365 Less Things

Reducing our stuff one day at a time.

Declutter With Friends: Let the games begin! Part 2

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The following post was published previously however it has reached it’s comment capacity. As there are still readers who are enjoying participating Nicole has come up with solution of republishing it so the game can continue. Maybe reposting will also entice a few more players. Enjoy!

A guest post by: Nicole V

Do you know the word game in which a player begins with a word in a particular category (countries or cities, for instance), with subsequent players taking turns to say a new word that begins with the final letter of the previous word? Once a word has been given, it cannot be repeated and any player who is unable to come up with a word is out of the game. It is usually referred to as the ‘Last and First’, ‘Last Letter Game’ or ‘Last Letter Word Chain’ although I’m sure there must be other names for it. Well, I was thinking that it might be fun for us 365ers to try out something similar while decluttering, but I wanted to make it a more challenging game, one involving quick thinking and action and one in which anyone can come in at any time and make a quick play in real-time. I decided to throw down the decluttering gauntlet and wait to see who is the fastest 365er to take up the challenge. Here’s what I came up with:

1. I begin by decluttering three forks from a drawer.

2. Whoever is fast enough then continues the game by quickly thinking of and finding an item to declutter from any one category – either number or item or place – to play in. This could be eitherthree items (but not forks) or an item beginning with the letter ‘k’ or ‘s’ (the second last or last letter of forks*) or any number of anything (that is not a fork) from any drawer. If you select the number category, you have to declutter identical items. So, if Colleen is the quickest player who is able to continue the game, she could then either declutter three bowls or one (or any number) kettle orspoon or a non-fork item from any drawer in her home. She will then update the rest of us in the online comment thread.

*In the case of plural nouns, you can use either the last or second last letter of the word to continue under the item category – in the case of the forks, this would mean that the next item can begin with the letter ‘s’ or ‘k’. Thank you, Colleen, for your input regarding this.

3. The game continues with any 365er who is quick to identify something to declutter and comment about. There is no need for the item to leave your home immediately, you just need to identify it and earmark it for decluttering (whether you donate, recycle, shred, etc) as soon as possible. But you have to be quick on the draw as the categories will keep changing depending on how fast another 365er declutters something and updates the rest of us about it. If another 365er has read the latest update and quickly decluttered something and updated the online comment thread before you were able to list your item, you’ll have to either:

(a) Recategorize your item under one of the other two categories, if possible, or

(b) Keep that item and jump in on another round or

(c) Quickly look for another suitable item that relates to the current round and play it before someone else does.

4. To keep it interesting, items cannot be repeated in consecutive turns – if someone declutters shoes, the next person cannot declutter shoes as well (and must find another item that begins with the letter ‘e’ or ‘s’) but the person after that can. The number of items decluttered and the place or room that the item was decluttered from can, of course, be repeated in consecutive turns.

5. Be as creative and imaginative as you can possibly be (or get away with!) regarding the categories and have fun!

So, with apologies to Effie Trinket, all that’s left is for me to say: “Happy Decluttering Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!”

Comments

  4. 1 (s)hirt from closet
    3 blouses from (closet)
    5 belts from (closet)

    I have new motivation!!!!! …because I had a revelation. It’s not an epiphany because I already knew it…but not this deeply. I was about half awake a couple of mornings ago…very cozy and comfy…yet with a feeling of excitement…thinking about lots of things. Then…I could see so clearly how the accumulation of clutter starts from the very beginning of life. For some people it never ends. But I could see, being near the end of life (that’s me, 73), still having all that clutter…and you NEVER would have the time or freedom to do the things you love…and just HAVE FUN. Because, after all, “girls just wanta have fun!” What a miserable way to spend your last years! So, when I went into my closet to pull something out to wear, I thought, “Whoa, if I were to die today, would I want to be wearing this?” Now, that’s a good question for me to ask myself when I’m decluttering clothes.

    • Wow! I don’t know how I did that. I was at the right place, I refreshed and then keyed in my comment. Nicole, I guess in the meantime you commented. Who’s gonna get me? Pat said no guilt…lol.

