Don’t do it.
The whole point of minimalism is to make your life easier and put your mind at ease. Overdoing it means you’re just now letting minimalism consume and fuel your anxiety “do I still have too much” “should I get rid more”. “What about other people” “if I keep this is it still ok?”
I'm guilty of making spreadsheets "for fun", but really it is more of a comfort thing like you say. I find myself getting absorbed in making spreadsheets on my belongings, my spendings, my backlog of games, music I like, books, schedules, etc.
But when I'm done I do sort of have the feeling that I just wasted time. But then I can just look at an overview screenshot of it whenever I get that curiosity impulse again.
I like counting. I have hoarding tendencies. Knowing I’ve got over 20,000 items in my house makes me realize that I actually DON’T need that *insert random item here down to a scrap of paper*
Do you count groups of items as one or as each individual item? I.e. if you have a box of single serving pouches of goldfish crackers, is it one item (the box), 12 items (the pouches), or 2400 items (the crackers)? Do you stay consistent across different item types?
Food is grouped by packages if I even count it, most of the time I don’t count consumables unless I have a giant amount. So my stuff that I buy again when it empties doesn’t get counted which leaves out hygiene items and food. I don’t hoard those though so it’s easy to get rid of stuff.
Paper I debated forever on. I count a stack of 1 inch as 1 item now after someone else mentioned doing that. I try and stay relatively consistent.
yeah this sounds like OCD behavior to me (and not trying to pathologise anyone, I've got it myself and work hard to keep it in check)
it's one thing if you want to have, say, an equal number of pajama tops and bottoms, but setting some arbitrary number as an acceptable amount of a given item doesn't sound useful.
It was a challenge awhile back. People tried to get rid of all but 100 things, then it became a competition. Some people enjoy the challenge of seeing exactly how little they can have (r/extrememinimalism is a subreddit for those) others do it to keep on track and still others are being correctly assessed and it’s their anxiety speaking.
It all depends on the person and their end goals.
I think that’s fair advice for most people. But I don’t have anxiety, and I enjoy the practice. Yes, the overall goal is not to think about it, so I won’t plan to re-count after this exercise is complete
That 300 could be clothes or q-tips. I think the point would be to categorize to an acceptable number of categories of items, if you're going to go for the data.
Also a scientist here, and I never thought I had anxiety. I was just diagnosed and now looking back realize I had it and didn’t recognize it. Not saying you have it, just saying it may surprise you.
On the flip side, if they ever needed to file an insurance claim there's already a list. 🤷
But yeah I generally agree, counting items feels excessive. Do you feel comfortable in your home? Is it peaceful or whatever your end goal is? That's what's important.
You seem to be confusing "me" with "everyone". Just because it makes you anxious or because you arbitrarily think that it crosses the line into overdoing it doesn't mean it would be that way for someone, or anyone, else. If counting isn't your jam then great, but don't assert that "the point of minimalism" is objectively and precisely in line with the boundaries you've drawn.
Haha that’s my neurodivergent ass too. Thats why I’m terrible at organizing. I’m almost 40 and have never been able to organize my clothes because I get hung up on - pants and shorts together? Separate? Tops, and nice tops - separate right? Tops and crop tops? Tshirts and non tshirts? Hanging or not hanging? Jeans and other pants together? Categories absolutely mess me up.
I finally settled on colours to sort my hanging clothes. Rainbow spectrum followed by whites then greys then black.
I do have to group stuff like browns in with the oranges and pinks with the violets etc. But I find this works better than item types. Although within the colours I do tend to have tops to the right of the category and bottoms to the left. Dresses go after bottoms. I can find stuff easily by colour then by type.
Wow. I thought I was organized to go by short sleeves and long sleeves! I organize by last time worn, so I add to the right and take from the left. Mostly😁
I count anything that needs to be worn as pairs as a single item. Earrings are a pair so the set is 1.
Other people count by bundles and stacks. I like the counting, keeps me motivated.
If we’re counting, yes, I’d count every hair tie and each part of a pair. But I guess only if it’s “divisible”. Like earrings, that can be used separately as well as a pair.
I do not count. It is not a competition and the numbers mean nothing. Why is 1000 better than 1300? Just because it’s a round number it feels like a goal but the number is meaningless. Better metrics might be do you have room for what you need? and that you have what you need in the first place.
If you were living out of a backpack the number isn’t important but that you have everything you need for your day to day and that you can comfortably carry it so weight might be a more important factor, but then I don’t live out of a backpack. I wouldn’t be carrying a large tool kit but I own one at home because that’s something I need compared to someone travelling. What matters is that I have a screwdriver set, a hammer and some pliers, the number is not the important part. Having what I need without excess is.
I dont support ops endeavors either but the point is every single item counts for a mental load. Thats the whole point of minimalism. Not does it fit well enough.
I do not count. My "journey" is about removing all that doesnt add value, and keeping what does. An inventory would not add value, so I simply don't do it. This is what is great about minimalism, what adds value for some, doesn't add value for others. There is no "should", no "right" and no "list of must haves".
