My super-huge-massive spring cleaning list still needs to be done (womp womp). In order to fit in time to crack through it, I’ve started working on better time management, step one. Step two is breaking down the list even further (it’s already by room) and scheduling time to do it. Step three that I’ve just thrown in, is factoring in a whole new lifestyle. Minimalism (by my standard! Not the “I only want one chair in my house” standards).
My entire life I’ve been the anti-minimalist. I love things. I love clothes and bed sheets and knick-knacks and scrapbook supplies and kitchen gadgets. I love options. Colors. THINGS THINGS THINGS. Things used to be an indicator of success. Look at all the shiny’s I have!
But when faced with the task of moving my 1,000sq ft apartment last winter I wanted to cry under the weight of the thousands of things I had to inventory and pack (although let’s be honest, I only mentally inventoried things). In the two years I’d lived on my own Id’ basically acquired all new things. There was little left from my younger years and college (except paper and books). How did that happen? I couldn’t bear throwing away new things within the last two years (guhhh) so my goal moving forward was to STOP buying and slowly start to use up what I had. (Before I moved I also ruthlessly threw away or donated a TON of things. Literally I took 5 trips to Goodwill and dozens of bags of things).
When I was in college I had this great idea of living frugally so I started couponing. The problem was that if the coupon was for my favorite shampoo, I’d buy the big size…and I’d buy a few. So I ended up carting that stuff around with me and just FINALLY finished using up a lot of “stockpile” things. Now I can try new soaps!
Same for food. I’d had boxes of pasta so long they expired (and pasta takes year to expire!) But with less pantry space (read: no actual pantry) in my townhouse I forced myself to painfully toss the things I would never eat and only buy new things when I ran out. I didn’t need a stockpile of pasta sauces on hand. Just one jar.
It’s a lot of instances like that that had lead me to where I was mid-2014 when I had finally accepted that I was moving. So I gave myself a new philosophy on “things” and my home:
1) Carefully curate my home // I’ve always viewed my home as a “Museum of Kassey.” If you look on the walls, all of the photos are photos I’ve taken of places I’ve been. The paintings I painted. The trinkets are from my travels. And I don’t say this in an egotistical way. My home and the things in it should reflect me and my life. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be there.
2) Live on purpose // I don’t believe EVERYTHING should be functional. Sometimes it’s only purpose is to make me happy. But if it doesn’t make me happy and doesn’t serve a functional purpose…it also needs to go.
3) Quality Investments First // A lot of the things that have made their way into my home got there because I couldn’t say no. I was in Target and saw a stylish new wallet for $15 so I bought it. Butttt I already have a wallet (actually, I don’t even carry a wallet anymore). I know people often buy expensive things as an investment (to sell later? I don’t know). I’m just going to buy them because if I buy one I love and that will last forever…it’ll stop my from getting sucked into impulse buys for similar things. Just be happy with what you have.
All areas of my home (except the hallway…and even that has a closet with coats in it!) need to undergo this evaluation process as I spring clean.
I just need to make time for it! (Cue my recent time management exercises).