      • Wow Deanna! You said a lot of good stuff! Love the “If I were to die today, would I want to be wearing this?”
        I tried to accumulate stuff in my parents attic growing up but they always pestered me so I have always been letting go..
        I’m 55 by the way. Action makes you feel better.

  5. 2 (s)ecurity alarms from garage
    1 bath mat from (garage)
    (1) water bag from table
    (1) mini van from street
    2 (n)ail polishes from drawer

  6. (2) tees from closet

    Wow, you’re on a roll, Pat! I especially liked the “1 mini van from street” declutter. It’s not something you often come across.

    Deanna, now that’s a decluttering question I’ve never heard before … a prime candidate for Colleen’s list.

  16. (1) shower curtain from bathroom
    (12) shower curtain hooks from (bathroom)
    1 shower rod from (bathroom)

    New glass shower door installed today – looks great!

  17. (1) free frozen turkey from refrigerator (to annual Thanksgiving food drive – USA tradition at this time of year)
    (1) bag of freebies from food drive (forgot to say “No thanks!”)

  18. (1) fire extinguisher from garage
    5 lego racing cars from (garage)
    (5) lego manuals from file cabinet (nephew & niece will be so happy!)

    I must hit the books now and study for exam on Monday.

  19. (1) metal waterproof can from hubby’s hobby room

    Feeling better. Out of a-fib and blood pressure under control. I’ll be out of pocket most of this upcoming week. Hope you both have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Pat, you have been on fire. I’m gonna have to fight the battle of getting back in the groove. Y’all are doing great!

    • I’m happy to hear you’re feeling better, Deanna.

      Take things easy regarding the decluttering and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

  21. (1) bottle of wine from closet

    Happy Thanksgiving from Long Island! I am grateful for my Declutter with Friends Deanna, Nicole and Colleen. Stay strong and healthy Deanna.

  27. 1 expired Rx from bathroom cabinet

    We had a great Thanksgiving! Hope everyone else did too.

  37. Hi Nichole – Where are you from? Outside of USA? Deanna is from Arkansas. I am from New York. Do you have kids?

  39. Wow, Nicole. I had to look that up. I assumed you were in the U.S. I don’t have children either.

    Pat, you’ve really been on fire lately. Nicole, you’ve been just as steady as always. I’ve been working for the last 3-4 days, probably 3-6 hours a day, cleaning up and organizing my email Inbox…kind of embarrassing. I knew it had gotten away from me, but…wow! I’m so far behind on reading the things I enjoy online. I deleted many…many…and made additional files and organized the rest. Hope I can get down to reading now. This is a huge declutter, but I don’t have numbers, etc…so I’m just entering it as a comment. And that is just my Inbox…I have lots more files.

    • I had to look up too – Adelaide is a city in South Australia. My first friend outside of the U.S.
      Nichole is on the complete opposite side of the world from us.
      Adelaide is 34 degrees south of equator, Long Island is 40 degrees north, Arkansas is 35 degrees north.
      Nichole is 16 hours(939 miles/1511 km) from Colleen – Have you guys met?
      Pat is 20 hours(1,277 miles / 2055 km) from Deanna.
      Nichole has Summer when we have Winter. Nichole is awake when we sleep. So cool!
      Lots of interesting facts. Let the games continue!

      • LOL, Pat – I loved your fact-finding mission! I’m honoured to be your first friend outside of the U.S. I absolutely love NYC – I was there some years ago (but didn’t get a chance to visit Long Island) and didn’t want to leave!

    • That’s a lot of work, Deanna! You really should record it – maybe something along the lines of:

      4 days’ worth of deleted messages from Inbox
      or
      24 hours’ worth of deleted messages from Inbox

  42. 4 (d)ays’ worth of deleted messages from Inbox

    Good idea, Nicole!
    Pat, I loved your fact-finding mission too!

  44. (4) bad string of lights from living room

    Usually I repair bad bulbs but there are too many this time. Weren’t they working last year???

  46. (4) stacks of Easter/Thanksgiving plates napkins cups from under-the-stairs storage shelves.
    1 used sippy cup from same (shelf).