One - book, a good read but slightly depressing. I would never had read it again.
It's January and instead of making myself go on a diet, make a list of resolutions or change anything about myself for the coming year I have instead ... once again ... decided to do a round of the Minimalists 30-Day Minimalism Game.
I'm doing it alone, so no betting or keeping up with anyone else which takes the pressure off and means if I find enough things I can get ahead of myself and photograph them ahead of time.
The first of January saw me getting rid of the book in the top photo and the next six days went like this -
Two almost empties, used up and popped into the recycling.
Three - hand creams, squeezed out into my dispenser bottle ... getting every last drop out and opening them up to wipe away all dregs, nothing wasted here.
Four - items of Alan's workwear. Now full of holes and stinking of creosote, so they went into the 'ready for the next bonfire' pile in the shed.
Five - some more little hand creams, once again squeezed out and into the dispenser. They are much easier to use this way and there is no wastage. I used to love these little hotel sized toiletries now I see them for what they are ... tiny amounts of product with excessive packaging.
Six - magazines, into the recycling box ... what a waste of money.
Once my subscriptions run out I will not be renewing them.
Seven - a bit of an assortment.
A gift box from a couple of years ago that has never been used, but seemed too good to throw away and has lived at the back of the top shelf of my wardrobe back in Wales ever since. Now also gone to the 'ready for the bonfire' pile, some little Gu ramekins, we have soooo many of these it's time to downscale a bit. A stained pillow case and a fitted sheet that's gone all bobbly and uncomfortable, these have both gone to the workshop to be torn up for rags for cleaning the machines. And finally a box of crackers that was SO out of date that even I wouldn't have dreamt of eating them. They were crumbed up and put out for the chickens and the wild birds over the course of a few days.
So that's one week completed, obviously I'm half way through this week now, but I'll save all the photos and show you what else has gone one day next week, if you're interested of course.
Have you ever joined in with this Challenge|?
There's lots of folks over the last few years who have and have documented their journey over on YouTube. Just type Minimalists 30 Day Challenge into the search box or use THIS link.
This is my third time of doing it and I think it will be the last, as with a move coming up once again I am realising that I really have downscaled brilliantly over the last few years and this final push should see me with just enough.
Hopefully though I will be able to reach the 496 items needed to complete this month long Challenge (I am doing 31 days instead of 30 as that's how many there are in January!!).
Sue xx
Wow - well done, that's quite a challenge! It's quite frightening how much plastic clutter there is.
ReplyDeletexx
I know, plastic is everywhere isn't it, I'm on a journey to slowly jettison as much as I possibly can. But even 'single use' plastics have been used many times before I get rid of them ... unlike those silly little toiletries from hotels. I have asked Alan to only bring home the ones he has part used now and leave any untouched ones behind. It helps that at the moment in hotels you have to ask for everything, even the exact number of teabags you need, so there are none in the rooms for him to be tempted by.
DeleteThe Simple Things Magazine has such lovely covers and I've often flicked through them in the shop, but just as many adverts and items about things I wouldn't do that I've always put it back again.
ReplyDeleteWell done on still clearing out - lack of places to pass things onto is my problem at the moment
It does have more adverts now than when it first came out, maybe that's why I'm not at all of a mind to keep them now. Finding somewhere to donate them can be a problem can't it. The clothes, shoes and book banks are still available to use in most supermarket car parks here, but obviously all the charity shops are closed. I will hang on to anything that could go to charity for as long as I can.
DeleteWhen all this is over I'm definitely going to have a big clear-out here. I've quite a lot of stuff just sitting waiting. At least it's out of 'eye-shot' for now!
ReplyDeleteFitting as much decluttering as possible into one month is good I find and being able to break it down to a day at a time is brilliant, and of course when I'm in the mood I can get ahead by a few days and then give myself a break :-)
DeleteI've never heard of the challenge, but it is a good one. I went through a purge earlier in the year. It was wonderful. But continually emptying the house of things that I don't use, would be a good practice to adopt.
ReplyDeleteI like doing it this way as it gets your mind focussed and can also make you part with some additional extras just to make up the numbers. Sometimes it's good to be brutal with your decluttering :-)
DeleteI've never heard of the challenge either but it sounds great. You've made a fantastic start.
ReplyDeleteI first heard of it a few years ago and it sparked an interest. This is my third round of decluttering this way, it's more fun than just 'attacking' a cupboard and feeling overwhelmed as you can stop at that days number or carry on, time and mood permitting.
DeleteI've done it twice. It's very liberating. I also have decluttered so much there's not too much left to donate/toss but still I find bits and bobs!
