Minimalist Game Day 14

The rules are simple, you get rid of things from your life, either by selling them, throwing them away, or donating them. On the first day, you remove one item, and then on the second day, you remove two items, you keep on playing until it’s the end of the month, or whenever you run out of things to remove from your life. It is okay if you can’t make it until the end of the month. Personally, I would rather see items get donated, or sold to someone else. If you must throw something away, I hope it’s because it isn’t fixable. Even if you have removed three items from your life, you should still be proud of that, because it is three more things you removed before the challenge. But if you are able to complete this challenge, you would have gotten rid of almost 500 items! That’s a lot of stuff.

If you are participating, I would love to know what you are parting with, feel free to let me know in the comments. This is such a fun way to welcome Spring cleaning.

This is from Sunday March 14th.

I was organizing my important papers, and I decided I didn’t need these envelopes anymore. I don’t even know why I even bothered to keep in them in the first place. But I am starting to feel lighter with letting these things go. I feel happy with my progress so far. I am proud of myself for making it this far in the journey already.

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March Resolutions 2021

As part of My Happiness Project, each month I focus on different aspects and areas of my life. This is about my journey of how I incorporate new habits, and a thought process into every day. For March, I have decided to focus on my possessions, and how I declutter through more of my things. I plan on putting my energy into ways I can create space in my life. I am really excited to go through my belongings, and finally see what I need and no longer need. I picked the month of March to go through my possessions, which also includes a digital clutter because spring begins in March. I have always viewed March for a fresh start, and new beginnings. On the first day of every month, I will discuss my goals, and resolutions, and how I will be making these changes. Then on the last day of the month, I will talk about how I made these changes, and to discuss on how these habits helped me experience more happiness.

My Resolutions

1. Be cautious on bringing in more clutter into my house and life.
2. Purge through items every day
3. Create a no dumping areas
4. Spend 15 minutes every day deleting emails, duplicates of photos

Be Cautious

I want to have a better relationship when it comes to owning things. I would think more clearly when I make any purchases. I feel like I have done a pretty job when it comes to this. This is something that I want to continue. I am comfortable with having less things in my life. I also like saving the money I have been saving because I’m not going out of my way to buy something new. I also refrain from taking gifts, or other things with me. Normally my Grandma will find something for me, like a new shirt, or something else, I politely decline because I have reached the point in my life, where I am happy living with less.

Purge Items Daily

I have been playing this neat game, every one is welcome to join. Although I am a bit behind in posting everything. The objective of the game is simple, on the first day, you donate, throw away, or sell one item from your house, then on the second day, you remove two items, and so on and so forth. You can either stop at the end of the month, or you whenever you are comfortable with your work. It is okay if you stop before the end of the month. I recently did a Daily Decluttering Challenge last year, where I began by removing one item a day, for 192 days. Any items that you have gotten rid of is more than what you would have gotten rid if you didn’t participate in this challenge.

Create No Dumping Areas

I have mentioned this before, but that’s okay. I feel like everyone has a zone in their house, whether it’s their dresser, dining room table, or kitchen countertop, or a bookshelf. It’s basically an area where people just “dump” everything, because they don’t have a place for them, or just don’t want to deal with any of it. My boyfriend likes to treat our bookshelf like this. It’s his dumping zone. I’ve been trying to tell him to handle and deal with his things instead of just dumping it all on the bookshelves.

Digital Declutter

I would love to go through all of my photos that I have taken for the past few years, and organize them into photo albums. I plan on getting some of them developed. My boyfriend and I have a couple of photo albums already, although we just need to get our photos developed and place them. I know it’s kind of ironic, but to me, I grew up on photo albums, and to me, they spark joy. I feel like if it sparks joy, then it isn’t really clutter. I feel like clutter is anything that holds you back, or adds stress. Another characteristic of clutter is something that no longer adds any value to your life.

I feel like these resolutions are going to make things easier and better in my life. I have been working on these goals already. I can’t wait to update you with my progress. I would love to hear about your journey if you wish to partake in any of these challenges.

Day 22

I was helping my mom move out of her place. I knew that she has a lot of stuff, but when I saw it looking really disorganized especially for someone who is supposed to be ready for their move. My mom has a lot of dishes, and other things as well.

But from what I have learnt over the years is that it isn’t really a good thing that a single person has 20 dishes, and cups. Which is something that my mom has. All of her houses that she has stayed at are too small to have family over. So it’s not like all of those dishes were for us. It normally means that there is some underlining situation or a problem with this individual. There is research that shows a correlation between depression, and clutter. Clutter can also stem from trauma, or any traumatic experiences at some point in your lives.

