Claire Birnie is an Edinburgh based Professional Organiser who undertook Project 3000 back in 2018. Claire set herself the challenge of getting rid of 3000 items in a year. Here she explains all.
The Problem
There is a trap that many of us fall into in the modern world. We have been taught to associate happiness and success with material goods and consumerism. Advertising inundates us with the message that our problems can be solved by simply buying more.
It is a trap that I see with my clients on a daily basis and it is one that I previously found myself stuck in. I realised that I had to make a major change.
The Solution
On New Year’s Day 2018 I set about changing my life for the better. I decided that in just one year I would declutter 3000 items from my home - that works out as almost ten items per day and was an ambitious goal. I had previously read that the average family home contains as many as 300,000 individual items. While I haven’t been able to verify this statistic since starting my challenge, I am convinced that the average home is stuffed full of far more stuff than is necessary or cherished! Letting go of some of these unneeded and unloved items can be a huge relief.
The Rules
The Experience
When I began the challenge in 2018 I could have never imagined what was about to follow. Within weeks people from around the world were participating in my New Year’s resolution. The hashtag was cropping up on social media posts in languages I didn’t speak, participants were messaging me from around the world about their successes and journalists were contacting me for interviews.
The growth and success of Project 3000 confirmed to me what I already suspected: many of us are overwhelmed by stuff but don’t know how and where to start tackling the problem.
By November 2018 I had met my target, with a whole month to spare. I quickly realised that I was not finished and as of December 2019 I am less than 600 items away from completing my second - and likely final - round of the challenge. Other participants have made it as far as 10,000 items decluttered from their homes.
Is it for you?
Having too much stuff is a nice problem to have, but it is still a problem. Living with less can be a transformational experience. For myself and other participants, Project 3000 has improved our lives in ways we never expected.
1. Less time cleaning and tidying
2. More money to put into rainy day savings or to help pay off debts.
3. A clearer focus on the things that really matter.
4. A greater sense of calm and contentment.
5. Fewer arguments with spouses and children.
6. Increased gratitude for and appreciation of the things we are blessed to have.
7. Enhanced awareness of the environmental impact of consumer culture.
8. Significant reduction in the desire to and enjoyment of shopping.
9. Less time spent searching for things.
For more information about The Tidy Life Project, Claire and project 3000 take a look at her website and instagram.
