As much as I love my collections of clothes, books, CDs, photos and colored Sharpies, I often find myself craving a simpler existence. Between moving several times in a few short years and ultimately ending up with a tiny closet, I’ve become fairly skilled at paring down when the clutter gets to be too much, particularly in the wardrobe department. (Gotta make room for those newer, cuter clothes, you know?) But the more I edit myself in this way, the more I notice other things that I’ve let fall by the wayside… AND the more I notice the effects they have on me that seem insignificant until I find myself with more than I can handle.
[Click all images for sources]
I could get used to this kind of toilet for that kind of view.
Not that my inevitable new phone has to be an iPhone. (Anything that holds a charge will do.) But my eventual new computer–which will be a reality soon–will be a Macbook. It’s a purchase I look forward to because it will simplify my writing experience. Not having my Internet freeze up or my PC overheat in the middle of an assignment will be a blessing, but the $1,800 dollar blow to my bank account will be less than so. I mean, I can handle it–it’s an investment. But we all know that it’s when we make purchases like this that our cars also end up needing $3,000 repairs. I was much less of a self-imposed killjoy whilst saving up for my first two laptops when all I did was obsess over which song lyrics to put in my AIM profile.
“And this is where I keep all four pairs of my shoes!”
Of course, this principle that too much of a good thing can be bad for us doesn’t just apply to stuff. Simplicity is a mindset–a way of living. Some people come by it naturally: Minimalists at the core, they’re able to filter out (or better yet, avoid altogether) the clutter associated with overbearing media, work and personal calendars that have no real distinction from one another, and all the little distractions that keep us from doing what it is we really want to do. I certainly idealize things in a minimalist fashion. (That is, when I’m not coveting Free People ANYTHING.) Just recently, I was drooling over Amy from Vanagon Champion’s photos of life on the road in a camper van. Within minutes, I was all up on eBay motors and found several worthy VW buses that made me want to chuck everything and go out West. I do have some of that spirit inside of me, but it’s not my everyday reality. I get too caught up in the mundane. The small decisions I have to make regarding anything. I’ve told you, I’m a Libra. We struggle with that. Do you feel that way, too? Like there’s too much little shit getting in the way of the important shit that’s going to make you famous, rich, or at the very least, blissfully happy?
Media console cat is judging you for your lack of productivity.
Ultimately, what I think it comes down to is prioritizing. I know that I can blame my stress-related frustration on the tedious assignments I can’t say no to or the fact that I have to watch the dogs and water the plants this week or that I ONLY HAVE ONE BATHING SUIT for the so-far beach-free summer. Or, I can make it simple. To start–I’ll be okay with just one bathing suit. That one bathing suit is adorable. I don’t need two. And with just one, I won’t have to make the agonizing decision of which one to wear when that glorious beach day does come. (Fewer options = greater happiness!) And those other things taking up my time this week and every other week? I gotta embrace ‘em. Assignments mean money. Dog watching means cuddling with dogs, which is awesome. Plant watering means time to get a tan in my (one!) bathing suit and brainstorm about the creative things I’ll accomplish as soon as the last bush thingy is watered. Here’s hoping this brown thumb doesn’t drown the plant she calls a “bush thingy.”
In the downtime I do have this week, I’ll also make it a point to visualize my goals. To figure out how I’m going to get there. Make lists. Choose the big tasks first. That’ll get me motivated–because happiness is the only option.
Totally made me think – and I love your positive attitude about prioritizing! I just read an awesome post by another Equals Record contributor about simplifying – you should check it out; I think you’d like it! http://equals.youplusme.com/less-is-more/
Ah, great article – thank you! A good reminder that stuff doesn’t make you happy.
I know what you mean! I’m definitely a packrat but at times I have these urges to throw a lot of stuff out. I’m moving in two months so I’m actually just starting to go through all my stuff and be totally brutal with it. At the same time, I’m going on a shopping spree with my birthday money, but a) I haven’t really bought new clothes in 4 years since I started at a school with a uniform, and b) I’m also getting rid of a lot of clothes that I don’t wear, so it all balances out. I’m pretty excited about my massive culling, because I do have a LOT of stuff that I just don’t need. I always get such a rush from organizing and throwing things out. I’m expecting to fill up at least a garbage bag of clothes and get rid of 3-4 boxes of books, plus other miscellaneous items, which strangely enough really excites me! Consolidating is awesome.
Man, I ramble a lot. I just enjoyed this post very much!
Haha, I find it strangely exciting, too! Although I can’t imagine hardly shopping at all for clothes for THAT LONG. Holy crap. Clothes are my weakness. I can’t hold out for very long on something I love.
I admire you for your minimalist ways. I wish I could condense my shoe holster to just four pairs. As it is, my winter shoes are shoved in a separate paper bag, and it is a large paper bag.
I am currently trying to condense my bookshelf down to my favorites. I sometimes realize I have SO many books I’ve bought over the years that I need to read, and that just ends up scaring me away from them.
