tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31994025135643912762024-03-28T10:10:04.198-07:00Maximum Gratitude, Minimal StuffFinding joy, contentment, and purpose in life through gratitude and minimalism.Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.comBlogger568125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-19149468227195924442024-03-28T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-28T06:00:00.129-07:00How to Choose Hope and Focus on What's GoodTomorrow is Good Friday, a name that always confused me as a child. Isn't Good Friday the day that Jesus suffered on a cross? Isn't it the day he died? I understood why Easter is a joyful celebration of his resurrection, but not how such a dark and sorrowful day could be called "good."<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Whether or not you believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ after his sacrificial death on a cross, you may still enjoy celebrating Easter as a time of <b>renewal, hope, and love</b> for family and friends. But how can Good Friday fit into that?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qOKVVSPuEr_8psi6lZnQ3_Sa7vL-QeMxFAA8R3l0tJgmds4eFvEgAMH_-v388EVWi_2sVP-_0kJrOCusG0vG8LqsnXyb9vHZf0PmlxDToHkvZSKLmOLLIakEnyFbOynP9TI9droct3PmLkgfjRY-PB4MPgLyXioZcOldWDcCVoKja87kV8pWeSo1rf42/s2400/colin%20watts%201%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="daffodils" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qOKVVSPuEr_8psi6lZnQ3_Sa7vL-QeMxFAA8R3l0tJgmds4eFvEgAMH_-v388EVWi_2sVP-_0kJrOCusG0vG8LqsnXyb9vHZf0PmlxDToHkvZSKLmOLLIakEnyFbOynP9TI9droct3PmLkgfjRY-PB4MPgLyXioZcOldWDcCVoKja87kV8pWeSo1rf42/w640-h426/colin%20watts%201%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="daffodils - photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The realities of life</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't know many people who don't carry a burden of fear and anxiety. Even if it's usually in the background, we all have daily stresses, looming challenges, ongoing difficulties, and potential griefs. The world isn't perfect, and troubles and disappointments are real. It's not a matter of <i><b>if</b></i> – it's a matter of <i><b>when</b></i>. At some point, something <i><b>will</b></i> be hard to handle.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>An optimistic viewpoint, contrary to what many people believe, doesn't mean you have to deny the realities of life. It doesn't require a naïve, simplistic view of the world. I think it's possible to be a <b>realistic optimist</b>. You can acknowledge hardships, yet work and hope for a positive outcome.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean that all problems can potentially be solved by a miracle (although I believe that sometimes miracles do happen). Maybe a situation can't be fixed, but you can find ways to cope and endure.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Like all of you, I've experienced trouble in my life. If you've been reading for long, you know that I raised two daughters, but began a difficult evolution with my transgender son about a decade ago. My father died of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) almost 18 years ago, but for several years before that he suffered the gradual loss of muscle control that accompanies that incurable condition. My mother bore the burden of most of his care, but my siblings and I pitched in as he became unable to swallow, walk, or care for himself. Mama died in February 2019, but because of her Lewy body dementia, the last time she recognized me was more than two years before that. In the case of both of my parents, I mourned their loss long before they actually passed away.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A loss of control</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The real problem with the death of a loved one, the difficult choices of a teenager or grown child, the loss of a job, the end of a relationship, or even just a stressful, problem-filled day is our realization that we don't control all outcomes. We can't make things happen the way we want them to, our expectations are toppled, and we have to cope.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We can attempt that in various ways:</div><div><br /></div><div><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Negative</b>: We can get angry and violent. We can abuse alcohol or drugs, overeat junk food, try retail therapy, binge on TV or video games, or find other distractions.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Positive</b>: We can talk with a friend (including God) and be open about our feelings. We can spend time in nature, exercise, or a creative pursuit. We can learn about our situation and make plans for our next steps.</li></ul><br /></div><div>We can also do something amazing – we can try to see the goodness and beauty in the situation.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to be amazing</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What's good about suffering? I can think of a few things:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Maybe sadness lets your friends support you, and you learn just how much they care.