The changing of the seasons naturally triggers a fresh start. The seasonal rhythm offers a chance to begin again, to create something new, to re-establish some simplicity in our lives, to complete one or two Fall Simplicity Challenges.
While getting ourselves and our homes ready for fall, a good challenge can keep us accountable, stretch us, and grow us from our sun-drenched summer selves. Today I’m sharing some fun Fall Simplicity Challenges. They are called challenges for a reason: they challenge. They will challenge us to push ourselves, get out of our comfort zones, and possibly deny ourselves short term so we can grow long term.
If you are competitive in nature, this post is for you. This is how it works: Choose one Fall Simplicity Challenge and complete for one week. At the end of the week, notice how you feel and reflect and name one thing you learned during the challenge. Possibly partner with a friend and complete the same challenge to keep each other accountable. The purpose of the Fall Simplicity Challenges are to get you to make progress in the area of simplicity and build some momentum to keep on the journey.
There is something for everyone. If you need to start small, choose a challenge from the Motivate Me challenges. If you are ready and motivated, pick a challenge from the I’m Motivated section. And if you need an overhaul and are looking for big change, check out I want to do it all. Like I said, something for everyone.
Fall Simplicity Challenges
Motivate Me.
You need to move some things out of your home. Grab an empty cardboard box. Each day, choose 10 things to let go of and put in the box. At the end of the week, haul those 70 items (or more) off to a donation center and reward yourself with the beverage of your choice. Bonus points: Designate a permanent donation box or bin and regularly declutter unused items.
The toys have taken over every inch of your home. Discuss with your kids how unused toys could go to kids who don’t have many toys. (This is a great add on challenge to the first one above, we want to lead by example!) Each child chooses 10 toys they are no longer enjoying to donate. If you want to make it an all week thing, choose 2-3 toys a day every day for a week. Donate the toys and have a dance party to celebrate helping others.
Maybe you have been enjoying to-go curbside pick up a little too often lately. Decide to eat in all week long, including no pumpkin spice lattes. (Make your own pumpkin spice at home with Lydia’s recipe for Scooter’s Pumpkin Pie Smoothie Copycat over at Joy Filled Table.) Take the money you save and purchase some local coffee beans or just throw it in the bank.
Your phone is full of beautiful pictures of your family, but having so many is overwhelming. Go through your phone each day this week and delete 10 photos you don’t love.
I’m motivated.
Choose one room to declutter and organize. Every day set aside 15 minutes to declutter the chosen room. Set the timer, put in earbuds, and get to work. You will be amazed at what you accomplish in a little over an hour and a half in a week. Bonus points: If you’re still motivated after 15 minutes, set the timer for another 15 minutes and see how much you can get done.
Tackle every kid’s room in one week. Get a caddy loaded with cleaning supplies, grab a garbage sack for trash and a box for donations. If your kids are old enough, tell them their day at the beginning of the week and communicate how you will need their help. Meticulously go through each room and get rid of unused and ill fitting clothes and toys. Reward everyone with apple pie and ice cream when every room is complete.
Your pantry and freezer are full. Commit to not making a trip to the grocery store this week and getting creative with the things you have on hand. When you have made it 7 days without an online grocery order, reward everyone with the last of the popsicles in the freezer.
Set a timer for 15 minutes each day to work on your photo clutter. A few tasks to choose from: 1. Go through and delete unwanted photos on your phone or computer. 2. Get all the pictures from your phone to your computer. 3. Upload all pictures from your phone to an outside source like Shutterfly, Dropbox or an external hard drive. 4. Organize your photos on your computer into folders. 5. Begin a picture book for your family using Shutterfly, Chatbooks, or some other site.
I want to do it all.
Finally take the leap to overhaul the clothes closets. There are a million ways to do it, but here are two options. Option #1: Take all the clothes out and put them on the bed. Go through each item and ask yourself: Do I love it? Does it fit? Would I buy it again? If you answer ‘yes’, put it in the KEEP pile. If you answer ‘no’, donate, sell, or trash. Option #2: Keep your clothes in the closet and first tackle the summer clothes asking yourself: Do I love it? Does it fit? Did I wear it this summer? If you answer ‘yes’, put it in the KEEP pile. If you answer ‘no’, donate, sell, or trash. Continue with the fall, winter, and spring clothes. Bonus points: If you want to take it a step further and curate a capsule wardrobe, check out Fall Capsule Wardrobe.
Create a toy closet. Box up half the toys in the play spaces. Organize the toys in a toy closet so they are easily accessible. Kids are able to ‘check out’ toys from the toy closet by putting currently played with toys in the toy closet. Cutting toys by half means less clean up and clutter for everyone.
Eat through your pantry and freezer. No curbside pick up, no drive thru coffees, no last minute grocery pick up. Work with what you have for one week, no stocking up beforehand. Challenge yourself and your family to get creative and use what you have to eat meals throughout the week.
Make this the week you will tackle your photos. Start with January 2020 and delete unwanted photos, upload photos onto your computer and then Shutterfly, and begin a family photo book for 2020.
You’ve got this.
Challenges are a way to make a lot of change in a little amount of time. Keep in mind: It may or may not be the season for you to tackle a Fall Simplicity Challenge. But, if you’re feeling the itch to get rid of the clutter, to make a change, to finally clean out the spare bedroom, there is no better time than now!
Tell me: What Fall Simplicity Challenge will you choose to complete?