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Post by BetsyMarie on Jan 26, 2023 20:25:38 GMT -5
Hi all, to keep the work going into 2023, I'm going to use mini challenges. Not too small, not too large, but Goldilocks right in order to keep the decluttering ball rolling. These challenges or commitments will be variable, probably intermittent, flexible, feasible, but Not grueling. In other words, there aren't rigid rules - except being kind to oneself.  My first challenge fits in with the ending of this month. There are 5 days till the end of January, starting tomorrow, so my plan is to spend just 5 minutes a day working in The Sunroom (it has lots of windows) till the end of the month. I've been more or less avoiding this room for a long time. There are lots of little things in there. I hope to work longer each day, but I know I can do 5 minutes for the next 5 days. Motivation Follows Action. Please feel free to join in with your own mini challenge of any sort.  edit: title changed - added 2023 |
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Post by catcats on Jan 27, 2023 0:35:11 GMT -5
Hi, Betsy Marie ! I will do 5 minute challenges too ! I will try to file things in my filing cabinet, bottom drawer for 5 minutes each day.
catcats
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Post by def6 on Jan 27, 2023 8:20:47 GMT -5
I am all about this challenge BetsyMarie . I am going to hit hard the hall closet because it is stuffed so full that you can't even hang 1 garment up with ease, without breaking a hanger, and without wrinkling it to death. It's just gonna be me, a tall kitchen bag and I'm gonna work for five minutes. I've already done this in my closet and I got a great sense of accomplishment when I delivered the contents to donate. I hope I can quickly determine what needs to go ...a skill I have tried so hard to obtain. |
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Post by BetsyMarie on Jan 27, 2023 11:01:21 GMT -5
Welcome to the thread, ladies and lurkers. Nice to be getting things done early in the year.
My morning appointment just got cancelled, so I've decided to add another mini challenge to the day. Why not? When it gets warmer outside, I'm going to cover a small piece of ground with cardboard and put mulch over it. Shouldn't take more than 10 minutes - I've been thinking about needing to do it for several days. But just thinking about it won't get it done.
edit: Got this one done. It was sunny and warm outside, and it was good to feel the sun. It took about a half hour and looks nice. More to do out there, but that is another task.
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Post by catcats on Jan 27, 2023 23:42:37 GMT -5
Hi ! I did the filing, and then went through a folder, decluttered it, and shredded the unneeded things in it. So I did more than I thought I would. I am pleased. I'll do 5 minutes tomorrow.
catcats
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Post by Ally on Jan 28, 2023 9:37:25 GMT -5
Five minutes sounds so doable! I am part of 2 other challenges My employer has a wellness app which contains a 2 week decluttering challenge... the goal is to declutter for 10 minutes per day over a 14 day period (140 minutes over two weeks.) I've done about half of that. The challenge ends on Monday, so I want to try to get several sessions in this weekend. The Uncluttered course... The assignment for this week is to look around my house observe the state of things and then fill a trash bag with stuff to discard. This is supposed to take about an hour total. My not so mini challenge will last 3 days. I do want to complete both of the above goals simultaneously. so I want to do several 5 or 10 minute sessions today, tomorrow and Monday.  = 5 minutes decluttering Saturday: Sunday:  Monday: Hopefully I'm not biting off more than I can chew.  I may use the dice game to help me get moving.  |
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Post by catcats on Jan 28, 2023 12:23:27 GMT -5
Just did the 5 minute filing for about 15 minutes. Thanks for this thread !
catcats
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Post by BetsyMarie on Jan 30, 2023 13:20:47 GMT -5
I love 5 minute challenges. When I was first working on serious decluttering, when 'better organizing' simply did not work for all my stuff - when this large house was literally packed and only navigable with goat paths, I was totally overwhelmed and did not know what to do. At the time, even considering doing '15 minutes' was way too much for me to consider doing. But I could do 5 minutes 'with an invitation to do more if I wanted', and that worked. That, for me, was the first usable tool. And years later, I still use it, plus others. I still have today and tomorrow on my current mini challenge of 5 minutes for 5 days in the 'sunroom'. I'm doing more than 5 minutes each day, and making good progress, but will not be finished with the room. But I've now got foot-holds and direction. I now have usable space to work in there too. I hope everyone is accomplishing things. |
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Post by catcats on Jan 30, 2023 16:54:38 GMT -5
I have been doing 5 minutes and more, doing filing cabinet filing. Not today though. I still think I will do it later.
catcats
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Post by Ally on Jan 30, 2023 20:40:21 GMT -5
Thanks BetsyMarie for the mini challenges. It really helps to break big projects into smaller ones. |
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Post by def6 on Jan 31, 2023 12:32:54 GMT -5
Thank you and Congrats to everyone! I just got back from donating a very full, tall kitchen bag of clothing from the hall closet.  |
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Post by catcats on Jan 31, 2023 20:52:43 GMT -5
Well, I did the 5 minutes in the filing cabinet. Then I did ~ 4 hours more on it and am almost finished ! Feels so good !
catcats
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Post by BetsyMarie on Feb 1, 2023 8:59:47 GMT -5
It's been fun re-reading the entire thread to see how much everyone is accomplishing. Good going! My own mini challenge was successful, though the entire task (the sunroom) was not completed, though that was not the challenge - that was to get started in there. To break the gridlock. And now the room is not so scary.  The 5 days might have been a bit too long however, since the last two days I only put in the minimum of 5 minutes. Shrug. But that is OK. It and me are in a much better place. My next mini challenge is to wash 3 buckets that have been on the list for a couple weeks. I'll give myself 3 days to accomplish that. It is outside, so I want a bit of warmth. Hopefully later today (It's supposed to be sunny.) |
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Post by BetsyMarie on Feb 2, 2023 10:09:51 GMT -5
My next mini challenge is to wash 3 buckets that have been on the list for a couple weeks. I'll give myself 3 days to accomplish that. It is outside, so I want a bit of warmth. Hopefully later today (It's supposed to be sunny.) I've decided to cancel this challenge. It may be warm enough to go outside, but not work with water. Not very appealing. So the next mini challenge is to work on the mystery boxes on the floor in the corner of the living room. There are about 4 of them, and not that large. 5 minutes of work for 2 of the next 3 days, including today. edit: Got this challenge completed pretty quickly. The boxes were easy to go through. That area is so much easier on the eye that they are gone!
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Post by def6 on Feb 7, 2023 8:29:19 GMT -5
This happens to me catcats Sometimes when I start, I just can't stop Hurray for working 4 hours on your filing cabinet!  Congrats BetsyMarie on demystifying the mystery boxes! |
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