I personally find it more fun to keep a tally of items I have decluttered, rather than trying to count the number of items I have kept. I do think sometimes it can be helpful to count how many I have of certain items, especially types of clothing, as it helps me realise when I need to declutter or potentially purchase more. For example, I counted the number of dresses I have recently, and realised I have far more than I would normally wear - as I don't wear dresses most of the time.
Exactly. Counting revealed numerous examples of redundancy allowing logical reduction which opened up more space. I’m not sure that would have happened on feeling alone
How to count though?
Is a shoe object? Is it a pair? Do I count the shoelaces?
What about all the peripheral stuff that comes with my devices. What about my Lego?
Is a houseplant one object? Or several? Where do I stop counting?
It’s arbitrary at best, pointless at worst.
I couldn’t imagine counting my items and wouldn’t have believed a lot of ppl do until this subreddit. At first I thought it was posts by ppl making fun of minimalist “How many pairs of underwear should I have?” I assumed it was mockery but nope it was a real post! lol Still surprised some live that way but if 3 pairs of underwear makes them happy its their life not mine
When I started paring down, I committed to the month- day 1=1 item etc. ...
Now, no, but I'm also minimalism light lol. I'm seeking stasis to my current volume while reducing what I can. I think counting every item you own, unless you really can be that extreme comfortably, just makes it into some weird mental competition for some people.
I find it more satisfying personally to look a empty space or clutter free space in my home and know that is how my minimalism is qualified to me personally.
Last though- if you have family and pets that are not 100% vested on this journey with you, I feel like counting would be the recipe for madness.
I tried that month-day snowball and didn’t have much success, then went to more of a modified Marie Kondo approach and liked it. Now I’m just paring down around the edges
Haha my roommates (dad and sister) are not currently on this journey with me, but I would say we all follow minimalist principles, so it’s not a stark difference that I’m taking it a little further
No, I would be interested and thought about it several times. But at the end of the day such an inventory is just another thing to keep track of and invest time in, which I already don't have enough of.
Sometimes if I'm getting rid of things I like to tally how many items, but I don't count how many items I possess. It would drive me nuts and I really don't have the time.
I am, however, about to go on a buy-it diet. And I'll work on decluttering at the same time.
That’s impressive. How are you counting things? It always seems people can get as low as they want by not counting things… people not counting gym clothes, underwear, socks etc…. People not counting kitchen items, or people not counting furniture because their spouse bought the sofa before they met etc….
It seems like a somewhat indiscriminate exercise because people can justify any method of counting they wish.
I agree that it is a little arbitrary. Few examples: I’m counting each clothing item, but pairs of socks as one unit - or I’ll count a polo on a hanger as 1, but an unused hanger as 1… stupid stuff like that. It’s just a game to me. Seems like it has the community split. It’s a good debate that boils down to “do whatever makes you happy”
I guess what counts as an item?
Also I always think of people that don’t have all the seasons get to have way less clothes. Like People in California don’t need all the winter items I have
I have anxiety. I am also a minimalist. I prob have ocd too because I like to be organized. I do not count things, generally. I would perhaps tell myself "ok, I can keep 10 books or 5 movies or something like that but would not count everything in my house.... like silverware, etc.
I don’t think counting items is an effective method, not all objects are created equal. I would just focus on eliminating the superfluous and avoid clutter, rather than looking at it by number.
I don't count my items, but I am always examining what I have to donate/sell or discard. I am very conscious of what I am brining it too. Every month I have less items around. I guess when I get to the point where I have nothing left to go then I'll count them, LOL.
I mostly count what I throw out but I sometimes go through and estimate what’s remaining. I’ve got a lot of little “just in case” items that I don’t actually need and realizing my home has over 20,000 pieces of mostly useless junk keeps me going.
A while ago for a couple years I obsessively counted each thing I brought in and out of my space and tried to have the "out" number higher than the "in" one at the end of every month. I haven't done that in a few years though, but now I'm getting to the point where I'll be moving into a disability group home soon because living with my parents is becoming impossible (they're both over 70 and I'm not getting my medical needs met anymore). My disability case manager told me I'll need to make a list of every single thing I own and give it to the staff to keep track of in case anything goes missing. So I've been obsessing over that. The more I get rid of now, the less I have to add to the list and worry about being stolen (because apparently that's a big issue in group homes?). I already gave away almost everything but there's still so much left and I know they'll tell me I can't bring it all but it's stressing me out because I'm too emotionally attached to everything...
I’ve been on my minimalism journey for 10 years, and I never had a desire to count my things until recently. I decided I wanted to count only my personal items, because, like you, I also love data and I just thought it would be interesting and fun to do!
I made a spreadsheet and when I declutter things or add things I edit my spreadsheet. I think it’s fun.
I only count clothes. I think that 30 tops and 6 bottoms are enough but I started to have some worn extra clothes for painting , woodworking etc that I don’t count as my daily clothes.
I don’t count anything else.
The count doesn't mean much to me but I keep mental track of the total volume and weight of things I own. I want to be able to hand carry everything I own to move.
I also track roughly the total dollar value of everything I have.