My hearts go out to anyone who has experienced anything traumatic and heart wrenching. We may not be able to change anything from the past, but we can change our future. It’s up to us to make things better.

It took me some time to realize that part of the reason why she holds on to all of these things is because she lives alone now. So she holds on to these pieces as a way of holding on to the people that no longer live with her, like my dad, myself, and my sister. We all used to live together. But what I have learned is, that we don’t need to hold onto to things to remember people by, we remember things by keeping them in our hearts.

We can help our loved ones, or ourselves, if we are the ones who are suffering. We should not have to suffer in silence, call up a friend or a family member to help you. Although this mission can get done on its own. But if you prefer help, that’s okay, too. Slowly start removing clutter from your life. One of the easiest ways to stop having clutter is by stop having it come in your house and life, in the first place. Stop shopping for clutter. Stop agreeing to take things from loved ones. Another healthy solution is to work on ways you safely talk about things that has happened in your life.

I can identify the reasons and the whys my mom has had so many various things in her life. In a way, those reasons have made me collect clutter in high school. My parents were going through a separation at the time. But I have realized that I have collected so much, I was tired of it. So a few years later, I started being more cautious of my things. I started with my clothes. My closet used to be jam packed of clothes. I finally got rid of a ton of things. I was started to feel really good about myself. I was happy for myself.

Today, I will realize that clutter, and holding onto things don’t really make us happy. What makes us happy is being able to free from our clutter. We can’t hold onto every single memory throughout our lives. Our memories live inside of our brains and our hearts. If you see a family member or friend hold on to a lot of stuff, ask them if they need any help. Be sure to lend them a helping hand.

Day 16

I will learn to dedicate “no dumping zones” to help reduce clutter in my house. Let’s say for instance you love filling up your coffee table, or dining room table with mail, laundry, books, etc. to the point where it just keeps on collecting clutter, to the point the table cannot be used. Once you begin placing clutter on any surface, it begins to attract more clutter. It’s like a magnet.

When you vow to stop clutter from being placed on these spaces, then you might just start appreciating the beauty of simplicity. I love seeing a clear and clean coffee table. It truly is a lovely practice to start.

Since I have gotten rid of a lot of things throughout last year, it’s time to do a bit of rearranging and organizing. Toss, restore and organizing is part of my resolution for January. I am starting to feel quite proud of myself to do engage in this project. It has been really helpful.

Today, I will declare no dumping zones in my house. Instead of simply just dumping items on counter tops, or tables, I will learn to put things in their place.

Day 15

We need to learn to let go of things that no longer serves us. This can be anything from physical objects, to digital clutter, to our feelings. We let go of the negative things and emotions, we now have more room for the things that bring us joy. We can feel happiness, we can truly appreciate the remaining processions. Instead of not being able to see them throughout the clutter.

If we continue to hold on to negative things, and feelings, then we are just going to continue to attract more negativity in our lives. And that is the last thing we want in our lives.

Today, I will learn when enough has become enough. I will release anything that has any negative vibes in my life. This way I am able to attract good and better things in my life. This also allows me to see things more clearly.

Day 12

Hey, sorry everyone. I had a busy day yesterday. I was helping my mom out with her packing for her move. And before I helped I had made chicken noodle soup and took a shower before seeing her.

I feel like her and I were able to get a lot done. I was trying to teach her how it was important to pack like items into a box, instead of what fits. I feel from experience, that packing like items in the same boxes makes things a lot easier when you are trying to unpack.

Today, I will try my best to organize things as I go. I will try to keep like items together in my house. I will try to find a “home” for every item, as well. Whenever I am finish with that item, I will be sure to put it back where I got it from.

Trees – Weekly Quote

Since today is the last day of summer, I found a quote that was perfect for the night before Autumn equinox.

In case you can’t read it, it says, “Be like a tree, let the dead leaves drop.” -Rumi

I love this quote because it’s a reminder that you can be strong enough to let things go, whether it be a toxic friend, family member, psychical items, digital items, etc. Learn to be free. And I like this quote because it reminds me of Autumn, it’s my favourite season.

Day 29 of 192

Hi everyone! Welcome to a new day! That means I am living with one less item in my life and I couldn’t be happier.

Today’s item that I am removing my life is my app for work. Since I don’t work there, it no longer serves me anymore.

To me, clutter isn’t just physical clutter, it can be digital clutter, ranging from anything such as too many photos, emails, apps, and contacts in your phone that you no longer connect with. If you don’t get your digital clutter under control it can become overwhelming as well.

And I can’t wait to sort through all of this clutter. It really is going to be a joyous feeling. My goal is only to have the items that brings me joy, and use daily.