10 EASY WAYS TO DE-CLUTTER YOUR LIFE

Digitize 

Whether it's old pictures, important mail, documentation or to do lists - having a digital file is less space consuming, more effective and reduces the inevitable counter clutter that appears when we simply have too much paper! You don't have to put your whole life into the digital world but perhaps you have a particular problem area... for example, to do lists, memos or random scraps of paper with important numbers on them. Change this habit and try out one of the many great apps or programmes where you can upload your notes and to do lists. 

Health and Beauty
A particularly prominent space of clutter for many women (and men alike). To start with decide on a space to store your health and beauty items, give them a home and by keeping them in one place you are less likely to start smaller piles all over the home. Take everything out of it's bags, boxes and storage systems and only put back the items you love and use. Discard or donate duplicates, if you tried something and didn't like it pass it onto a friend who may like it. This doesn't mean owning as few health and beauty items as possible, but only owning the things you really love. For me, this means having a very basic skincare collection yet more makeup than the average person, because I enjoy it and it makes me happy.

Digital Clutter
A strange one considering the above, but don't clutter your computer with 'junk' - just keep the important stuff! One of the easiest places to declutter instantly is your digital life, whether that's blurry photographs from your online albums or no longer needed documents saved on your desktop. Try to eliminate any unused programmes and free up some space on your desktop or laptop. For photographs, I try to keep the best of the bunch and get rid of any pointless pictures or duplicates; you can also store them on an external hardrive or a simple USB memory stick for safe keeping.

Hobbies
This doesn't mean throwing away your hobbies but simply only focusing on the hobbies you actually enjoy and take part in regularly. Get rid of the just in case I fancy sitting down for 5 minutes one day kinda hobbies that resulted in impulse purchases to free up time and space to spend on something you really enjoy doing. Regularly look through your hobby related belongings (i.e craft supplie, equipment etc) and if there is something you are not using or that you no longer need simply donate, sell or trash it! If you're too concerned about the money you spent on your new exciting hobby that never actually happened (that new bike collecting dust?), then pass it on to someone who would use it or sell it.

Junk Drawer/s
Everyone has one (or in my case, 4) yet these are the easiest places to declutter. I can almost garantee that at least 75% of the drawer is immediate trash; I'm talking used batteries, wrappers, keys for locks that no longer exist, broken headphones and an emergency supply of headache tablets from 5 years ago. If you can, eliminate the junk drawer all together - everything you need has a home. For essential 'junk' like a notepad, a pen, important letters etc that find themselves living in your junk drawer give them a nominated home where you can see them - this way they are less likely to 'pile up'.

Fridge/Freezer/Pantry
Take the time to go through every item in your fridge, freezer, cupboards and pantry. Discard any out of date or unusable food items and insure that everything has a place. If there are foods that are suitable for donation (e.g new foods you didn't like but purchased 10) then donate them to a local food bank or even a neighbour!

Wardrobe
Again, a very simple area to immediately declutter and one that you can enjoy straight after! Get into the mindset of only keeping the things you love to wear, there's no need to jump from an overcrowded closet/wardrobe space for 4 to a capsule wardrobe but let go of the items that no longer fit, make you uncomfortable, don't suit you, are broken or unwearable. Letting go of these items alone can make a drastic difference. If, after that you are still seeking more space and less clothing then try and pair it down to the basics. Find your colour palette, your style and your preference and only keep clothes that fit those criteria.

Bathroom
Quite simply, do you really need 7 half full bottles of shower gel, 4 different shampoos and five conditioners? No. Find products you like and use, stick to them and stop wasting money trying out the latest 'deals' in the stores. Finish using up any products you have, or if you don't like them put them in the trash - then only buy what you need, along with perhaps one reserve bottle of your favourite products. Sort through unused, old or no longer needed linen and towels and keep the bathroom cabinet contents to a minimum.