</li><li>Maybe a setback gives you the opportunity to start over.</li><li>Maybe frustration causes you to try a new approach you wouldn't have imagined otherwise.</li><li>Maybe loss draws you closer to your loved ones, and stimulates good memories of the person who's gone.</li></ul><br /></div><div>Author Leo Babauta has said:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"></span></b><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">Endings are necessary for beauty; otherwise, we don't appreciate things, because they're unlimited. Limits are beauty. They remind us to appreciate this beautiful thing while we have it.</span></b></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfeEQdkL3ZGDO5ekzon_vBvu3mwlEHaEgmmOMiKYjU8kCPwLG5q1DniDa1vb143e2GVV8j0UaG9g-y__oG-Wp6dmL-VegPtTaVjzol3h5By8TvNPeo0ipOo6j25PDPOrFqxAuEIcELXxMSPlRICIlxFumA5u2CWZpv_Nfw9tW4pkJ3XEv23-MLfs943El/s2400/tom%20barrett%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="light through dark clouds" border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfeEQdkL3ZGDO5ekzon_vBvu3mwlEHaEgmmOMiKYjU8kCPwLG5q1DniDa1vb143e2GVV8j0UaG9g-y__oG-Wp6dmL-VegPtTaVjzol3h5By8TvNPeo0ipOo6j25PDPOrFqxAuEIcELXxMSPlRICIlxFumA5u2CWZpv_Nfw9tW4pkJ3XEv23-MLfs943El/w320-h400/tom%20barrett%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="light through dark clouds - photo by Tom Barrett on Unsplash" width="320" /></a></div>Maybe that's why we have seasonal changes – we get to practice appreciating the fleeting beauties of each while they last. I look at my beloved grandchildren, aged 8½, 5, and almost 2. They change constantly, and will never be these ages again. That realization makes me savor each moment I have with them, even while changing my little Liam's messy diaper. Before long, he'll be out of diapers, and no longer a big baby, but a little boy.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're a Christian, you know that Good Friday is the necessary prelude to Easter Sunday. The joy of resurrection doesn't exist without the pain of death.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And if you're not a Christian (or even religious), you can remember that no pain lasts forever. There are bad people and situations in the world, but you don't have to give in to them. You don't have to create bad situations yourself. And with the help of the many kind people you encounter (yes – most people delight in helping others!), you can choose to make a positive difference where you are.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/11/today-im-thankful-for-human-kindness.html" target="_blank">Today I'm Thankful for Human Kindness, and I Want to Pass It On</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">May you all have a <i><b>good</b></i> Good Friday, and take heart from the fact that realistic optimism is possible. Search for strength and support to endure your difficulties, and choose hope for the future.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Do you appreciate my work? Why not <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/karentrefzger" target="_blank">buy me a coffee</a>?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-87801422007494162232024-03-25T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-25T06:00:00.244-07:006 Ways Minimalism Will Make You HappyMaybe you've been decluttering and organizing for a while now. You're making progress, but you're not really feeling that serenity and happiness all the minimalists talk and write about.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, things are more manageable in your home. You're not spending so much time searching for things or deciding what to wear. And yes, your home is... shall we say <i><b>prettier</b></i>? You're looking at fewer piles of neglected things, fewer things that you kept out of guilt or inertia, and more things that you actually enjoy seeing. The things that <b>bring a smile</b> to your face....</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Oops. Sorry, that just snuck in. I'm writing about how you're <i><b>not</b></i> feeling the joy, and how you're wondering why you should continue with all of this minimizing. Let's try again.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BUau2Z5d-TPOmo4Rx2q49xCFzolQ7Aalbagkc_mv5UBjihSvjHlUtQ5KXUV8wNP2EzAP55lWDvw7HNihvcsbnJGJKHP-Ebm81leTLbUjpo088d4-YCYmCrqD9U7Y3OwS_M5sSmutxLzmGenvBUbWLxf7hkMG7IttRLxQEI7UwPq-rmhcrqjEUhNwSG3i/s2400/wonderlane%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cute cottage in spring" border="0" data-original-height="1747" data-original-width="2400" height="466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6BUau2Z5d-TPOmo4Rx2q49xCFzolQ7Aalbagkc_mv5UBjihSvjHlUtQ5KXUV8wNP2EzAP55lWDvw7HNihvcsbnJGJKHP-Ebm81leTLbUjpo088d4-YCYmCrqD9U7Y3OwS_M5sSmutxLzmGenvBUbWLxf7hkMG7IttRLxQEI7UwPq-rmhcrqjEUhNwSG3i/w640-h466/wonderlane%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="cute cottage in spring - photo by Wonderlane on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6 reasons to get excited about having less</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. You're saving money.