From the discussion that started it all comes the 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge blog!
Myself and others have challenged ourselves to declutter at least one item from our lives per day for the next year. We have accepted the 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge...Want to join us? :-)
I have learned that, for me, I must never wait for "the right day" to start and must start in the here & now. So, I started my 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge the day I put up a simple poll on a forum asking if anyone else was interested in starting a challenge. My name is Suzanne. I began my 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge on February 19, 2008.
With that said, I want to make this personal to each of us. It helps with the motivation when we are true to ourselves and not worrying about what others want, IMO.
- Anyone who doesn't care when they start must start the day they read this!
- Anyone with a preference for a Monday start, must start on the very next Monday after reading this!
- Anyone with a preference for starting on the first day of a month, must start the first day of the next month after reading this!
I encourage you to share with us about what's going on in your journey along the way. We can chat about our declutter challenge progress, post if we need a motivational "kick in the pants" from our 365 challenge friends, share a picture of a decluttered item or share it's "story", etc.
If you are in the challenge, please post your name and start date loud & proud. You are on your way to a great sense of accomplishment!
I have defined the challenge. Are you willing to accept it? :-)
Posts
Hi my name is Sharon and I accepted the challenge on 3/12/2008. :)
ReplyDeleteI gladly accept this challenge and have 4 bags to donate so far! This is like "Your House: On a Diet".
ReplyDeleteI'm on Day 19. I'm astounded how much junk is going out of my house, and yet I can still find just one more item! I'm enjoying myself. Thanks for starting this. :)
ReplyDeleteI accept this challenge and have 4 big bags to donate so far! Its like YOU: ON A DIET, HOME VERSION ;)
ReplyDeleteWelcome SHARON, LULU and CINDERZ!! You all are on a worthwhile journey. I wish you only the best!
ReplyDeleteEvery day better and better! Thanks for the blog and the forum and the challenge.
ReplyDeleteTexmom: Yes indeed. You're welcome x's 3. You are an inspiration to us all!
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteThis looks really interesting. I have just one question before I commit myself to this challenge; I travel quite a bit in my job. What do you do when you're not at home? Is it ok to declutter in advance?
Hello Inga: For what it's worth, I'm quite impressed that you are looking at potentially taking your very own challenge in such a thoughtful way. You are very aware that there may be ups & downs during your 365 days.
ReplyDeleteThis challenge is FOR YOU and you are only accountable TO YOU. The general premise is to 1) start purging things out of our life that we have deemed clutter; 2) develop a "decluttering eye" by purging one thing each day to keep us aware of bringing more clutter in and 3) to make this into a lifestyle change instead of a short-trial challenge.
How would it work best for you? As long as you stay true to your challenge, with the "alterations" you must make for your travelling, that is all you need to worry about. As long as you stick to it that is what counts -- whether the alteration is to declutter those items before you leave, once you return or even to see decluttering with a different perspective*.
* Example: not buying stuff while away, not overly indulging on edible clutter (unhealthy food choices) that will live on your body rather than in your space, etc.
The hardest part of a journey is starting. I hope you will start you own journey and begin evicting clutter from your life. Good luck!
A blogging friend sent me the link to your 365 blog because I recently started a second blog about my clutter. I accept this challenge and think that doing it with others will help me!
ReplyDeleteblog I just started is
http://clutterquake.blogspot.com
Many thanks,
Lydia
Kind of already doing this, but I'll make it official and say yes to 365 days of decluttering. I'm off to a good start. Yesterday I decluttered my front hall closet and laundry room, not to mention spending time on the kid's toys and cleaning out the laundry closet.
ReplyDeleteDecluttering sure feels great!
I use flylady.com to help me keep organized.
P.S. In grad school I wrote a 35-page essay on clutter. :)
ReplyDelete@Jeannie
ReplyDeleteHello & welcome! Glad to hear you've officially accepted your own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge.
Please remember, this challenge is FOR YOU and you are only accountable TO YOU. Decluttering one item a day is all we ask of you; anything more and you are just giving yourself extra credit. ;-)
Decluttering physical objects can become a bit addicting, as well as decluttering the mental clutter that was with it. Congrats, again, on taking this journey with us and getting rid of unwanted, unneeded, unused and unloved items in your life!
P.S. Sounds like you are pretty passionate about the stuff...what kindred spirits we are. ;-)
I'm truly excited to see this blog, because ORDER is something I was after at the outset of 2009, but something I am honing in on ever more in 2010. Sign me up, Scotty!