Under bed storage
Ask yourself a question, when was the last time you dug through the boxes under your bed to actually use something? If the answer was in the past 3-6 months then by all means - keep it. If like me, you failed to even answer with a time zone then bin it. Under the bed storage is often full of 'just in case' items, be realistic, if you don't use it stop allowing it to be clutter in your life.

Emails 
If you're someone who never has less than 204 emails in their inbox, it's time to change. Mark any necessary items as junk automatically to avoid clogging up your important emails. Regularly delete any unwanted or old emails, or move them to a separate folder for a set amount of time. Delete or unsubscribe from any newsletters that you just don't read, or mailing lists that tempt you with offers and purchases. Logging in to find an inbox with just a couple of new emails will make your mornings less stressful and more efficient.

Note to self: must decide between consumerism and minimalism

It's been a while since my last update, honestly I feel like I've lost my 'minimalist mojo' somewhere along the way in the last 2 months or so. There's been a lot of change in my day to day routines with a new job and a new schedule. Already I find myself accumulating 'stuff', unnecessary stuff that has no meaning and has instantly cluttered my mind and space.

A new job has bought the intense feeling of 'needing' new things. I use the term 'need' loosely of course, I realistically do not need any more items of clothing and I could of course make do with the pieces I have. The extra income has lead to a little bit of purchasing for the sake of it, which I'm trying to curb too.

So what am I going to do? Over the next few weeks I'm going to sift through all of my clothing which is currently 6 drawers, 1 rail and a washing basket full and try to eliminate the pieces I don't wear because I don't like/they don't fit/they're not appropriate/not my style. I am aiming for a monochrome grey, white and black majority with a subtle hint of colour with a few patterned pieces to brighten things up a little. I enjoy being able to wear 'everyday' outfits both in and out of the office and given my smart/casual dress code at work achieving a multi-use wardrobe should be possible.

I've noticed a lack of the following items which I feel would be staples:
- a small black handbag
- a grey dress
- a pair of black sandals

And so, the purging begins...

THE MINIMALIST GAME day 10-19 #MINSGAME

Following on from my first post about the minimalism game (see here) where I shared 45 items I removed from my life, today's post is consisting of days 10 to 19 of this wonderful challenge. It's been almost invigorating to look through my possessions and see which ones I can say goodbye too. It's been easier than I thought - however something tells me the remaining 11 days will be a little more difficult given that each day you clear out the given number of items.

So, onto days 10 through to 19:

Day 10 - two concealers, three perfume samples, one foundation, two primers, 2 eye shadows (slowly but surely streamlining my beauty products).

Day 11 - one eyeshadow, four eyeliners, 1 concealer, five lip crayons (see, told you I was streamlining).

Day 12 - nine lipsticks, two lip glosses and one lip liner (seriously streamlining).

Day 13 - seven lip balms, two lipsticks, a can of hair mousse, a Sim card pack, some old stamps and a yellow sharpie pen (when will I ever need a yellow permanent marker?)

Day 14 - a shisha pen, two cutlery trays, one can of hairspray, four DVDs, a stack of old receipts, a novelty pen, a makeup bag, one aerosol deodorant, a clutch bag and one pair of earrings (I don't even have my ears pierced)..

Day 15 - fourteen DVDs and one pair of sunglasses (I have one pair of eyes, why do I need several pairs).

Day 16 - ten old store loyalty cards (bye bye temptation to spend and treat myself), one small purse, one coaster, two old cards, one silver charm and one glasses case

Day 17 - seven purse wallets, one canvas, a necklace holder, one bracelet, a purse, two unused cards, one perfume bottle, a book, hairspray (I have never purchased hairspray yet accumulated so many bottles) and a makeup case.

Day 18 - a stack of old statements, two old batteries, one accessory, two greeting cards, a name badge (from a job I hated), an ipad box, an empty gift box, three more dead batteries (which I apparently felt the need to hold on to), a card adapter, a phone box, old headphones, a USB lead and two old ID cards.

