The 30 Day Minimalism Game | My 4th Round 

She likes to be where the action is!

I know I'm quite off topic but do anyone know of a good place to stream new movies online?

@Abel Wesson flixportal xD

@Elon Damon thanks, signed up and it seems to work :D Appreciate it!!

@Abel Wesson happy to help :D

Thanks! I started including them so people could see where those things previously lived. Without them, you'd have no idea where those things were coming from!

I also love these quick little videos with the home of the things! Best way I have ever seen someone vlog this minimalist challenge!

@@sophiaz.1083 thanks!

@@sophiaz.1083 I know, same. I studied filmography for a little bit and this is very much about showing not telling. :)

Thanks! She's adorable.

Can't you control your cat's behavior? LOL ( : Good video. I always love when you do the 30 day challenges. @@VestedInterests

@@patriciafisher3108 Not at all! No one can control her; she is her own boss!

Planet Progress

Exactly

Funny that you used the expression ' one person's junk is another's treasure' . I would have like to have the treasurer of the aqua colored tray.

Maybe there's hope for the two unfinished scarves I have sitting in my closet! I've either got to have a knit-a-thon or it's time for some serious unraveling... :-)

Oh my, that's wonderful!! Congratulations on letting that literal and symbolic loose end go!

I hear you !

Ha! Thanks! I decided to start showing the grabbing clips so people could get a better understanding for where those things lived in my home and the space that is opened up when they're gone. Hopefully it inspires others to look into those corners and declutter the things that have taken up residence there!

@@VestedInterests this is what sets you apart from the others. Its so original. More power to you!

Aww, thanks!

Congratulations on letting such weighty things go! ...At first, I typed "important things" and then backspaced because they're not actually important things at that point, but they do carry a lot of, well, weight, and letting that go can be so freeing! I hope you've found something that is actually fulfilling to take its place! Even if you haven't yet, you're now free to find it!

@@VestedInterests I did, I worked really deeply with an Ikigai book to find what really moves me and I found that writing is the answer. Have you tried it? Fortunately, writing is the most minimalistic thing ever :D

​@ I've written academically and published a couple of articles, but I've never written fiction. Occasionally I think I should start some kind of blog/website, but I like making videos and I'm not sure I have time for more than this right now, but it is an intriguing idea and I do find it fun to write about things I'm interested in. I'm glad you've found a new passion! Keep it up!

Too true! 😂

She was not very pleased by it.

Oh man, if it's in storage, you already know you aren't using it, so hopefully that will be an easy challenge for you. Best of luck, and do give the minimalism game a try! I'm clearly a huge fan...

@@VestedInterests i am currently travelling so it might be more difficult than one would expext 🙈 thanks anyway :)

That's a great idea! If you have a ton of stuff, something like the Konmari method may be more suitable, but, if you have trouble getting started, this can definitely get the ball rolling!

She is quite a show stealer!

Like I said, I really never brought it out. We gave it to a new student who is very excited to have it!

@@debsmith80 That's great--do it!

Ha! Others have said the same thing on this type of video. Glad I could get it up for the holidays when that song is on people's minds more 😂

Thank you! Re: fantasy self/old self items: the idea can take a while to sink in, but something I've been asking myself recently is whether or not my day-to-day life would actually be affected by getting rid of a particular thing. It yes, it can stay. If no... So many of the fantasy self items I've gotten rid of other the years have definitely been things I didn't use and whose absence would not affect me in any meaningful way, so off they go. Anyway, I hope that helps. Merry Christmas to you as well!

Oh no, if anything we've gained cats through the years.

Thanks! I'm glad you find it relatable. At the moment, I think I have one box of old notes and one box of photos left to deal with, and then I'll be in maintenance mode. Of course, the bar for what is necessary is constantly moving, so maybe I'll feel differently in a few months. Anyway, best of luck with your decluttering!

That's awesome! I started in my wardrobe as well and then the practice leached into the rest of my life. Best of luck with your decluttering!

It's amazing what you can find tucked into drawers or inside closets! It feels so nice to have those spaces cleared. Oh man, doesn't it feel great when you get rid of something and then you realize that not having that one thing means not needing to own other, peripheral things? I imagine that's how you feel getting rid of your storage furniture, so congrats and enjoy that feeling!

@@VestedInterests Exactly!!

That's awesome!! Congrats!!

Oh man, that's amazing! Congratulations! Just a thought, if you ever get stuck with the game, you can always take a break and pick back up on the day you left off. Best of luck!