ReplyDelete@Steve Borgman:
ReplyDeleteHello Steve! Congratulations on accepting your own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge.
Decluttering physical objects can become a bit addicting, as well as decluttering the mental clutter that was with it. Once you clear away the extra stuff, you can more fully utilize and appreciate what you do love, need, want and use. It's also when decluttering's big brother (organization) is a more welcome visitor as well. ;-)
Congrats, again, on taking this journey with us and getting rid of unwanted, unneeded, unused and unloved items in your life!
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.
ReplyDeleteI am accepting the challenge and have made it part of my New Year's Resolutions.
ReplyDelete@cnuland: Hello Carmen! Congratulations on accepting your own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge.
ReplyDeleteDecluttering for 365 days in a row helps to build routine and continuity into our thinking. To see that it's not "all or nothing", have a block of time to do it or don't, etc. This is just a simple and pure challenge--one thing each day.
Have fun getting rid of unwanted, unneeded, unused and unloved items from your life!
Actually, our blog http://www.FineCraftGuild.com has many decluttering craft projects
ReplyDelete& ideas ...
As well, in today's post with our "2010 challenge: 20 days, 10 crafts", I'll be tackling the clutter in my craft cabinet, and will post ideas about what works and what doesn't for me in this regards.
For the craft challenge, see my blog post today.
I've been decluttering already for the last 365 days (emigrating was a helping hand here). However, one can ALWAYS do another round. And the craft cabinet is where it is NOW necessary. Very necessary, in fact.
Decluttering is a healing process, I believe, and so thank you for your challenge here! It is a healthy one.
Crafty Rose
fr FineCraftGuild.com
My name is Kristie and with a house full of 4 almost 5 kids I need to declutter and accept the challenge :)
ReplyDelete@Jimson Lee Hi Jimson. You're very welcome. I am thankful for everyone who's joined me on my decluttering journey.
ReplyDeleteYour 2010 challenge sounds fun! Even if someone doesn't finish it completely, they would still be a whole lot more fulfilled than when they started!
@Kristie Hi there. Hope you've begun freeing yourself of 365 unneeded, unwanted, unloved and unused from your life. You're on your way to a great sense of accomplishment!
ReplyDeleteMy name is Ramya.I have two kids,one husband and a house full of clutter.I am stressed and I accept this challenge.
ReplyDelete@Ramya Hello Ramya! Congratulations on accepting your own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge. I've added your blog to the list of challengers on the 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge blog.
ReplyDeleteOh, I know what you mean; where there is family, there is clutter! Decluttering one item a day is all we ask of you (because, really, do you need any more stress?!) Anything more than that and you are just giving yourself extra credit. ;-)
Congrats, again, on taking this journey with us and getting rid of unwanted, unneeded, unused and unloved items in your life!
~ Suzanne
365 Days of Decluttering Challenge
Taking Care Of You
I have just now come across this. Is this challenging still going on and if so, what is the best way to participate?
ReplyDelete@Rebecca Livermore Hello and welcome!
ReplyDeleteThe 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge starts the day you accept it, so it is always going on. However, I and several others have recently accepted our challenges in January. This is my 2nd run through as I finished my 1st one in March 2009.
Decluttering one item a day is all we ask of you; anything more and you are just giving yourself extra credit. Decluttering physical objects can become a bit addicting, as well as decluttering the mental clutter that was with it.
You can participate in many ways. Which is right for you?
- At a minimum, declutter one thing each day.
- For more fun, do the Focus Challenges posted here on the challenge anniversary (22nd of the month).
- Comment! Your words will inspire and motivate others.
- Add the Challenge button to your blog or email signature (when others ask you about it, it's a great reminder / motivator for your own challenge!)
- Celebrate accomplishments (many of us don't do that enough). Use the monthly anniversary date to pat yourself on the back for making it that much farther in your 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge. But also be sure to celebrate the little moments--a day that you didn't allow to pass without decluttering something even though it was really hard to overcome procrastination, letting go of clutter that you've held on to for a long time, motivating friends & family through your efforts, etc.
Although we all started at different times and are following different timelines, we are right there decluttering alongside you. Please remember: this journey is a long one, and since it is FOR YOU, you are only accountable TO YOU.
~ Suzanne
365 Days of Decluttering Challenge
Taking Care Of You
Hi... my name is Carol and I gratefully accept the challenge
ReplyDelete@Carol Reed Kennedy Hello Carol. Congratulations on accepting your very own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge!