ReplyDeleteIt really is isn't it :-)
DeleteI do think this will be my last round as once I move it is into a tiny space and there simply won't the room to have more than I actually use and need.
Once I get my head into the right space I will concentrate on thinning out certain areas of the home. Thank you for the video.
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's handy to watch a little clip, rather than just reading about something isn't it.
DeleteThat is definitely something that I should do! I have so much clutter that I am hanging on to "in case the kids need it someday" and of course, they really don't want it, do they? I will have to look into this idea. Thanks for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteNo, my boys would definintely not want any of my knick knacks or even my reading material ... and they definintely wouldn't suit my clothes ;-)
DeleteApologies for not managing to comment on your recent lovely blog posts. I think I succumbed to a bit of the melancholy which has affected so many of us recently. But in the great scheme of things, and given the situation everyone is in, we’re doing well.
ReplyDeleteThanks for continuing to share your lovely words and photos. They have been a bright spot in an otherwise cold and gloomy start to the year.
How are Jason and his partner doing?
Oh don't worry about it Jayne, I'm exactly the same. I just go quiet if I'm feeling down and wouldn't dream of either posting depressing stuff or commenting on other peoples posts in case I take my low mood out on them. Feel completely free to jump in when you want to and keep quiet when you need to.
DeleteThey are quite poorly at the moment, but only to a very bad cold/mild flu level, nothing requiring medical intervention thank goodness. They are young (in their late 30s) and reasonably fit, although they are both a little overweight which does cause me some concern.
I've been wanting to try minimalism for such a long time! I heard there is a new Netflix documentary that is really good - have you watched it? Maybe I should so I get excited to get into minimalist living. :)
ReplyDeleteJenna ♥
Stay in touch? Life of an Earth Muffin
I'm way behind on documentaries. I did watch some of the Minimalists films when they first started but I've only just discovered Marie Condo on Netflix, mind you I've only had Netflix for a couple of months, so when her way of sorting and folding etc came out I just read the books and got on with it, so I am Marie Condo'd :-)
DeleteI am hopeless at following a plan or regime but really want to de-clutter so the way I have been doing it over the last 12 months is to put things likely to be got rid of into a bag at the bottom of the wardrobe then every so often look through and if I haven't missed anything -- it goes . I have got rid of quite a bit so far , not so easy with the husband as he can push the wardrobe open , the bu***r:)
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit more extreme!! I put everything either into the recycling or the bin if it's being thrown away, the night before the bin men come and then I can't change my mind. I've never regretted anything up to now. Oh and I add things to the fire when I'm at home in Wales ... once burnt NEVER retrieved :-)
DeleteI did this a few years ago:) Need to do it every month for a year:( I've been so impressed with your decluttering xx
ReplyDeleteThis is my third round and I'm actually finding it good to be getting to the nitty gritty :-)
DeleteI enjoyed I am an Island - especially because in the acknowledgements she thanked her partner/husband for coming back to proof read the book with her before publication.
ReplyDeleteShe's a good writer but I literally felt my mood dropping when I read it, maybe it's what we're living through now affecting me more. But she seemed to relish the bad times and pain and then quickly whizz over everything once her life improved. I saw that she had met up with and thanked her husband before publication, it was very magnanimous of him as the book paints him in a terrible light.
DeleteWell done.
ReplyDeleteI am decluttering as well. Finding lots that I no longer want or need. One thing I am upset about is the fact that I let a few things go way beyond their best by date (like 4 years). Still I suppose it has taught me to keep a closer eye on things.
God bless.
Yes, try not to be too upset, if nothing else discovering the very out of date stuff will at least make you keep an eye on things better in the future. It does feel good once stuff has gone doesn't it :-)
DeleteI love my "stuff" but having grown up with both a Mum & Grandma that hoarded I'm very mindful of having too much. I wouldn't say that I declutter but whenever I introduce something new (meaning secondhand mostly) I have to get rid of three things to make room for it, be it books, clothes, accessories or home stuff. sadly Jon isn't quite so disciplined! xxx
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was a hoarder and his shed, garage, loft and allotment were stuffed to the ginnels. When he died it took me, Alan and my brother a couple of weeks to successfully get rid of everything so Mum didn't have to worry. And most things HAD to be gotten rid of as they were damaged from being crammed into spaces, left to get damp or just generally spoiled. A lot of good stuff had to be thrown. It taught me that it's okay to have lots if you can look after it, but me being me I would rather have little.
DeleteYour place looks WONDERFUL and I have moments when I could live just like that, they just don't last long enough for me to do anything about it.