I’m having an informal Chicago meet-up for dinner/drinks on Monday, July 21st @ 7:00pm — at one of my favorite spots in Lincoln Park! If you would like to attend, please RSVP by emailing me at jess(at)with-intention.com by Sunday, July 20th. : )
With the movers coming in less than two weeks(!), rather than packing, I’ve spent the last week focused on exfoliating items I don’t want to take with me to Austin. Though moving may never be a “simple affair,” having less stuff means less boxes. Less hassle. Less packing time. Less cost. Just less. So, this weekend I did what I always do: I did a Throw Out 100 110+ Things Challenge. To be honest, this is only a portion of the items that I exfoliated this weekend – and it does not include the art or furniture we are also selling (including our dining table, dining chairs, brown vintage living room chairs, black dresser, pink Be Present print, hot pink masking tape art, gold and white floral canvases, and metal counter stools). In addition, many items photographed below represent a larger exfoliation of multiple items. For example, I exfoliated many extra hangers, items of food, pinecones, and cans of paint than photographed. But you can get the idea from the pictures below. Now, let’s chat about how to can create your own 100 Things Challenge.
The Throw Out 100 Things Challenge
Going through our stuff and identifying what we don’t need, use, or love is a lot like giving our home a facial.
Plus, regular exfoliations control clutter and highlight what we don’t want to acquire in the future.
Though the term “throw out” is in the challenge title, I trash as little as possible. Most items are donated, recycled, and passed on to someone new.
I believe that each item as has its own “life cycle” independent of our lives. We are simply the stewards for our items as long as we need, use, or love them. After that time has passed, it is our responsibility to take the items someplace where they can be used and appreciated again.
That said, I’m also a big proponent of the ventilator test: If you suddenly died, and your loved ones had to deal with your stuff, would they toss it out?
If so, don’t keep clutter because you are sad to see it go in the trash. It will go there eventually. Don’t let it stress you out in the meantime.
Simply bring more awareness to future purchases.
Here’s a peek at some of what I exfoliated (mostly donated):
7 THROW OUT 100 THINGS TIPS
If you are thinking about doing your own 100 Things Challenge, here are a few things to keep in mind:
1. Set an intention. No surprise here, right? One great place to start is to create an intention for your wardrobe and home that can help guide your exfoliation choices and shape your environment according to your vision.
2. Try to “batch” items as much as possible. For example, I batched several instruction manuals (#37) and three workout tanks (#92) as single items. Batching really helps you make significant progress.
3. Take photos of emotionally important items. Sometimes we keep items we don’t need, use, or love because they are tied to a memory we are afraid we might forget. Rather than save the item itself, take a photo (or make a video!) and create a memory book so the memory stays and the clutter goes.
4. Box it. If you are unsure about some items, put them in a box and mark it with a date 1-3 months out. If you haven’t thought about or needed the items in the box by the marked date, donate the unopened box.
5. Test travel size products first. When trying new products use samples or purchase mini-sizes first. I did this with some hair products in my last exfoliation which I ended up hating. Because I bought the little sizes first, I saved a bunch of money, product, and packaging.
6. Check your condiments and medicines. A great place to look for exfoliations is to go through your condiments and medicines and find expired items, like the vitamin C mixes in exfoliation #89 and old dog medications in #78.
7. Observe trends. Once you have done one or two 100 Things Challenges, you’ll start to notice trends in the exfoliations. What brands are you consistently throwing away? Why? Let these observations educate your future purchases.
Exfoliations, whether they are challenges like this or smaller routines, like The End of the Week Exfoliation, are a great way to control clutter, bring joy to others, and optimize the use and lifespan of the stuff in our lives.
If you do this challenge and blog about it, please send me a link so I can check it out!
