Week 3 of the Minimalism Challenge ( click here for further details on the challenge )
This weeks 7 items in 7 days has definitely been a challenge! and although it’s becoming a little difficult in the last stages , I am enjoying the feeling of accomplishment when I track down these items. It’s kind of like a dingo or a wolf looking for its prey.
Well, not exactly, but you know what I mean.
The following are my 7 things for the last week and a brief description about each item and why they don’t matter anymore,
- Day 15 – CD’s: These were 5 cd’s from my collection that I cannot not recall the last time I ever listened to?. I figure what is the point of keeping them? These will be donated to local charity.
- Day 16 – iPod nano: I also have an iPod Touch which I use all the time. I don’t need to have two.
- Day 17 – iPod nano armband: The armband was purchased for the nano as motivation for me to go on a run. The funny thing is, and maybe it’s just me, but I found it kinda annoying running with music. I will list the armband as freebie with the nano on Ebay.
- Day 18 – Business Shirt: I soon will be sorting through the whole of my wardrobe, this shirt is just the start of it.
- Day 19 – Business Ties: I no longer need to wear a tie for work, therefore, I have a kept a couple for emergencies, (meeting clients or a corporate function) and the rest can go.
- Day 20 – Timber Box: I bought a wallet a couple of years ago and it was packaged in the rather cool looking timber box. This is why I kept it but I never used it?, so again, what’s the point?
- Day 21 – Beanie: Unless your a car thief, there aren’t two many times in this great southern land that you require a beanie, so I have kept one for those occasional chilly nights and will donate the other.
With week 3 of the Minimalist Challenge now complete, the finish line is in sight. I’ve got my eye of a few things for next week, but would like some ideas. If your in the process of decluttering I would like to hear more, so share your latest accomplishment in the comments below.
Wow, this first month of 2010 has really flown. I can’t believe I am already doing the first monthly update of “Big 4” which is my simple goal setting technique for 2010.
To recap, “Big 4″ is all about setting your foundation by creating four distinct and realistic goals. I like to look at them as structural pillars to help you build and grow, and allowing you to achieve this by the end of the year. This will not necessarily mean that it should take you all year to accomplish, however, it does provide the most realistic time frame to either accomplish one at a time or work in phases. ( I choose the latter by breaking each of the four down to smaller respectable chunks)
So, here’s how I am travelling so far
- I will declutter the whole house – I can now say I have finally got the study area into shape and will continue to stay like this as I move on to the next room in the house ( which I am still yet to decide on ). This was a real tricky sort of room, as it was quite deceiving in the way that many items could have been easily be stuffed back into the drawers or filing cabinets. As I explained in my video, clutter is not always visible, you really have to get in there and sort through all the drawers and filing and really cull it down to useful levels. I will be posting another video shortly to talk about in more detail how I transformed the study.
- I will write 100 quality posts for Live It With less – For the month of January I published six posts on the site, just a bit under my expected average to reach one hundred by end of the year, but I can honestly say that I am starting to feel like I am getting in the zone for some good stuff ahead of me. I would also like to say thank you to Charley from You Simplified, and Caitlin from ClutterCubed who were kind enough to include me in their “bloggers to watch in 2010″ lists that were re published on Problogger.net As a result of this, it provided a huge increase in readership for my blog and most importantly has given me a feeling that I must be doing some good. Cheers guys.
- I will weigh 72kgs (158lbs) – For the month of January, I lost 2kgs (4.4lbs). It wasn’t easy I must admit, and did find it hard to adhere each day to my 1500 calorie limit, especially as I am currently at home on leave from work due to the birth of our third child (Jesse). However, this is all about learning, and I am not going to whine about it anymore. By the way, do you like the picture of the butter representation? I was hoping for more than a 4 pound loss, however, when you look at in this perspective you do feel satisfied that this pile of lard is no longer attached to your gut or butt.
- I will write an informative ebook - Not much here to report on except that I do have a great idea for ebook. Of course, the focus will be on living with less, but will have my special twist to it. I am looking forward to finding some time over the next couple of months to begin some solid writing.