Day 19 - a camera case, one old mp3 player, two acrylic boxes, one old mobile phone (do I really need a spare? no, I need the cash), one old phone box, a book, two coupons, three creams, a storage tin, four packing boxes and two rolls of wrapping paper.

running total of - 190 items

wow, that's a lot of crap.

THE MINIMALISM GAME #MINSGAME day 1 - 9

The minimalism game is a common starting point for minimalists (or so I've assumed after reading many blogs) so I thought it was only right to see what the #minsgame was about. Essentially, it's a decluttering game with a partner, or several partners. Unfortunately, I'll be taking part in this on my own - unless anyone stumbling across this blog would like to do the same, in which case tweet me @MinimalismMission

How does the game work?

Easy. On day one, you get rid of one item. Day two, two items. Day fourteen, fourteen items and so on and so forth. Sounds easy enough, but I'm guessing I'll struggle into the twenties!

So here we go for days 1 - 9:

Day 1 -  one pack of Hair extensions (I'll never wear them)

Day 2 - two glass candle holders (they were my grandmothers, but they collect dust I'd rather them be loved)

Day 3 - three photo frames (that I never got around to putting on the wall, and probably never will)

Day 4 - one cd, one old book, an old sim card and one pair of scissors (who needs several scissors/scissi? what's the plural here?)

Day 5 - one bag of fabric cut offs (why on earth did I ever keep them?), one kids game, a nail file, a nail polish and a white board.

Day 6 - four old cd's (now living on my computer), one watch and a jewellery dish.

Day 7 - a mechanical pencil (I don't even have lead), three coasters, an empty candle jar and two keyrings.

Day 8 - one deodarant stick (who needs two?), a roll of tape, three bracelets, a trinket box, a necklace and one set of storage tins,

Day 9 - an extra large gift bag (that I'll never reuse), one pair of flip flops, one storage box, one decorative sign, one decorative wooden box, one half-used candle, a laptop bag (that I haven't used since university 2 years ago), a small photo frame and a necklace.

running total: 45 items

MINIMALISM & GIFT GIVING (+5 fool-proof gift ideas)

Gift giving is a strange thing, a sort of social obligation and once you're in the cycle of gift giving - it's difficult to get out. I mean, of course you could out rightly say that you're not celebrating birthdays, Christmas or any kind of holidays throughout the year, but if like me you have always been a gift-giver and come from a family of gift-givers, then that's not really a valid option if you want to continue with showing appreciation through gifts.

As a regular gift giver nothing gives me more delight than choosing a specific present for a special person and seeing their reaction when they open it, it's just that there are other ways to show people you appreciate them without offering material goods. My family are all huge gift givers, not in an extravagant sense but in a thoughtful and sometimes overwhelming sense. With some months containing several birthdays, and all family members being of equal importance to me - it can get expensive and the more birthdays they celebrate, the harder it is to find a gift they haven't already received.

After reading a few articles about minimalism and gift giving, along with watching a few youtube videos I've decided on a new approach to birthday gifts throughout 2015. Gift-giving doesn't have to be monetary or material, there are other options and options that I plan on using throughout this year. So here are a few ideas I'm currently playing with for some upcoming birthdays:

Time Together - a day out doing something they enjoy, a spontaneous road trip or even just time spent together at home with no distractions and your full attention (put those phones away).

Relief of Duty - gift a night of babysitting to family or friends with little ones, they are sure to appreciate a night of freedom

Food & Drink - take your loved one out to lunch or dinner or even for a few drinks, this type of gift can be enjoyed by both parties.

A Home-cooked Meal - give someone a night off from cooking, find out their favourites foods and treat them to a home-cooked sit down meal to enjoy on their birthday

Experiences - instead of purchasing a physical gift such as books, dvds, cds etc why not purchase tickets. Tickets to see their favourite act, meet their favourite author or even movie tickets. Gifting this way gives them an experience rather than another material belonging to add to their collection.

