Living Simply: After the decluttering

Hello, I hope my last post helped you figure out what you want to get accomplished in the way of decluttering before the fall comes. Now let's talk about moving beyond the clutter.

The living simply mindset is one of peace and contentment. My choices how to fill my day are intentional. That doesn't mean if you have a job or are in school, you have no choice, or you need to quit. It just means you choose to go to work or school because it serves a more important value, such as paying the bills, sleeping indoors, eating on a regular basis...

After you decluttered your space, what's the next step to move towards a simple life with less "mind clutter"? Here are a few things to think about to get you started.

1.  The biggest one is social media. Did you know there are over 200 million people who are actually ADDICTED to social media???!!! That means it's not just something they do when they're at home bored or waiting in a doctor's office. This means it actually interferes with them getting through their day! Here's another statistic: Did you know that teens who spend 5 hours or more on their phone every day are TWO TIMES as likely to suffer depression? It's becoming a statistically significant cause of suicide in research studies. We are at the point now that here in America, the number of people who are using social media WHILE DRIVING is at a whopping 50%!!! And it's illegal in many states.

It's time to unplug. To simplify your life, delete apps you no longer use from your phone, change how often you're on social media, delete unwanted websites from your computer's bookmarks and favorites that you no longer need, delete photos you don't need (transfer important ones to a flash/USB drive). Simplify your computer's desktop along with your phone.

2.  Simplify your food. To live a peaceful life take a good look at your health choices and clean up your eating habits. Declutter your kitchen and pantry from unhealthy food and replace them with healthier options the next few times you shop. If you notice your portion sizes look like those platters they call entrees in a restaurant, cut back. If you notice you're eating too much of one thing, such as too much dairy, cut back. I'm two months into eating vegan and I have more energy, sleep better, and feel great. I know it's not for everyone, but simple food, real food, helps me balance mood swings, stay in a state of contentment, and have more peace. Find your healthier eating plan.

3.  Simplify your finances. Make a plan to pay off some debt, starting with the smallest amount. When that's paid off, take the money you used to use to pay it with, and add it to the next smallest debt. For example, if you used to send $50 each month to a Visa card, and you send $100 to Discover, then once your Visa balance is paid off, send $150 to Discover until that's paid off too. Then add the $150 to whatever your payment is on a 3rd debt...etc. Less debt brings contentment too.

4.  Remove things from your life you no longer need such as magazine or other monthly "box" subscriptions. If they are something you enjoy, or they add value to your life, keep them - but if they are costing you more for convenience sake and you aren't using them like you should - drop them.

5.  Simplify the toxins in your environment. If you want to reduce the number of toxins around you, there are great ideas and recipes online - check out either a Google search, YouTube, or Pinterest to figure out how to make easy cleaners, laundry detergent, body care, and other household items using natural ingredients. Often they save you tons of money as well.

6.  Get rid of toxic relationships. So many people I know are in relationships with neighbors, coworkers, group members, sometimes even families - and it's killing them with stress, literally. I am all for doing your best to enhance relationships, but there are some people in this world who will always be selfish, narcissistic, demanding, rude, takers and never givers, and they do not deserve as much attention as they feel they want. Distance yourself. Say no. Give yourself permission to get away from these people that are sucking the life out of you, or worse, are detrimental to the mental and physical health of you and your family.

7.  Simplify your schedule. Are you over-committed? Is it because you feel guilty for saying no to people's requests? Or is this just a temporary season of your life that must be busy to pursue a more peaceful or intentional future? I am busy, like everyone else, but I am learning to say no to things that are not my responsibility. I still volunteer and serve through my church and community, but I don't feel as obligated to do everything that needs doing. I have realized I cannot save the world. I would rather say no to something not so important to me so that I will have the time to say yes to something (or better yet, to someONE) that needs my attention.

Whatever fits your goals, direction, values, and lifestyle, make this work for you - just simplify to create the life YOU desire.

Living Simply: Preparing for a new season

   

    I know it's still mid-summer in some places, but here in the southwest, kids are back in school, colleges start back up in just a few weeks, and before you know it, it'll be Labor Day here in the states and we'll be into September. 

  

     Hopefully, during our summer season you got plenty of great ideas of which direction you want to be moving as time goes on, and you have thought about what you need to do to get there. Remember, it only takes baby steps in the intentional, right direction to get where you want to go.

     As we wrap up summer and start thinking ahead to fall, let's start the season right. How about using this month before fall starts to do either your first, or a "back on track" decluttering of your home and office? Here are a few ideas:

1.  You could clean out your garage. Get rid of anything you haven't touched in the last 3 to 5 years. I know that's longer than the typical pattern of 6 months or 1 year, but I understand in the garage you sometimes have tools, camping gear, sports equipment, or other things you may need but just have not taken the time to use them (or needed those tools) in a while. That does not mean keep everything "just in case". It just means, do not throw out something you will need and do not keep what you probably will not need.

2.  Maybe cleaning up the yard, or decluttering a shed, basement, or attic would be good. If you have not gone through those places in a while, do it before the weather changes. Where we are, we have warm winters and I do not want to waste them cleaning out junk when I could be outside enjoying them. 

3.  As we get closer to fall, depending where you live, it may become time to change over your clothing. Toss everything you haven't worn in 6 months rather than pack it away til next summer. If you did not like it, or did not fit into it this year, toss it. Pull out what you will need for fall (or winter if you live where it gets cold early in the season). Anything you no longer like or want to wear should be donated, given away, or thrown out. Get yourself to a closet where you will be comfortable wearing anything in it. It fits, it is in style, and you like wearing it. Everything else should go.

4.  Clean out your home, room by room, tossing out things that have piled up over the summer that you no longer need to keep. Books, magazines, extra towels or blankets, whatever it is, only keep what you need or what brings you joy. The rest is just "stuff". 

5.  Clean your work space, whether that is at home, in a corner of your bedroom, or at an office. Being productive is much easier when you are not surrounded by clutter and junk mail. 

6.  Pantry and Refrigerator. Go through them, check dates, throw out whatever is old or no longer wanted. I recently went vegan along with my son. My husband and daughter are vegetarian. Only my mother and brother eat meat and dairy and they usually buy their own food. I no longer need to keep dozens of cans of tuna, chicken, soup with meat, or chili around. One or two is fine. Give it away or donate it to a food pantry. Don't forget to get rid of or use up things that have been in your freezer for a long time too.

7.  If you have a bunch of skin, hair, nails, and body products, like lotions, perfumes, etc., pare down your collection to what you absolutely need and love. Get rid of the rest.

     Starting the new season in a peaceful, decluttered environment can help relieve stress and help you feel more relaxed in your surroundings. Get it done this month so you can enter fall putting your best foot forward, ready to take those intentional baby steps to get to the place you always wanted.