I think a common problem among all of us is hoarding. There's no single adult who does not have some sort of clutter or unused items lying around their house. Even children hoard their toys, thinking one day they may want to play with them again.
However, some people are worse than others. There are a few that hoard to the extent of unhealthiness. Most of us keep things we think we might need or use in the future, such as clothes, old jewelry, kitchen utensils, unused Christmas gifts we received, books, toys, etc.
My mother hated throwing anything away. She always wanted to keep everything because she would say, "One day I may need it." She kept all her clothes (and she LOVED to shop), trinkets, shoes, all of our childhood memorabilia, old newspapers … you name it, she kept it.
On the other hand, I grew up NOT wanting that many extra items in my house and have always been relatively good at getting rid of things I no longer need. I don't like throwing things away, so I try to give household items and clothing to other people who might use them. However, I have been known to hold on to some things entirely too long and the clothing style be so out of date that just throwing them away is the best thing to do! But, no matter how well I think I don't hoard or accumulate extra clutter in my house – it IS there!
Several years ago, I helped move my Aunt Roberta from Michigan down to Madison to live with my mother. My mother had been suffering from Alzheimer's for several years by then and my Aunt Roberta had become stricken with it as well and no longer needed to live alone. So, plans were made for Aunt Roberta to live here, with my mom, so I could help take care of both of them.
Cleaning my mom's house began. We had to make room for Aunt Roberta to live there as well. My-oh-my, at the things we threw away from years of accumulation and clutter. Then, I flew to Michigan and began the same process with my Aunt Roberta's house … same sort of clutter … just a different house.
During my father's death and having to sort/clean out his possessions and the process of cleaning my mother's house and my aunt's house, I really realized how much we all save "things" that are important to us. We keep them because we cannot bear the thought of throwing away sentimental items, or we think we will lose 10 pounds and will wear that pair of jeans again, or something might remind us of someone we loved. But, when we are dead and gone, no one else will care about those items. The clutter that we have hidden in a closet, in a junk drawer, stuffed in a drawer, or under a bed does not even matter that much to us, apparently. So, just imagine what it will mean to those that are left having to clean up behind us.
For the last several years, I have kept that in mind and really have tried to even be better about getting rid of things I don't need, use, or wear. However, I still do accumulate.
About a week ago, I was listening to Dave Ramsey and his daughter, Rachel Cruze. Rachel mentioned the "Minimalism Challenge." She then explained how it worked …. and I was excited and hooked on the idea.
The Minimalism Challenge can mean different things for different people; it all depends on where you are in your life and what you want or need at each point in your life. Back when the founders of this "challenge" started this sensation, their meaning was to get rid of things they truly did not need in their life in order to have more room for: more creativity, more experience, more contentment and more inner-peace. They wanted simplicity and found it by cleaning out their house and life of all the "extra junk." They found clearing away the clutter freed up the space for what really mattered in their life; getting rid of things in order to make room for life's important things—which aren't things at all.
Again, the "Minimalism Challenge" can be different for each person. Some do this challenge to find peace, true happiness and joy. Others do the challenge and gear it towards electronics and devices and learn to not depend on and be addicted to their social media, apps and gadgets.
Me – I'm using it to declutter my house. I know my house isn't very cluttered (in fact, my bookcase shelves are empty because I'm too frugal to go buy anything to put on them), but I have accumulated things I just don't need anymore. I want/need the extra closet space for the grandchildren's toys. I need the spare bedrooms cleaned out in order to turn them into "really cool" grandchildren bedrooms. I need the junk cleared out the corners of my bedroom because when I walk by and see it every day, it gives me anxiety wanting it cleaned up.
So, on Monday, Feb. 1, I started the Declutter Minimalism Challenge.
On the first day of the month, I found one thing to get rid of (donate, give away, throw away or recycle).
On the second day of the month, I found two things to get rid of.
On the third day of the month, I will find three things to get rid of.
So it goes, for the rest of the month. When Sunday, Feb. 28 rolls around, I will be finding 28 things in my house (house, garage, pole barn, whatever) to get rid of.
I picked February to start, which is a short month, but I didn't want to wait any longer. However, even with just 28 days, by the end of this month, I will have gotten rid of 406 items that I do not need, want, or use any more. I will be decluttering my closets, kitchen, junk drawers, my two daughters' old closets with things they left behind, etc. On Feb. 28, I will see how it has gone, and if I wish I had two more days in the month, well then, I'll just keep doing it on into March until I'm through.
The thought process of this challenge is it is supposed to be an actual "challenge." Each person is to find a friend or family member to challenge. Whoever keeps it going the longest wins. Both win if both make it to the end of the month.
So, I thought I would challenge you … our readers. Let's declutter our houses and lives together. Whether you donate, sell, or trash your excess, every material possession must be out of your home—and out of your life—by midnight each day. Anything goes! Collectables; Decorations; Kitchenware; Electronics; Furniture; Bedding; Clothes; Towels; Tools; Items on your dresser; Shoes and toiletries.
Clutter has a tendency to creep up on all of us. Having a cluttered life is a lot like being the proverbial frog in the frying pan. Little by little, year after year, we buy and acquire new stuff and put off getting rid of the old, until one day we look around and we are surrounded by piles of dusty figurines, broken toys and drawers overflowing with empty pens and junk.
One of the most challenging barriers to move is taking the time and figuring out HOW to declutter your house and actually doing it.
This is the answer to the problem. Each day you will just find a few items from anywhere in the entire house to get rid of. By the end of this month you will see a huge difference.
I'm excited as I begin this month. I am on the way to cleaning my house without having to "work" at it. I am also on my way to not having anxiety every time I look at something and wonder what to do with it.
Come on – I challenge you to declutter your house, also!
Find someone in need that might NEED what is just sitting in your corner/closet collecting dust. Bless someone else with what you genuinely do not need or use!