Extreme 30-Day Minimalist Challenge: 1 Item Per Day For 30 Days

Hi, I'm Aki, a schoolteacher living in a small village in Japan. Recently, I started a 30-day minimalist challenge to become an extreme minimalist. This challenge was inspired by the movie, My Stuff. The man in this movie put all his belongings in a storage unit. He took one item out each day for a whole year. I will be doing this challenge for 30 days.
1. Kimono
When I started this challenge, I started thinking about which item should be the first thing I would choose. I picked a kimono for the first one. A kimono can be worn as both top and bottom. It can also be used as a towel or as a blanket at night.
2. Obi
For the second day, I chose an obi. I thought I could go outside, but I realized I didn't have my shoes. Running in the morning with my bare feet can only be called hell.
3. Sandals to cover my feet
When I woke up this morning on the third day, I felt terrible. For breakfast, I ate frozen bread that I had thawed at room temperature. It tasted like ice and it was the worst. At noon I wore the sandals that I chose, and went to pick blueberries with my students.
4. T-shirt
You can wear the same clothes for three days, but any more than that, it gets sweaty and stinky. I thought I needed new clothes, so on the fourth day, I chose a T-shirt.
5. Shorts
On the fifth day, I chose shorts that match the T-shirt that I chose yesterday.
6. Mattress
On the sixth day, I did a video editing job at home. I wanted to at least use a cushion if I worked for a long time like this. I chose a mattress. I can finally sleep happily and in peace on the mattress tonight.
7. Toothbrush
For day seven, I chose a toothbrush. Without a toothbrush, I could polish my teeth with my fingers, but I couldn't remove the fine stains. No matter how I think about it, a toothbrush is better.
8. Travel bag
I went on a hot spring trip with my friend for two days so I needed a bag.
9. Underwear
I also brought along new underwear for the next day.
10. Tenugui towel
For day ten, I chose a Tenugui. Tenugui is a traditional Japanese towel. It's small and super lightweight, so I would recommend it for minimalists. It can be used as a bandana or a cleaning cloth too.
11. Hand-carved chopsticks
Today, I had a woodworking experience with my students. I made chopsticks, so I decided it would be the item I get for day eleven. I can eat food with my fingers without chopsticks, but I felt more human eating with chopsticks.
12. Deodorant
Yesterday one of my students said to me, “You are stinky.” So on day twelve, I chose deodorant spray.
13. Razor
My beard has grown considerably in thirteen days. So on day thirteen, I picked a Philips shaver and shaved my face. I felt so much better.
I didn’t choose anything new for a couple of days.
16. Another change of clothes
I managed to get by with just a kimono and a set of clothes, but it's safer to have different clothes to choose from. I chose a button-up shirt and linen pants and underwear for day sixteen.
From this point on, I didn't feel a strong desire to choose a new item each day. I was kind of content with what I already had.
20. Items needed to make and eat hot food
On day twenty, I was tired of cold food, so I decided to choose items so I could cook. I chose the stove, frying pan, wooden bowl, and bamboo cup since I hadn't chosen anything for a few days.
21. Foldable chair
On day twenty-one I chose a foldable camping chair. It’s light and easy to carry. You can also lean back if you want to take a break.
22. Nail clippers
If you don't cut your nails for 22 days, your nails will become long and annoying, so I cut them with a nail clipper I chose as my item for that day.
23. Refrigerator
I found that food can be stored for a few days in the underground storage space but it's better to store some things in the fridge than to have them rot by mistake. I thought it would be better to have one so I chose the fridge on day twenty-three.
24. Washing machine
I got used to washing clothes with my own hands but it's easier to use a washing machine than to wash my underwear every day. So, I chose a washing machine on day twenty-four. It’s so much easier.
25. Sleeping bag
Recently, it has been raining and cold. So I chose a Snow Peak sleeping bag for day twenty-five. Of course, I can sleep more peacefully with a sleeping bag rather than using a kimono blanket.
26. All-purpose knife
On day twenty-six I couldn't think of anything that I wanted, so I chose an all-purpose knife.
27. Cutting board
The next day I decided to get a cutting board.
28. Biwakofukin
It’s better to have something besides your fingers to wash the dishes with so on day twenty-eight I chose a Biwakofukin. This is a cloth, made in Japan, that was developed to avoid using detergents.
29. Rice cooker
I forgot about the most important electric appliance that Japanese people need. It's a rice cooker, so I chose it on day twenty-nine. Now I can eat rice.
30. Bamboo bike
It's finally the last day. It’s not necessary, but I wanted my bamboo bike.
30-day minimalist challenge
My 30-day journey of becoming an extreme minimalist is now over. I have learned that if you possess only a few things, you will develop the skills to adapt. I also learned that there are only a few things that I need to live contentedly.
This challenge was miserable for the first few days, but I highly recommend this 30-day minimalist challenge because it is a way to find out what is considered important in your life.
What 30 things would you need to make it through a month of extreme minimalism? Let us know in the comments.
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