Happy August! I hope your summer has been incredible so far. It’s time for the monthly Mins Game challenge.
August is usually when we’re thinking about autumn, Halloween, back-to-school, and seasons changing. What is your biggest event or shift in August?
Let’s review the Mins Game rules, grab our tally charts, and look at a few themes you might use to make August unique and fun.
What is Mins Game?
“MinsGame” is short for Minimalism Game, a monthly decluttering challenge created by The Minimalists. It is a monthly challenge designed to simplify life and promote the practice of minimalism.
The rules are simple!
- On the first day of the month, declutter one item.
- On the second day, declutter two.
- On the third, three.
- And so on.
Some people like to play backwards, where on the first of the month, they declutter 31 items.
The second day, they declutter 30 items, and so on.
The downloadable tally chart below is a free printable that allows you to participate and track your progress with either version of play!
August Mins Game Tally Chart Free Printable Download
Grab your free tally chart to track your Mins Game progress:
And don’t forget to check back in with us each month to grab your new tally chart!
How to Play the Mins Game
Ready to dive in? Here’s a simple guide to get you started!
1. Commit to the challenge. Get yourself in the mental space to stick to the challenge. Connect with others doing the same challenge, download the chart to track your progress, or do whatever you need to do to stick with it.
2. Start small. On the first day, get rid of one item that you no longer need or use. It could be anything from an old magazine to a broken hair product. Simple!
3. Increase daily. On the second day, get rid of two items, and continue this pattern for the entire month. By the end of the challenge, you’ll have gotten rid of a significant amount of stuff.
4. Stay motivated. Take breaks when needed and keep your motivation high. Consider involving family members or friends to join you in the challenge. You can also join our Facebook group, where hundreds of people participate in the challenge every month!
5. Play backwards. If you’ve played the game before, you might want a new challenge! Play it backwards by reversing the order–on day one, get rid of the most items. On the last day of the month, you’ll only get rid of one!
6. Try a theme. This is another great idea to keep the challenge fresh, if you like to participate every month. Keep reading for theme ideas.
August Mins Game Themes
If you participate every month, you might be looking for a new angle to make the challenge exciting again. Here are a few ideas!
Back-To-School
If you didn’t get around to decluttering the school items yet, now’s a good time! Take a look at school supplies, backpacks, clothes and shoes that no longer fit, etc. Get the kiddos involved, if you can!
Seasons Change
Summer is drawing to a close, and fall is just around the corner! Take this transitional time to declutter summer items you didn’t use this year, or look ahead and start going through things like Halloween/Autumn decor.
Family Fun Month
August is Family Fun Month! Are you a sporty family? A board game family? Film family? Whatever activities your family likes to do for fun, take a look at your supplies and products and do a good declutter.
Or just get your family involved in the challenge!
More decluttering challenges.
Here are some other fun decluttering games you might like.
2,025 in 2025
Looking for a longer running decluttering game? This is a year-long challenge, where participants race to declutter 2,025 items by the end of 2025!
Scavenger Hunt
Try out this super fun decluttering scavenger hunt! It’s a great way to get rid of stuff and include the kiddos! Or you can do it with a partner or friend.
100 Items To Declutter
If you want to try an easier challenge, try out this checklist of 100 specific items you can declutter around your house! You can finish this one in a weekend, or even in an afternoon.