</b></p><div>Seriously, start keeping track of the money you save because you're not buying stuff you don't need. Remember the cute merchandise you resisted. Add what you've made from selling stuff, plus the value of your tax-deductible donations.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How could you use this extra money? You could <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/08/4-empowering-steps-to-free-your-life.html" target="_blank">demolish your debt</a>, plan that trip you've dreamed of, or something else just as great.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. You're saving time.</b></p><div>Yes, you <i><b>are</b></i> taking a few extra minutes to put stuff away as you finish using it. You're hanging things up instead of tossing them down. You're sorting through mail instead of piling it up for later. You're spending those few extra minutes each day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But you're saving lots of time you used to spend searching for stuff. You're saving the hours you used to spend "trying to clean up" around all of your extra stuff. You're skipping that frustration and exhaustion. Maybe you don't sit down to Netflix quite as early in the evening as you used to, but once you do, you're able to truly relax.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What should you do with that time? Use it for more TikTok? Hmmm... maybe more relationship time, hobby time, exercise time, volunteer time, or even sleep would be more enjoyable and rewarding. You decide.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. You have renewed focus.</b></p><div>A lot of your energy used to be spent on browsing and shopping and comparing what others have to what you don't. Now you're not doing so much of that. After all, why declutter if you're just going to add more?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As a result, your shopping habit has dwindled. It's as if you stopped eating chips and pretzels. Then one day you had a few and you noticed they're <i><b>so</b></i> salty, and <i><b>so</b></i> empty, and after you ate them, you didn't feel satisfied. Shopping has become somewhat empty and tiresome as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What should you think about and plan for instead? You get to decide what would be worth your energy and focus. Consider: </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Who matters most to you? </li><li>What are you especially good at? </li><li>What's your mission?</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVASOnd2V5P0iSnfY0X-2wTtNOH_8U38ppgc6_nghXrphmyWC5ed-EQZANkRwEqAU2cU_WtVRfwWfZQ3z8paPfAnJhQAvV7JVKWzk94Niug4LLAFclHz1JRLPJsSei_chqDcWPdszTny-iicntPXFga0qGtISNyE-yiUFdoUM6YUEYhG13Sx-vfDQUzZB/s2880/tanim%20munshi%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="spring blossoms" border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNVASOnd2V5P0iSnfY0X-2wTtNOH_8U38ppgc6_nghXrphmyWC5ed-EQZANkRwEqAU2cU_WtVRfwWfZQ3z8paPfAnJhQAvV7JVKWzk94Niug4LLAFclHz1JRLPJsSei_chqDcWPdszTny-iicntPXFga0qGtISNyE-yiUFdoUM6YUEYhG13Sx-vfDQUzZB/w266-h400/tanim%20munshi%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="spring blossoms - photo by Tanim Munshi on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>4. You feel less stress.</b></div></b></div></b></div></b></div></b></div><p></p><div>Preparing meals is simpler in your clean and clutter-free kitchen. Getting dressed and out the door for school and work is more straightforward. You're more relaxed in your organized living room, and sleep better in your <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2024/03/prepare-your-bedroom-for-better-relaxing-and-sleep.html" target="_blank">less-crowded bedroom</a>. And since you've started <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/09/the-problem-with-saying-yes-when-we.html" target="_blank">saying no</a> more often, you feel a lot less stress getting through each day and doing what you believe is important. You've got a lot to celebrate.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. You're making more plans.</b></p><div>You feel more positive energy and hope since proving that you can declutter and get control of your space, spending and life. Now you can consider a new challenge to accept and succeed at. The possibilities are as big as you want them to be.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>No more feeling trapped and overburdened. I'd say you should rejoice.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. You're discovering yourself.</b></p><div>Being a consumer means following the crowd. It means being influenced by the influencers. But when you start decluttering and saying no, what you're really doing is choosing the things and activities that are <b>most valuable to you</b>. You're defining who you are and who you want to be, and that's bound to bring more happiness than fitting into someone else's mold.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Figuring out what you really care about might take some time and self-reflection, but will ultimately bring you a great deal of joy.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Learn more.