charity will get money for them .

Day 18.

I did this yesterday as there was a lot in that drawer. I'm trying to get ahead of myself as away for a few days next week and I know if I get behind I might not be bothered then.

2 trays. Dh bought from boot fair. This seems to be a theme here.
Head torch. Don't camp anymore.
2 jars.
5 buster collars. Whenever the dogs need one at the vets they won't let me reuse them for some rEason.
Ties.
Old.Hoover battery.
Water filter.
2 gas lighters.
Wire phone man left here.
Glittery tape.
Seeds.
Plug thing.

@Nordicmom that sounds very hard for you. Hope you're okay

No wonder it’s difficult. Whatever you decide to do will be the right thing.

@Nordicmom that sounds so hard. Only do what you are ready to do, there's no time limit.

Thanks for kind words everyone !

Day 17 more children's dvds and a couple of books, all for the charity shoo.
Day 18 - pictured. A slightly higher count than 18 with non working pens but I'm not worried .

Day 9;
laptop case olio'd
Laynard from dc
2x kids scissors olio'd (and picked up)
1x letter stencils (olio'd and picked up)
1x animal stencils (olio'd and picked up)
1x plain flour out of date by a lot...eek!
1x self raising flour the same as above
1x dessicated coconut the same as above.

Hope you are okay @Nordicmom take it at your own pace, it is a marathon not a sprint and some categories are going to be harder than others.

@Nordicmom that does sound very hard 

@mrsjackrussell, there does seem to be a bit of a theme.

My brain has not been functioning today so I've just gathered stuff. I will count and photograph on Thursday, probably.

Well done everyone 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Day 10:
4x boxsets to the charity shop
Fidget toy to charity shop
3x tankards to the charity shop
2x wetsuits olio'd

Day 11:
5x microfiber dusters olio'd
4x glue spreaders olio'd
1x bracelet charity shop
1 small pile of chalk broken into unusable sizes

Day 18 finally accepted I'm not the size I used to be and cleared out my wardrobe. Lots of items for the charity shop

Gosh a huge well done to you @Chrysanthemum5, that is a massive achievement from both a practical and emotional perspective. I imagine it was a bit challenging. A big bunch of for you.

Day 19.
Today the old bathroom is being replaced.
I am keeping my old bath as it is a cast iron roll top and I love it.
Various grotty bits.
( including toilet brush )

Surprisingly easy Day 19. Selection of things from my jewellery box: necklaces, earrings, hair accessory thing I wore on my wedding day. Some of the jewellery was made by my grandma so hard to part with but I have kept a few bits that she has made me that I like and might actually use.

@Trumpton don't blame you for keeping the bath, I would love one of those!

Day 7
3 bags
3 pairs of shoes
1 coat

@Trumpton cast iron roll top bath!! That is my aspirational bath and a bathroom renovation is the best incentive I can think of for decluttering! Enjoy your lovely new ensuite

@Nordicmom I just saw your updates. I'm so sorry
I hope you are being gentle with yourself as you come to terms with the loss of your health and - if I am reading correctly - some pregnancies as well. These things absolutely take time. Lots of time. And a lot of emotional work, and gentleness.

You are doing amazingly saying goodbye to the clothes.

I don't know if you are in a place with a garden, but if you are, have you considered planting a tree? If that wouldn't be something useful for you please just ignore my suggestion of course. I have a very little tree in our garden that I planted in memory of a baby who isn't. It blossoms every year and I look at it and feel sort of quietly sad, but it is a gentle sadness now not the raging one of earlier times. It was helpful for me but we all grieve our past and losses differently. I hope you have found some things that are helpful for you x

Also @Nordicmom if you'd like to tell us the longer version of your story please do - I feel a bit like this thread/journey has become somewhere for decluttering both our houses and our souls - or at least it seems to be helping that way for me. x

@Declutterclogs thank you - it was a bit challenging to get rid of clothes in my old size. You're right - this thread is helping emotionally declutter as well. @Nordicmom as @Declutterclogs says if you'd find it helpful to write your story here we are all here for you x

Back on the house front - day 19 found yet another stash of hotel and travel type toiletries. I did travel a bit pre kids but things have been pretty quiet on the travel front for quite a while so not sure why I thought I needed a six week supply of things for the whole family. Just in case we won a round the world trip and had to leave immediately, possibly.
The tiny and incomplete manicure set I've had since I was 10. It was my absolute best present that year. I LOVED it. (And haven't used it in several decades...)

@Chrysanthemum5 In the end I couldn't bring myself to say goodbye to ALL the clothes in my way-too-small pile. It was just way too emotionally charged for me to handle doing it all in one go! I kept a little memory bag with a few in. Will be interesting to see if they survive my next decluttering month, whenever that is.

Day 12:
4x new socks to charity shop
1x sanitiser used up
1x cup broken this morning
2x dvds
2x kids craft airplane
1x peg doll
1x dice
I am thinking of maybe doing the game on 'even' months, don't think I could manage to actively declutter every month.

Oh @Declutterclogs I'm not sure I could have said goodbye to the manicure set!