Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
The things we do usually require stuff. So this week we shall declutter items that relate to the things we do. Or maybe more to the point items we once used for the things we do, or did, but now just sitting around cluttering up our space.
Monday – Declutter something you use for cooking.
Tuesday – Declutter a sporting or recreation item.
Wednesday – Declutter something you clothe yourself in.
Thursday – Declutter something related to your beauty routine.
Friday – Declutter a hobby item.
Saturday – Declutter something related to your work.
Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Mon-cooking
Small glass bowl
Tuesday-sporting/recreation
Flashlight
Wed- clothe
Will have to give some thought to this one
Thu-beauty routine
10 disposable razors & bars of soap to homeless shelter
Fri-hobby
Pack of lunch paper bags that I bought to stamp on
Sat-work
When I worked carried my lunch. Haven’t worked for over 4 years, so my insulated lunch bag goes.
Another great week of missions Colleen!
I do enjoy the Monday Mini-Missions Colleen. I am in the process of making all the birthday and anniversary cards for 2017. As I am working those items I don’t use in a pack of embellishments I put aside for giving away. That takes card of Friday as I will be done by then. I have something for each category as I am learning what I can and cannot use here in my new place.
Mon–Two containers I was finally able to empty.
Tues–big flashlight
Wed–pair of shorts, two pair of slacks that are too big
Thurs–tossed a mostly used bar of soap that was dry and cracked.
Fri–embellishments
Sat–some old files I was able to take pertinent info from and then get rid of the rest.
Hi Deb, I should do my cards for 2017 too. I have been so bad this year at sending cards, which is ironic since I make and sell them. Maybe that can be my new years resolution ~ to do better next year. And as you so nicely point out, it is just another way to declutter craft supplies.
I find these bits of time when I can work on them and I do. I now have them all done. All the Christmas ones too. And in some special cases, I have cards made for the next few years. Now I can relax.
Today’s is done. A shot glass. Used to be a measuring glass but the paint all came off so now it’s a shot glass. I’ve replaced it (with a more durable one!) but it was still hanging around.
I shall look for tomorrow’s tomorrow. One day at a time seems about my speed this week!
Hi Colleen, I’ve been a faithful reader since the start of your blog, and now have discarded 2169 items or bags of small stuff!
I have started reading through all your posts and the comments from the beginning and am really enjoying this, and getting a lot out of it.
It occurred to me that with that amount of stuff gone my house should be empty! It’s not though … So what’s happening? Light bulb moment, yes I have been buying more stuff! Wow! Not much, and mostly from the op shop, and only what I really LOVE, but still…
So I’ve started a little list of what I buy that isn’t necessary, (all that’s on it so far is 25 Oct one glass vase $3) and am trying to be “purchase free” for as long as possible. Also although I regularly visit the op shop to donate, I no longer “have a look round”! I don’t want what I don’t know is there! I know it’s all obvious but the thought of breaking my no purchase run is enough for me to stop and say no!
Yesterday I was able to donate seven necklaces and a bracelet. Several of these used to have great sentimental value, but I never wore them any more so I was able to say goodbye with only a small pang!
Thanks for your blog, I know I don’t often comment, but I love it!
Hi Janetta, isn’t it funny how we miss the simple fact that bring stuff in will only replace what we already got rid of. Although I still buy things, mostly secondhand like you, I am pretty vigilant about getting rid of something at the same time. However, like you, my home is not as uncluttered as I would like either. Mostly that is not up to me though because it is not my stuff. I am not the least bit sentimental about stuff and there are a lot of things I would get rid of from my home were it up to me. Also, because we moved to a smaller place it is bound to feel at least a little cluttered even though we decluttered enough to fit into a smaller space. I will continue to be vigilant and find extra stuff that I can happily do without. And that list becomes bigger and bigger simply because I can be pretty ruthless if it means opening up space around me. Good luck to you on your continuing decluttering journey.
Thanks Colleen, much the same here: lots of stuff that I would like to see gone, but not mine! Baby steps!
I have found this weekly newsletter to be just perfect for me to use as a guide. Thank you ever so much.
Hi Colleen,
I’m still mostly doing use it up challenges since most of mine and my husbands stuff is in pretty good order. The shower & tub area is looking better and the linen closet and under the bathroom sink look pretty good (not new, but with empty spaces). We are down to only the current shampoo!
My daughter & her kids things on the back porch and in the shed are still overwhelming to me… but at least it is all organized. We plan to give her a month to get it all out once she moves. That should be some time after December of 2017, when she hopefully passes her nursing tests, so at least another year and maybe a couple of months from now. They have already been here 2.5 years!
For the use it up challenges, I have found a sponge I like for dishes (we don’t have a dishwasher): “Peachy Clean”. I have one new but have decided to use up my stash of “less than” sponges before using my favorite.
I went through my task pile that I keep on a corner of my big file cabinet. It has things like paperwork I got from a company I didn’t recognize, regarding privacy policy. I looked them up and think they bought a company I have a policy with. I also have items related to getting a passport and to maintaining certification in my profession. These are things where I am either waiting for something or I need to take another step. Today I looked up what is the first step to getting my passport. I also emailed the guy who gave us CPR training, letting him know I didn’t get a card yet. I need that to renew my national certification in massage.
I have mostly kept up with the shredding too. So all that I feel I have control over is doing well for now 🙂