There you have it, I do recommend that if you already haven’t done so, start thinking about what really would make you happy and how you would get to that point? Start now!
Remember make it realistic, keep it simple, and give yourself a deadline.
Good luck
Greg
Quick update in regards to the Minimalism Challenge ( refer here for further details )
The following are my 7 things for the last week and a brief description about each item and why they don’t matter anymore,
- Day 7 – TV: What the! I here you say? no, we haven’t gone all out extreme with the challenge, this is actually our third tv! I wonder if we could get down to one tv? I was trying to donate it, however my local charities did not want it because it wasn’t a flat screen? ironic. I am going to put it on ebay for a buck. what a bargain
- Day 8 -Timber Stand: Although not used for the above tv, It kinda looks nice with it. Its now ten bucks for tv on ebay including the stand.
- Day 9 – Sunglasses: This old pair, although rather cool sunnies, they have been run to the ground. I have another good pair, plus a good backup. That’s enough.
- Day 10 – Fly screen: There was hope for this to be repaired and re attached, but its been sitting around for ages and the window it was on looks fine without it
- Day 11 – Camping fry pan: This was a hand me down, I have used it once.
- Day 12 – Golf shirt: I bought this second hand on ebay. Wore it once. Now I know why I don’t buy second hand sport shirts.
- Day 13 – Our pram: This beauty was our pride and joy for both our kids and served us well with is toughness and robustness, but now with our third child we have opted for something more sleeker and practical.
There you have it, Week 2 of the Minimalist Challenge, yet again another eclectic mix of clutter.
Why don’t you for the next 7 days get rid of one item per day that you don’t need?
So get on board its never to late to challenge yourself, and I am sure Ross from rcThink would like to hear from you.
The Live It With less inaugural Before and After shot.
This week’s Before and After shot is from fellow blogger, Caitlin from cluttercubed.com
BEFORE
I believe most people (myself included) would have had a Post-Christmas mess and various other mess accumulating in the living room from the holiday period.
AFTER
Caitlin explains : ” I took everything that didn’t belong in the living room to the places where they did belong, and tossed out all the paper and garbage leftover from gift wrapping. I vacuumed and dusted, and put the room back in order.I’d call this superficially clean, instead of thoroughly clean, as there are still some things that don’t really belong, but I could have a guest over now! I am pleased with how it turned out.”
Well done Caitlin, the living room look much less stressful and even your cat Dax looks more relaxed! Thank you for uploading your pictures to the Live It With less Flickr pool. and if you want to get more tips on how to conquer clutter make sure you visit Caitlin’s blog
If you have any before and after shots of decluttered rooms, work spaces, garages, or any other types of areas, even weight loss! I would love for you to share them by uploading to Flickr.
My aim is to feature a before and after each week, so there is a good chance you can be featured on this site too.
Enjoy
Last week I read that Ross from rcThink and Dave from The Minimalist Path, had thrown out the challenge to anyone who dared, to rid yourselves of the unnecessary over the next 30 days
Ross writes,
“From January 15th to February 15th you’re going to be getting rid of one thing every day from your kitchen, closet, computer room, bedroom, car, work. Anywhere that is accumulating clutter and things you don’t need. The purpose here is not to become a minimalist Zen Monk, (if you want to though, give ‘er) but to remove things from our lives that don’t matter.”
The rules of this challenge were quite simple
- You have to plan to get rid of something every day of the challenge. You can take the stuff to wherever it’s going to end up, dump/friends/recycling depot/ shelter, once a week if you like. I understand it’s hard to go every single day.
- Update your blog/website/doc/wave with things that you’ve thrown away.
- Things that can be recycled or donated, have to be. Don’t just throw them in the garbage. People can benefit from used stuff.
Now, as I am already decluttering each day as part of My Big 4, I thought it would be only fair to add a 4th rule to apply to myself, and that is,
4. The item has to be separate from the room that I am currently in the process of decluttering.
Ross has requested that participants report back on their progress, which is what I will be doing here on this blog each week over the next month.
The following are my 7 things for the last week and a brief description about each item and why they don’t matter anymore,
[click here to read the full article]
