The Best Minimalism Challenge For Every Personality (Even My Hoarder Husband!)

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I am a firm believer that everything is more fun as a challenge.

Weekend challenge. One week challenge. 30-Day challenge. Year-long challenge.

I’ve done them all for all kinds of things.

I’m a very all-or-nothing person so when I think about achieving an important skillset or changing a habit, I turn to challenges. They’re a great way to “detox” whatever bad habit you’ve built and lay the foundation for making a new one.

And believe it or not, minimalism is a habit.

Best Minimalism Challenge For Everyone

Minimalism is a habit and a mindset that matures over time. You don’t just watch Tidying Up, give all your stuff to Goodwill, then call yourself a minimalist. Buying less stuff is a lifestyle you have to learn and grow into.

So why not start that life change with a challenge!? Here are my favorite challenges to help you get rid of your stuff, use less, buy less, and be content with less. No matter who you are.

The KonMari Challenge

Who’s it for?: The Weekend Warrior

Before the Netflix show, there was Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying up.

People identify it now more with the process the show lays out. But in her book, Marie is adamant that her decluttering method must be completed in as little time as possible, usually a weekend. Sounds like a challenge.

The quickest I think it can be done is 3 days which is why I made a Weekend KonMari Planner. It’s a few pages that, if you want to tackle Marie’s challenge, will help you organize and plan your weekend.

You can get it for free below!

P.S. I’m a firm believer that you don’t have to finish this challenge in a weekend to get great results. I’ve laid out how to modify it if you want to take some extra time.

No-Spend Challenge

Who’s it for?: The Perpetual Target Dollar-Section Shopper

Doesn’t sound like a minimalism challenge right off the bat but in the long run, this will be the most important challenge you face as a minimalist. Especially those of us who love Target.

Purging things from your house is easy. I could take a bag to Goodwill every weekend if Travis wasn’t rummaging through everything. (He brings it in, I take it out. That’s how we work.)

But at the end of the day, you’re not taking full advantage of what a minimalist home and life offer if you’re not being mindful of your spending.

No-spend challenges help you “detox” your spending and get back in touch with the things, experiences, and people you truly value.

If you want more information on how to get through a no-spend challenge, check out my blog post about it and my best-selling book, The No-Spend Challenge Guide, available on Amazon.

The Mins Game

Who’s it for?: The Social Media Maven

Made famous by The Minimalists, the #minsgame hashtag has over 77K posts on Instagram. And I have to give credit to the guys, this is the challenge that transformed my hoarder husband into a (semi) minimalist… or at least got him purging his unused things.

The Mins game involves getting rid of items every day for a month. On the first you get rid of one item, on the second you get rid of two, and so on. If you play the mins game for a full 31-days, you’ll purge 496 items.

You might want to play in February 😉

Project 333

Who’s it for?: The Forever Fashionista

This one is fun for anyone who’s thinking about a capsule wardrobe but loves to change with the seasons (or has to based on crazy climate.) Courtney Carver, the author of Soulful Simplicity, created it for herself but people have become obsessed with it.

The concept is you live with 33 items in 3-month rotations. Your 33 items include clothing, accessories, jewelry, outerwear, and shoes.

At the end of three months, you should donate items you haven’t worn or don’t like anymore and make a new list of 33 items. It’s an easier way to declutter your closet without ripping the bandaid off.

If you want to try Project 333, Courtney dives deeper into it in her book and blog.

Digital Detox

Who’s it for?: The Tech Nut

Cal Newport has a new book out called Digital Minimalism. I’m still on the waitlist for it at the library but after hearing him talking about it on some podcasts, I already know I need it and I love it.

He gives a framework for detoxing from the digital clutter in our lives in a sustainable and healthy way.

Minimalism doesn’t stop at stuff. A minimalist life includes only the things that you love in your home, your schedule, and on your phone. I highly recommend his work and can’t wait to try this one.

Minimalist Schedule Challenge

Who’s it for?: The Person Who Can’t Say “No”

Growing up I knew a lot of people who said “yes” to everything. I still overhear people complaining about doing stuff that they only have to do because they felt obligated.

A lot of those people I knew growing up let their personal lives and the things that mattered most, dissolve under the weight of their “extra” responsibilities. Filling your schedule to the brim will do that to you.

So what if for one whole week you said “no” to everything?

Just like a no-spend challenge, you can start to peel back the layers of “obligations” you have by simply saying “no” and getting back to the activities and people you cherish most. Life is too short to live for other people.

If you’re the person who has a hard time saying “no,” Tiny Buddha has a great post on how to stop saying yes when you want to say no.

Minimalist Mind Challenge

Who’s it for?: The Stressed Sally

“Got a lot on your mind?” I hear this phrase sometimes when I’m making that “dazed and sad” face when I think nobody’s watching.

Another important aspect of minimalism is having a minimalist mind. That’s not to say play dumb, but purging the things that cause stress and anxiety and ultimately don’t matter in the grand scheme of things allows you to better recall important knowledge.

We do this through meditation. Yes it’s woo-woo, yes sitting still for 15 minutes is extremely hard, but it’s worth it to regain control of your mind. And it’ll help you think more clearly about everything else going on.
There are many apps available to guide you through 30 days of meditation.

Refinery29 also has a popular 30-day guided meditation challenge. It’s four audio guided meditations that you’ll cycle through in the month and (hopefully) end up a much calmer person by the end.