*NEW* Moving to a New Platform for Courses & Programs
We’re moving all our programs over to a new platform - see this blog post for full details.
As an existing customer you qualify for a free upgrade.
To access your free upgrade please visit this page to get your upgrade link.
Welcome to our first challenge! This is going to feel so good!
Today we’re going to start by simplifying the space we live in. Over the 21 days we’ll return to our space again and again, but today we’re going a make a start.
Choose Option 1 for the quick and easy version or Option 2 if you want to go deeper.
Ready? Let’s do it!
Here’s today’s Simplify Your Life Challenge…
Option 1 (10-15 Minutes)
Step 1.
Go find yourself a large bag or box or several small bags or receptacle(s) of any kind. Anything!
Step 2.
Move through your living areas and collect things to put into your bag that are:
- Broken
- Ugly
- Tatty
- Gross
- Ancient
- No longer your taste or style
- Doubles of things you already have
- Not used in the past year
- Associated with bad memories
- Covered in dust
- Unloved
- Associated with abandoned projects or hobbies.
Look out for:
- Magazines older than last month
- Newspapers older than today
- Deceased plants
- Knickknacks
- Unloved gifts
- Outgrown toys, DVDs, books, and games
- Abandoned sports or exercise equipment
- Stuff that’s left in the living area because no one really cares about it
- Displayed photos or other items that hold no meaning for you
- Decrepit cushions, rugs, throws
- Old games consoles, media players, entertainment devices
- Videos, cassettes, computer floppies, camera film – any storage device for which you no longer have hardware.
Step 3.
Set a phone or oven timer for 10 or 15 minutes. Don’t stop gathering until the timer goes off.
Step 4.
If you feel like sorting things to donate from things to toss, then go ahead. But if you’re drowning in chaos then give yourself permission to just get the stuff out of your house, and do better next time.
Option 2 (Extended)
Complete Option 1 but keep going until you have at least 50-100 items.
This is easier than you think. The average home has hundreds of these items cluttering up the living areas.
Get your family to join in if you like.
Take a Pic
Take a picture of your pile of things to discard.
Post your pic to Instagram, Facebook, and/or Twitter using hashtag #21DaySimplify. Search this hashtag to see other people’s pics.
Rules
Rule#1: Don’t Over-Think
We are simplifying. If you find yourself trying to complicate this, then b-r-e-a-t-h-e and relax.
Rule #2: Move Quickly.
You can’t over-think or be a perfectionist if you stay in action mode. Keep moving.
Rule #3: Let It Go.
You cannot simplify if you’re determined to keep everything, hold on to every habit, and fight every change. Let. It. Go.
Check In
So, how was Day #1?
Please leave a comment to stay accountable and to let me know how today’s challenge was for you.
I did not think this was going to be much of a challenge because I’m not a big fan of knick knacks and such. But when I got to my book shelves I found plenty of stuff to unload and just in time to donate to the library book sale!
Excellent Loralee – you found hidden clutter!
Went through a three drawer plastic cart of gloves, scarfs and hats. Got rid of a whole garbage bag full and put the rest in another bin for the summer. Cart is now available for some craft items that need a home.
Ok my 15 mins was spent in our den forcused on the kids art center which had magically became the island of misfit toys and games and makeup and on and on……Now back to art center..
Was able to do this, but did some more detailed organizing too. I have 4 bins left to go through. I am hoping to spend 15 minutes a day on each one.
Completed step 1, more than 15 mjn. However, my bedroom is looking and feeling mighty relaxing. Next stop next week the bathroom, while meeting other challenges.
Perfect timing! I had brought home boxes of stuff from school that I planned to go through “this summer”–but went through it today and put away, trashed, and cleaned! Now we won’t be tripping over the stuff all summer!
This organizing stuff is more dangerous then I realized! While decluttering I must have stepped wrong because now my foot hurts, LOL. I did a full 30 min of decluttering, got rid of a bunch of cardboard boxes by condensing and putting away some things. Then I went through our main bathroom and tossed old lotions and diaper products since both of our girls are 100% potty trained now. We don’t need them, so out the door they went. Day 1 success!
Ohnoes! VERY glad to see you persevered regardless Mary. 🙂
Day 1 complete! Emptied 4 cardboard moving boxes, gathered 1 bag of trash, collected 1 laundry basket full of toys, clothes and shoes for Monday’s donation run and cleaned off /organized the front porch! Total time 1.5 hours. Thank you Michele for the motivation!
🙂
Mother’s Day here in Australia so spending time with the family will start this evening
Was hard because I am still unpacking from our move going to use it as I go through boxes.
This is something I’ve been working on for some time also. I forgot today was the day and didn’t get the reminder e-mail so didn’t see this until now (nearly bedtime). I will do this challenge tomorrow in my bedroom and spare bedroom.
Finished a large clean-out six months ago. Now ready to attack the basement. I liked Michele’s Step 2. I gave myself permission to let go of “perfectly good” things that I don’t like, won’t ever use, but would have felt guilty about tossing. Out they go! Also let go of things being kept just because they were received as gifts.
Good on you for releasing the guilt Sharon! That’s sometimes the hardest part.
This was an easy one for me because I’ve been doing a throw 7 things away in May challenge at money saving mom. It feels so good to get rid of junk and clutter getting in my way and dragging me down.
I tackled the kitchen, living room/office. I had done a March clean up but was still able to come up with a bagful. It did force me to part with magazines. Always good.
Magazines are a double-problem Amy because they cause visual clutter and can also guilt you for not having read them. So nice one!
today went well. I got did the living room and bathroom.. A huge garbage bag full of throw out stuff and a box full for a garage sale.
Way to go Lindsay, I did my living room, entrance way and closet, dining room , kitchen and my bedroom and most of the office. My living room is full of stuff i don’t want or need anymore..I have more to finish up tomorrow, but feels so good to go thru all my clothes and get rid of so much!! Your garage sale on Saturday is perfect timing!!
I loved the timer idea. A race against the clock. My cat supervised, always in the middle stuff. Literally. haha
A declutter cat is an asset in this program.
Since my teenager found ants in his room today, I took the opportunity to fill a garbage bag full of trash and junk before we vacuumed and sprayed for the ants. I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time. And he learned the lesson of not snacking in bed :-).
I tackled a box of extra boxed and canned foods that I needed to go through and the kids’ homeschool baskets. Also broke down a coffee maker box and a printer box that were just sitting in the corner. Weeded out some magazines, started a donation box with a few odds and ends, and tackled a bit of my kitchen desk. An awesome start!
Yay Brandi!
Found most of my” chaos” in my garage-convenient to the trash can! Good idea not to over think-I used a couple of laundry baskets for items to donate/return to rightful owners. Good Start-feeling motivated!
I’m not at home on this weekend… I tried to do the same with part of my computer files!
Any start is a good one Luca. Make it easy to succeed and you’re more likely to persevere.