As my move approaches, I am nearly packed. I have a few kitchen items left, and a dresser full of canning and preserving equipment that need to be dealt with. Other than that, everything is in boxes and bags, ready to be loaded into my car. I have a lot of stuff, but certainly not nearly as much as I had about a week ago. By my best estimates, I have reduced my belongings by about 1/3. How?
Uncluttering, Part I
This step is based on getting rid of what is easy to part with. I am committed to living more simply, so it was not very difficult for me to identify what items I do not use, and get rid of them.
I went through each space in my home and culled out all the items that I don't use. This was relatively easy. I tried on all the clothing I owned and made a sizable pile of what I either don't wear or doesn't fit. I put everything in my kitchen onto the counter and picked out duplicates and items that I've never (or rarely) used. I did this for the entire house. Then I put some ads on Craigslist and in the local paper, emptied these items onto my front lawn, and had a yard sale. At the end, the remaining items--an entire Subaru Outback's worth--went straight to charity.
Uncluttering, Part II
This step is motivated by the fact that I have to move all of my belongings to a new house this weekend. The more I get rid of, the less I have to move.
As I packed, I asked myself whether I really needed the item I was about to put into a box. I was not as ruthless here as I probably ought to have been, but it resulted in another 1/2 car load of items going to charity this morning.
Uncluttering, Part III
This will be done in a few weeks, when I actually unpack my stuff at my new house. As I have gone through this process, I have been slowly loosening the grip of consumerism. I have been conditioned to think that I need stuff in order to be happy. I am now to the point that the amount of stuff I have is disturbing. This is a step in the right direction, but I'm not done yet.
I am pleased with the progress I have made, but there is more to be done. Thankfully, I have a 2 week vacation to reward myself for my hard work and restore my energy. When I return I will complete Part III, and hopefully be in a good position to start my new, uncluttered life.
Showing posts with label simple living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label simple living. Show all posts
7.22.2010
6.16.2010
The Simple Life
No, not the trashy TV show with Paris Hilton and her brainless side kick. Simple living is a trend that has been reinvigorated as of late. Basically, those who choose to live simply renounce consumerism (mostly) and survive on less--often much less--than the average American.
Why? Consumerism is the new American Dream. Material things have become a part of our identity. We think that in order to be happy we need stuff--and lots of it. Not only is this stuff bad for the planet, it's bad for us. The more we buy into consumerism, the more we become dissatisfied with what we have, leading us to consume more (which, by the way, is the goal of many companies who have a product to sell). This process detaches us from our human and natural surroundings, which has been shown to decrease happiness. So, folks have started to buck the consumerist lifestyle and replace it with one focused more on people, the planet, and doing what they love.
I've recently decided to give this lifestyle change a shot. I've become increasingly stressed out about how much stuff I have, to the point that it is getting in the way of my life. So it's time to focus on what is important. I'll be using several blogs as inspiration, which you should check out, when you have a chance. Here are a few I like so far:
Unclutterer
Re-Nest (by Apartment Therapy)
Zen Habits (but particularly the Simple Living Manifesto)
I'll post more links to websites that help me along my way. But first, the Simple Living Manifesto suggests making a list of 4-5 things that are the most important to you. The things you do and the way that you live should relate to the things on this list. If they don't, you should take pause and seriously consider what that activity or lifestyle choice is doing for you, and whether it is even necessary. So, here's a first blush at that list...
Why? Consumerism is the new American Dream. Material things have become a part of our identity. We think that in order to be happy we need stuff--and lots of it. Not only is this stuff bad for the planet, it's bad for us. The more we buy into consumerism, the more we become dissatisfied with what we have, leading us to consume more (which, by the way, is the goal of many companies who have a product to sell). This process detaches us from our human and natural surroundings, which has been shown to decrease happiness. So, folks have started to buck the consumerist lifestyle and replace it with one focused more on people, the planet, and doing what they love.
I've recently decided to give this lifestyle change a shot. I've become increasingly stressed out about how much stuff I have, to the point that it is getting in the way of my life. So it's time to focus on what is important. I'll be using several blogs as inspiration, which you should check out, when you have a chance. Here are a few I like so far:
Unclutterer
Re-Nest (by Apartment Therapy)
Zen Habits (but particularly the Simple Living Manifesto)
I'll post more links to websites that help me along my way. But first, the Simple Living Manifesto suggests making a list of 4-5 things that are the most important to you. The things you do and the way that you live should relate to the things on this list. If they don't, you should take pause and seriously consider what that activity or lifestyle choice is doing for you, and whether it is even necessary. So, here's a first blush at that list...
- Family & friends
- My dogs, Pip & Sam
- Cooking & baking
- Sustainable living
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