February Simple Living Challenge - Pick 5!
I wanted to have a simple living challenge each month of this year.
Life is so busy, there are so many things to do, and so many things I want to do. Decluttering and simplifying gives me the space to do this.
When I can get rid of the extra it allows me to be more efficient, minimize the excess and maximize my time. I hone my ability to be creative and be inspired and even find the time to do it!
Each month I'm going to have a new personal challenge for myself to make my life more efficient - to save time, save money, save my energy and maximize my time for what I want to do. I hope you'll consider joining me this year to maximize your own life. I think you'll be amazed at the results by the end of the year.
This month's challenge is Pick 5!
Every day this month you are challenging yourself to Pick 5 things to donate and 5 things to trash.
Grab a donation box. Run around each morning around your house picking 5 things up and put them in the box. Don't even think - just do! It's only 5 things, that's nothing! Grab anything you haven't used in the last 6 months and toss it in the box! Old clothes, shoes, craft supplies, sheets, towels, books and more! Chuck it all in!
Next, grab your trash/recycling bin - Run around the house and pick 5 things to throw away/recycle. Old papers - put them in recycling. Old paperwork, sort throught it! Recycle the envelope, shred the rest! Easy! You're at 5 items already!
Keep going each day and donate 5, toss 5. Before you know it, you'll be 280 items lighter by the end of the month and you won't even miss them!
Really challenge yourself this month to give away all the excess - only keep the things you love and use and get rid of the rest. Remember - we only use 20% of our stuff 80% of the time - be ruthless, get rid of that 80% to get to the 20% that really matters to you!
You might be asking - Why give it all away? I spent good money on that!
Let me in on a little secret- the more I give away, the less I spend.
Let me explain - you probably have a pile of stuff you're thinking of selling. But let me ask you this - how much do you think you would actually make? Is it worth the time and energy to try to sell it? The key I have found is to set aside the few larger items you can actually make money off of selling. All the small stuff (and it's mostly small stuff) you should simply donate.
The first time you give away a large box of small stuff, it's probably painful. You keep thinking about how much money you spent on all that and how yo're giving it all away. It might make you mad, it might make you sad.
Here's the thing - if you can get over it and just give it away (getting a tax receipt if applicable) the benefits are huge!
Number 1, it's gone and you never need to deal with it again.
Number 2, and the biggest one for me is that I remember that painful feeling. Each and every time I go to the store I remember that feeling and every time I buy something that's not a necessity/staple item I think about it long and hard. What am I going to do with it? Is it worth it? Eventually most things will end up given away or in the landfill. Am I willing to pay the price? I think you'll start finding yourself saying "no" more often and saving yourself a pile of cash in the process.
Here is a list of my favorite 3 books related to decluttering/living with less mindset (in the order I think you should read them) -
Unclutter Your Life in One Week
The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide: How to Declutter, Organize, and Simplify Your Life