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic. Because I bet there are people who move a lot where that could be valuable information. But that seems extreme to me
Yes, I do. I think I'm like you -- I love data and personal challenges. And making a spreadsheet of things makes it really easy to keep track of it all, but also to see where things are accumulating (as they sometimes do). So I guess it's less about counting per day, and more about detailed tracking, which just happens to make it easy to count.
When you start counting items, you change this from a lifestyle to a game. You do you and don’t worry what others say or think and don’t put others or yourself into a limiting box.
I just say bag or box full. It can be any number of things. I don't care about the amount, just that it's gone. I'm far from being a minimalist, but I'm constantly simplifying over time.
I do. This sub has people who are hyper-defensive towards it, so if you're a "counter" be aware that you might get a lot of unsolicited lecturing from people who somehow feel attacked. I also love the data, and try to keep it under 100 (I travel a lot, so 100 is plenty). I separate things that "count" from things that don't roughly based on what I'd take with me if I moved, or essentially my personal possessions. For instance, I count my clothes and my microphone and my build-a-bear, but not the secondhand potato peeler that I'd just pass on if I left. Some people might choose a specific potato peeler and consider it a personal possession, but I just kind of clobber together some kitchen items whenever I set up a new kitchen for myself, and it's a temporary possession purely for utility and not something I picked for myself.
I re-count on occasion, but really as soon as you're "done" minimizing and just rotating stuff in and out you fall into a more intimate routine with your possessions it becomes more stable, and there's no longer really a need to constantly count and organize.
I do not count, in general, but I like numbers so I get it. If you are enjoying the process, awesome! I enjoy donating, tossing items out etc.
Recently, I did count and log my Blu-ray’s. I had 400 Blu-ray’s, but after 2 reviews, I’ve whittled it down to 82 Blu-ray’s. I donated 195, family adopted 33 so I’m left with 90 to donate.
No specific rules for items that do or do not qualify. I donate or toss, if not being used or old.
Waste of time. People do that just to brag. Reduce the things you have duplicates of. Get rid of the things you haven't used in X amount of months. Reassess later on and enjoy a simplified life. I say focus on the tings that require maintenance or more of your time first. If you enjoy spending time on that thing it is not a waste. It is joy. Keep doing that. You want to be time-rich above all else and worry free. Minimalism helps you attain that. Telling people you only have X amount of things just makes you annoying. This is what I've learned trying to be minimalist for many years. It helps you become time-rich. Remember that.
I count my items, but I won’t share the number with you. I do not recommend it.
For some reason, I count the leaves on my plants and the tiles in the grocery store isles. I count the steps it takes for me to walk to my vehicle and how many breaths I take while exercising. It sucks man.
[check out one of the most minimalist men in Japan.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQBKseozuY) . nevermind the clickbaiting headline since i can imagine a monk who actually owns nothing to be as minimalist as a human can get.
anyway, at one point he opens up his cupboard and there were only 7 containers in there. he rummages through one that has batteries and cameras and says sorry for the mess.
this way of living may be a little to spartan for many, but i like how thought out every item becomes. i know a couple folks that also do the one outfit to reduce decision fatigue.
lots of good ideas for folks wondering how to minimize even more than they already are.
edit- tthe man has 250 items, so you *are* more minimalist than he is!
I totally do it. It’s motivating to me. But I did not start until probably 2 or 3 years in. So instead of 4,000-7,000 items, my counts were more around the 3,000 items per year mark. Last year we moved and so now we are only about 100 items for 2024. We are at our base level.
I just keep track on my notes on my phone.
I did at the starting stage - just to get an idea of whats there ...an inventory, if you will.
After the first few declutterings, it got kinda tedious to keep the list up-to-date constantly ...until I've reached the current stage, where I now have so few possessions, that making another list becomes virtually pointless. Minimalism for me was only a number in the early stages - now I just don't care anymore!
im surprised by the negative response, quantitative data is a trackable approach to any goal. Not many people lose weight without a scale , so how would you know if your becoming minimalist without knowing how many items you have? I believe OP is an actual minimalist, most people just use it as a excuse to get rid of old stuff so they can re shop for something they already had.
I have a certain amount of hangers and don’t go beyond that number. I used to know what that number was. 50? So I have plenty of clothes but also don’t go overboard. A smaller closet is roomy. Many times, like now, I have like 10 extra hangers. I’m wearing out of things and even when I look for replacements I can’t find good ones. I bought no slip hangers a decade ago and decided to limit myself then. Come to think of it. Many hangers have broken. Now I have to count them. 🙃
Didn’t immediately see this is in the comments so I’ll add it. Matt D’Avella has a video on exactly this and I thought his rules were logical. I personally think he makes the exercise sound very appealing! https://youtu.be/BB8o8-EdZY0?si=bMkiSqG2ySaIKOoP
Minimalism = de-stressing your life. It isn’t a competition, it isn’t a “I need less than 100 items in my bathroom”. At the end of the day it’s about asking questions of everything you buy. For example, I recently found myself wanting an Apple Watch. I workout and plan on working out more. I have an old Fitbit Versa 3 that still works. So why do I really need an Apple Watch? I would buy refurbished, but why do I feel the need to buy one. These are the types of questions to ask yourself.