DEBT

[source:pinterest]

It's currently New Years Eve, 17 minutes before the beginning of 2015 and I'm sat in my bedroom, alone (not in a depressing sense, I just don't celebrate New Years, nor does my family) staring at this screen, surrounded by 'new clutter' that christmas presented; boxes, gift bags, cups, gifts. I feel determined to change one major thing in 2015, and that is my debt.

During this 'journey' into discovering minimalism, I've come to the realisation that I can not avoid my debt; and at 23 years old that's not a heart-warming thing to admit. I mean, c'mon ...why do I even have debt? Besides my university student loan, there is no logical or legitimate reason that I should find myself in £1400 of debt. I have always lived at home, rent-free and realistic monthly expenses including a phone bill, transport (occasionally) and food. So why am I in so much debt?

I can tell you exactly why I have this debt, the answer is consumerism. My desire to have new trainers, new clothes, another lipstick or expensive candle and conform to trends. My desire to always buy the best gifts for my family and friends, even when I couldn't afford it. My desire to say yes to invitations to eat and drink out even when I have no physical bank balance. My desire to just add things to my basket for the sake of it, or 'just in case'.

Along with clearing out the physical clutter, I aim to clear this debt in any way I can. Making a conscious decision to tackle this debt head on is a bit scary, I feel a sense of guilt about racking up this debt, I feel foolish and I feel crappy that I have this figure weighing me down, always in the back of my mind. That's going to change. I'm not sure how, or when or how long it will take me but I'm sincerely hoping the journey of minimalism will help me to figure this out. I know for sure that I won't be buying impulse purchases, I am aiming for key pieces of clothing - only if I need them. Other purchases or expenses will be made only when I consider them to add value to my life.

I think that's the one thing I've really loved taking from 'minimalism' ..... the one question I ask all the time when considering buying, throwing, or keeping an item ... 'Does this/will this add value to my life?' I know for certain that debt, does not add value to my life in any way, shape or form. It has to go.

THE INITIAL PURGE

When I first embarked on my mission for minimalism and simple living, I had no idea where to even start. I'm what society would call a typical consumer; I earned money to spend it, every penny and more was squandered on material belongings. I am lured in frequently by giant sale signs and end of aisle offers in the supermarkets. I buy multiple items and I'm an impulse shopper. Earlier on in the year when my full time, poorly paid admin wage came to a halt I soon realised just how little 'disposable income' I actually had. Substituted by the beginnings of freelance work and selling some items, I managed to maintain my lifestyle - with a little less on the buying front. However, even months down the line I still spent more than I earned, which is where my interest in minimalism began. How could I spend less? What could I do to break the spending cycle? How could I move away from being a typical consumer? 

Of course, the first step was to begin the initial purge of belongings. I needed to decide which items I loved, which items I needed and which items I thought I needed along with getting shot of all of the items I definitely didn't need and didn't want! Surprisingly this seemed to good to be true, I didn't feel the attachment many have spoke about when it comes to material possessions so it took next to no time to fill up bags and bags of 'stuff'. This 'stuff' is going to make it's journey to donation, sale or trash. 

After the 'intial purge' I had a pile of stuff ready to be donated (that I am continually adding to), alongside a 'to sell pile' which resulted in 'list items on ebay' being at the top of my to do list for several weeks. Do you know what? I donated those items too - having that task at my to do list an never ever getting around to actually doing it became a stressor, something that constantly annoyed me so I decided to end it and just donate the stuff. Now it's out of my space and out of my mind.  

WHY I CHOSE MINIMALISM

When I mention the word minimalism to people in my 'real life', I'm met with somewhat of a confused and slightly judgmental look. Maybe they just don't quite understand the whole living with less kinda thing. I come from a family who are by no means materialistic and constantly strive to own better things, but between us we own a lot. Money has never been abundant, yet spending and owning 'things' has always been a lifestyle for my family, it's just the way it is. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it, I have no desire to 'convert' any other members of my family to my new way of thinking, but I certainly want to change my own habits/lifestyle. 

