HOUR#50-99 : EXTREME DECLUTTERING | EMIGRATION STYLE

"We cannot see our reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see."
Taoist Proverb

For the past few weeks I've been a man on an extreme decluttering mission...

So much of my worldly possessions have been given away, recycled (evil paper), freecycled, rehomed and sold (a few items).

What you see above is the culmination of my efforts and what I'm taking to with me as I emigrate :

Samsonite Backpack

Has the…

• Macbook Pro (plus power charger)
• iPad (plus power charger)
• important docusments
• 2x moleskines
• Kodak Zi8 & mic
• power travel adaptor
• assorted pens
• assorted nuts (for the journey)
• small folder of paperwork (passport, flight times etc)
  
• beanie

Suitcase (Large) The usual…

• more paper (important immigration docs, work letters etc)
• clothes
• bag of leads, chargers and other tech stuff
• hand wraps (for punching)
• two small bags
• toiletries

The Box (Largish)

Holding a myriad of stuff from coats to books, to flattened Mac boxes to punching pads etc etc. It will meet me in Christchurch when I arrive.

What got left behind is a filing cabinet full of papers (as the tax man wants you to keep stuff related to your business for five years), plus two medium boxes of various stuff yet to find a home (old photos, some DVD's, backup CD's from past work etc).


Afterthought

So there you have it.

A 100 hours of decluttering.

My mission complete and I'm double-chuffed with myself.

Obviously, the battle will be to remain a minimalist in both thought and function, not to acquire and keep things 'light'. 

My last thought as I put this blog / project to bed : if you're looking for probably the most extreme decluttering challenge ever… emigrate!


*the last calculation was that I had two weeks at home with the folks after moving out of my flat. What followed was about ten days of about 5 hours on average of going through my stuff to finally achieve the above.
**the above post was written in the air on my way to New Zealand—am now here and had some time to edit / post.

HOUR#30-49 : MOVING OUT

“Every time you spend money you're casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
Anna Lappé

I'm knackered.

Moving home will do that to you.

The big stuff is easy (furniture, framed pictures, filing cabinet etc), it's the little stuff which when aggregated becomes a minimalists nightmare. This is stuff you didn't know you had and can't believe you bought in the first place and makes you wonder :

• why did I have three kettles?
• Is seven bed sets too much?
• When did I ever need seventeen mugs?

For the next couple of weeks I'll be at my folks, sifting through every box of my life (about 20 of various shapes and sizes) with the aim to end up with two large suitcases to take to NZ plus a filing cabinet full of important stuff (financials, photos, precious other things etc).

Well that's the aim.

HOUR#27-29 : FREECYCLING

“The secret of happiness, you see, is not found in seeking more, but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.”
Socrates

Freecycle rocks.

The night before I had to move out of my flat the following large items were posted :

• Double Bed
• Sofa Bed
• 2x TV's
• Massage Table
• IKEA Table
• DVD Player
• Surround Sound System

They were all gone in 24 hours.

Freecycle, your minimalism friend.

*time allotted here is joining the group, posting the message, answering the many emails I got (gave up in the end) plus helping people carry all the stuff out to their cars).

HOUR#23-26 : DONATING STUFF

"Freedom can’t be bought, it can only be found."
Everett Bogue

Over the past few months many of my clothes and other items like bags, art supplies, books, etc have been donated to various charity shops in my area.

They have been sorted, packed and transported to the locations in question.

Tomorrow, much of my furniture will be going the same way, this time to Track 2000.

This giving stuff away thing starts to get addicting after a while. The space created by the old items is very cleansing plus there's the warm feeling in your stomach as you know you're doing good.

Onwards.

HOUR#18-22 : CREATING PILES

“The hardest thing is to take less when you can get more.”
Kin Hubbard

When you have stuff to sort out and declutter you end up making piles.

These stacks of stuff are crucial to deciding what stays / goes / gets sold / gets donated etc.

If you're like me and have built-in wardrobes in your home you'll quickly discover how much stuff is actually have hidden away which needs to be sorted.

Again, our usual nemesis paper is proving the worst pile-creator.

Don't fear the pile...

They are your friends to sorting.

Your tools to cut through the clutter.

Why Declutter100

"Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
Albert Einstein

Six months ago the Declutter100 project started.

Three months ago my New Zealand residency application got approved.

Last month I announced it to the world.

The whole emigration decision process started over nine months ago and forms the basis of why Declutter100 exists.

Now you know.

This will replace the about page.

KILLING MY TV

"You watch television to turn your brain off and you work on your computer when you want to turn your brain on."
Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Computer and Pixar, in Macworld Magazine, February 2004

Yesterday was the last day of my TV license.

I didn't renew it.

I no longer watch TV and the two sets I have will now be sold / given away as part of this decluttering adventure.

