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:

Joining in! I've got rid of an empty bottle of ear wax remover (which I had kept with the vague idea I'd use the little dropper on the bottle 😜); some old tea bags; some money off vouchers that were out of date and for a shop I don't use

Day 2) Two very well used colouring books (and a load of felt tips that no longer work)

Sack the game off and ditch all of it in one go.

We did this when we moved house. It's great.

those yay

Chrysanthemum. Eww

cadbury it's just a bit of fun

Ah, but I sent 3 whole bags of stuff to charity shop yesterday. I could have saved them.

But was there 465 items in those bags. If not it’s a commendable clear out but not a game?

I am way too invested.

And ear dropper wins the prize, so far, for me. The rareness of a pipette. Brave game play.

Love the just in case ear dropper, that is exactly the sort of thing I do!!

Day 3: 3 pairs of shoes that had some sentimental value but I don't wear. I'd previously 'decluttered' them from my wardrobe to the kids' dress up box but today they are going for good!

Proper tally: 6

Bonus items- hugely sentimental but well past repair baby toy, plus 10 cookbooks.
Bonus tally: 34

@Redcake it's very important to get invested. Otherwise HOW WILL WE KNOW IF WE ARE DOING IT RIGHT????

(Although more seriously - this decluttering business can be very emotional can't it. I think we all deserve a big pat on the back and maybe a biscuit for biting the bullet and getting rid of stuff, no matter how much or in what order!)

Day #3 3 tops for charity shop and will take them this week IMPORTANT

Running total = 6
Bonus total =10 Tipped drink down back of bedside table emergency mop up operation , old boxes matches, corks, buttons, pens, old place mats, etc

3 more:

2 chipped bowls
1 glass vase (either one of the first ones I made or friend made but it's been sitting in a drawer for 15 years)

Total: 6

Yesterday's final outs were old pair of boy's pants and some out of date chicken I found lurking in the freezer

Today's selection made.

A small griddle pan with wooden base (never used).

A small rusty frying pan,
a set of 2 (really nice) wooden boards with ceramic dishes for chinese food (also never used). Charity shop, scrap metal and charity shop respectively.

redcake of course there were 465 items in the bags. Jolita would not cheat, would she? No, no, she wouldn't ...

@Declutterclogs is right about the emotional side of letting go and how difficult it can be. When people see my yellow bowl they see a chipped item and think of course it's easy to throw out a chipped bowl, but it was a bowl that has lived with me in 3 continents and I've had it for 25 years and has given me joy as it's such a happy sunshiny colour. It was hard to let go of it.

Which reminds me, clutter, why are those shoes sentimental? What are the stories behind them?

@mum2jakie 👍🏼

@Akire I'm liking the number labelling. I may nick that idea.

@gospelsinger that was good work

I'm glad my old ear wax remover bottle and dropper raised a smile 😂. Today may be the day I hand over my hardly worn, beautifully soft, narrow leg boots over to my teenage daughter - since my legs are no longer narrow of girth.

Just got to find another two items? Or does a pair of boots count as two individual items?

@Chrysanthemum5 2 boots can definitely count as 2 items, especially when they are full of emotions!

@YupIFreakilyHave Gosh well done saying farewell to your bowl - 3 continents of history is a lot to say goodbye to.

My shoes - one pair were my wedding shoes! And the others are even older than that; I bought them when I was at my first real job and I felt so grown up and autonomous and I had all of life's potential before me. A pretty great time really! I really loved shoes and had quite a collection. And then I had my first child and my feet spread and never went back to their regular size so I had to start all over again - no-one seems to warn you about that part!!! Anyway the rest of the pre-children shoes went ages ago but I've been holding on to these last ones for a long time.

@Declutterclogs wow those ARE sentimental shoes! I must still have my wedding shoes somewhere. Brilliant choice of username for today

Good work everyone. I'm too tired today to tackle anything sentimental (here's looking at you wooden zebra), so a few easy ones for me:

1 expired maternity exemption certificate
1 piece of 'artwork' by DD
1 new raincoat returned as it was too big

Out today: 3
Total: 14

I was saving the out of date alcohol for a dystopian future of spoon playing round a bonfire or as currency but out it goes.

I could be up for a dystopian future party that involved gluwhein, yum. I can see why you were holding onto it! But you're right, it would be better if it was still in date. Well done getting rid!

Gluhwein, even

@freezerdinners looking forward to hearing more about the wooden zebra when you're feeling up to it - maybe it will be easier to tackle later in the month x

@Declutterclogs the boots are full of memories. I bought them when I was taking on a senior role that scared the life out of me. They fitted so well and gave me confidence. But then menopause started and then lockdown - and the combination of those mean Ive put weight on and the boots don't fit. I know I could lose enough weight for them to fit again but it would be a miserable process.

Anyway they don't really fit DD as her shoe size is bigger than mine (which I'd forgotten because I'm a rubbish parent) so I'm going to eBay them as they are hardly worn.

Also got rid of a sock that had lost its elastic and my old Fitbit strap that had broken - and I'd kept because I thought there must be some way to fix it.

I'm sensing a theme here - that I keep thinks because I'm sure I will fix them or need them! 😂

I had a side hustle of 2 bags of old paperwork yesterday. Very satisfying.

@Chrysanthemum5 I know what you mean, all the lovely things that are now broken, seems a shame to let them go. If I have a broken thing worth over c£10 it pains me to chuck it out.