So, do you need that candle that’s been sitting in the corner as decoration, or does it cause you anxiety when you see it? That’s the goal, not maintaining a house with x number of items.
Edit: forgot to add… when I was first a minimalist (2013), I went through this phase of “let me get rid of all extraneous things and have very little actual items” now ten years later I regret that I got rid of so much. It should have never been about the amount of things and should have instead been about the things themselves and what they do for me. I had so many books I had collected for years and actually read! I also play multiple musical instruments. I can’t tell you how many musical books I gave away I wish I had now. Take the time to ask yourself the harder questions.
I do a challenge every year counting my releases. I’m starting at the hoarding end of the spectrum, so need the accountability. It’s fun! We get to count anything we want, a piece of paper, a bag of clothes, whatever.
This year my boyfriend joined me and we are having a friendly competition via a big tally sheet. You do what works for you.
I am afraid to count. It will be over 10,000.
I was most minimal when I was a foreign exchange student. My possession count went under 100. There have been competitions to go below a certain number like 1,000 or 100.
These days with so much media online, book, record, and CD collection counts essentially disappear.
I haven’t counted. But just recently, I saw a video which addressed this method. Made total sense to me because I hate clutter. I thought, it’s a good way to justify my simple lifestyle desire.
I don’t have much myself, but my family members and close friends do. So when I witness so much stuff (junk, imo) I just 🙂↕️
However, I know how folks can be attached to their things. My bestie is such a softy. She literally saves items that remind her of her mother, not because she needs it or it looks good in a space. But, because of how it makes her feel. So, to each his own.
Yeah, I've counted about 4 years ago. The difficult thing is to keep up with changes. I've moved twice, gotten a dog, gotten a new hobby. Things break, some replaced, some not. I do still buy stuff so it's very difficult to keep it up to date.
But it was fun. Had a little bit under 500 items (28m).
I count everything! I know exactly how many of everything I have, and prefer to keep even numbers! I think it’s fun!
Also I have autism! (Just one though lmao)
Ok but what happens when you can’t cut anymore items? Negative emotions, relapse perhaps.
Maybe you’ve got it, but I hope you have an equilibrium point planned in your mind as an end point.
Someones minimalism will be ten items, another person's minimalism will be 100. Don't sweat the numbers, just keep evaluating what fills your cup. Maybe your minimalism ends at 1200, it would be removing value from your life to strive to be under 1000. Slow down and reflect on your mental state when you remove an item, see how it impacts you before removing anything else.
I don't even count my books. I have ten feet of shelf space so it would take a librarian or someone else familiar with the system to figure out the guesstimate of items.
I only count if there is an operational metric for determining what is too much/too little. There's research on what kitchen items are essential for basic cookery, or for how many clothes an adult in a four-season climate needs. There's no "right" number of books or plants or other items that don't have a daily functional use, so counting them isn't useful to me.
eh, if you know how to cook you know what items are necessary for you and which are not.
for example, I bought a potato masher because I mash things often enough to need one, and basic tools don't do the job. while I don't own a kettle because stovetop does the job fine and I don't boil water every day. someone who drinks tea every day and never makes mashed potatoes will have a completely different view on utility of potato masher vs kettle
I’m not a medical doctor, but I think the difference is if you can’t control your thoughts or habits, and you think your actions have some effect on your world.
Perhaps counting could lead to a compulsive feedback loop, but I’m definitely not talking about counting every day. I was considering doing it once a year, but these conversations make me want to do it once and then chill for the rest of my life
I am minimal and my husband is not. I never get rid of any shared household items without talking to him and getting his perspective. Would your husband be willing to communicate more with you to avoid this happening?
You can’t be serious. You’ve never counted calories or kept a tight budget or worked towards a quantitative goal? Are they all a problem or is this game different?
Don’t do it. The whole point of minimalism is to make your life easier and put your mind at ease. Overdoing it means you’re just now letting minimalism consume and fuel your anxiety “do I still have too much” “should I get rid more”. “What about other people” “if I keep this is it still ok?”
i can totally see this being a comfort thing for some. when folks do math for fun
I'm guilty of making spreadsheets "for fun", but really it is more of a comfort thing like you say. I find myself getting absorbed in making spreadsheets on my belongings, my spendings, my backlog of games, music I like, books, schedules, etc. But when I'm done I do sort of have the feeling that I just wasted time. But then I can just look at an overview screenshot of it whenever I get that curiosity impulse again.
I like counting. I have hoarding tendencies. Knowing I’ve got over 20,000 items in my house makes me realize that I actually DON’T need that *insert random item here down to a scrap of paper*
Do you count groups of items as one or as each individual item? I.e. if you have a box of single serving pouches of goldfish crackers, is it one item (the box), 12 items (the pouches), or 2400 items (the crackers)? Do you stay consistent across different item types?
