Mini Mission Monday is about finding ten minutes a day to declutter. To make it easy for you, each Monday I set seven declutter missions, one for each day of the week for you to follow. It takes the guess work out of decluttering and makes it easy and “fun” for you to achieve some quick decluttering.
Some clutter isn’t just solid tangible objects that you are either using or you aren’t. Some it it comes in the form of things that can be used up, ingested, absorbed, altered, or repaired to become of more use. Sometimes these things hang around far too long out of  lack of interest, dissatisfaction or lack of enthusiasm or time constraints. This week our mini missions are set to help you identify such items in your home and take action to transform them.
Monday – Repair ~ Repair an item so you can begin using it again or so that it is in a condition to donate.
Tuesday – Complete a project ~ Finish a project you started some time ago but haven’t added the finishing touches to. You can then either use it, gift it or donate it. Just this weekend I restrung some beads my mother had sent home with me about two years ago. She is coming to visit me this week for a couple of days and I can finally give the revamped necklace back to her. That frees up a little space and removes the guilt of it sitting there unfinished.Â
Wednesday – Ingest ~ Find an ingredient that has lingered in your pantry, fridge or freezer and use it up. Perhaps in a way you hadn’t considered before. Use a recipe site like taste.com type in the ingredient you have and see what recipes come up.
Thursday – Absorb ~ Read a book that has been sitting on your shelf for a while and then declutter it.
Friday –Â Alter ~ Alter an item that isn’t quite right so that you will be more inclined to use it. (Change the fit of a clothing item, cut up large note books to make small jotters, change a piece of furniture, maybe just give something a fresh coat of paint.) I used graffiti paint to freshen up some old coasters recently. I cut a body pillow down to two standard bed pillows. And I pulled the last few pages out of two old note books and cut them down to make note paper for my grocery list etc.Â
Saturday – Use Up ~ Â Turn a product you don’t like so much into something else in order to use it up. (Bubble bath or shampoo into liquid hand soap. Make tinted moisturiser out of that foundation you don’t like so much. I used some old craft felt that I thought I had no use for to line my buffet drawers.Â
Sunday - Sunday is reserved for contemplating one particular item, of your choice that is proving difficult for you to declutter. Whether that be for sentimental reasons, practical reasons, because the task is laborious or simply unpleasant, or because the items removal requires the cooperation of another person. That last category may mean that the item belongs to someone else who has to give their approval, it could also mean there is a joint decision to be made or it could mean that the task of removing it requires assistance from someone else. There is no need to act on this contemplation immediately, it is more about formulating a plan to act upon or simply making a decision one way or another.
Good luck and happy decluttering
Eco Tip for the Day
When all else is equal between one product or another choose the one with the most eco friendly packaging.
It matters not how fast I go, I hurry faster when I’m slow
Dymphy says
Great mini missions! I’m doing this for the last month and boy, what a good feeling this gives 🙂
Colleen Madsen says
Hi Dymphy, good for you. My son kept bringing over his stuff for me to alter, which was cluttering up my craft room. I must admit I did take my time to get around to doing it. I have instructed him not to bring anything else until I return from vacation. 😉
cj says
Yes!!! We repaired our dryer by ordering a $9 knob (no shipping)! It made us so happy to not spend $300-500 for a new one. Have a marvy one, Colleen!
Colleen Madsen says
Hi CJ, don’t you just love it when something can be repaired inexpensively. I am so glad my parents taught me to perform lots of repair tasks and how to make things.
SarahN says
Oh I just love these – and your accompanying examples! I get a real bee in my bonnet about unfinished projects – had to be talked off my stress head ledge. About them last night! Despite being told there’s no hurry, I’ll get them sorted today
Colleen Madsen says
Hi Sarah, I am very familiar with that ledge. I have completed many a task lately to preserve my sanity. Regardless of how much I simplify my life things can still get complicated at times and that can be very stressful. It is interesting how not only tasks but life’s little stressors tend to come in batches to try our resilience.
Stephanie D says
HI Colleen and all
I have been reading for ages, including all the archives! Thought it was about time I joined in.
I am slowly working my way through a lifetime (and my parents lifetime) of too much stuff.
I have something near the top of the piles for every one of this weeks missions, so… Ka-thud … that is the sound of me jumping in with both feet.
Colleen Madsen says
Hi Stephanie D and welcome to 365 Less Things. I wish you all the best with your decluttering mission. And Tap Tap there is a little pat on the back for finding something for all of the mini missions. 😉
Moni says
Hi everyone, just realised my comment this morning didn’t load up, think there were internet problems at work.
Repaired some towels with frayed edges on the weekend, they weren’t far gone just needed to be re-hemmed, but had been sitting on the mending pile for a couple of months. I’d given myself a sewing holiday but Dayna needed to do some sewing on the weekend, so while it was out, I did them. Didn’t take long, should have done them sooner, but have enjoyed the sewing holiday to be honest.
Jo H. says
Very creative way to look at clutter – I don’t know how you keep coming up with different ways to approach the subject. I have been using up toiletry items in alternative ways – from time to time people will give me things that are too scented or harsh (I have sensitivies, including asthma). I have used an “age-defying” body wash (imagine my glee at receiving that in the first place!!) to shave my legs as it was too heavy for my otherwise oily skin – now my legs are soft for days afterward. And my latest use-it-up is a hand soap labelled “deep-cleaning” – I swear it could strip paint. So I use it on the bathroom sinks where it melts any lurking scum in moments 🙂
Thank you for the other suggestions – I will ponder these as the week passes.
Nana says
Ah the sewing/altering stuff. Except when I was still at home and my mother made my clothes, and later–before children–when I made my own, nothing ever fits without some work. So I always have something (bought usually at my favorite thrift shop) usually shirts–that needs altering, but that is quicker than sewing from scratch and if it doesn’t turn out quite right at least not much time or money was wasted. I do make napkins and dish towels out of my & my husband’s shirts headed for the rag bag since sometimes the backs are in pretty good shape and have enough material. These shirts are not suitable for donation but still good enough for these uses. We both wear a lot of all cotton. Flannel makes great dish towels, very absorbent.
Deb J says
Enjoyed the mini-missions. I’m trying to get projects done as well as doing the ones that are urgent. I feel like I am racing yet still sitting in front of the computer for most of it. Ugh!