Final Thoughts on Minimizing

The first 30 day challenge is complete

                                                      

Right now it kind of feels more like saying goodbye to a good friend than a party.

I realize I can go through my items and eliminate them at any time...but that devotion of the daily purge won't be occurring.

So how did I do?

Well I tried to keep count of everything that I got rid of, and within a small margin of error, I calculated it at:

98 individual items

It seems both like a small number and also like a large number...is that even possible?

It seems large because I think "Holy Crap did I really have almost 100 things I didn't need."  

Then in the same breath I think "Holy Crap did I ONLY have almost 100 things I didn't need...maybe I didn't look enough."

I think the main lesson I learned, aside from the best way ever to fold your clothes (thank you Marie Kondo), is that this is a process that doesn't have a definitive end.  I will be coming back at intervals to check in with my "stuff" and see if it still deserves a place at my proverbial table.

I must say that I am most pleased with my closet.  When I walk in I don't feel overwhelmed and I can easily see everything so that I can more easily pick out what I am going to wear for the day.

I enjoy having less choices.  I am not left feeling that perhaps I made the wrong wardrobe decision and I'm also not standing there for fifteen minutes trying to figure out what I want to wear.

I read a great book on this topic called "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less" by Greg McKeown.  I don't want to ruin the book for anyone who  may want to read it (and you don't have to buy it you can get it through your library) but in it Greg gives you great ways to say "No" and ways to weed out those things that are "nonessential."  So he may illustrate his point with a reference to a business...but it is totally applicable in everyday life.  

So think about what things you can say "No" to and what you can weed out that will help your life focus more on the essential/important things.

Well that concludes October...on to November and challenge of exercising each day.

Won't you think about joining me?

The End is Near

Just two more months till Christmas

That phrase packs a big panic punch for people with children, or perhaps your last minute shoppers.

                                 

I cannot even imagine the claustrophobic feeling of being in a crowd like that...but yet people do it year after year.

Do they feel full of Christmas spirit?  

Chances are probably not.

Like those last minute shoppers I have a bit of a frantic feeling as I am nearing the close of my month of giving items away.

I want to make sure that I've gone through all of my areas (both at home and at work) to ensure that I've taken stock of my possessions and that what is left is truly something I want to hold on to.

However like kids on Christmas morning I am also excited to kick of the next month, November, and a new challenge:

100 push-ups, 100 crunches, and 100 squats everyday

This is probably the perfect time for this one with Thanksgiving falling in November (I promised my husband I wouldn't do the vegan challenge during November less any relatives think I didn't like their cooking).

I have tried all month long not to dwell on the money that was spent on the items that I have put out of my home.

I did spend some time thinking "Why did I buy this stuff?"  And it leads to feeling a little bad about the money I spent and the time I invested in bringing the items home (not to mention the physical space they occupied for so long).

But a few moments of mindful breathing and I'm ok.  I'm letting go of the negative and focusing on the positive...like how much I love my closet now that it is neat and only has items in it that I enjoy wearing.

This weekend a friend of mine told me about a coat she purchased.  She said the first time that she wore it a friend told her she looked like the Michelin man and she has never worn the coat again.  That was 8 years ago...and she still has the coat.  I wanted to go into her house and take it away, but that is a personal decision for each of us to make about our stuff.

I hope she knows that she is a beautiful woman and doesn't need to hang on to any of these negative vestiges.

Do you have an item that you hang onto even though it only brings up negative feelings?  If so think about  moving it on and out of your life.

It's More Than Just Stuff

Everyday I look at the things that I own and evaluate it

1) Do I need this item?

2) Do I make use of it often?

3) Is it still in good working order?

By taking a quick inventory I have worked to make the decision to keep an item, or discard it, much faster than I did in the beginning of this process.

I try to look at my possessions with fresh eyes every day...and you know what?

Everyday I find at least one thing that doesn't meet my standards.

Aside from the physical possessions I have found that making decisions for living life itself has been simplified.

Shopping 

Purchasing and obtaining stuff doesn't really cross my mind.  I don't have days where I think "I'll head off to the mall."  This month I bought one book for under $10 and that was after I waited about a week (needed to determine if I really wanted it or not).

With all of the removal of items you definitely think twice before bringing something back in.

Saying No 

At first blush this seems like a harsh approach...but you will thank yourself if you take the time to only say "Yes" to those things you really want to do.  Don't let "yes" be an automatic answer when someone asks you a question (this has applications for both personal and work life).

We don't need to keep ourselves busy all of the time.  You can't accomplish tasks to the best of your ability if in the back of your mind you are thinking about the litany of other tasks that lay ahead of you.

Turn Off Your Media

We take in so much information in a day that turning off your phones, not watching the news, only looking at Facebook once a day are really healthy options for you.

Taking in all of the negative information that is put out there in the media can bring you down and depress you.  I'm not saying be completely oblivious as to what is going on in the world but guard yourself against taking too much in.

I've found that I am a much happier and calm by not having the constant chatter of what the latest crisis in the world is.  I can take the time that was previously given to media consumption and instead spend it with my husband and kids.  Building a strong and loving relationship with them is way more valuable.

These are just 3 things that came to mind and I know there are tons more (goodness knows there is a multitude of blog posts out there about it) but consider scaling your life back.

Can you think of some ways you can scale back?

What would your life look like if for one week you tried one, or perhaps all 3, of these things?

In an effort to keep myself accountable of the items I purge I found several scarves that I love the patterns or but don't love them when they are on me....so it's time for them to go.

Am I Done Yet?

I am a week into my first of 12 challenges for the year...and you're thinking "Is she already asking 'Am I done yet?'"

                                                         

No silly

I chose the title because for the past year my family has been through the various rooms of our house and have culled out the items that didn't bring us joy, were broken, we no longer used, or had multiples of.  We've taken truck loads to Goodwill and yet...

I find it absolutely amazing that I am finding stuff everyday as I strive to give/sell something everyday this month.  And I'm not just finding 1 roll of ribbon that I don't need I found 10 rolls (they were donated to my mom's primary class at our Montessori school).

Over a year ago I read the best-selling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.

                                                               

That book was the beginning of a change in mindset for me.  Marie has you touch and think about each and every item that you own.

So I did that and gave away probably half of the clothes in my closet...what amazes me though is that you can't just take one pass through your closet (or kitchen drawers or china cabinet, etc) you have to keep going back...this is an on-going process.

I pulled down a basket from the top shelf of my closet and found it was packed with Christmas ornaments (that were bought and never used) as well some random knick knacks...which were put in there because they didn't have another proper home.

So I am going to continue to examine each space of the house with a more critical eye and keep this quote from Joshua Becker in mind:
 
“We were never meant to live life accumulating stuff. We were meant to live simply enjoying the experiences of life, the people of life, and the journey of life - not the things of life.” 
― Joshua Becker, Simplify: 7 Guiding Principles to Help Anyone Declutter Their Home and Life

So before we kick off the weekend something for you to think about...are there things in your house that don't have a proper home...that perhaps should move on and out of your house?