Shelley Van Houten very true! After all, there are no rules, really. We are going south for 4 months, I packed very minimally. I can’t wait to live freer! Merry Christmas!🎄

Thank you so much! You're absolutely right. Each time I've done the challenge, I think I can't possibly get rid of more, and then the bar of what is "necessary" moves and I find more stuff I'm not using or that is no longer important. Re: keeping stuff for when the grandkids visit: When I was a kid visiting my grandparents, I loved playing around with my grandmother's stuff and admiring her antiques or looking at her photo collections. She was kind of a packrat (still is, but not as bad), so there was a lot to explore. You don't have to keep stuff you don't want, but it might be nice for your grandkids to be able to get to know you and learn about you through the things you choose to keep rather than distracting them with toys (I assume you mean that you keep toys for the grandkids). I also spent a lot of time outside in her garden. Re: Christmas: I recently posted a video on my Christmas decor, but a tip I failed to include is to decorate using only your favorite things first. Then, when the box is half empty because you've already pulled out your favorite things, take a look back in the box and see what's left. That might help highlight things you could let go of. Re: backyard picnics: I'm not sure what kind of stuff you keep for these occasions, so I'm not sure what to suggest. One idea is to use your everyday dinnerware if you don't already and otherwise look around your house for existing things that could also be used outside, instead of having separate picnic-time-only items. I hope some of this and happy holidays to you too!

Someone IS really enjoying it! We gave it to a new student who was renting her violin. She loves it!

Of course! Was that ever a question?

I never used them, so they just nagged me every time I saw them. It's definitely nice to have them finally gone! Best of luck with your decluttering!

Aww, thank you, and so much congratulations for helping someone else along their minimalism journey!! I've toyed around with the idea of coaching others, but I have no idea if I'd be any good at it. Maybe I should test the waters on my friends...

Vested Interests 👍🌿sure of course you can do it. After my journey; I guided for mom s house, ma girl s room, ma boy s college flat, my aunt s flat, my other aunt s summer house ... I m also certificated lifecoach so I combined with minimalism. If you wish you can have a coaching seminar too. Good luck 🌿I m so sure you are already a good coach👍I like the design your video production. Inspiration + motivation + lovely examples 🌿

@@nazarun5 Thank you for the encouragement! Maybe one day...

Vested Interests 👍👏🌿🤗

Oh wow! Congrats on making so much progress! It's wonderful that you're giving back to an organization that holds personal meaning for you. I try to do the same, and it makes it much easier to let think go to know that it's going to good people and a great cause. Good luck with your decluttering, and kick cancer's butt!

Thank you so much! I'm glad you like these videos. Best of luck with your own decluttering!

I'm glad you've found the videos useful! You may be surprised how one day an item seems totally worth keeping, and then, a little time goes by and your feelings can change. I'd love to make it out to the UK again! It's definitely my favorite travel destination--I love it there!

We haven't been out there yet! We'll be there in mid January and late February though. We thought about mixing it up and going somewhere else, but Breck is my favorite so we just booked it twice. If you see a weirdo walking around in a bright magenta jacket and pink and purple bobble hat, that's me, say hi!

Vested Interests I hope I run into you so I can say hello and thank you for your videos. Your channel is one of my absolute favorites. I get so much inspiration from you! Happy Holidays and Happy 2019!

Thanks! I definitely think this is a great "maintenance" technique. That said, now that I've been doing this for a while, I've become much more careful about things I bring into my home, which is almost nothing at this point. My husband brought the cat back from the vet the other day and placed the receipt on the dining table. I immediately pounced on it when I saw it, as it's easy to see any little thing coming into our house now and keep them out. Best of luck with your decluttering, and especially good luck keeping new things out!

Awwwwwwwwwww, thank you so much! That's such a huge compliment! Dani-the-cat says thank you as well!

It went to my brother, who is not actually a diehard Doctor Who fan himself, but his girlfriend is! So someone else gets to appreciate it and its life goes on!

Vested Interests phew i’m relieved to hear that

@@VestedInterests Well I guess we Whovians will allow it then. (But I had the same reaction as Hactr.)

Isn’t it crazy that we have difficulty seeing someone else getting rid of items. As if we have a need to keep them for ourselves.

Most of the stuff that I got rid of this time and the time before were all things stored behind closed doors: cabinets, closets, and drawers. All those hidden spaces finally got some much needed attention and it feels great! Happy holidays to you as well!

She likes to go where the action is! She follows me and my husband from room to room.

Congrats on getting rid of so many books! Books can be tough, but slow and steady has worked for me so I hope it works for you too! ...I keep books that I haven't read and am in the process of reading on my nightstand. There are four books there currently staring at me. I'll have to try to finish up at least one during the holiday break.