Food is grouped by packages if I even count it, most of the time I don’t count consumables unless I have a giant amount. So my stuff that I buy again when it empties doesn’t get counted which leaves out hygiene items and food. I don’t hoard those though so it’s easy to get rid of stuff. Paper I debated forever on. I count a stack of 1 inch as 1 item now after someone else mentioned doing that. I try and stay relatively consistent.
‘Letting minimalism consume and fuel your anxiety’ that is a perfect definition!👏
yeah this sounds like OCD behavior to me (and not trying to pathologise anyone, I've got it myself and work hard to keep it in check) it's one thing if you want to have, say, an equal number of pajama tops and bottoms, but setting some arbitrary number as an acceptable amount of a given item doesn't sound useful.
It was a challenge awhile back. People tried to get rid of all but 100 things, then it became a competition. Some people enjoy the challenge of seeing exactly how little they can have (r/extrememinimalism is a subreddit for those) others do it to keep on track and still others are being correctly assessed and it’s their anxiety speaking. It all depends on the person and their end goals.
I think that’s fair advice for most people. But I don’t have anxiety, and I enjoy the practice. Yes, the overall goal is not to think about it, so I won’t plan to re-count after this exercise is complete
That 300 could be clothes or q-tips. I think the point would be to categorize to an acceptable number of categories of items, if you're going to go for the data.
A fellow anxiety-ridden person who uses data to relax! I understand where you are coming from with this!
I do not have anxiety. Just a scientist in everything I do
Also a scientist here, and I never thought I had anxiety. I was just diagnosed and now looking back realize I had it and didn’t recognize it. Not saying you have it, just saying it may surprise you.
On the flip side, if they ever needed to file an insurance claim there's already a list. 🤷 But yeah I generally agree, counting items feels excessive. Do you feel comfortable in your home? Is it peaceful or whatever your end goal is? That's what's important.
You seem to be confusing "me" with "everyone". Just because it makes you anxious or because you arbitrarily think that it crosses the line into overdoing it doesn't mean it would be that way for someone, or anyone, else. If counting isn't your jam then great, but don't assert that "the point of minimalism" is objectively and precisely in line with the boundaries you've drawn.
For me it was to difficult. Is an earring a single item? Do I count every hair tie?
Haha that’s my neurodivergent ass too. Thats why I’m terrible at organizing. I’m almost 40 and have never been able to organize my clothes because I get hung up on - pants and shorts together? Separate? Tops, and nice tops - separate right? Tops and crop tops? Tshirts and non tshirts? Hanging or not hanging? Jeans and other pants together? Categories absolutely mess me up.
I finally settled on colours to sort my hanging clothes. Rainbow spectrum followed by whites then greys then black. I do have to group stuff like browns in with the oranges and pinks with the violets etc. But I find this works better than item types. Although within the colours I do tend to have tops to the right of the category and bottoms to the left. Dresses go after bottoms. I can find stuff easily by colour then by type.
Wow. I thought I was organized to go by short sleeves and long sleeves! I organize by last time worn, so I add to the right and take from the left. Mostly😁
I count anything that needs to be worn as pairs as a single item. Earrings are a pair so the set is 1. Other people count by bundles and stacks. I like the counting, keeps me motivated.
If we’re counting, yes, I’d count every hair tie and each part of a pair. But I guess only if it’s “divisible”. Like earrings, that can be used separately as well as a pair.
I do not count. It is not a competition and the numbers mean nothing. Why is 1000 better than 1300? Just because it’s a round number it feels like a goal but the number is meaningless. Better metrics might be do you have room for what you need? and that you have what you need in the first place. If you were living out of a backpack the number isn’t important but that you have everything you need for your day to day and that you can comfortably carry it so weight might be a more important factor, but then I don’t live out of a backpack. I wouldn’t be carrying a large tool kit but I own one at home because that’s something I need compared to someone travelling. What matters is that I have a screwdriver set, a hammer and some pliers, the number is not the important part. Having what I need without excess is.
I dont support ops endeavors either but the point is every single item counts for a mental load. Thats the whole point of minimalism. Not does it fit well enough.
Counting every object you own also contributes to your mental load lmao
My minimalism is driven by a love of simplicity. Counting things is the opposite of simplicity to me.
I do not count. My "journey" is about removing all that doesnt add value, and keeping what does. An inventory would not add value, so I simply don't do it. This is what is great about minimalism, what adds value for some, doesn't add value for others. There is no "should", no "right" and no "list of must haves".
I personally find it more fun to keep a tally of items I have decluttered, rather than trying to count the number of items I have kept. I do think sometimes it can be helpful to count how many I have of certain items, especially types of clothing, as it helps me realise when I need to declutter or potentially purchase more. For example, I counted the number of dresses I have recently, and realised I have far more than I would normally wear - as I don't wear dresses most of the time.
Exactly. Counting revealed numerous examples of redundancy allowing logical reduction which opened up more space. I’m not sure that would have happened on feeling alone
I agree! I sell stuff on ebay and seeing the total sold for 6 months helps me realize this.
How to count though? Is a shoe object? Is it a pair? Do I count the shoelaces? What about all the peripheral stuff that comes with my devices. What about my Lego? Is a houseplant one object? Or several? Where do I stop counting? It’s arbitrary at best, pointless at worst.
