“Instead of saying ‘no’ to gifts, say ‘yes’ to experiences.”
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Recalibrating Through Simplicity
Words by Carl Phillips
When I look back at what originally led me in the direction of trying to simplify my own life, a little over a decade ago, I see this pattern:
Striving / Burnout / Recalibrating / Simplifying
Let’s explore each.
1. Striving
- Chasing more
- Chasing status and “success”
- A “more of more” mindset
2. Burnout
- Stressed but unfulfilled
- A realisation that most of this striving was based around empty goals that were not truly meaningful for me at all
- A feeling that not enough of my time was really my time
- A feeling that I had lost my way in life, without being able to put my finger on where I wanted to get to or what it was I needed
3. Recalibrating
- Going Inside
- Re-connecting the dots on what is important to me and, by definition, what is not
- Asking myself some simple but revealing questions (self-enquiry)
- Finding the work of others that spoke a different language, a language that resonated (Leo Babauta, Joshua Becker, Courtney Carver, The Minimalists)
- Going deep on 80/20 thinking (spurred into action by Richard Koch’s books)—this concept was the paradigm shift I needed at this time of my life
- Reading and re-reading some classic works (Lao Tzu’s Tao TeChing, the work of Thich Nhat Hanh and Bruce Lee—all big on the concept of simplifying)
- Promising myself I would make changes to my own life from what I uncovered
4. Simplifying
- Understanding what enough looks like for me
- Setting my own metrics for “success” (not just chasing after a handed-down version from others)
- Making room for more simplicity in my life
- Committing to own my journey (not expecting the answers to come from outside)
- Realising enough can indeed be enough and that less can even mean more
- Uncovering what is essential to me
- Focusing on what matters most
- Seeking the signal amongst too much noise
For my journey ahead there are simple lessons in these patterns. If I remain committed to making time for recalibrating and simplifying, I should not need to revisit the darker side of striving or reach burnout.
Any striving I do should be in relation to goals and achievements I am connected to, not just striving for what society’s constructs tell me I should be chasing.
Life is full of ups and downs, but simplicity can act as a powerful anchor for all of us as we try to navigate the world.
Hit the Restart Button
Words by Jean Ong
My life had always been full of clutter. Many of the things I owned, some still in the box, didn’t spark joy in me. I decided my life needed a reset button to bring in more of the things that are important to me. I realized that I couldn’t cram in more. I first had to make room. The follwoing tips helped me created more room in my life for the things that truly count. And the best part was, these lifestyle changes are more sustainable for the planet.
Swap the “Buy Buy Buy” Mentality to a “Buy-to-Last” Mentality
I have a “buy buy buy” mentality. I buy compulsively, especially when an item is on sale. That’s how I end up with a lot of things I don’t even use. They fill every inch of closet and storage space. I even have some packages I didn’t bother to unbox, much less use. They’re just there, forgotten in my closet.
I decided to give up the “buy buy buy” mentality. I’m trying to give up the high that comes from bringing home something new or scoring a bargain.
I’ve adopted a new mindset to replace the old one. I’ve replaced it with a “buy-to-last” mentality. On top of style and cuteness factors, an item I purchase also needs to pass the quality, function, and craftsmanship criteria. The goal is to fill my home with things that spark joy and feels luxurious. So before I buy anything, I first ask these questions:
1. Would I buy it if it was full price?
2. Will it last me at least three years?
3. Do I see myself using it for the next three years?
Adopting this buy-to-last mentality is gentle to Mother Earth. With fewer things, we send less waste to the landfill when those things reach the end of their life.
Regularly Declutter Your Life
I lived in a beautiful home, but I’d turned it into a junkyard or warehouse. I hoarded stuff and crammed every inch of my home with items. But the thing with a cluttered life is that there’s no more space for the new or the wonderful things. When I let go of all the clutter, I made room for new things to enter, things that spark joy in me.
I now do periodic decluttering, such as monthly clean-ups to prevent clutter from building up to a daunting task. I find the most eco-friendly way to declutter is to donate these things via Facebook Marketplace, the Buy Nothing Group on Facebook, or the Olio app. This way, I know that the things I donate are actually useful to the recipient. I also like to upcycle what I have and gift it to friends and family. For example, microwavable plastic containers get upcycled into stackable pantry organizers and freezer meat organizers. I jazz them up with sticker labels and instantly help friends organize their pantry.
I’m glad my decluttering didn’t send more stuff to the landfill but instead helped it find new life in these people’s homes. This makes me feel like an Earth hero because I didn’t create more waste. I turned “waste” into a decluttering solution for my friends.
The two simple actions—changing my mentality and adopting a regular decluttering habit, helped me hit the restart button on my life. Embracing the minimalist life felt like a fresh start. A clean slate to begin again. It’s like January 1, even in the middle of the year.
A Little More of Less
A few other articles we think you might enjoy…
→ The Practice of Truly Enjoying Time Off by Leo Babauta
→ It Is Better to Donate Than Resell by Joshua Becker
→ 3 Steps to Cultivate Passion in Your Life by Rebecca Somogyi
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