Happy Monday :)
Week 10: Reduce duplicates (utensils, towels, etc.)
Another week where I'm ahead of the game ;)
At the end of last year I reduced my towel and linens. We now only have 6 towels, which is more than enough for two adults and any guests we might have, and two sets for our bed plus one set for the air mattress if we have guests.
I posted the 'spare' towels and sheets via my local Buy Nothing group and they found a new home nearly instantly.
I also didn't have any spare or excess utensils (we only have a set for 6) so I looked around the house for other 'duplicates' we might still have.
I settled on reducing our blankets.
Did I really need multiple throw blankets? No.
I only need one for the couch. Two if I think my husband and I each need our own.
I also had several other blankets in varying thickness/warmness for our bed. Truthfully there is only one I ever put on my bed if it's very cold. I can't remember the last time we used any of the other blankets.
In the end I reasoned I should keep a second one in case we have guests during a cold snap but the rest? Donated.
The result? I now have so much more space in my very small linen closet. I can't believe how less cluttered/full the closet looks with a few less blankets.
Week 11: Let go of “someday” items
For many years we were "entertainers." We were always throwing parties, hosting during the holidays, hosting book clubs/movie showings/the big game at our house, and having people over for dinner every single week. I loved entertaining.
As a result, we had stacks and stacks of small party plates, several party food bowls, and other buffet-type supplies such as skewers, place settings, labels, you name it.
When Covid hit, I stopped entertaining, and then when the world "reopened", I was dealing with an autoimmune disease flareup and the forever fallout of having had H pylori.
I kept all my things thinking "someday" I'll be a hostess again.
Truthfully?
I doubt it. Even when I am feeling great, I am not quick to invite people over nor do I feel the same excitement or buzz I once did for hosting a gathering.
Plus, many of my friends are now at different stages of their life where they aren't as available as they once were for socialization. This is true for me as well.
It is time for me to let go of these "someday items" and embrace this new stage of life.
It made me so happy to see all my supplies and plates going to different people who are headed into the socialization/entertaining chapter in their life. This is one of my most favorite aspects of the Buy Nothing community/lifestyle.
Week 12: Clear one closet corner
I don't have much in my closet(s) now thanks to these challenges! so there wasn't anything in a corner I could remove or clear.
HOWEVER, I do have a cabinet in the kitchen that goes way back into a corner and this challenge made me realize I didn't know what was back there LOL
After pulling everything out to see what was in "the way back" I found 6 unopened paper towel rolls.
I haven't used paper towels since before Covid. I switched to rags years ago.
I also found a portable mini cooler (the kind you would use for lunch or a few soda cans) and a large glass bowl I can't remember ever buying.
All of these are now donated. The challenge will be not to shove anything else in that "storage space"
Week 13: Make space on one counter
Another week where I'm ahead of the game ;)
Years and years ago I realized clear countertops were one of the best ways to keep my space feeling spacious and zen .
Clearing your surfaces (especially kitchen and bathroom) is an instant, easy way to improve your space. Try it, you'll thank me!
The only thing I have on my kitchen counter is a bowl of fruit/vegetables that should not be stored in the fridge plus soap by the sink (dish soap, hand soap).
I've been keeping my keurig on the counter lately, but for a while I shuttled it back and forth to a nearby cabinet, which is what I do with the toaster, PC, and blender. Nothing stays out. It makes such a difference, especially in small spaces.
My bathroom surface is also clear except for hand soap and lotion. Even my toothbrush and makeup gets put in a drawer after use. The few extra seconds of time it takes to put things away is how my bathroom always feels like an oasis and looks like a pristine spa.
Not wanting to skip a week, I decided to to go through one storage bin in the garage.
The bin I chose had all sorts of shoes in it: running shoes, hiking shoes, bike shoes, water shoes, hiking boots, spare flip flops, and so on.
We haven't used our water/river shoes in well over 5 years.
There was a point in my life where I did a lot of water/river activities. I may do that again someday but not today, not this year, and probably not next year.
Will I be annoyed if I get back into river activities in five years and have to buy new water shoes? I doubt it.
I might even find a free pair from the buy nothing group or a used pair at Goodwill...
Still, the idea of MAYBE having to re-purchase something I already owned for no reason made me gag.
So, I switched my thinking around...
Would having 1 less storage bin in my tiny garage make my life better?
ABSOLUTELY.
It would have an immediate positive impact. It would also be a positive impact I felt every day for the next year.
If I got rid of two or three storage bins, I would be able to carve out enough space to make my own little yoga/barre/pilates workout area instead of having to do it in the kitchen/living room.
Having a dedicated private space for that is more valuable to me than hanging on to items I maybe, possibly, could eventually, might again use some day in the future.
This idea excited me so much that I didn't just gift the water shoes.
I ended up posting almost all of our camping gear, multi-day backpacks, duffle bags, skiing equipment, golf clubs, and hiking things on my local Buy Nothing group.
I can't remember the last time we went camping or backpacking, it has to be about 8 years. Scott also switched from skis to a snowboard more than a decade ago, so did we really need to keep his old stuff? He agreed if he ever felt spirited to go skiing, he could just rent some for the day. And golfing? We inherited that set and I don't think it ever left our garage.
It made me so happy to see all our stuff go to people who couldn't wait to use it and/or had an immediate need NOW.
THE BEST RESULT: I now have space to make my own little personal yoga studio.
I love Minimalist Mondays!