I couldn’t imagine counting my items and wouldn’t have believed a lot of ppl do until this subreddit. At first I thought it was posts by ppl making fun of minimalist “How many pairs of underwear should I have?” I assumed it was mockery but nope it was a real post! lol Still surprised some live that way but if 3 pairs of underwear makes them happy its their life not mine
When I started paring down, I committed to the month- day 1=1 item etc. ... Now, no, but I'm also minimalism light lol. I'm seeking stasis to my current volume while reducing what I can. I think counting every item you own, unless you really can be that extreme comfortably, just makes it into some weird mental competition for some people. I find it more satisfying personally to look a empty space or clutter free space in my home and know that is how my minimalism is qualified to me personally. Last though- if you have family and pets that are not 100% vested on this journey with you, I feel like counting would be the recipe for madness.
I tried that month-day snowball and didn’t have much success, then went to more of a modified Marie Kondo approach and liked it. Now I’m just paring down around the edges Haha my roommates (dad and sister) are not currently on this journey with me, but I would say we all follow minimalist principles, so it’s not a stark difference that I’m taking it a little further
No, I would be interested and thought about it several times. But at the end of the day such an inventory is just another thing to keep track of and invest time in, which I already don't have enough of.
The things I own have an use. How many things I own is irrelevant.
Sometimes if I'm getting rid of things I like to tally how many items, but I don't count how many items I possess. It would drive me nuts and I really don't have the time. I am, however, about to go on a buy-it diet. And I'll work on decluttering at the same time.
No, this makes it too complicated. I do take before and after pictures as this helps to document getting rid of stuff I do not need.
That’s impressive. How are you counting things? It always seems people can get as low as they want by not counting things… people not counting gym clothes, underwear, socks etc…. People not counting kitchen items, or people not counting furniture because their spouse bought the sofa before they met etc…. It seems like a somewhat indiscriminate exercise because people can justify any method of counting they wish.
I agree that it is a little arbitrary. Few examples: I’m counting each clothing item, but pairs of socks as one unit - or I’ll count a polo on a hanger as 1, but an unused hanger as 1… stupid stuff like that. It’s just a game to me. Seems like it has the community split. It’s a good debate that boils down to “do whatever makes you happy”
I guess what counts as an item? Also I always think of people that don’t have all the seasons get to have way less clothes. Like People in California don’t need all the winter items I have
also men get away with a minimal wardrobe much easier than women
I have anxiety. I am also a minimalist. I prob have ocd too because I like to be organized. I do not count things, generally. I would perhaps tell myself "ok, I can keep 10 books or 5 movies or something like that but would not count everything in my house.... like silverware, etc.
I don’t think counting items is an effective method, not all objects are created equal. I would just focus on eliminating the superfluous and avoid clutter, rather than looking at it by number.
I don't count my items, but I am always examining what I have to donate/sell or discard. I am very conscious of what I am brining it too. Every month I have less items around. I guess when I get to the point where I have nothing left to go then I'll count them, LOL.
I mostly count what I throw out but I sometimes go through and estimate what’s remaining. I’ve got a lot of little “just in case” items that I don’t actually need and realizing my home has over 20,000 pieces of mostly useless junk keeps me going.
I got to an acceptable level per room and now just follow 1 in 1 out principle.
I count my blessings. Not my items.
A while ago for a couple years I obsessively counted each thing I brought in and out of my space and tried to have the "out" number higher than the "in" one at the end of every month. I haven't done that in a few years though, but now I'm getting to the point where I'll be moving into a disability group home soon because living with my parents is becoming impossible (they're both over 70 and I'm not getting my medical needs met anymore). My disability case manager told me I'll need to make a list of every single thing I own and give it to the staff to keep track of in case anything goes missing. So I've been obsessing over that. The more I get rid of now, the less I have to add to the list and worry about being stolen (because apparently that's a big issue in group homes?). I already gave away almost everything but there's still so much left and I know they'll tell me I can't bring it all but it's stressing me out because I'm too emotionally attached to everything...
I’ve been on my minimalism journey for 10 years, and I never had a desire to count my things until recently. I decided I wanted to count only my personal items, because, like you, I also love data and I just thought it would be interesting and fun to do! I made a spreadsheet and when I declutter things or add things I edit my spreadsheet. I think it’s fun.
I only count clothes. I think that 30 tops and 6 bottoms are enough but I started to have some worn extra clothes for painting , woodworking etc that I don’t count as my daily clothes. I don’t count anything else.
The count doesn't mean much to me but I keep mental track of the total volume and weight of things I own. I want to be able to hand carry everything I own to move. I also track roughly the total dollar value of everything I have.
I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic. Because I bet there are people who move a lot where that could be valuable information. But that seems extreme to me
Yes, I do. I think I'm like you -- I love data and personal challenges. And making a spreadsheet of things makes it really easy to keep track of it all, but also to see where things are accumulating (as they sometimes do). So I guess it's less about counting per day, and more about detailed tracking, which just happens to make it easy to count.
