Why on this good green earth do I have so much junk? — Imogen during her move from Ailurus to Meles
Welcome to the 3rd mini challenge of 2026!
Spring cleaning has arrived early in the Tomeverse this year. Seeing as we spend April in Bodyguard boot camp, hiding in trees, falling in love, getting new names, raising sea boards, preparing for the war in November, it makes sense that we want our homes to be as clutter free as possible pre-tourney month. So this month, inspired in part by JC’s organization efforts, the mini-challenge of the month is called “use it or lose it”.
The Challenge will run March 1-31, 2026.
To Participate
Look around your living area and find things that you might need to use or lose: books, stickers, notebooks, craft supplies, yarn, whatever you have too much of. You can focus on just one section, or try hard mode (more on that later).
Do a small section or try to go through your whole house. Totally up to you. We just want to help you make progress of some sort.
Check in at least once for the challenge to collect your badge at the end of the month.
What do I get for participating?
by Shyredfox
The badge that made Imogen squeal in delight and you get it for your own personal use. Badges are just online stickers, aren’t they?
(After the challenge, Imogen will post the badge and badge code in the #mini-challenges channel.)
(Shy also created a
Badge Collection Block Tutorial so you can store your badges on your character page or where ever you like, if you want to store them digitally. You'll have complete control over the block.
)
The Challenge
Use it
We all have hoards of something or another: craft supplies, notebooks, stickers and washi tape, etc. But we don’t put them to use and let them fulfill their purpose.
So, put stickers on a notebook. Put them on your water bottle. You can buy a reusable sticker book if you’re one of those people with sticker commitment issues. No judgment.
Plan outfits using the clothes you already own. Are you holding onto anything that needs repaired that you’ve put off? It’s time to get out that sewing kit. Change the purpose of clothing that is too old or unreparable and try to use it for something else. An old t-shirt might make a good rag.
Find food that is about to expire and try to make a meal using it. That meal you’ve been wanting to try out for the past month? No better time than the present to make it!
You bought that yarn for a reason. It’s been sitting with the rest of your stash for a reason. It’s time to take it out and use it. Make whatever originally you wanted to make with it, or if that no longer sparks joy try to find something else, a blanket? A scarf? A cute little buddy that if you make you should definitely show Imogen on discord?
Have books on every single flat surface? Well my friend, looks like you’re going on the reading challenge part two. Read. Those. Books!
Did you have to call me out that way on my yarn stash? — Novamoonlight
by Jemastock
Lose it.
Losing it doesn’t always mean throwing something away. It can mean donating things, giving items to friends, or recycling. Not everything that you no longer want needs to end up in a landfill.
Clothing can be recycled, donated in good condition to places nearby. Food that’s in date can be donated, maybe you tried it once and decided it wasn’t for you. Give it to someone in need. Give your yarn to someone else, see if your area has a used craft store, head to a retirement home and see if maybe they have a use for it. If you have kids books, see if a school near you might take them. Give books to friends. Put items up on Facebook market place or your local Freecycle group.! There are people out there that might want your stuff. Doesn’t matter how but get it out of your house.
Optional Hard Mode
by viarprodesign
This challenge comes with a rare Hard Mode (aka a challenge suggested by JC Boom).
Her personal challenge this month is getting rid of a number of things each day that match the date, one item on the first, two on the second, etc. By the end of the month you will be getting rid of 496 things. (While I, Imogen, won’t be joining Hard Mode I will certainly be cheering on all you who participate.)
Tools to help you on your way
Zoning
Focus on one area of your living space at a time. Maybe the kitchen is the most cluttered, maybe it’s your desk, the bedroom. Whatever is the worst, focus on that section first, then just go one area at a time. If you try to move the mountain you’re going to get overwhelmed.
Body Doubling
Team up with friends. Invite a friend over and have them sit with you while you do your work. Don’t want anyone to see your mess? Reach out to people in the mini-challenges channel on the Game Of Tomes Discord to see if anyone would be down to hang out in the body doubling voice channel. It’s great for having people in the background doing their own thing. Imogen uses this technique all the time when writing, and may be doing it as she types this article. (Did you know Nova has 69 poses and counting in a scene that is being worked on? The things you learn while body doubling. Happy might have gone off the rails.)
Pomodoro timers
You may know them, you may love them. You may hate them. But plenty of people swear by them. The concept is simple: you break your time slots into focused work sessions, and then take a short break in between them. 25 minutes on task and a 5 minute break is the one I see most use but you can do whatever feels right for you. The dopamine rush after finishing a pomodoro session may be enough to keep you going for another one. (After a break of course!)
by GRAPHICDESIGN574
Final Thoughts
Make sure you stay hydrated. Take breaks. You can do it. Use all of the things. Get rid of some things. We believe in you, and are here if you need anything.
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