While thinking about November, one word comes to mind -- gratitude -- being grateful for the things we have, and the family and friends around us. Since gratitude challenges are common, and you can find them anywhere, I decided to add a twist to this Your Favorite Things Challenge.
You are probably asking, "Why should I do this?" Well, the answer is, because you need to know what you truly, above all else, love in your home. By determining what you love, you can then find what you don't care too much about. And, therefore, get rid of those items. It is not all about needing the item. It is quite emotional. People buy things for several reasons. Below are some of the reasons you may have when you buy something.
Why do I buy things I don't need?
Reasons why you buy things for your home.
You need the item. The item is one you use often. It helps you make your daily activities easier to manage.
The item represents a goal you want to achieve. Say you want to start using a planner. You research different planners and find one that works for you. But, something in your life changes, a new job, you go back to school, and you realize the planner you pick would not work for that new pivot in your life.
It reminds you of something in the past you want to recapture. Fashion trends come around every few years. A style you loved when you were a teenager is now in fashion again. You go and buy it. Then realize the item does not look as good as it did when you were a teenager. But, you keep it anyway.
The item represents a future wish. Say you were thinking about getting a bike to do exercise next year. You go to the store and find a helmet and purchase it because it was on sale. But, the next year rolls around and you end up not getting the bike. Now you are left with a helmet you may not use for a wish you created.
It represents an ideal situation. This could be an office desk that would help you be more organized during your workday. But, you never assemble it, or it lacks space to store items properly.
The item replaces an emotional reaction you want to overcome. The word "shopaholic" comes to mind. A shopper that turns to shop when needing comfort from other areas of their lives.
Some of these items may not be items you love and are grateful to have in your home. Below are some articles I found on top of stuff and emotions.
The psychology of stuff and things
5 Ways to Control Emotional Spending
Do you see the pattern in these reasons above? Emotions are behind a lot of what we purchase in our homes. The November Your Favorite Things challenge is figuring out why you bought certain items and really look at the reason and figure out does it really need to be in front of me.
What are my favorite things in my home?
For this challenge, pick one item in each room. This item must be something you truly love. Ask yourself these questions to help you find the right item while scanning the room:
- When I enter the room, what item makes me smile?
- Why do I care so much about this item?
Ponder that thought each day and post your findings at the end of the day.
When you write your post, be sure to take a picture of the item and write why it is important.
Then, share on your Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter with the hashtag: #favoritethings
Rooms in your Home to Explore to Find Your Favorite Things
Day 1. My master bedroom
Day 2. My master bedroom closet
Day 3. My guest bedroom
Day 4. My guest bedroom closet
Day 5. My spare bedroom
Day 6. My spare bedroom closet
Day 7. My bathroom
Day 8. My kid's room
Day 9. My kid's playroom
Day 10. My kid's closet
Day 11. My family room
Day 12. My living room
Day 13. My dining room
Day 14. My serving platters
Day 15. My kitchen
Day 16. My kitchen entertaining items
Day 17. My foyer/hallway
Day 18. My basement closet
Day 19. My garage
Day 20. My attic
Day 21. My shed
Day 22. My powder room
Day 23. My bedroom nightstand
Day 24. My Home Office
Day 25. My Long Term storage area
Day 26. The front of my home
Below is an image you can share. I included all the above areas, as well as, a place for you to write what object you love and why.
As you work your way through these areas, try to figure out what draws you to these items. Really think about it. While determining the emotions that come up for you when looking at something, it will reveal things in your home that you can do without. And, hopefully, show you your patterns on why you buy the items you do.
Feel free to share this and leave a comment below about how it is going. I would love to hear from you.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
I love it - a gratitude challenge with a twist! I don't have most of those rooms but I'll still refer to this as a guide for my own gratitude challenge.
This is an interesting exercise. I'm going to try it. I am not very attached to items so I'll see how it goes.
What a fun take on a gratitude challenge. I worked with a client a couple of years ago who would have excelled at this challenge. As she took me through her home, she naturally shared with me things she truly loved in each room. I will be thinking a great deal about this very thing this month as we pack up for a move to a new home and leave behind the things we don't love.
Moving is such a great time to get rid of the things you do not love. Good luck with your move.
What a great idea! I love that you created a list for us to keep track too. This is such an important value to focus on when designing and organizing our precious space. Thanks for sharing.
I agree, Sabrina! I love the questions you pose and the idea of visiting one area a day between now and Thanksgiving is brilliant!
I have to say and I am forever grateful for my fuzzy fleece tops that I wear at night, especially now that it’s getting cold. I wouldn’t mind having one or two more to take me through the week. Without having to them immediately.
Anytime we can feel grateful is a gift that we give ourselves.
I agree with Seana. What a fun idea! So often my gratitude focus is more about the non-stuff in life. But I certainly have physical belongings that I'm grateful for too. One of the things in my living room I love is my cozy, soft, gray blanket. At the end of the day, there's nothing I appreciate more than curling up on the sofa and wrapping myself in that blanket. It feels good and makes my heart happy.
This is such a fun idea... focus on what we love instead of feeling we need to find things to get rid of. I like the idea of going room by room (or space by space). What a nice way to spend the month of November - being Thankful for what we have instead of longing for what we don't! At the moment, I'm sitting in my kitchen and feeling thankful for my coffee pot:)
Hi, unfortunately, there isn't one. However, you can print this image or you can copy the list above and paste it into a word processing software.