Declutter With Friends: Let the games begin!
A guest post by: Nicole V
Do you know the word game in which a player begins with a word in a particular category (countries or cities, for instance), with subsequent players taking turns to say a new word that begins with the final letter of the previous word? Once a word has been given, it cannot be repeated and any player who is unable to come up with a word is out of the game. It is usually referred to as the ‘Last and First’, ‘Last Letter Game’ or ‘Last Letter Word Chain’ although I’m sure there must be other names for it. Well, I was thinking that it might be fun for us 365ers to try out something similar while decluttering, but I wanted to make it a more challenging game, one involving quick thinking and action and one in which anyone can come in at any time and make a quick play in real-time. I decided to throw down the decluttering gauntlet and wait to see who is the fastest 365er to take up the challenge. Here’s what I came up with:
1. I begin by decluttering three forks from a drawer.
2. Whoever is fast enough then continues the game by quickly thinking of and finding an item to declutter from any one category – either number or item or place – to play in. This could be either three items (but not forks) or an item beginning with the letter ‘k’ or ‘s’ (the second last or last letter of forks*) or any number of anything (that is not a fork) from any drawer. If you select the number category, you have to declutter identical items. So, if Colleen is the quickest player who is able to continue the game, she could then either declutter three bowls or one (or any number) kettle or spoon or a non-fork item from any drawer in her home. She will then update the rest of us in the online comment thread.
*In the case of plural nouns, you can use either the last or second last letter of the word to continue under the item category – in the case of the forks, this would mean that the next item can begin with the letter ‘s’ or ‘k’. Thank you, Colleen, for your input regarding this.
3. The game continues with any 365er who is quick to identify something to declutter and comment about. There is no need for the item to leave your home immediately, you just need to identify it and earmark it for decluttering (whether you donate, recycle, shred, etc) as soon as possible. But you have to be quick on the draw as the categories will keep changing depending on how fast another 365er declutters something and updates the rest of us about it. If another 365er has read the latest update and quickly decluttered something and updated the online comment thread before you were able to list your item, you’ll have to either:
(a) Recategorize your item under one of the other two categories, if possible, or
(b) Keep that item and jump in on another round or
(c) Quickly look for another suitable item that relates to the current round and play it before someone else does.
4. To keep it interesting, items cannot be repeated in consecutive turns – if someone declutters shoes, the next person cannot declutter shoes as well (and must find another item that begins with the letter ‘e’ or ‘s’) but the person after that can. The number of items decluttered and the place or room that the item was decluttered from can, of course, be repeated in consecutive turns.
5. Be as creative and imaginative as you can possibly be (or get away with!) regarding the categories and have fun!
So, with apologies to Effie Trinket, all that’s left is for me to say: “Happy Decluttering Games and may the odds be ever in your favour!â€
Today’s Mini Mission
Declutter something beginning with the letter T.
“If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?†— Unknown
Eco Tip for the Day
If you use a printer in your workplace, only print what really needs printing and print double sided if you can.
For a full list of my eco tips so far click here
It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow
Subscribe by RSS
Pat M Said,
August 20, 2016 @ 10:49 pm
(1) vase from cabinet shelf
Pat M Said,
August 20, 2016 @ 10:52 pm
I just noticed Sept 9 will be 1 year of us playing “Declutter with Friends”.
This game has really helped me move out the harder stuff. It never ends though.
Nicole V Said,
August 21, 2016 @ 12:53 am
Has it really been almost a year? Wow! I’m glad it’s helped you, Pat. As long as unnecessary stuff isn’t coming in, we should reach the maintenance stage if we keep at it.
deanna ar USA Said,
August 21, 2016 @ 8:18 am
Wow! I didn’t realize!
