The Simple Living Challenge: How to Declutter Your Life in 100 days
My husband and I were hoarders. We were homeless for a time before we were married, and that scarcity caused us to hold on to anything and everything. Our home looked average, but our unfinished basement was stuffed to the gills with junk and we had a storage unit! But I started reading minimalist blogs and they started to compel me to live with less. We got rid of 50% of our belongings in 100 days. And we didn’t stop there. We decluttered each area of our life one by one until only what mattered was left. Here’s how:
1. Give away at least one thing a day on Facebook marketplace.
I did this before facebook marketplace so I just gave the stuff away to friends, posted it on freecycle, or donated it to the thrift store. But every day for a hundred days I got rid of at least one item. Even if I was having an off day, I’d look around the house for something to ditch.
Why it works: Obviously getting rid of stuff is a natural part of simplifying your life. But it does more than that: giving away something everyday reminds us of the journey we are on. It’s hard to buy that cute casserole dish when you just gave away 3 casserole dishes last week.
On that point…
2. Stop shopping.
You can go 100 days without buying anything new. Of course, you will know if you need to make an exception to this rule, but be cautious of bringing new stuff in when you are trying to Simplify.
Why it works: Staying out of stores and off online stores allows us to grow in contentment with what we already own, and makes sure we won’t undo the work we are doing in other areas of our decluttering.
3.Unsubscribe from everything that isn't helping you meet your goals.
Think of your professional, social, relational, and wellness goals. If catalogues, magazines, or notifications or emails are distracting and overwhelming you, ditch them. That even goes for my newsletter, if it’s not helping you be who you want to be. The less physical and digital clutter coming in to your home and life, the less chaos you will feel.
Why it works: Most of these things are marketing designed to make you want more and be discontent with what you already have. Some people would say to cancel ALL subscriptions, but I really do believe that some resources can help us be better versions of ourselves. Being mindful of what we get out of a catalogue, magazine, or newsletter, gives us an opportunity to tailor our minimalism to us and our goals.
4. Empty your email.
That's right, all the way out. Here's how.
Why It works: Stuff begets stuff, and emails beget emails. If you’re overloaded by your inbox, you are less likely to answer emails in a timely manner and organize emails in a way that makes sense. By giving yourself a fresh start you can breathe better and engage with your inbox better.
5. Be ruthless with your schedule.
Everything on the calendar has a monetary, physical, emotional and/or mental cost. Are they all worth it?
Why this works: What’s the point of having a nice decluttered house if you are never in it? Our activities and commitments can pour life into us or they can just drain and overwhelm us. Being intentional about what we take on can help us find whitespace in our lives.
Things May Get Worse Before they Get Better
Right now most of yur clutter is probaby tucked out of sight and out of mind. Part of minimalizing is to empty those cupboards and drawers and closets, see what we really own so that we can discern what we really need. This task can be messy. Don’t be discouraged if things seem to get worse before they get better. You are on a journey, and this is a normal step in the journey.
Minimalism in Real Life
There is no finish line to minimalism. It’s a lifetime pursuit and a complete change in perspective. But these 100 days are a good start to a simpler existence.
Decluttering your whole life in a hundred days maybe sounds like a lot. After all, it took you years or decades to get where you are today. But a simpler life is so worth it.
What item will you give away today?
