Minimal Lifestyle.

Hello Everyone! It’s Emi 😁, coming to talk about decluttering again. I told you that I have a lot to talk about minimalism! Recently I had lots of pleasure of having discussion with people in my life about this topic. It looks like so many of us are looking into the ways in feeling peaceful with limited amount of items we own.

I was talking to one of my colleague… a fashionable lady. She always mix match her outfit, and present herself very well. I was curious if she enjoys the process of deciding outfit, and if she need many items of clothings to achieve that. What she said was something I did not expect. She actually find that she only reach for something she really likes, and tend to forget about clothes that she likes just fine. She added, “my auntie always get discounted clothes from this brand for me, and they are quite cute. But… I start to feel I don’t actually need so much options of pants or jackets. They are from same store, so most likely they are in similar style, just slightly different.”

Many of us do seems to keep getting similar things. We all individually develop our own taste and style… have you ever opened your drawer and see so much of similar earrings? You have way so much different scented perfumes?

This picture above is me having breakfast. I love morning routine, and making breakfast 🍳 is easy for me. I do not need to look through so much choices of cutleries, dishes or kitchenwares, so I do not feel the burdened to function in busy morning. I only have one mug, that I will cherish until it breaks. I only have 1 set of plates, same with knife and forks… so naturally I do not make many small decisions when I cook. I can peacefully prepare and enjoy the meal.

However… My partner and I also still have so much redundant, similar functioning things that we are trying to figure out what to keep and let go. Especially after we moved in together. (Mostly I had more things…!) While having “Options” is great… we need to appreciate that, but when it gets on our ways to be efficient, it will be beneficial to make some selections.

From above, you can see pictures of…

• Sets of similar utility kitchen items. (2Bowls, 2colanders, 2ladles, 2graters)
• Similar scent Perfumes (I feel 4 types are excessive for me, as I never finish using by rotating them)
• exact same or slightly different pens (different thickness of lines I can draw, but it never was a matter)
• Many types of Washi tapes (all are used but not yet finished so taking up space in stationary drawer)

While I do my best to keep things simple and minimal… I am also a person loves “stuff”. I like to browse and seeing what kinds of things are out there! I do love the feeling of excitement when I get new items. I believe it’s not only me, right? But… do you still get the same level of excitement toward the item you got 1 year or few months ago? Why do you have many sports shoes with different colours? Do you have so many totes bags? And even… have many expensive cars lined up in garage? Watches? Designers’ clothes?

There is a chapter it says: “Imagine your friend showed you a high brand bag they got, it is a black leather one. However, you know he/she actually have the exact same one, just in different colour, brown. It is even in same style, materials, capacity, the same social scene for using. …For you, the value of the two bags are the same when you compare them in the same time. But you are not experiencing the time lag your friend experienced when he/she purchased the two bags. The old black one is not as appealing anymore compare to the new brown one for your friend.” This helps me to understand that…

What we tend to do is seeking the STIMULATION from items. 🧠⚡️

However, it never last…as such stimulation FADES AWAY with time. When that happen, we get new things.

Eventually, you have full collections of same category items that are never going to help you to be fulfilled.

before we know, we are losing our sense of value and appreciation.

💪These are what we can do for taking our control back:

3️⃣ Donate the things you do not need.

It can be to your local second-hand opportunity shops, work place, local schools if they accept them, and more…! It is great satisfaction to see things that you give away actually can contribute immediately for others. ♻️😁👍Of course, selling is great option too! However, often it is not worth the time and effort. Especially if items you are trying to get rid of is already well used, and not as valuable compare to electronic appliances or high brand items. Rather than waste too much energy and time on that:

My suggestion is… 📍donate things to where you go often, such as work place, local areas. This is for you to higher your sense of appreciation and gratitude toward things. 🙏 ❤️ By heart, you might know it is a noble thing to do…donate things to somewhere they are more needed. However some of us may feel “hmm… such a shame, it was not cheap when I got it”, or “well, I was not able to use them, and I can not see how other people make use of them too…” I am actually a little bit selfish minded person, so I admit that was what I felt. However….

I feel such joy 🤩 to actually be able to see:

• my coworkers use once-that-was-mine stationeries in office,
• seeing students do colouring with pencils I give away to do drawing during break time,
• Decorative things and nicknacks in staff room to contribute to homey and inviting feeling,
• Games we play in staffroom while we have breaks
• Toys and books used by children in childcare I used to work at.

These were some of my things I donationed ↓

Once you feel the happiness reform visually confirming how others utilise your items… you will get less, and eventually not at all hesitated to give things away for people.

There is only upsides for you by donating. Polish your heart! And step by step, only leaving things that provide you joy in your home! ❤️🏠