The other reasons are that I realised the only time I ever watched the idiot box is whilst I'm eating (reruns of old Scrubs and The Big Bang Theory or to catch up on the news on the BBC (and the latter is getting increasingly shit as the news reporters / readers all think that to be good at their job means grilling each guest like they are wrong then flipping it back to the counter guest and making out they are wrong—is that what reporting the news is all about???).

So goodbye TV.

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HOUR#17 : OLD HOBBIES

"The more you know, the less you need."
Yvon Chouinard

When I was a kid art was destined to be my life. It was the only thing I was good at in school. I even had a place in art college until I decided to take a different path...

The intention was to go back to it one day and for that reason I hoarded art supplies. I did create some painting and stuff now and again but it was rare so it was time to unburden myself.

Two of my friends were beneficiaries of the following stuff after digging it all out :

• Eisel
• 12 canvases
• Several artist pads
• Used and unused oil paints
• Used and unused acrylic paints
• Many brushes and pallet knives
• Artist sprays
• Pens and pencils

Goodbye stuff...

Hour#15-16 : Paper Shredding

"The more you know, the less you need."
Yvon Chouinard

It's amazing the amount of paper you can accumulate. Hidden away in drawers and folders over the years this is the stuff you think you'll need but upon review know you will never find a purpose for.

So started the two hour shredding frenzy... scuppered a few times due to the shredder overheating!

Minimalism Sucks

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn

Minimalism sucks because it's hard to do.

Minimalism sucks because it takes time.

Time which is hard to find at the moment between my work, play and other priorities.

I'm still committed to my original challenge and thinking of another path : dedicating an hour every other day in my diary to decluttering my life...

Wish me luck!

How do you keep on top of your decluttering efforts / minimalist lifestyle?

After taking a break over Crimbo and then having a very busy
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Hour#13-14 : Mail Mail Mail

"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler..."
Henry David Thoreau

Can't really do much about the email I receive (apart from keeping my emails off sites so those evil spambots don't get hold of it) but I can control the stuff I save.

My sent items was overflowing with very old correspondence and was brimming at about the four and half thousand mark.

On trains, planes and during some down time that number has been whittled down by over three quarters (it's an ongoing process still).

I've also started using a much better 'filing' system through the use of dated folders and more importantly a kick-ass CRM tool called Highrise (which basically orders and assigns all my email to the individuals and contacts involved in the communication, hosting it all in the cloud and off my machine).

How do you ensure there is clutter in your inbox/email system?

Minimising Takes Time

“There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.”
Mahatma Gandhi

After a well deserved break for the Christmas and New Year period I've struggled to get back into my decluttering.

Life (well, more truthfully, work) seems to be bleeding all free time at the moment. Which leads me to think I should be adding work as another area to focus my decluttering on (although I am one of those lucky people who loves what they do and it truly doesn't feel like work).

It's a simple case of priorities I guess, creating and dedicating the time to decluttering (as I've a far way to go).

Just thinking out loud here guys and feel free to kick my ass if I'm lagging... normal service will now resume!

Hour #12 : Saving Love Letters

"Through Kurt I saw the beauty of minimalism and the importance of music that's stripped down."
Dave Grohl

Came across two boxes full of letters / cards / poems / photos / notebooks etc from past loves.

There is nothing more personal than a heartfelt passage of words presented as an offer of connection and openness. Made my heart feel a little lighter and my soul was touched by how deep some of the feelings were.

It also brought up the question of whether to keep or recycle.

For me it's a simple answer : keep.

There is nothing more minimal than love expressed. The intent. The need. The beauty. The importance to cherish (even though it could've ended badly) the sweet manifestations of this emotion.

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Decluttering : Exploring A Minimalist Lifestyle

“This was a very typical time. I was single. All you needed was a cup of tea, a light, and your stereo, you know, and that’s what I had.”
Steve Jobs

After spending over ten hours decluttering my life thought it was a perfect opportunity to take stock, reflect a little and share some thoughts on the journey so far.

My personal reasons have not shifted and if anything, a number 8. could be added : it's starting to feel good.

Looking around there's so much more to file / donate / sell / bin / recycle etc but already the load is feeling lighter, the rooms are looking cleaner, the cupboards are looking barer, I am feeling freer.

Even though it seems the 100 hours set aside to complete the task is a tad generous, I still believe even if all the clutter from my life is banished the remaining time will be focussed on sharing / maintaining / honing the skills learnt.

The biggest challenge is ahead, that of decluttering my workload and digital life (even though I've made a start).

A big thanks must go to those voices out there who are providing guidance and insights through their offerings (check out the Inspiration page for a growing list).

I'm still waiting for that 'pang of loss'—the realisation something discarded is important—although it's yet to come and don't think it will arrive at all. Onwards.

Hour #10-11 : Hitting The Books

"It's not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential"
Bruce Lee

Above are all the books I own (65 of them).