I have also gotten into this bad habit of overindulging myself in terms of food. I don’t know what is going on. I once read this article where the writer was saying our culture has gotten into this habit of thinking we can’t be hungry. And then she went on to ask, “What’s wrong with going to bed a little hungry?” Okay, so my paraphrasing is poor, but basically she was saying we’ve gotten into this habit of thinking we have to overfill ourselves with things – whether it’s food, material goods, etc. It made me think of how I’ve been living since I left home, how often I feel miserable after a meal instead of comfortable.
I don’t want to be one of those people who buys things just because she can then has no money to spend when she really needs it. That’s why I’ve put myself on a book buying restriction. I’m getting my books from the library now, and if I really like them after reading I’ll buy them cheap on Amazon.
I know that changing completely is going to take some time, but I’m tired of walking around feeling like I just got through my first trimester. :-/
Re: the first part of your comment– to be clear, those are NOT my four pairs of shoes, haha! (If you click the image, it takes you to the source, but maybe I should do that better.) I have… too many shoes. But I could easily get rid of a lot. I wear the same three or four pairs over and over. The rest, not so much.
I’ve heard that expressed about food before, too, and I think it’s something important to consider. I’ve had nights like that when I get a little bit hungry right before bed, but I always skip it and try to go right to sleep instead, or else I’ll end up totally indulging and then not being able to sleep. But don’t beat yourself up for the occasional indulgence! Not worth the guilt.
Yeah, I seriously can’t wait. A new Macbook will make me want to blog… ALL THE TIME.
HA!
I received an iPhone as a gift a year ago, to replace a standard, no-frills flip phone. I can’t honestly say that the iPhone made my life any easier. I still get to my appointments on time (anal about punctuality). I still remember birthdays, anniversaries, meetings, dentist appointments. I am still in the same amount of contact with family, friends and work.
At the end of the day, the iPhone is a tool. It might help a person get organized, entertain her, provide information. But it’s only going to do what you want it to do. It’s only going to be useful in the ways you want to use it. You can set alarms up the yin yang to remind you to do something, but you’re the one that’s still gotta make it happen, captain. Not the phone.
The biggest benefit to me is the camera function, which I use instead of taking notes. I recently took a photo of a burned-out lightbulb so I knew what type of lightbulb and what wattage to buy at the store.
I love my iPhone and totally enjoy using it, let us know what phone you go with!
Ha, that is a rather genius way of remembering exactly what you need to buy. I never would’ve thought of that! It’s the camera function of a new phone that I’m psyched about. I love my old film camera, but obviously that’s not going everywhere with me. Being able to point and shoot with a small device will be a wonderful thing. But yeah, it’s only going to be as useful as I make it. I don’t expect a phone to radically transform my life.
I can really enjoy the process of getting rid of stuff. It always makes me feel fresh afterwards.. I just cleaned out my desk cabinet (I was using ducttape to keep the door closed because it would fall open from bursting from junk otherwise). And such a small thing can be such a relief.
Wow, when you’re resorting to duct tape to keep your crap from falling out, you know it’s time to de-crap.
That said, duct tape is awesome. It really is a relief getting rid of that stuff, though.
Friggin’ LIBRA. I am so much exactly the same way that sometimes I feel like my brain is going to explode. I think that shedding stuff (both mentally and physically) is one of the best feelings in the entire world. When I can clean out my room/apartment and end up with a trash bag full of stuff that is no longer going to be in my apartment, a feeling of glorious elation washes over me, and I feel like everything is going to be all right. That being said, this whole simplifying thing is definitely something I struggle with.
And that link? With all the photos of the Westfalias? I diiiiiiiiie.
Yep, it’s a necessary task for us Libra gals (and dudes) to do a little mental and physical sheddin’ once in awhile, but it is no doubt veeery hard to get started. Like… where do I start? Think of what a challenge it would be to prepare for a trip in a Westfalia! Getting started would be pitching, say, EVERYTHING.
I have so much love for this post. One of my favorite quotes is “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” (Leonardo DaVinci)
I’m anti-clutter in a kind of freaky way. I literally look for shit to throw away just because. It’s a problem, but I can live with the consequences.
Also, ” Like there’s too much little shit getting in the way of the important shit that’s going to make you famous, rich, or at the very least, blissfully happy?”
YES. IT’S CALLED EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE. I’m too much of a restless spirit and it fucks with everything.
Ooh, great quote! I kind of want to write that down and tape it to my wall. I need to remember that every time I have the impulse to buy something just because it’s pretty and gives me a temporary beauty high. (I think that’s a thing. Like when a new purse magically solves all life’s problems for the first 24 hours you own it?)
There are so many different types of clutter that can enter our lives, and I always have a hard time deciding between that which enhances my existence and that which just clouds it. I recently “deactivated” my Facebook account, and I was shocked at how much clutter this reduced in my daily life. I think Facebook has some great aspects to it, but somehow not viewing everyone’s status updates in one place has made my world a bit more zen.
I currently have a job that means dealing with all the annoying ass details (I.e. the joys of administration). That and my bout with bed bugs made me realize how much time I waste NOT doing what I am passionate about.
Love your pics btw!
I definitely understand the desire to be a minimalist and live a simpler life. My mom is an extreme couponer, so I grew up in a home overflowing with stuff just because she could get free stuff. I don’t have duplicates of anything now that I’m on my own, and that was my first step to simplicity.