That's great! Both that you want to do it yourself and that you've helping a friend!

Thank you! I'm glad you like them!

The vast vast majority of those things were tucked away in drawers or cabinets or closets, so my house doesn't look different from the house tour I filmed recently-ish (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-42wEDiWdMrA.html), except there's now a tree in the middle of my living room. If anything changes, I'll film an update, but at the moment it looks the same!

I hope that renewed sense of creativity doesn't result in, well, more stuff that doesn't get finished, but the more you get to know yourself the less likely that is to happen. At least that's what I hope will happen the next time I get a bright idea. I've told several friends they are to remind me of these canvases the next time I feel crafty... Anyway, it definitely is a load off to let those things go! Happy holidays to you as well!

That's great! I have a few others similar to this if you're new to my channel. Having my guest room finally cleared--at least mostly--feels incredible!

That gift wrap was covered in tacos. Not like "we spilled a taco on it and it's ruined" but the actual print of the paper was...tacos. My mother-in-law bought it during one of her trips to visit us and she left it at our house. My friend who took the canvases thought it was hilarious though and she took it with her!

That's great! These minimalism games and whipping myself into better financial shape went hand-in-hand. It's so much easier to save money when you realize how little we actually use.

You can do it! If you're just getting started, you might try decluttering one small space fully. Sometimes, seeing how streamlined and nice one space can be when fully decluttered can motivate you to keep going. Best of luck!

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it!

That's awesome! You can do this!

Absolutely! Having a clear understanding of your goals definitely helps with sentimental items. I actually discussed that a little more deeply in my video on sentimental items, in case you haven't seen it: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-iD3D80lf9CM.html Happy holidays to you as well, and best of luck with your decluttering!

That's wonderful! My violin went to a new student too, and she loves it! It feels wonderful to let those things go to new homes where they will actually be used and appreciated. Congrats on giving yours a new life too!

She is adorable so that's easy to do!

That's a great idea! If stuff keeps creeping in, a No Spend Year will do just the trick and totally change your perspective on shopping and things in general. I haven't done one myself, but I have dramatically cut down on spending as I've decluttered. Now, if a new piece of paper enters my home, I notice and want to get it out immediately. Best of luck!

Aww, thank you! She likes to be where the action is, so she makes it into a lot of clips. Merry Christmas to you too!

That's awesome! I started making a list as soon as I finished this time. I think I could easily do it again, but days 20-30 might be all photos. Best of luck when you do it!

We humans are very clever at hiding odd things away. Glad it gave you some ideas for what you can live without!

I think I could probably do it once more, and maybe once a year after that for maintenance (that said, I've become really good at not shopping and keeping stuff out of our home, so maybe I won't need a lot of maintenance), but I too am getting close to not being able to do this much more without dipping into things we regularly use. If you're struggling, make sure you're looking absolutely EVERYWHERE and decluttering things like paperwork and photos. I've been focused on physical things, but you could also dedicate part of the challenge to digital decluttering as well, which might open up more avenues for simplifying.

@@VestedInterests I konmaried my house last year and I have been doing Great! Stuff overwhelms me...I have 3 children...

It's so great that you're a minimalist and a parent! I'm not a parent, but I think we need more people passing these principles on to their kids, so go you!

@@VestedInterests thank you!

Leanna H stuff gets me anxiety, I also have 3 kids.

You can always "hit pause" and pick back up where you left off when you've had a little more time to think about it. Good luck!

I had plenty of time to consider those decisions, so I don't really feel ruthless--it doesn't feel like a spur of the moment decision because, well, it isn't one. Anyway, I'm glad it looks like I'm decisive!

That's wonderful, congratulations!!! Every time someone tells me "I can't possibly do the challenge," I'll think of you. Congrats again!

Ha! I gave it to my brother. A sugar skull pumpkin makes more sense on his property than mine.

At least you're still at it! If you haven't already, check out my paperwork video. I hope it helps and best of luck! You can do this! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-wnm-kL0QR28.html

That's awesome! The game is so refreshing to do--it sounds like a great way to set yourself up for a new semester!

Yaaasssss!! I mean, sorry your plans were cancelled, but your alternative plan sounds great!

I’m happy to report I decluttered my make up, liquor bar, and fridge! Also, I realized that ever since I did a closet declutter, laundry has become a non event. I’m so happy with the progress!

