The minimalism bug bit me over the break. I threw out, donated, or sold hundreds of household items - clothing, furniture, kitchen implements, garage... stuff (what IS all that stuff?) - and it feels fantastic.
When my eldest daughter saw my newly sparse bedroom, she looked around in approval. "Mum!" she said. "You're so nothing right now." I'm not fluent in 19-year-old, but I think she means "Wow, what a spacious and calm environment you've achieved by having fewer things in your zone."
It's not just posessions in the firing line. I've been through my budget, task list, and client list. I've eliminated expenses, reviewed my insurances, and cancelled subscriptions. I've cleared commitments from my calendar, items from my benchtops, and obligations from my shoulders.
It all started before Christmas when I noticed I was enjoying life more on the road than at home. The sensory deprivation chamber that a hotel room provides - just a few outfits, minimal housework and a curtailed task list - was so alluring and pleasing I was losing the motivation to go home. Every time I walked in my door, I'd feel the dread creep in as my internal tap started overflowing with suggestions and responsibilites.
Water the plants change the spa filter drop off the thing pick up the other thing fill in the form call the guy back clean the thing pay the bill write it down push the button go over there get in the car...
I refuse to resent my home, family, work, or choices.
If there's too much, I need to remove. I'm an adult, and if I'm overwhelmed, I get to make changes. The more 'things' I have in my life - items, jobs, worries, clients, et al - the more work I create for myself.
Less = more
So far, I don't miss anything I've removed, but I'm savouring everything I've gained.
- Fewer pillows on the bed means fewer pillowcases to wash and fewer steps to get into bed at night. But more importantly, it makes me feel calmer and more collected when it's time for sleep.
- Fewer clothes to wear means fewer choices available and fewer things to wash, hang, store, and mend. It also makes dressing a simpler and more enjoyable experience.
- Fewer plates encourages rinsing and reusing, reducing loads of the dishwasher to stack and put away, freeing up time for more dancing in the kitchen.
- Fewer books reduces clutter, guilt and obligation, and it encourages more regular trips to the library.
- Fewer tasks means deeper thinking.
- Fewer platforms means simpler workflows.
- Fewer commitments means more space to say yes to things I’m excited about.
So far, the cliche holds true: less is more.
Til next week,
AM