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you want some guidance in understanding what makes you happy, <b><a href="https://mailchi.mp/maximumgratitudeminimalstuff/understanding-your-happiness" target="_blank">subscribe</a></b> to receive my free <i><b>Understanding Your Happiness</b></i> quiz. Maybe you just need to spend some time and attention to discover what makes you smile.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"></span></b><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://mailchi.mp/maximumgratitudeminimalstuff/understanding-your-happiness" target="_blank">Subscribe</a> and get my free Understanding Your Happiness quiz</span></b></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYc5Rf0mJGf5eyHRdiAYa8GLD6TeoUIu9bjjIxClNKuJVjFZgVNbhhJSVlqIiJZ4YVF0XfpelJDMevXMJ8zu11S00oanSCfBk2V1gQPI6AYpHODG5lzqFlNM9wUAtPwT4Kr2CWNs7xuRlpa8NhNZLqmtfW2NxyAqA6lhyj2QXZBRdE_3iQbYI7G-LVaQJ/s2525/Uncluttered%203rd%20ed..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="UNCLUTTERED book" border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="1587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYc5Rf0mJGf5eyHRdiAYa8GLD6TeoUIu9bjjIxClNKuJVjFZgVNbhhJSVlqIiJZ4YVF0XfpelJDMevXMJ8zu11S00oanSCfBk2V1gQPI6AYpHODG5lzqFlNM9wUAtPwT4Kr2CWNs7xuRlpa8NhNZLqmtfW2NxyAqA6lhyj2QXZBRdE_3iQbYI7G-LVaQJ/w201-h320/Uncluttered%203rd%20ed..jpg" title="UNCLUTTERED book" width="201" /></a></div>Many people are tired of the stress and frustration clutter brings, and want salvation from the frazzled lives they've been leading. They want focus and peace, but don't know what that would look like or where to begin.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My completely revised 3rd edition of <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="https://amzn.to/4afg3l5" target="_blank">Uncluttered: How Minimalism Can Help You Thrive</a></b>* is available now on Amazon. It's a comprehensive handbook for a simpler life – not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a creative, encouraging, multi-faceted guide to help you remove the stuff that's bogging you down, find time and space for what you care about, and uncover a more spacious home that supports your best life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-89630946313668883712024-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-21T06:00:00.267-07:00Here Are My 10 Essentials - What Are Yours?I was reading an older post by Leo Babauta of <i><b>Zen Habits</b></i> fame, and he mentioned a semi-regular feature on GQ called <b>10 Essentials</b>. Each entry features a designer, entrepreneur, or celebrity naming 10 things that are essential to them.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmH4i-QXeHlxP_9Kora00YoU5htkxPFJinVAURIW9l-1PXr8REP52muKg7vQwdL3uJ4ziWHiq4gOi29qwa8V615Z7csm_67p18GWqwT197V3otpz3mAWoGxaNrwQ2OBAtn0ve4jT4eb1VLyBfmL8zw1_m8FiJcXx4yDY-rIM2rzgiCV0cZ95_zav2dIa8/s1719/katy%20anne%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="jeans" border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="1719" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmH4i-QXeHlxP_9Kora00YoU5htkxPFJinVAURIW9l-1PXr8REP52muKg7vQwdL3uJ4ziWHiq4gOi29qwa8V615Z7csm_67p18GWqwT197V3otpz3mAWoGxaNrwQ2OBAtn0ve4jT4eb1VLyBfmL8zw1_m8FiJcXx4yDY-rIM2rzgiCV0cZ95_zav2dIa8/w640-h428/katy%20anne%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="jeans - photo by Katy Anne on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A valuable exercise</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I won't link to GQ's feature, because within moments of looking I could see that it was basically a hard sell for luxury consumerism. But I love the concept, and think it would be useful – and possibly fun – to think about the 10 things that are my essentials.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. What I wear</b></p><div><b>Jeans.</b> Almost every day I put on a pair of black or dark wash jeans. I love the comfort and versatility of jeans (you can dress them up or down). The ones I buy are designed for my plus-size body, but almost everyone can find a style and cut of jeans that fits them, looks and feels good, and wears well.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. What I also wear</b></p><div><b>Sketchers Go Walk shoes.</b> Affordable, comfortable, simply designed – <a href="https://amzn.to/47p1nhf" target="_blank">black Go Walks</a>* are my daily shoes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. What I wear as well</b></p><div><b>Glasses.</b> I'm quite near-sighted, so I've been needing and wearing glasses since I was 6. Today, of course, I wear bifocals. This isn't planned, but I almost always choose Anne Klein frames when it's time for a new pair. The styling and colors seem to suit my face.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. What I drink</b></p><div><b>Earl Grey.</b> I do love a Starbucks soy latte, and of course I drink water (love it iced with lemon, lime, or mint), but I drink hot Earl Grey tea every day, even in summer. My father was a tea drinker, and I guess I started the habit because of him. My favorite blend is <a href="https://amzn.to/48jrnMs" target="_blank">Stash Double Bergamot Earl Grey</a>, brewed for 4 minutes. I add a splash of Coffeemate Zero Sugar French Vanilla creamer.