So What Exactly Is The 100 Thing Challenge?
From time-to-time I like to remind myself and readers of this blog what the 100 Thing Challenge is all about. I like to put it this way, “It’s not about the things.”
The 100 Thing Challenge is about getting out of jail — the prison of American-style consumerism. It’s about breaking free from the shackles of always feeling like we need to get more stuff in order to get to the dream life. (Ever notice how we just keep getting and getting stuff, but we never arrive at the dream life? What a mess!)
Two aspects of the 100 Thing Challenge have been most encouraging to me. First, it works. Nearly two years of living with a minimal, though completely adequate, amount of personal possessions, I’m no longer in the habit of consuming for consumption sake. My mindset and behavior have changed as a result of the 100 Thing Challenge. That’s freed me up for all sort of better endeavors than shopping, like spending time with family and writing a book and scheming about business opportunities.
The other part of the 100 Thing Challenge that has delighted me is all the cool responses other people have had to it. Lots of people have been inspired by the 100 Thing Challenge, not to take it exactly how I did, but to prioritize more meaningful pursuits than consumption. It’s awesome! The 100 Thing Challenge, it seems, has been the example that has given some people permission to say “No!” to go-nowhere consumerism.
That’s what the 100 Thing Challenge and a life of simplicity is all about. It’s not about counting things to keep or get rid of. It’s about freeing up space in our lives. Getting rid of the stuff that overwhelms and distracts us. Then making use of that space to do good things in our families, communities, and beyond.
Comments
Dave,
Amen! It’s not about counting. The people who stick with it will realize quickly that 100 is just an arbtrary number. The real “challenge” is an internal one (viz. we are challenging ourselves to be happier with less “stuff”). Until now we have masked our true potential for happiness with the camouflage of superfluous excess, and by getting rid of unnecessary things, we can focus on what’s important, we can focus on a meaningful life, one that is filled with happiness and freedom.
Take care,
Joshua Millburn
http://theminimalists.com
Yes sir! And another aspect of happiness and freedom is that they combine to motivate folks to do amazing things. A lot of innovation has been borne of that mixture.
Exactly. It is so interesting to me that four days into beginning to wear one dress for a year everyone wants to know if I have only one dress or multiples. I am more than happy to be honest about the fact that I have two I intend to rotate. As it isn’t about me being legalistic on that point but rather about abstaining from consumption for a year and giving myself freedom through extreme limitation for a year.
I’m thrilled that as a large voice in this community of minimalism that you remind that it isn’t about stuff, it is about freedom. Thanks!
Am I the 100-things or the 100.000-things woman? Defo, the second one. But what a challenge… the first thing I should get rid of is my debit card, PIN and details… thank you! Bye clutter and welcome freedom…
there is a difference between wanting stuff, and wanting what you have. the beauty of the 100 thing challenge is that you’re looking at what you have and what you are going to need. it encourages you to be mindful of the things that you keep around you. i personally have found that i’m being more honest with myself. i hear myself thinking things like: am i really going to read this book, and, do i actually wear this t-shirt anymore? i’ve been carrying around the props for certain hobbies, but haven’t really been doing the hobbies. i’ve been free to let things go where it was hard to do so before. i’ve actually really enjoyed giving things to friends and family knowing that they’ve since been put to good use. certainly my thinking has changed. from: what do i want? to: i’m happy.
This reminds me of a saying I had pinned to my notice board when I was studying….
Live Simply so that Others Simply Live.
thank you.
Hi,
I just found your website. I’d like to see your list of 100 things… where can I find it?
Thanks!
This is so inspiring! Yours is the first blog that has really made clear to me the connection between frugal living and positive social change. If more Americans can create the space in their lives that you have, what might we be able to accomplish!?
[...] Inspiration: http://guynameddave.com/2011/01/so-what-exactly-is-the-100-thing-challenge/ [...]
Very Interesting……sounds like a great way to live!! Would love to read more!
I love this, Im a minimalist so getting rid of the few things I do have has been very rewarding. Ive always believed if it doesn’t serve a purpose you need to get rid of it. But this challenge makes you question if you really need to buy it in the first place. Ive stopped buying things and started spending my money on expieriences and travel and I’m loving every minuate of it. Id love to get a smaller Loft so I could have less decor and space but this weird thing is loft spaces cost more??? But its my goal to have less, and I have very little now… so i think that say a lot:0
[...] to simplification, at least in terms of reducing the sheer number of objects we own is the 100 Thing Challenge. The point of the challenge is exactly what it sounds like: to reduce to 100 objects. When I [...]
[...] allow time for things that are important to you: relationships, family, your work, whatever. As the founder of the Challenge says, “It’s not about counting things to keep or get rid of. It’s about freeing up space in our [...]
Thank you for the inspiration! perhaps I will start in stages, and shoot for 500 items first!
-Ish
[...] challenge others to get their base pack weight below 10 lbs. In the minimalist world, there’s The 100 Thing Challenge. The overachievers of this game would be the Hadza who own way less than 10 [...]
My dear father, who grew up during the Great Depression (of the 1930′s), had a saying…. “We are a slave to our possessions.” I didn’t really understand it until I became an adult and had a family of my own. All that ‘stuff’ has to be sorted, cleaned, organised, fixed, thrown out and replaced. Which takes ALOT of time and energy. Less ‘stuff’ means more free time. I’m still trying to get rid of stuff. It’s an uphill battle…..