MINIMALISM: the More of Less

MINIMALISM: The More of Less Approach: 10 ways to jumpstart decluttering: . Tackle one specific area at a time: a room, a closet, 1. Clothes you don’t wear even a drawer 2. Unidentifiable items in your junk drawer . Work easiest to hardest 3. Lotions & potions (makeup, etc.) . Create 3 piles: 1 = keep, 2 = relocate in home 3 = 4. Duplicates (2 bottles of rubbing alcohol) remove (sell, give away, throw away) 5. Lonely items (i.e. match is missing) . Touch EVERY object 6. Kid stuff (prize for every 10 things they collect for . Experiment: I will live without _____ (possessions) for donation) _____ days/weeks/months o Kids toys: I will remove an estimated 1/3 of 7. Stale food my children’s toys for 29 days and keep 8. Extra dishes (if you love your good dishes, use them track of which ones they ask for (then everyday!) remove the forgotten ones) 9. Other people’s stuff—give it back! 10. Things that bring you down (hurtful memories and guilt) Troubleshooting: Clutter Busters: (Daily routine) 1. Books  Make your bed each morning 2. Paper  Wash dishes right away 3. Technology  On recycling and trash day, FILL them up 4. Keepsakes  Leave room in your coat closet “Only the best” – for items with memories attached  Keep flat surfaces clear Still paralyzed by keepsakes? Tips:  Complete 1-2 minute jobs immediately 1. Try keeping half for now  When you finish a magazine/newspaper, process immediately 2. Take pictures before getting rid of it – remember that  Place junk mail immediately in recycling memories are not stored in the object; the memories are in you  Sort clean from dirty clothes immediately 3. Give it life again – donate it in such a way to create  Nightly: return items where they belong new memories for others (e.g. baby stuff) Minimalist gift ideas Other aspects of your life that can benefit from Minimalism: KEY PRINCIPLE: Quality over quantity . Your schedule a) Non-toy gifts: cookbook w/apron, magazine o Sabbath subscription, science kit, art supplies/easel, monthly . TV—experience the benefits of living life rather than craft/science subscription, stationery, globe, watching someone else’s gardening tools, binoculars, magic kit . Growing your giving: b) Experiences (movies, concert, zip lining, rock o Start really small, even $1 climbing, hot air balloon, train ride, Disney on ice) o Give first from your paycheck instead of c) Lessons: horseback riding, gymnastics, karate, voice, waiting to see what’s leftover musical instrument, art/pottery/knitting, o Divert one specific expense d) Trips: Staycation, indoor waterpark, camping o Fund a cause based on your passions e) Fun “needs”: furniture/bedding/décor, hat/mittens, o Non-monetary gifts: bike/scooter/roller blades, basketball hoop, trampoline  Shoveling snow Specific to Christmas  Babysitting for a weary mom a) The 3-gift theme: 1 item you need, 1 item you want,  Making meals for a sick friend & 1 experience; also tie into the story of the 3 wisemen—that Jesus received 3 gifts Make your gift requests known early; request donations to charity; be patient with your family; purge guilt-free Exercising gratitude: References and further reading: . Look for simple joys & be thankful for them . The More of Less by Joshua Becker . Reflect on the good things in your past (particularly if . BecomingMinimalist.com (free subscription to your current season is stormy) weekly emails) . Find a few minutes in your day to record your . Your Money or Your Life gratitude in a journal . “How getting rid of my stuff saved my motherhood” . Express thankfulness during life’s little by Allie Casazza (google this article to find a link to a inconveniences (sitting at red lights, waiting in line) free starter kit) . Pray specific words of thankfulness