Spring Fling: 5 Boxes in 5 Days
Spring has sprung and that always motivates me to clean, organize, and get rid of stuff. Please join me in my annual Spring Fling: 5 Boxes in 5 Days. The challenge, if you wish to accept it, is to get rid of 5 boxes of stuff in 5 days. You can use any size box, bag, or bin. It’s acceptable to get rid of the easy stuff that hasn’t been used in eons, or you may want to push yourself a bit. It’s up to you. It will be helpful to establish some keep criteria and if an item falls within that criteria allow yourself to hold onto it, use it, and cherish it. It will also be helpful to ask questions about the items as you consider their usefulness and value. I’ve listed some questions for each day to inspire you. Good luck with your spring fling!
Day one = clothes and shoes
- Do you feel great when you wear it? If not, how do you feel when you wear it?
- Do you love it on the hanger but hate it on your body?
- Does it fit your current lifestyle and wardrobe needs?
- How many times has it been worn in the past 3 years?
- Is it more than one size too big or too small?
- How old, outdated and unflattering is it?
- Is it always your last choice?
Day two = kitchen items
- When was the last time you used it?
- How much dust does it have on it?
- Is it still in it’s original box?
- Is it taking up too much valuable kitchen space?
- Does it only serve one specific purpose?
- Is it broken, damaged, or missing parts, and you’re not going to fix it within 3 months?
- Do you have a newer model or version that is currently being used?
Day three = books and magazines
- Have you read it? If not will you read it within the next 3 months?
- Is it still of interest to you? Do you want to read it?
- If you have read it, do you plan on re-reading it? When?
- How much time do you allow yourself to read each day?
- How many other books or magazines do you have on the same subject?
Day four = electronics
- How many times has it been used in the past year?
- Do you have a newer model or version that is currently being used?
- Is it broken, damaged, or missing parts, and you’re not going to fix it within 3 months?
- Is the adapter or cord missing?
- Are you only holding onto it because you want to remove photos or personal information?
- Are you unsure of how to dispose of it? (ASK ME!)
Day five = knickknacks
- Do you love and cherish it?
- Is it worth dusting and maintaining?
- Is it broken, damaged, or missing parts, and you’re not going to fix it within 3 months?
- Are you only keeping it because it was a gift?
Please share your results and comments. I’d like to hear how you did?
©March 2020 Janine Cavanaugh, Certified Professional Organizer All Rights Reserved
The rate of what comes in needs to be less than or equal to the rate of what goes out. It is easy to bring things into our lives and spaces, but it requires more effort to remove things. Therefore we need to consistently and continually work to remove things from our lives and space. By consciously working at it we increase our chances of being able to manage what we own and keep it organized.
How would you define minimalism? I asked this question at the beginning of a presentation I gave recently at Brown University in Providence, RI. The answers I received were varied, but most of them included the concepts of intentionally having less stuff, and living a meaningful life with less material possessions. This was consistent with what I found while doing research for this presentation, and reading how established minimalists defined minimalism. I found three definitions that I could easily relate to, one by 
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