*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 am signed up and logged in and can’t see the challenge. What am I doing wrong?
not well enough to do this today but feel better for reading it,it has given me motivation and purpose for when I can manage it
I took stuff to the book exchange and toy exchange–only got $24 and had to take the rest to Salvation Army–but it sure felt good to get rid of things! And my son was glad to get money for parting with his toys.
I took stuff to the book exchange and toy exchange–only got $24 and had to take the rest to Salvation Army–but it sure felt good to get rid of things! And my son was glad to get money for parting with his toys.
Hi Kylie and Michelle, I’m back again! I signed up as a Premium member last year but came to Mum’s (with no internet or mobile phone reception, outback NSW) last August, for 2 weeks, and I’m still here!! In the meantime I’ve accumulated all manner of eBay purchases (after finally hooking up a wireless antenna to the Pergola 😉 ) so boy do I have clutter (or rather Mum does) oops … having re-signed up for Premium membership, (apparently my credit card expired when the annual renewal at the existing rate came up for trying); and here I am, paid up and all ready to be inspired to declutter, and determined to get myself home (8 hours drive away) in the next couple of weeks. Hoping for some encouragement and shared enthusiasm for such tasks, a bit of accountability is good for me. Basically bubblewrapping my ‘stuff’ and decluttering Mum’s house of me is my goal. Then, of course, will be dealing with all my clutter when I return home, so I will need of this annual membership 😉 Look forward to working with you. Cheers! Julie Kay Nelson
Did good for first day.
Hello New Group! Whether you did the quick & easy option, or you super-charged your efforts, congratulations, you made a start. It feels good, doesn’t it! Tell me what you did today. 🙂 Kylie, Community Manager
See you back here on MONDAY for our BRAND NEW GROUP!
Today I gathered a small bag of trash, a grocery bag full of toys to donate, some books for the book exchange, and a box of things for a garage sale this Saturday. Looking around my house I can see I have enough stuff to fill at least 10 more boxes abt. 4 cubic ft in size. The challenge is to donate or toss what doesn’t sell. I’m going online to find someone who buys leftover g-sale items “all or nothing.” for a nominal price.
My group has the following to say:
Remember paper products including newspapers, magazines, books, etc. are flammable. The ones who absolutely have to keep should be kept in metal cabinet or metal filing cabinets.
My group responses are as follows:
Living room
Ancient=Antique/Keep as Antiques hold its value
Combustible/trash: Broken; Tatty; Gross; Magazines; Newspapers; Deceased Plants; Bad memories; Worn Cushions; Worn Rugs; and Worn Throws
Donate or Sell: 1 year unused; Abandoned: Projects/Crafts; Dust Collectors; DVD’s; Books; Games;
Sports Equipment; Exercise Equipment; Videos; Cassettes; Computer Floppies; Camera Film; and
Old Computer books
Re-gift or donate: Unloved
OCI-OGO: Doubles of items [exception would be computer and hobby items]
•Broken = trash
•Ugly = broken, not cleanable or rusty
•Tatty = trash
•Gross = if it walks; throw it out = spoiled food
•Ancient = antique would be valuable to keep, pass on or sell
•No longer your taste or style = clothes that do not look good on you i.e. color or style
•Doubles of things you already have = OCI OGO
•Not used in the past year = donate or sell at yard sale or thrift store
•Associated with bad memories = trash
•Covered in dust = dust collector/trash or donate
•Unloved = an item[s] in your home that has no purpose to you
•Associated with abandoned projects or hobbies = donate.
•Magazines older than last month = combustible/trash
•Newspapers older than today = combustible/trash
•Deceased plants = trash unless you have a green thumb to regrow the plant[s]
•Knickknacks = donate or sell at thrift shop, garage sale, etc.
•Unloved gifts = re-gift
•Outgrown toys, DVDs, books, and games = donate or sell at thrift shop, garage sale, etc.
•Abandoned sports or exercise equipment = sell on EBay; buyer must be local resident
•Stuff that’s left in the living area because no one really cares about it = abandoned: donate/sell
•Displayed photos or other items that hold no meaning for you = pass on or trash
•Decrepit cushions, rugs, throws = trash
•Old games consoles, media players, entertainment devices = sell on EBay
•Videos, cassettes, computer floppies, camera film – any storage device for which you no longer have hardware = donate to library or sell at thrift shop, garage sale, etc.
Wow…I know I hit way over 100 items….feels AWESOME! Just dumped so much stuff I wasn’t using…
Excited about Step One since I went on a decluttering streak this summer—got rid of one box or one bag nearly everyday for a month–over thirty boxes/bags out the door! I know there is a lot more I could declutter, but my teaching schedule starts next week, so with writing and teaching, I have to just maintain what I have done this summer as much as possible. On to Step Two! (I could stay on Step 1 forever coz decluttering is one of my favorite things–starting with getting rid of half of everything we owned fifteen years ago when we moved from 4000 square feet to 1400!)
I’m sure I signed up and paid for the 21 day orgainzation during the month of May. I put the emails in a special folder and now cant open and utilize them. Can you help me please!
Now that recital season, school and vacation is over I’m getting started. I figure this is the perfect way to kick off summer. Anyone else starting this month?
Round 2 (my second time around :): I spent 20 min decluttering and organizing some clothing and then an hour while watching tv doing the same on toiletries, beauty, and skincare products. I’m still struggling with being merciless, although I have made progress in that area…
It gets easier as you realize how little you miss the stuff you got rid of last time!!
I’m working on Round 2, as well.
Yep – no matter how many times I do this one, it still worth doing again 🙂
As I have just moved house (the reason for my late start) I have been de-cluttering my belongings so this was an easy challenge for me, looking forward to the rest of the challenge.
Great to have you with us, Sonia! Nice start. Kylie ~ Community Manager
I have had a pile by my back door for days it is now gone.
Good job Linda!
DAY 1 challenge CHECK! It is hard to start, but once I was in the ZONE, I rocked it!
Good for you, Luisa! Stay in the zone. 🙂 Kylie ~ Community Manager