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

  12. (1) girl’s regulation official softball bat from (cabinet)

    This is a biggie. Hubby brought it to me so I could count it here. It belonged to his daughter (my stepdaughter) whom we haven’t seen in about 20 years. He’s giving it to the granddaughter of a friend who just started playing ball…all his own idea.

    • Hard: I want to take that broken “Rookie of the Year” trophy out of the trash.

      I decorated 3 Easter eggs with these declutter sayings 2 years ago:
      Let it go – It’s just stuff (don’t know where I got this but it helps me)
      Rejoice in the way things are – Lao Tzu
      Release the past, Cherish who you are now – Marie Kondo

  21. (2) hand showers with hose from (garage)

    I am dropping 2 big bags of stuff at thrift shop today!

    • Oh I’ll take it. I have a flashlight thing after 2 weeks of no electricity with super storm Sandy.

      • You don’t want it. It was a gift to my hubby 10+ years ago. It didn’t work then…and doesn’t work now…never has. It’s gone. I would love to have a great spotlight. We used to go out on our back deck and shine a spotlight in our backyard and the woods behind, and we could see the deer…plus all those little beady eyes of small critters looking back at us. So fun!

  45. (1) insulated flannel jacket from coat rack
    (1) bulletin board from shed
    (1) basket from guest bath

    Also decluttered some expense by changing our auto insurance company, saving about $160 a year.