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Original poster

Playing the Minimalism Game

877 replies

YupIFreakilyHave · 30/09/2021 21:00

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:

OP posts:
Thread gallery
226
mrsjackrussell · 03/10/2021 20:38

@YuplFreakilyHave Silly people don't put me off I'm very much loving this Grinand Iv done tomorrow's and the next days too. Didn't realise I had so much crap.

torthecatlady · 03/10/2021 21:34

My 3 items for today are...

  1. An old chipped plate which doesn't match any of our other plates
  2. An old lumpy mascara from the bottom of my make up bag
  3. A make up brush I won't use as I don't wear eyeshadow

Also donated 4 cartons of oat milk and a box of shortbread to the food bank.

Playing the Minimalism Game
Playing the Minimalism Game
snugpea · 03/10/2021 22:41

Hello

I'd like to join too please Smile

Ive been meaning to have a serious plan to declutter for some time.

As I'm playing catch up, today I have disposed of:

1 black bag of clothes from my wardrobe that I've never worn / not worn in over a year. I've sorted into two lots. One lot was taken to the charity shop and the other to the clothes bank.

A variety of small items from the 2 drawers in my bedside tables

A whole host of out of date / unused make up from the drawer in my dressing table. 3 sections so I'm counting each as one.

I've started with a cupboard / drawers as one thing, as I have the whole house I need to go through. As I make progress hopefully I can then start to list one item at a time if that makes sense

Declutterclogs · 04/10/2021 02:23

Great work @torthecatlady - I no longer wear make up either but somehow can't bring myself to get rid of it all just in case (just in case what??? Elusive and undefinable things apparently)

Welcome @snugpea you are off to a flying start! My hat goes off to you. I have a whole house to do too but am still counting individual items because I need all the positive reinforcement I can get so I don't give up (yes I'm like a giant toddler).

Declutterclogs · 04/10/2021 02:27

Day 4: very old pink hair spray, 2 of our many extraneous bottles of glasses cleaner, and some out of date gastrolyte.

Proper total: 10

Bonuses no additions yet but hopefully later in the day

Playing the Minimalism Game
Declutterclogs · 04/10/2021 03:24

( I'm in a different time zone- lest anyone think that I'm staying up til the wee hours decluttering! It's lunchtime here)

gospelsinger · 04/10/2021 08:10

OK I'm in. I will keep going after original success. Yesterday's items included an old baby food jar I'd been keeping for no reason for at least 17 years and a couple of sewing projects I will never finish.

torthecatlady · 04/10/2021 10:16

I know it's only the 4th today but here's today contribution of 6 items from my desk in work!

3 lip balms (should probably count these as 1)
Nail solution
A peg Hmm
Empty perfume sample

Playing the Minimalism Game
RedCake · 04/10/2021 10:54

Hi @snugpea and @gospelsinger nice work Smile

Here is day 4 from me:

2 watercolours, lampshade and old sky box

Playing the Minimalism Game
Chrysanthemum5 · 04/10/2021 11:20

Hi all
I'm getting ahead as I'm away for a few days later in October. So today I have got gone through the pile of shame (letters, random bits of paper etc) and recycled 90%of it. Whilst doing that I found a letter about child benefit which had gone missing so I've now dealt with that. I also found vouchers worth £60 off an item I previously couldn't afford! So that's DH'a Christmas present bough

THOSEcobwebsareDECOR · 04/10/2021 11:24

Forgot to post yesterday!

  1. Three old bath towels
  2. The old iron ....
Chrysanthemum5 · 04/10/2021 11:32

I've also gone through the children's health records and updated them with all the vaccines they've had and got rid of the little bits of paper that had the dates on them

GiantCrab · 04/10/2021 11:34

Ooh I might join in! Late so 10 items today...

snugpea · 04/10/2021 11:37

Hi all

Lovey to see all the updates and how everyone's getting on. This is the kind of incentive I needed.

I'm planning on going through my shoes this evening as I know there will be more than 4 pairs that I need to find new homes for or get rid of.

I'll post an update when I'm done

MissCreeAnt · 04/10/2021 11:46

Morning all. Great ideas. I've filed away sewing projects and medicines to tackle another day.

Today I'm tackling my summer clothes and my clothes drawer of doom. Got distracted into cleaning windows this morning, but that was badly needed.

Declutterclogs · 04/10/2021 11:51

Looks like lots of productivity happening today! Three cheers for everyone and a big welcome to @GiantCrab.

I love how you've extended the game from home to work tor - that's genius and made me realise I could later extend to the (gulp) car.

SUCH great work on the pile of shame Chrysanthemum you must feel much lighter now.

I have just decluttered a little box of earrings and necklaces that I've been carting around literally since childhood - my very first pair of earrings are in there. It's really no wonder my house is in the state that it is. Thank you SO MUCH Yup for starting this thread and all of you for being so lovely. I'm really pleased I'm finally saying goodbye to my ridiculous amounts of sentimental baggage items. It seems to make it easier to let things go when I give them a little 'send off' by mentioning them on the thread.

Chrysanthemum5 · 04/10/2021 12:02

@Declutterclogs your first pair of earrings! That must bring back memories.

My DD is autistic so sometimes I find random things she had made me keep as she feels sorry for them. Hence the tiny duck and random stone I just found in the kitchen drawer.

@YupIFreakilyHave thank you for this thread - I think I'm becoming addicted 😂

Playing the Minimalism Game
THOSEcobwebsareDECOR · 04/10/2021 12:22
  1. The old iron, an unused coffee storage tin, a broken clay 'creation' and a small tub of slime
Declutterclogs · 04/10/2021 12:42

Just updating my bonus tally to add the earrings box, a fancy dress costume I made and kept 'just in case' I wanted to reuse the fabric (for fifteen years) and five packages of out of date stuff from the pantry - so bonus total a nice round 40.

Nutrigrainygoodness · 04/10/2021 13:11

Just updating. Day 3- I cleared the bathroom of empty or very nearly (not even one uses worth) empty shampoo/ conditioner and shower gel bottles.

Today day 4 I am going to rummage for out of date food. Be back soon.

Declutterclogs · 04/10/2021 13:28

Have fun @nutrigrainygoodness ! When I was doing my pantry items earlier I also decluttered most of a family sized bar of Cadbury (in date) into my mouth... figured I probably shouldn't add that one onto my tally though Grin

freezerdinners · 04/10/2021 14:16

@Chrysanthemum5 it is addictive isn't it?! I keep walking into different rooms wondering what I'm going to get rid of.

Haven't done my 4 yet... Also realised that I need to find an extra 204 items ahead of half term as we're away then Shock

@Declutterclogs earrings is a good call - I'm pretty sure I've still got several belly bars from my navel piercing which closed up almost a decade ago!

freezerdinners · 04/10/2021 15:06

Ok here's mine for today:

1 travel container for dummies. Had this for ages. Just not quite as convenient as pockets!

3 books returned to their owners

Today:4
Total: can't remember... I'm a couple ahead from a productive day earlier on.

gospelsinger · 04/10/2021 16:22

Today's list

  1. Broken bag
  2. Broken zips
  3. beads
  4. Beach ball that deflates

I also got rid of 2 oven dishes that smashed onto my floor. I haven't counted them as I will need to replace them

MissCreeAnt · 04/10/2021 17:25

This is getting hard. I'm on 27 items today.

  • 13 old tops
  • 3 ornaments that no longer spark joy
  • 2 bits of cat equipment (cat now deceased)
  • 4 huge paint samples
  • 5 random bits from drawer of doom