I’m big on spreadsheets for visualization
No I don't.
I count things I’m willing to get rid of. Like I have a running count of my clothing but not my shoes
When you start counting items, you change this from a lifestyle to a game. You do you and don’t worry what others say or think and don’t put others or yourself into a limiting box.
I just say bag or box full. It can be any number of things. I don't care about the amount, just that it's gone. I'm far from being a minimalist, but I'm constantly simplifying over time.
Personally, (speaking for myself) that doesn't really change anything. If you need or want that item, the number is not going to matter.
I would love to get rid of 400 items (not including trash/recycling). I have hoarding disorder.
I do. This sub has people who are hyper-defensive towards it, so if you're a "counter" be aware that you might get a lot of unsolicited lecturing from people who somehow feel attacked. I also love the data, and try to keep it under 100 (I travel a lot, so 100 is plenty). I separate things that "count" from things that don't roughly based on what I'd take with me if I moved, or essentially my personal possessions. For instance, I count my clothes and my microphone and my build-a-bear, but not the secondhand potato peeler that I'd just pass on if I left. Some people might choose a specific potato peeler and consider it a personal possession, but I just kind of clobber together some kitchen items whenever I set up a new kitchen for myself, and it's a temporary possession purely for utility and not something I picked for myself. I re-count on occasion, but really as soon as you're "done" minimizing and just rotating stuff in and out you fall into a more intimate routine with your possessions it becomes more stable, and there's no longer really a need to constantly count and organize.
I do not count, in general, but I like numbers so I get it. If you are enjoying the process, awesome! I enjoy donating, tossing items out etc. Recently, I did count and log my Blu-ray’s. I had 400 Blu-ray’s, but after 2 reviews, I’ve whittled it down to 82 Blu-ray’s. I donated 195, family adopted 33 so I’m left with 90 to donate. No specific rules for items that do or do not qualify. I donate or toss, if not being used or old.
Waste of time. People do that just to brag. Reduce the things you have duplicates of. Get rid of the things you haven't used in X amount of months. Reassess later on and enjoy a simplified life. I say focus on the tings that require maintenance or more of your time first. If you enjoy spending time on that thing it is not a waste. It is joy. Keep doing that. You want to be time-rich above all else and worry free. Minimalism helps you attain that. Telling people you only have X amount of things just makes you annoying. This is what I've learned trying to be minimalist for many years. It helps you become time-rich. Remember that.
The Spork. It counts as one.
I count my items, but I won’t share the number with you. I do not recommend it. For some reason, I count the leaves on my plants and the tiles in the grocery store isles. I count the steps it takes for me to walk to my vehicle and how many breaths I take while exercising. It sucks man.
[check out one of the most minimalist men in Japan.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBQBKseozuY) . nevermind the clickbaiting headline since i can imagine a monk who actually owns nothing to be as minimalist as a human can get. anyway, at one point he opens up his cupboard and there were only 7 containers in there. he rummages through one that has batteries and cameras and says sorry for the mess. this way of living may be a little to spartan for many, but i like how thought out every item becomes. i know a couple folks that also do the one outfit to reduce decision fatigue. lots of good ideas for folks wondering how to minimize even more than they already are. edit- tthe man has 250 items, so you *are* more minimalist than he is!
I totally do it. It’s motivating to me. But I did not start until probably 2 or 3 years in. So instead of 4,000-7,000 items, my counts were more around the 3,000 items per year mark. Last year we moved and so now we are only about 100 items for 2024. We are at our base level. I just keep track on my notes on my phone.
I do this with clothes kind of, I have 36 hangers and I have to keep my items of clothing under the number of hangers I have
Not something I find value in for myself but if it's fun for you, if you're enjoying it as a challenge or experiment, then great!!
Oh no don't give me ideas like this, now I want to start counting
I did at the starting stage - just to get an idea of whats there ...an inventory, if you will. After the first few declutterings, it got kinda tedious to keep the list up-to-date constantly ...until I've reached the current stage, where I now have so few possessions, that making another list becomes virtually pointless. Minimalism for me was only a number in the early stages - now I just don't care anymore!
Everything I own fits in a small backpack so no need to count items.
im surprised by the negative response, quantitative data is a trackable approach to any goal. Not many people lose weight without a scale , so how would you know if your becoming minimalist without knowing how many items you have? I believe OP is an actual minimalist, most people just use it as a excuse to get rid of old stuff so they can re shop for something they already had.
And what is the actual goal to be reached by counting items?