@@emijes1 That's awesome! New Years Eve is a great time to clear out the ol' liquor cabinet 😉

I totally understand. I've held on to lots of things over the years, not because I wanted to keep them but because I didn't know how to dispose of them. Giving things away to new homes can definitely help, especially with sentimental items, but, as you are experiencing, it's not always easy or possible to do. Could you not donate them to a thrift store? You may not get the satisfaction of knowing that they went to a new home immediately, but at least it's kind of nebulous and open ended--you can hope that they will eventually go to a new home. Another thing to consider is that these items are literally just a burden to you right now. You don't want them, but you're also captive to them. At the end of the day, they're just things. They're not adding value to your life; they're just a point of stress. Why willingly keep those things around? Perhaps you could look around on online at people selling similar figurines to help drive home the point to you that they may not be worth much monetarily. Sorry for the tough love, but, if you bite the bullet and get rid of these, it could be a turning point for you so you can learn to let other things go. Hope this helps and happy new year!

@@VestedInterests Thanks for your helpful response... and a happy new year to you, too! I need the tough love because I've felt myself slipping on that point. If I talk to my non-minimalist friends, they would just laugh and tell me "What's the problem? Just keep them!" I have to consider to what extent these things are a burden or source of stress to me. Many of them are small items and don't take lots of room but just knowing that they are stuck in a storage box and I am not making use of them makes me feel sad for the things (oddly enough). I know they are not worth much so I need to convince myself to just wrap them up and trash them... so they won't be lurking in the back of my mind (and closet) anymore. I wish it were easier to remove the emotional element from some of the things I own....

@@Chariots1981 In The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Marie Kondo suggests that you ritualize how you say goodbye to things in order to make it easier. She advises that you thank the items, tell them what they have meant to you over the years, and she also helpfully suggests that you cover the eyes of...well, things with eyes. Perhaps something like that could help you let go of those items and be able to move on.

@@VestedInterests Oh, that's a very timely reminder. I should give it a try as it may indeed make it easier for me to part with these items. Appreciate all your suggestions!

I'm all for sharing with others, but there are tons of ways to do that without having to store stuff yourself. I wonder if there are any domestic charities or organizations that accept goods and ship them to other countries for you...

That's awesome! It was kind of annoying to have those things taking up space in my living room for a bit and making the tree less enjoyable, but it was worth it in the end to get those things out. Best of luck with the challenge! The trick I didn't mention is to make sure you don't bring more stuff into your home after. ; )

Vested Interests Oh yes! Really good point. I’m not worried about me bringing stuff but my husband, who is the consumer in our house. He is however, showing some interest in minimalism which is great!! I never thought I’d see the day where he actually wants to part with some of his belongings. Ha!

@@rudet79 Wonderful! I get a lot of comments from people with partners who are resistant, so count yourself as a lucky one!

I have a video where I talk about many of the DE products I've tried: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-7R2BkUIjHEI.html Since then I've simplified my skincare routine greatly, but I'm still using their Protini moisturizer. I've actually been able to get my husband to use it too, which is really saying something! Happy holidays to you too!

Thanks!

Tardis cookie jar is gone, but my husband saved the Star Trek pin, so we still have some nerdy things in our home. The guest closet full of board games is still safe and sound. Best of luck when you do the challenge! I think it's a great idea to involve your family--especially if you have kids, it's a great practice to hand down. Just make sure you keep an eye on shopping and new things entering your house as well. Happy holidays to you too!

Thank you! I'm also toying with the idea of a "no buy year"...or, at the very least, a "low buy year". So the incoming "stuff" entering the home will be a minimal amount anyway...if I have the will power to carry through. Fingers crossed. As for the kids, yes, I think it's an awesome chance for a teaching moment. Our nerd collection will never die, so that I know will be around for years to come. But maybe it will be decreased by some amount, however small that may be ;)

Thanks! I don't really feel ruthless as these aren't really spur of the moment decisions. I try to constantly look around and evaluate my house, so every time I get around to decluttering, I have a good sense of things I've mentally bookmarked as ready to go. The goal though, as you pointed out, is the most important thing. Good luck coming up with yours!

Ha! I hope it doesn't disappoint!

That sounds like a good candidate for the chopping block! ...Though your cat may have had a jump start on the chopping/chomping part.

Merry Christmas to you too! The violin was a long time coming... I'd thought about getting rid of it long ago, but I couldn't actually bring myself to do it until this year. Kind of like the waffle maker, I told myself I had a year to start playing it regularly, or even play it really at all, and it never happened. It has now found a new home with a new violin student who is very happy to have it!

Absolutely--all great points! The violin has now gone to a new student who is very excited to have it, and I'm thrilled that it has found a good home. If you haven't seen my video on goals, you might enjoy it. I think everyone's "end game" is very different, but I really enjoy the calm and focus that it has brought me. I can now spend my time on things that are important to me instead of looking back and wondering where the time went!