So why minimalism? How did I stumble upon this whole new way of life? I actually found myself watching a youtube video, a Ted Talks 'minimalism' speech from Angela Horn (here's the video for those interested) ... this video impacted me instantly. The words spoken, the issues addressed and the notion that the less you own, the more you have just stuck a chord with me. Angela spoke about her parents' house being filled with boxes inside boxes, piles of new towels just waiting to be used - and why? I didn't know the answer, but I knew that I too had things stored in a 'safe place' just waiting to be used, a stock pile of products unused, clothes for special occasions that never came and insignificant momentos which right now, I can't even remember. 

The video I watched that day, led to me searching the web for minimalism, which is quite a common story among other minimalist blogs I have read. I can safely assume that a large percentage of minimalists discovered the lifestyle in a similar way ... video/social media, google, questionning the minimalist way and feeling intrigued. That's certainly what happened to me. 

After this almost instant inspiration from Angela Horn's video, I began to read more minimalism blogs and watch more videos for inspirations on how to even go about beginning this journey. I soon set off with the mission to get rid of the crap in my life, whether it was physical crap or mental crap that was cluttering my life. I discovered belongings I didn't even recognise and continued to sift through the piles of clothes, makeup and other material posessions in my bedroom - eager to discover the next thing I could throw away. It felt refreshing and I liked it - you can read about my 'initial purge' here, and I've also documented my 'project 333' here. 

And so the journey began ... 

'PROJECT 333'

Additional items: 

Item 26 - small black satchel handbag 

Item 27 - 3/4 sleeve patterned long top 
Item 28 - Navy Gap Jumper 
Item 29 - Faux leather slip ons 
Item 30 - ?
Item 31 - ?
Item 32 - ?
Item 33 - ? 

When I first came across minimalism and the idea of simple living and living with less, I immediately found myself wondering how on earth people could 'cope' with having a small wardrobe or a limited selection of clothes. Then it hit me; last year I threw away my wardrobe (physically) and downsized to two chest of drawers from Ikea, of course. So, in theory I don't own that many clothes and come to think of it I stick to the same outfits 95% of the time. So how are all 6 drawers over flowing along with a revolving 'chairdrobe' and a never ending pile of laundry?

When searching for minimalism advice and tips if you will, I stumbled across something known only as 'Project 333' - the idea is quite simple really. For 3 months you choose only 33 items to form your 'capsule wardrobe'. I'll be the first to admit, I am in no sense of the word 'fashionable' I'm a firm believer in comfort over fashion and I will always opt for a laid back, comfy style of clothing rather than a pretty dress.

If we consider how dubious I was of living life with less clothing, I now seem like somewhat of a a fool... I couldn't even find 33 season appropriate items I liked! Turns out this would be easier than I had imagined. Of course, basics such as underwear, everyday jewellery (my silver ring and bracelet that I never take off), pyjamas and lounge wear don't count in your 33 items - but everything else, including the shoes, coats and accessories count towards your Project 333.

As you can see my colour palette is very plain, I enjoy monochrome and grey and I'm perfectly okay with having a relatively colour-less wardrobe - as these are the clothes I love and feel comfortable in. I've opted for plain, mix and match items that are comfortable, warm and suitable for autumn/winter here in the UK. So even with 3 styles of jean, 3 leggings, a coat, 3 styles of shoes, a few t-shirts and scarves I've found myself 6 items short of the 33 items suggested. I imagine I'll discover another couple items I really do love wearing this time of year and I've saved room for a Christmas outfit or something special for a rare night out. But for now, these items are my wardrobe until January and I must say - getting dressed in the mornings is SO much easier having only 2 of my 6 drawers to choose from. 

If you're interested in embarking on your own Project 333 you can find all of the background info and 'rules' here