I Tried This Decluttering Number Game and Got Rid of 38 Items
As a single mom and a freelance writer, I’m always looking for ideas to make household management more fun. So when this Instagram video by Audrey Barton (@organizedchaos4bus) popped up on my feed, I knew I had to put the creator’s last suggestion — a decluttering number game — to the test.
What Is the Decluttering Number Game?
The idea is to write different numbers and place them in a bowl, then pull out a number at random whenever you have a bit of free time. That number represents the amount of items you now need to get rid of in your home.
How I Tried the Decluttering Number Game
For the purposes of this experiment, I decided to write down seven numbers, with a goal of pulling one number a day for a week. The numbers ranged from two to 10 so I could get a feel for what it was like to quickly declutter different amounts of items. I intentionally kept the bowl on the coffee table in my living room, since my family spends the most amount of time there. Ultimately, the game took me less than four days to complete, with a total of 38 items decluttered. In addition to being effective, I also found it deeply satisfying. Here’s what else I learned:
Keep a donation box ready.
After the first decluttering session, I had a handful of items to get rid of and nowhere to put them. I had to scramble to find a basket to put everything in. The second time, I picked things up around the home and then deposited them into the basket, which I’d placed in the entryway. After that, I realized it was most efficient, especially when it came to eight or 10 items, to bring the basket with me while I walked around the house.
Don’t make excuses.
Even when I knew I had a little bit of free time, I was incredibly tempted to just ignore the bowl. (Honestly, if it hadn’t been for the accountability of this challenge, I still might have.) Obviously, that would have defeated the entire purpose of the game. When I counted the amount of items after everything was said and done, I was so glad that I’d stuck with it. Getting rid of more than 30 items with such minimal effort was impressive, and it definitely made a difference.
Make quick decisions.
I tried to stick to the idea that if it’s not an immediate yes, then it’s an immediate no. Did I panic with a couple of items? Sure, but I also decided to give myself an out at the end: Before I donated everything, I took a minute to rummage through the items to make sure I definitely wanted to part with it all. Spoiler alert: I did.
Don’t limit yourself.
My one regret of this experiment was only letting myself declutter the amount of items that were listed on each paper. A couple of times I got into the groove, then stopped myself because I was “done.” In trying to follow the rules of the game, I limited the actual purpose of the game. Next time, I definitely won’t.
Get others involved.
The reason I finished the game earlier than anticipated was because I got my 5-year-old involved. She had so much fun doing her own challenges, while it actually made more sense than me trying to declutter for her. Instead of realizing I got rid of something she actually loved when it was too late, she was able to strengthen her decision-making and think critically about what she owns and why.
Have a plan for the items.
I’ve been guilty of letting donations sit in my car or closet for way too long, which is why I made a plan for them in advance. I knew what day I was going to drop everything off, and where I’d take something if I thought it wouldn’t be beneficial to my local Goodwill. Knowing definitively that this was at the end of the tunnel put me in the right mindset from the beginning, and made sure I actually got everything out of the house.
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