A Fun Fall Challenge

Though the mid-day temperatures in London would have us believe otherwise, fall is finally here!  It is my favorite season – the changing leaves, crisp air, hot drinks, apple picking and cider donuts (oh please, please, please someone teleport me to New England for the month of October!! Fall just hasn’t been the same since we left). It also means our days are getting colder and shorter – rapidly, – and it won’t be long before that “cooped up” feeling sets in.

Before the walls of my little London flat start closing in on me, I want to be prepared.  I want to set myself up to enjoy a cozy and peaceful winter in front of my (make-believe) fireplace rather than a cluttered, stressful, cramped season at home.  I don’t always think of it so consciously, but I do usually get this underlying need to purge around the time I start pulling out my sweaters and stashing away the beach towels.  Anyone else get that feeling?

This year, I am choosing to be intentional about fall.  We just moved six months ago (and purging prior to a move is a must for me!), yet it’s amazing how quickly piles have accumulated and unnecessary items now call my kitchen counter “home.”

A while back, I came across an idea on www.theminimalists.com – a great blog about “living a meaningful life with less stuff” (who doesn’t want that??? Love reading their articles.) – a month-long purging game!  October 1^st? Toss, sell or donate one item.  October 2^nd? Toss, sell or donate two items. October 3^rd?  Three items…That means that by the end of October, you could have cleared your home of 496 items!! It can be anything you find – clothes, old phones, papers, anything.   And, if you choose, you can share your great purges – or get ideas from others! – by posting pictures using #minsgame on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.  The only rule is that the items must be out of the house by midnight that day.  Sounds like quite a challenge.  But I’m up for it!

Join me??