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:

Day 4 - 4 empty packaging boxes from my bedroom! Why do we keep empty boxes??!

I went into the playroom and picked four small plastic toys at random and binned them. I am getting a bit more ruthless!

My 4 from the kitchen were.

Out of date lemon chicken sauce
Half a box of cereal that no one liked
4 gluten free lasagne sheets that had slid out of the box
A bottle of Worcestershire sauce that was probably 46000 years old.

I love coming back and reading the updates.

So my 4 for today:

Pair of flip flops
Broken pair of winter boots
Unworn pair of blush heels
Pair of ballet pumps

Plus I did the other side of my wardrobe while I was in there for the shoes so another bin bag for the charity shop

Same as you Elenorrigbywoes, I'm getting more ruthless as I go.

This is no bad thing as normally I dither and then next time I go to declutter I'm going through the same unused things again

Day 4

Stickers
Craft stuff
Calculator (basic one, we've still got at least 3 that have GCSE symbols on them)
Pyjama bottoms with holes round the waist band

First 5 days.

Day 4 - 2 well worn swimming costumes and 2 pairs of trunks going to the clothes bank.

Today 5 paperbacks to the charity shop.

@mum2jakie

Day 4 - 4 empty packaging boxes from my bedroom! Why do we keep empty boxes??!

Oh goodness empty boxes! Shoeboxes especially I'm always convinced I'll find a use for.

Day 5 in my backwards system. 26 expired meds, plus a bonus 5. The oldest was painkillers best before 2012. Can anyone beat that?!

I hope @akire is ok.

Day 5 - bag of spare glasses parts for glasses no longer owned ..... tbc

@MissCreeAnt you are an inspiration. So impressed with you going in hard with the big number days at the beginning!! It is helping to keep me motivated to do extras while I've got the momentum going.

Day 5: 5 magazines, none from less than 18 months ago, that I was keeping just in case the kids wanted to do cutting out and pasting. I figure they have plenty of other toys they don't use, I don't need to add to them.

Official total: 15

Bonuses: tbc

Also welcome @Trumpton! Excellent work knocking off 5 days at once!

@MissCreeAnt 2012 must win a prize! Great find.

Day 5 - shower cap and bits from top shelf of fridge.

OK just updating for me to keep track of my extras - 5 dvds, 6 random items from the utensil drawer, and 8 socks from the odd socks bag.
So bonus total now 59.
It's great having all this early enthusiasm but I'm pretty sure I'll be desperately counting individual Kirby grips and broken crayons by day 23 ...

V simple today but quite satisfying as these have been sitting around for ages.

5 dead batteries taken to the battery recycling collection at school.

@declutterclogs you are very kind, but I just don't have the attention span to stick to it otherwise. 59 is impressive, you've got days 29-30 covered if need be!

@freezerdinners so good to get the things that were really bugging you out of the way.

@MissCreeAnt I'm finding the game a good motivator

Hello,
Forgot to post yesterday.

4th
2 golf balls
Copper vase which I hate
Old DVD player remote

Today
5 dvds

Iv sold 3 items of clothing on eBay so that will count towards tomorrow.
Gave my niece twister and kerplunk and will throw in another dvd .

Feeling lighter already

@MissCreeAnt you're doing very well.
I cleared my medication out last week. Can I count it I would feel like I was cheating.

Day 5 - I knew I would be home late so grabbed five plastic toys this morning and they went straight to the bin. I'm thinking about my items for tomorrow already. It is a great habit to be forming.

3 appliance boxes
Assortment of food items
Sold one item on Facebook marketplace

@YupIFreakilyHave how’s it going?

@mrsjackrussell I would be sorely tempted!

@freezerdinners just go for it!! It can be your extra bonus prize for starting the game before you even knew you were playing- just pop it in your bonus/extras tally and it might be a good motivator to add to it!

Day 6 for me: 4 tops I used to love and still wish I could wear but are now laughably too small (sob), plus a bikini top and skirt that in fact were never worn before they also reached the too small classification (sigh). Had been keeping them all just in case but I've decided to just own my new size for now and clear out the small stuff so it's not just sitting there staring at me. And will be able to treat myself with some lovely things if I go down again.

Main tally: 20

Bonuses: 3 sports bras, also way too small, and an old maternity bra, plus 4 sets of bralettte inner pad thingies.

Bonus total: 67

Day 6 - broken iron and tiny bottles over 5 years old.

Oops sorry my message earlier was supposed to be for @mrsjackrussell about counting the medication. Sorry @freezerdinners that would have made no sense!