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:

I'll join you - I need the accountability. Yesterday I dumped a bag of curtain rings. Today an old pair of socks, a vest and a top into a rag bag for recycling. I am hoping to fill this bag by the end of the month and donate to my local charity shop as they get money for full bags.

Hi, I’m going to do 52 items a day for the 9 days I’m off from work. Today has been quite easy as I’ve got a load of batteries and glass to recycle, but I do think it’s going to get harder as the week goes on.
Good luck everyone!

@Akire, @biobins loving your adaptations.

59 items done from the kitchen. Condiments that had been lurking in the fridge too long, random jam jars, 16 back up fridge magnets (WTF was I thinking?), a few outgrown kids' kitchen items going to freecycle.

This is brilliant. Saw this this morning. Already picked 3 items, (a no longer used cafetiere, a jug and a salt and pepper pot) to cover yesterday and today

Better still it's also encouraged me to get rid of about 120 old magazines that Oxfam have agreed to take.
Really looking forward the rest of the month. Thanks to the OP for the inspiration

These two were here when I moved in over 10 years ago. Not sure if they are still usable but I have never used them so off they go.

Well done @grumpyoldpersonwithcats. Are you tempted to mentally save the 120 magazines for days 27-30??

Yay it's great to see so many of us getting started, i think it will be very motivating to have lots of company when it starts to get tricky!

I think I'll try to do the number for each day, plus keep track separately of any bonuses I do that can be used for later days if I'm struggling to make up numbers.

Day 2: makeup and skincare bits that have been languishing in the cupboard for a year or 2 unused.

Bonuses: a bag of books packed up to go to charity shop today (approx 20), plus the 3 from yesterday = 25

Welcome all.

It's crazy what we have lying around in our cupboards and drawers. Why do we do this to ourselves?

@MissCreeAnt oh well done on the 59 things.

@Declutterclogs You can't keep the bonus items for other days. 

I’ve got ahead few days and box for end of month. Will post on right days. Great incentive get cracking. So many things save for just in case and then it’s months and years later

I’m getting inspiration from the photos. I reckon my make up bag will produce a good number.

Oh I like this idea a lot! I'm starting a day late, so I'll do yesterday's as well as today's. I'm sorting out my linen cupboard today, So I'm guessing my decluttered items will be bedding!

@YupIFreakilyHave are you keeping a big box to put all your things in for a satisfying group photo at the end or getting rid daily?

OK Yup I'll bow to your authoritii for now... but I'm not going to promise I won't beg for a rule change on day 27

Red. I am keeping items in a box for a group photo. I have room though.

clogs I hope the power doesn't mess with my head.

Hi lazylinguist. Let us know what you decluttered.

First decluttered item: a large block of expensive soap that I bought two of but hate the smell of! I persevered through the first one, but enough is enough. It smells like stagnant ponds!

We've just finished some building work so in the process of moving back into rooms I'm thinking about all the stuff I'm moving about. This means I'm chucking a bit more than the daily quota at the moment. I don't really want to save stuff up for later if I've already touched it and decided it can go. Hopefully I won't be causing too much trouble for myself later in the month!

Outs -
An old ball
A piano playing guide from a newspaper in 2008! Don't think we've ever used it.
2 cooking books returned to a friend
An old bin
A plastic fan
2 plants that are impossible to keep happy

Today: 8
Total: 11

Oh just read that saving up is against the rules anyway ...

Let's see how many of us resort to counting out individual paper clips by the end....

So, the soap was yesterday's belated item, since I started late. Today's two items are a faded and crappy-looking rug and a bag of surplus mismatched bedding. Onwards and upwards! I think I might make a list of the decluttered items in my bullet journal .

Decluttering AND lists @lazylinguist that is pressing all my buttons!

Nothing more pointless satisfying than writing on a list things you've already done and ticking them off!

@lazylinguist I was just thinking the same about bullet journal! Keeping a record of ins and outs for the month.... #alsoaswot

Today I binned 2 bin bags full of old actual rubbish.

I will count- an orchid that died a long long time ago as day 1.
A pair of dd wellies with a hole in and the old washing rack, that was so flimsy, it had a constant lean. As day 2.

Bring on day 3 😃

Well, on the plus side, I've decluttered quite a lot more than 3 things. On the minus side, I've taken out a shedload of stuff that now needs putting back...

Sorry- I didn't list the things:

minging soap
assorted bedding
expired medicines (various)
old, almost empty suncream bottles a couple of threadbare towels
a numbered sheet the dc used to use for lego projects
a manky rug
some old school uniform