Nicole V Said,
August 21, 2016 @ 12:55 am
(1) pair of grey slippers from cabinet
deanna ar USA Said,
August 21, 2016 @ 8:21 am
(1) stick horse from closet
Nicole V Said,
August 21, 2016 @ 2:53 pm
(1) cape from shelf
deanna ar USA Said,
August 22, 2016 @ 6:12 am
(1) stack of photo negatives from drawer
Nicole V Said,
August 22, 2016 @ 11:31 pm
(1) bag of clothes from hubby’s closet
deanna ar USA Said,
August 23, 2016 @ 4:39 am
3 plastic shoe containers from (closet)
Nicole V Said,
August 23, 2016 @ 11:58 am
(3) glass items from kitchen
deanna ar USA Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 5:31 am
(3) jigsaw puzzles from closet
Pat M Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 7:21 am
1 (e)nd table from basement
1 ottoman from (basement)
Pat M Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 7:54 am
(1) pair of pants from drawer
Pat M Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 8:14 am
4 (s)chool supplies from closet
Pat M Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 8:32 am
1 text book from (closet) – sold to Amazon!
Pat M Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 9:24 pm
1 tube of cream from (closet)
Nicole V Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 11:39 pm
Wow, Pat … you’re on a roll!
Pat M Said,
August 25, 2016 @ 8:03 am
Helping my son pack for college. So I am practicing “letting go…”
Nicole V Said,
August 24, 2016 @ 11:40 pm
1 (m)anual from drawer
deanna ar USA Said,
August 25, 2016 @ 5:20 am
1 greeting card organizer from (drawer)
Nicole V Said,
August 25, 2016 @ 8:09 pm
(1) sieve from kitchen
deanna ar USA Said,
August 26, 2016 @ 7:22 am
1 (E)gg-Tastic from kitchen
Nicole V Said,
August 26, 2016 @ 5:14 pm
1 elastic (c)ord from storeroom
deanna ar USA Said,
August 27, 2016 @ 1:45 am
(1) king sized fleece blanket from closet
Pat M Said,
August 27, 2016 @ 7:49 am
(1) bag of stale marshmellows from cabinet
Nicole V Said,
August 27, 2016 @ 12:16 pm
1 small (w)aste bin from study
deanna ar USA Said,
August 28, 2016 @ 7:05 am
(1) crockpot from kitchen
Nicole V Said,
August 28, 2016 @ 12:35 pm
1 v-neck (t)ee from closet
deanna ar USA Said,
August 29, 2016 @ 1:17 am
14 used picture frames from (closet)
Pat M Said,
August 29, 2016 @ 7:29 am
2 used picture frames from (closet)
Nicole V Said,
August 29, 2016 @ 3:24 pm
1 shirt from (closet)
deanna ar USA Said,
August 31, 2016 @ 2:46 am
2 fleece (t)hrows from closet
Nicole V Said,
August 31, 2016 @ 7:21 pm
1 skirt from (closet)
deanna ar USA Said,
September 1, 2016 @ 9:54 am
2 (t)owel bars from closet
deanna ar USA Said,
September 2, 2016 @ 7:21 am
10 new picture frames from (closet)
Nicole V Said,
September 2, 2016 @ 9:38 pm
(10) sheets of paper from cabinet
deanna ar USA Said,
September 3, 2016 @ 3:37 am
2 files with contents from file (cabinet)
Nicole V Said,
September 3, 2016 @ 2:30 pm
(2) large cardboard boxes from storeroom
deanna ar USA Said,
September 4, 2016 @ 11:32 am
(2) bandanas from drawer
Nicole V Said,
September 4, 2016 @ 3:42 pm
1 screen protector from (drawer)
deanna ar USA Said,
September 5, 2016 @ 2:42 am
(1) underwear from closet
Nicole V Said,
September 5, 2016 @ 1:42 pm
(1) cosmetic product from drawer
deanna ar USA Said,
September 6, 2016 @ 8:57 am
(1) small wall hanging from hutch
Nicole V Said,
September 6, 2016 @ 9:55 am
1 (g)rater from kitchen
Pat M Said,
September 7, 2016 @ 8:00 am
(1) pair of gardening gloves from garage
Nicole V Said,
September 7, 2016 @ 12:22 pm
(1) cookbook from shelf
deanna ar USA Said,
September 8, 2016 @ 8:25 am
(1) large bottle laundry detergent from kitchen
Nicole V Said,
September 8, 2016 @ 11:44 am
(1) souvenir from cabinet