Each of us owns 10,000 things on average. But how many of these do you need? Dave Bruno decided he only wanted to hold 100 pieces of his own. Within a year, from November 2008 to November 2009, he cleared out everything else, sold it, or gave it away. His book "The 100 Thing Challenge" documents his journey from the birth of the idea to after his experiment. Just look at the "100 Things Dave Bruno list" for inspiration. You will discover some surprising things there.
These are his suggestions to try out his 100 Things Challenge:
1. Define what your personal belongings are. Are they things that only belong to you, or are they things you share with other people? As a partner or parent, the lines blur.
2. Are books counted individually or as a collection?
3. Some things consist of several parts — socks, e.g., suits or sports equipment.
4. Household items such as cleaning utensils and consumables do not count as possession.
5. Gifts had a 7-day grace period. After that, decide whether you want to keep them or not.
6. You can always buy or receive new items if you do not break the 100 mark.
The challenge gave him a lot more time because he had fewer things to worry about. He needed a lot less money. And it was a nice confirmation that he only needed 100 things!
The results were so liberating for Dave Bruno that according to the latest articles from 2014, he still owns less than 100 things.
Admittedly, this is a very radical approach. But it makes it clear that among the 9,900 things other things we'll find much to declutter!
Therefore, the following pages to help you gradually get used to getting rid of something every day.
Imagine you were only throwing away 1kg every day. Then that would be over 1 ton less ballast in three years.
Here are a few suggestions for making some rules of your own:
1. Daily food waste is excluded.
2. Waste paper is counted.
3. Old clothes are counted in full when disposed of, sold, or given away whenever they are permanently out of the household. Storage for the flea market only counts half, but sorting out should be rewarded ;) Count the other half when they are gone.
There are then two ways you can approach this task:
a) Start a paper or digital list starting with 365kg.
Each time you discard something, subtract the weight and write the date. Until you "full" the 365kg. Ideally, within one year as a target.
b) You try to get rid of at least 1kg daily. And put a cross on any calendar every day; ensuring your strand doesn't break is crucial.
Which approach do you like better?
These are his suggestions to try out his 100 Things Challenge:
1. Define what your personal belongings are. Are they things that only belong to you, or are they things you share with other people? As a partner or parent, the lines blur.
2. Are books counted individually or as a collection?
3. Some things consist of several parts — socks, e.g., suits or sports equipment.
4. Household items such as cleaning utensils and consumables do not count as possession.
5. Gifts had a 7-day grace period. After that, decide whether you want to keep them or not.
6. You can always buy or receive new items if you do not break the 100 mark.
The challenge gave him a lot more time because he had fewer things to worry about. He needed a lot less money. And it was a nice confirmation that he only needed 100 things!
The results were so liberating for Dave Bruno that according to the latest articles from 2014, he still owns less than 100 things.
Admittedly, this is a very radical approach. But it makes it clear that among the 9,900 things other things we'll find much to declutter!
Therefore, the following pages to help you gradually get used to getting rid of something every day.
Imagine you were only throwing away 1kg every day. Then that would be over 1 ton less ballast in three years.
Here are a few suggestions for making some rules of your own:
1. Daily food waste is excluded.
2. Waste paper is counted.
3. Old clothes are counted in full when disposed of, sold, or given away whenever they are permanently out of the household. Storage for the flea market only counts half, but sorting out should be rewarded ;) Count the other half when they are gone.
There are then two ways you can approach this task:
a) Start a paper or digital list starting with 365kg.
Each time you discard something, subtract the weight and write the date. Until you "full" the 365kg. Ideally, within one year as a target.
b) You try to get rid of at least 1kg daily. And put a cross on any calendar every day; ensuring your strand doesn't break is crucial.
Which approach do you like better?