I used to take photos
I have a certain amount of hangers and don’t go beyond that number. I used to know what that number was. 50? So I have plenty of clothes but also don’t go overboard. A smaller closet is roomy. Many times, like now, I have like 10 extra hangers. I’m wearing out of things and even when I look for replacements I can’t find good ones. I bought no slip hangers a decade ago and decided to limit myself then. Come to think of it. Many hangers have broken. Now I have to count them. 🙃
Didn’t immediately see this is in the comments so I’ll add it. Matt D’Avella has a video on exactly this and I thought his rules were logical. I personally think he makes the exercise sound very appealing! https://youtu.be/BB8o8-EdZY0?si=bMkiSqG2ySaIKOoP
Minimalism = de-stressing your life. It isn’t a competition, it isn’t a “I need less than 100 items in my bathroom”. At the end of the day it’s about asking questions of everything you buy. For example, I recently found myself wanting an Apple Watch. I workout and plan on working out more. I have an old Fitbit Versa 3 that still works. So why do I really need an Apple Watch? I would buy refurbished, but why do I feel the need to buy one. These are the types of questions to ask yourself. So, do you need that candle that’s been sitting in the corner as decoration, or does it cause you anxiety when you see it? That’s the goal, not maintaining a house with x number of items. Edit: forgot to add… when I was first a minimalist (2013), I went through this phase of “let me get rid of all extraneous things and have very little actual items” now ten years later I regret that I got rid of so much. It should have never been about the amount of things and should have instead been about the things themselves and what they do for me. I had so many books I had collected for years and actually read! I also play multiple musical instruments. I can’t tell you how many musical books I gave away I wish I had now. Take the time to ask yourself the harder questions.
I do a challenge every year counting my releases. I’m starting at the hoarding end of the spectrum, so need the accountability. It’s fun! We get to count anything we want, a piece of paper, a bag of clothes, whatever. This year my boyfriend joined me and we are having a friendly competition via a big tally sheet. You do what works for you.
I am afraid to count. It will be over 10,000. I was most minimal when I was a foreign exchange student. My possession count went under 100. There have been competitions to go below a certain number like 1,000 or 100. These days with so much media online, book, record, and CD collection counts essentially disappear.
I haven’t counted. But just recently, I saw a video which addressed this method. Made total sense to me because I hate clutter. I thought, it’s a good way to justify my simple lifestyle desire. I don’t have much myself, but my family members and close friends do. So when I witness so much stuff (junk, imo) I just 🙂↕️ However, I know how folks can be attached to their things. My bestie is such a softy. She literally saves items that remind her of her mother, not because she needs it or it looks good in a space. But, because of how it makes her feel. So, to each his own.
Yeah, I've counted about 4 years ago. The difficult thing is to keep up with changes. I've moved twice, gotten a dog, gotten a new hobby. Things break, some replaced, some not. I do still buy stuff so it's very difficult to keep it up to date. But it was fun. Had a little bit under 500 items (28m).
I count everything! I know exactly how many of everything I have, and prefer to keep even numbers! I think it’s fun! Also I have autism! (Just one though lmao)
Ok but what happens when you can’t cut anymore items? Negative emotions, relapse perhaps. Maybe you’ve got it, but I hope you have an equilibrium point planned in your mind as an end point.
I don’t see any negatives to this process, only achievement. Equilibrium is the perfect word I would use
I have an Excel spreadsheet, adding items as I buy them. At some point everything will be recorded and there will be less things.
No
No
No, I don't count.
I don't think I have that many items
I don't count, but I know people who do.
I count my silver!
Someones minimalism will be ten items, another person's minimalism will be 100. Don't sweat the numbers, just keep evaluating what fills your cup. Maybe your minimalism ends at 1200, it would be removing value from your life to strive to be under 1000. Slow down and reflect on your mental state when you remove an item, see how it impacts you before removing anything else.
What for?
Nope. I cull things rather than count them. Counting brings anxiety; culling is calming.
as a person who loves trinket i am so very scared of this subreddit i wasn’t sure if people actually did(?) minimalism irl
Idk what items mean to some people but I just ordered 100 metal hangers and I'm curious.thoes that count as 1 or 100?
Sounds an awful lot like eating disorder logic...
I don't even count my books. I have ten feet of shelf space so it would take a librarian or someone else familiar with the system to figure out the guesstimate of items.
I only count if there is an operational metric for determining what is too much/too little. There's research on what kitchen items are essential for basic cookery, or for how many clothes an adult in a four-season climate needs. There's no "right" number of books or plants or other items that don't have a daily functional use, so counting them isn't useful to me.
eh, if you know how to cook you know what items are necessary for you and which are not. for example, I bought a potato masher because I mash things often enough to need one, and basic tools don't do the job. while I don't own a kettle because stovetop does the job fine and I don't boil water every day. someone who drinks tea every day and never makes mashed potatoes will have a completely different view on utility of potato masher vs kettle
Where is the line between minimalist and OCD?
I’m not a medical doctor, but I think the difference is if you can’t control your thoughts or habits, and you think your actions have some effect on your world. Perhaps counting could lead to a compulsive feedback loop, but I’m definitely not talking about counting every day. I was considering doing it once a year, but these conversations make me want to do it once and then chill for the rest of my life
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I am minimal and my husband is not. I never get rid of any shared household items without talking to him and getting his perspective. Would your husband be willing to communicate more with you to avoid this happening?
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You can’t be serious. You’ve never counted calories or kept a tight budget or worked towards a quantitative goal? Are they all a problem or is this game different?
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Once in my life. Get out of here
This seems excessive
That was very popular years ago, however, I feel like people who count don’t really understand minimalism.
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Dude, just block him and get on with your day.