I'm keeping 19 - below are all the books I'm giving away to free homes (just cover p&p and they are yours) :

ALL BOOKS HAVE NOW BEEN DONATED

Native American Wisdom (Running Press Miniature Editions) [Hardcover]
Cut it Out: v.3: Banksy: Vol 3 [Paperback]
The Mini Rough Guide to New York City (Miniguides) [Paperback]
The Big Moo: Stop Trying to be Perfect and Start Being Remarkable [Paperback]
the unbearable lightness of being [Paperback]
The War of the Worlds 1964, New Windmill Series
Last Words [Paperback]
Poetry, 1900 to 1975 (Longman English Series) [Paperback]
Six Thinking Hats [Paperback]
Branded [Paperback]
Funky Business (Financial Times Series) [Paperback]
Dylan Thomas: a new life [Paperback]
By Heart: 101 Poems to Remember (Faber Poetry) [Paperback]
A Spillage of Mercury (Cape Poetry) [Paperback]
Canada: The Rough Guide (Rough Guide Travel Guides) [Paperback]
Poems on the Underground: Ninth Edition: No. 9 [Paperback]
The Penguin Book of Oral Poetry [Paperback]
Bono on Bono: Conversations with Michka Assayas [Paperback]
First Aid Explained: A first aid manual written and explained in an easy-to-understand style. [Spiral-Bound]
Finance on a Beermat [Paperback]
Crush It!: Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion [Hardcover]
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance [Paperback]
As Though I Had Wings: The Lost Memoir [Paperback]
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Disaster Preparedness (Complete Idiot's Guides (Lifestyle Paperback)) [Paperback]
Disconnected: Why Our Kids are Turning Their Backs on Everything We Thought We Knew [Hardcover]
The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything [Hardcover]
The Beermat Entrepreneur: Turn Your Good Idea into a Great Business [Paperback]
Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends [Paperback]
Millennial Leaders: Success Stories from Today's Most Brilliant Generation Y Leaders [Hardcover]
Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker [Hardcover]
Rolf on Art: A Step-by-Step Guide to Painting [Paperback]
Cartoon Cool: How to Draw TV's Retro Style Characters [Paperback]
How to Draw Comics the "Marvel" Way [Paperback]
Tom Jones [Hardcover]
Visualizing Ideas: From Scribbles to Storyboards [Paperback]
The Painting and Drawing Course [Hardcover]
The Virtuoso: Face to Face with Forty Extraordinary Talents [Illustrated] [Hardcover]

ALL BOOKS HAVE NOW BEEN DONATED

Declutter100 - The Book

Since starting this Declutter100 project I've been devouring and digesting loads of minimal related videos, ebooks, blogs, podcasts... there is a wealth of fantastic guidance, insights, tips and strategies out there for newbies like me.

Thought it was time to contribute to the cause...

As I'm still an amateur was thinking of acting as a curator of knowledge rather than originator - here's my intention:

100 minimalists sharing in a 100 words anything they want (an idea, a story, a practice, a lyric, a quote, anything...) on the subject of minimalism.

All responses will be aggregated into a free ebook. Simple, huh?

If you've completed the form below feel free to publicise this project using #declutter100

Hour #9 : Shedding Your Online Friends And Follow Lists

As someone whose business is social media shedding online friends could be seen as dangerous.

Could I be losing valuable contacts and / or shedding potential fruitful business relationships?

Then again, I'm all too aware of the issue surrounding 'signal vs noise' online and ensuring filtering methods are in place to ensure you get the good stuff only.

Therefore, this decluttering project needs to extend into all aspects of my life and online friends / follow lists are no exceptions.

The main focus for this exercise are Facebook and Twitter.

The approach for unfollowing / unfriending people has been simple :

• those I haven't spoken to (in person / on the phone / skype / email) in over 6 months
• people who offer no discernible value (ie education / inform)
• anyone who is not a client
• inactive accounts

The total on Facebook has gone from 552 friends down to 424—achieved by simply going through my whole friends list.

Twitter total has shrunk from 750+ to 496—achieved over the past couple of months by using the Chump Dump iPhone App and being critical of my decision to follow anyone.

Maybe Dunbars Number is about 450 for me?

How have you decluttered your online spaces / friends list?

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Hour #8 : Tees

A selection of funky tshirts are for sale after halving all the clothes I own the other week—all before either donating them or putting them on eBay / Freecycle.

Here's your chance to drop a few dollar and get your hands on some cool attire which will make your friends gasp in envy... maybe...

Hour #7 : The Minimalist Belt-Buckle-Wearer

“Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
William Morris

These are my belt buckles.

Three get worn regularly (can you guess which ones?) and the others are liked but not loved/used—the latter are up for sale (which took time to set up—you'll see what I mean).

From the little I know, minimalism is a concentration not a reduction.

Hour #6 : Drawers

Bet everyone has drawers like this in their homes... random junk collected from years of living.

This is one of mine!

Found stuff in this drawer over 5 years old and literally will never be needed. The other items have been binned, relocated and/or donated to others.

Now I'm only using two of the four drawers in my bedside chest—maybe I should get rid of it and move my pants and socks somewhere else?