Today's post was very late, almost 10 pm, apologies, busy day...
Now that many of you have begun the process of taking baby steps into living simply or even as far as considering minimalism, it's time to figure out your personal style. If you declutter and simplify your life until all the excess is gone, what's left should reflect who you are, or what's important to you. How can you find joy or usefulness in what you do keep in your world without taking the time to figure out what brings you joy? What is your real style once culture's pressure to consume everything no longer has it's pull on you? How do you begin to figure that out?
1. What is your personality? Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you action and task focused or relationship/people focused? Are you drawn to simple designs or do you get energized by bright colors and patterns? What truly brings you joy? Is it planning a fun day with lots of your friends having a relaxing party by the pool with music, food, bright colors everywhere? Or is it a day of solitude, all to yourself, surrounded by simple, basic, neutral colors and furniture, planning a day of reading, sipping your favorite beverage, allowing time to think in the space of quiet? Maybe your perfect day is to get out of the house with your favorite person to enjoy doing or seeing something new, just the two of you, enhancing the relationship by sharing conversation and experiences? Are you the type that likes to take classes by yourself, to challenge yourself, or maybe it's to be on a competitive sports team where your leadership skills can benefit everyone involved to reach common goals? Figure out which of these four sounds most like you. It's a good start.
2. Once you know your personality, what does that mean for your wardrobe/closet? Will it be filled with bright patterns and casual fun clothes? sharp casual and a few business outfits? Will it be natural fabrics that are loose fitting and comfortable? or very intentionally designed clothes with little extras in high quality materials, but are simple in nature? Matching the right materials, fit, and type of clothes will make you a lot more comfortable in your new lifestyle.
3. What kind of furniture will you have? This could be keeping pieces you already own and love, or buying ones that bring you joy from a discounted or thrift store while donating or selling off the pieces that "aren't you" anymore. Is it the leather oversized sofa with metal stud trim? Is it a comfy, soft country pattern with a ruffled skirting? Maybe it's the ultra modern black slim sofa with metal arms that frees up space under and around it by its design? It could be a traditional sofa with neutral colors and wood framing, arms, and legs. Whatever style, materials and colors suit you, that's the goal.
4. What about your kitchen? Can you find a place for everything you need to keep and still have uncluttered countertops? Can your kitchen island (if you have one) be free of unnecessary clutter? Will it be something easy to maintain? Can you eliminate duplicate items or find ways to get double use from some appliances or utensils? Whatever works for you at whatever level of cooking and baking you do for your sized household.
5. Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. Everyone's different. My ideal bedroom would have one small dresser each, our bed, and not much else. In our case, we're going to have 6 people living here with 8 "frequently" so the office had to be moved into our room. However, I chose the smaller of my 2 desk choices. I gave away all but a few books I really wanted to keep. They do bring me joy and I will re-read them. I don't feel like having the desk and laptop in our room is an anxiety inducing thing. It's where I blog, connect with like minded individuals and keep up with my family. If I have to do something on the computer that will be a chore, I sometimes move the laptop to the kitchen table or living room. I still manage to maintain an air of relaxation in our more minimal, more simple bedroom.
6. Your work space. Again, this will be different for everyone. Your job may be somewhere that you're on shift and don't have a space of your own. But if you work where you have a cubicle or an office (or even just a desk), you can make that space your own. Declutter the excess, organize the necessary, then add your own touches. What's important to you? A family photo? A picture of a place you want to travel to on your next vacation? A calendar marking down the days until you're debt-free or financially stable enough to buy a house? Is there a small token that will bring you joy and be meaningful to you - it could be a plant or something. It could be negative space - just keeping one area in your office free of everything. A place to focus on when you feel overwhelmed. Like an oasis in your desert. Maybe that free space is in a private office and it's where you can take a few minutes to just sit and meditate and breathe when stress is building. Make it your own.
There are so many ways to make your world reflect your values and who you are. It could be a digital frame with photos of family, friends, places you want to travel to, artwork, photos you've taken and have made into art on canvas (Walmart and other office supply places do that now). You may want to bring color into a black and white room by a simple little green plant in a clear vase. The possibilities are endless. Just remember the goal is to live a SIMPLE life, so don't go buy a bunch of stuff and begin cluttering up your world again. Be intentional with purchases. Sell, donate, or toss out whatever shouldn't be in your space, whatever does not bring you joy, whatever doesn't serve a purpose, whatever you don't like. Surround yourself with a reflection of you, with lots of space free of everything. Simple is truly living.
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