ReplyDeletehello, how can I get rid of my son's preschool art work? it's so hard for me and it is not the same if I just take pics of them... Oh my! and they occupy a lot of space and I hardly use them in a regular basis, but I think (feel) they're a treasure (for me and probably for him in the future)... I'm confused with this issue... the same happens to me with his baby clothing!!! :S
ReplyDeleteThanks!
@la triste contenta Hello!
ReplyDeleteUh oh, you are in trouble. If you are already feeling these physical items roping you in emotionally, can you imagine how overwhelmed you will be with many more school years worth added in?
You are not alone though. So many moms have to find their way and learn the art of balance; not only with artwork but with many items of their children's childhood.
All I can offer are some perspective-inducing thoughts and any support you'd like as you work through finding your balance between cherishing the past without letting it overwhelm your present.
* Our children will not hate us for parting with anything from their childhood. With that said, many people do like to have a little something to look at from their past. The key is to remember that everything is too much and not special. Keeping some select things allows each piece to be appreciated, admired and to serve as a memory tie-in between our past and who we are now.
* Check out these ideas on how to display childhood art so that it can be appreciated now, as well as saved for the future.
* I know you mentioned a photograph not working well for you but maybe this combination will help with some of the items? From Why we hold on to sentimental clutter by Unclutterer: “Snap a digital photograph of the item and keep only the image. Save these pictures securely online in a program that allows you to keep notes about the image (like Flickr or Picasa)…Write a journal entry about the item before you get rid of it. The act of writing down the memory will let you think about the experience, which is usually more valuable than the object itself.”
* For baby clothing, I found it easier to declutter the special items if I knew the child that would be wearing them. Hopefully, you know some people with similar gender/sized children and can pass these items on. That way they can be worn and be special to someone else (another mom) rather than having them stored away where no one gets to appreciate them.
* If you’re so inclined, look for creative opportunities to repurpose some of the items, such as transforming clothing and blankets into quilts and framed artwork or drawings into wrapping paper and cards.
* Pretty much, look for ways to gently separate yourself from whatever you can. You may not become a reformed sentimental keeper but you will have less overall!
Joining up now... I've been uncluttering for quite a while, but every time I look around it seems that I have more to do. Sometimes I think that my things replicate or reproduce in the dark corners of the closets when no one is looking, LOL.
ReplyDeleteEarlier this week I got rid of 10 things from my general living space as I am uncluttering, very slowly. At least I am making progress!
@Barb @ 1SentenceDiary Way to go!
ReplyDeleteActually, it's not that the clutter multiplies...it's that we become better at seeing it! Which is maddening but definitely a good thing.
Our lives didn't get cluttered in a matter of minutes and it will take time to work through it. Keep going!
Wow, Suzanne, I am totally inspired by your idea! I created my blog because of it, and will start decluttering one (or two) thing at a day TODAY! Will see how it goes!
ReplyDeleteHello Vladivosta! Congratulations on accepting your own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge. I've added your blog to the list of challengers on the 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge blog.
ReplyDeletePlease remember, this challenge is FOR YOU and you are only accountable TO YOU. Decluttering one item a day is all we ask of you; anything more and you are just giving yourself extra credit. ;-)
Decluttering physical objects can become a bit addicting, as well as decluttering the mental clutter that was with it. A journey starts with a single step. Congrats, again, on taking this journey with us and getting rid of unwanted, unneeded, unused and unloved items in your life!
~ Suzanne
365 Days of Decluttering Challenge
Taking Care Of You
Just discovered this today & its PERFECT for motivation I need.
ReplyDeleteThanks & good luck!
Already booted my 1st item out the door! A book I have yet to start that I know someone else will read.
@moongoddess77 Welcome Ali,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on accepting your own 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge. I've added your blog to the list of challengers on the 365 Days of Decluttering Challenge blog.
Please remember, this challenge is FOR YOU and you are only accountable TO YOU. Decluttering one item a day is all we ask of you; anything more and you are just giving yourself extra credit. ;-)
Decluttering physical objects can become a bit addicting, as well as decluttering the mental clutter that was with it. A journey starts with a single step. Congrats, again, on taking this journey with us and getting rid of unwanted, unneeded, unused and unloved items in your life!
~ Suzanne
365 Days of Decluttering Challenge
Taking Care Of You