With the beginning of March, and spring comes the promise of new beginnings… Moving house is always an opportunity to take stock of your possessions and now with move day being pushed back to as far as maybe 8 weeks, I’m embarking on the 30 Day Minimalist Game. The concept is deceivingly simple: you must get rid of one thing on the first day, on the second, two things. Three items on the third. So forth and so on. You can sell, give away or throw out the items which will add up to a staggering 496 by the end of the 30 day game!
The true spirit of the game requires you to play along with a friend / family member but I am yet to find someone who doesn’t think I am crazy. So for now, my only competition is myself. I’ve already started purging the house / our life of unnecessary possessions so whilst I am in no way expecting I will have enough to get rid of to make it through the entire month; I’m using this as a kick start for the ever welcome spring clean.
Before Boo, I prided myself that everything I owned had purpose or brought me joy and I famously packed the house up to move when I was 6 months pregnant is less than a day. Fast-forward 5 years and my life (and home) is very different. Children have this invisible aura of Velcro, that allows them to absorb items, which become essential personal possessions (ever tried taking a happy meal toy off a toddler and you’ll know what I mean) in the same way a tornado sucks in houses.
I suppose the concept on minimalism and ridding your life of possessions that bring you no joy is something that has been building inside of me. I asked for, and very kindly received (thanks Grace) The Life Changing Magic of Tidying by Marie Kondo for Christmas and I found a logic that not only worked for me but helped me strive for inner calm. Despite having to explain repeatedly to family that I’m not going to be left with no furniture or clothes – I love the idea that by reducing what I physically own it makes space for my emotional wellbeing. Letting go of belongings that hold memories (good and bad) can be both cathartic and cleansing.
Day one was yesterday and I started off nice and easy with a pair of strip lashes that I bought 5+ years ago for a fancy dress outfit. Today will be something from the toiletries cabinet in the bathroom. Whether I last a few days or manage to stick it out the to the end I’m looking forward to the process of trying to achieve a more purposeful home life; I’ll let you know how I get on.
Comments
13 responses to “Hello March – The Minimalist Challenge”
I keep reading things about this Marie Kondo book. Do you think it’s worth a read? I’m also currently in the process of decluttering our home, slowly getting there but it takes time.
What a great idea to declutter, but it’s worrying as soon you won’t have anything left.
Yes I keep hearing about Marie Kondo too and I am fascinated by her ideas. This challenge is such a great idea, I could seriously do with doing it too as I always seem to be surrounding by clutter
I’ve been reading so much about people decluttering lately. I have to say it’s making me feel a bit guilty, I’m such a hoarder! Be interested to hear how you get on.
I am on a similar mission (and everyone thinks I’m mad too!) I am going to give this a go and report back! Good luck x
Love the idea of this and thank you for the inspiration. We’re also in the process of decluttering but it seems a never-ending battle. So by 30 days, you’ll be chucking out 30 things right??? V impressive!
I really think I need to read this book as I keep hearing great things about it x
We are going to do a mass de cluttering over the Easter Holidays as a family. We have too much stuff! I love the Marie Kondo book
This is a great idea – I need to do a spring clean as have collected loads of junk
I keep reading about this book, but I’m not sure I want to take the plunge. I do keep doing a bit around the edges though.
decluttering is so therapeutic and Spring is a great time to do it! x
I really must check this book out, we could do with some decluttering
This sounds like the perfect idea for me, I said to hubby a few days ago we should try tidying something every day for five minutes and then all the jobs would be done each week. But this would also work for us as we have piles of stuff everywhere! Starts today 🙂