If you guys read any blogs on minimalism, you may have seen the November Challenge floating around.
(Source)
I, for one, am getting on board and am really excited about it!
In a nutshell, the idea of the challenge is to tackle clutter by getting rid of one thing from my house on November 1st, two things on November 2nd, three things on the 3rd, etc! I did some quick math and determined that by the end of the month I will have given/thrown away 465 things from my house!
I’m all about this ‘challenge’. To be honest, I’m embarrassed that I know I have 465 possessions that I could get rid of without even noticing.
And to make things even easier, since we just moved and are living around all boxes (still), I have some unpacking to do – which means I’ll be handling every single thing I own. What better time to decide what to keep and get rid of than when I’m putting things away for the first time?! It’s one of the reasons I love moving.
Now, I’m not the most motivated person when it comes to doing things a little bit at a time, so I’m not sticking to the ‘schedule’. Instead, I’m constantly adding things to my ‘get rid of’ bags, and am going to keep a spreadsheet list to ensure that I have given away 465 things by November 30th.
Doesn’t that sound fun?! So far I’ve even made some money by consigning a few purses and jacket that I didn’t wear enough to justify keeping. I also got rid of a bunch of clothing items in October, pre-move, but I can’t decide if I’m going to ‘cheat’ and include those items in my November total.
And of course, I’m going through more than just my closet. I’m attacking the kitchen, the family room, Tim’s office, even Clara’s toys! One rule I’m making for myself is I’m not counting anything in my total that I plan on replacing. For instance, if I get rid of a coat and go out to buy a new one, I’m not counting that as something I got rid of.
The number 465 seems pretty high, but I think I can do it! Wish me luck! (And of course, if you’re inspired to participate in this challenge, too, let me know!)