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. What I eat</b></p><div><b>Fruit. </b> This is a little trickier, because I like a lot of foods. My guilty pleasures are pepperoni pizza or cheese enchiladas with Mexican rice and beans. I find it hard to pass up a chewy, freshly-baked oatmeal cookie. I savor scrambled eggs and bacon at breakfast. But what I look forward to every year are the locally-grown fruits I can buy right down the road from my house. Strawberries, cherries, apricots, blackberries, plums, peaches, tomatoes, melons, and finally mandarin oranges. I am so lucky.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. What I listen to</b></p><div><b>Classical radio.</b> KDFC from San Francisco is what I listen to on the car radio and <a href="https://www.kdfc.com/" target="_blank">stream on my computer</a> while I'm working. I'm a classically trained musician who sings opera, oratorio, Broadway show tunes, and American standards. Classical music of all kinds from all eras feeds my soul.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. What I write on</b></p><div><b>Laptop. </b> I sometimes write <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/03/how-writing-process-can-bring-more-ease.html" target="_blank">my daily one sentence</a> using the notes app on my phone, but my main writing tool is my HP laptop. It's small enough to set on my dining table so I can enjoy the view of trees and grass behind my apartment, or to tote along to the coffee shop or library if I want to work there. Along with my <a href="https://amzn.to/3NKToUW" target="_blank">SanDisk 32GB Cruzer</a>, which backs up and stores my photos and documents, my ProBook has plenty of power and memory for my work.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbFVf3AMbtWJ2iLAL5YvBu8BmkWnr-Zdq2zlon5kve2nNyZBcq5pk6H83sXzd7BRSH-qcDOMa5Ob8rHPpfuhwod1pCmJe5Jhs0QT4qcylhnYQKViiFZ9h4JcHfqhTNdKXAS0ZoatC2l7cmMj4KHsTp1zPehYxDws-rSFr-EZ0f0VabmD_bOwFWgO5H8Gq/s1907/Sutter%20Buttes%20c.%202022%20Karyn%20Speakman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="South Butte, March" border="0" data-original-height="1907" data-original-width="1421" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbFVf3AMbtWJ2iLAL5YvBu8BmkWnr-Zdq2zlon5kve2nNyZBcq5pk6H83sXzd7BRSH-qcDOMa5Ob8rHPpfuhwod1pCmJe5Jhs0QT4qcylhnYQKViiFZ9h4JcHfqhTNdKXAS0ZoatC2l7cmMj4KHsTp1zPehYxDws-rSFr-EZ0f0VabmD_bOwFWgO5H8Gq/w298-h400/Sutter%20Buttes%20c.%202022%20Karyn%20Speakman.jpg" title="South Butte, March - c. 2022 Karyn Speakman" width="298" /></a></div>8. What entertains me</b></div></b></div></b></div><p></p><div><b>Books and hard crossword puzzles.</b> <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/09/preserve-public-works.html" target="_blank">The library is a treasure</a> trove! Crossword puzzles that challenge me are hard to find. I usually buy books of <i><b>New York Times</b></i> Friday and/or Saturday puzzles, but the most challenging (and fun) right now are the <a href="https://amzn.to/41FNs5s" target="_blank"><i><b>Hard as a Rock</b></i> series</a> edited by Stanley Newman.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. What inspires me</b></p><div><b>Nature.</b> Especially the Northern California coast, redwood forests, the Sierra foothills, and the <a href="https://www.sutterbutteslandtrust.org/" target="_blank">Sutter Buttes</a>. I also enjoy a nice park or a well-tended garden. They're perfect for a walk, a talk, a picnic, or just to sit and watch.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. What I'd grab in a fire</b></p><div><b>Scrapbooks.</b> If I had to flee, I'd already be wearing my wedding ring. And I'd never leave my house without my purse/wallet, my phone, and my SanDisk Cruzer (see #7). I'd need those things for ID, money, to be in touch with loved ones, and for digital files of my books and other writings, business documents, plus photos from the last decade or so.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But I'd miss my three scrapbooks containing older photos and letters if I didn't make the effort to grab them as well.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">An interesting discovery</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If I have the 10 items above, I'm pretty well set. Yes, I need tops to wear with my jeans, plus underclothes and nightclothes. I need other foods for nourishment, but not a lot more, and not much equipment to prepare them. Interestingly, several of my essentials are not things you can own, and I don't need to do much shopping to provide for the others.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We get so caught up in what we need to buy and do to make our lives complete, but is that really true? Give it some thought and see what you decide.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/04/the-habits-that-changed-my-life.html" target="_blank">10 Positive Habits that Changed My Life</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg57kAeQM8mPgq940EZ06x3Qh8GbA9J4HtmtEwe6c4OrJC6S1oRAJ5AsGQFnqiip2eFGha_LhB6Ku98C6wYuYpQzXg9mNWPrENRE1C_7Acq9j3H1Ce6_iSh4ddtPhE9_KWlf2ohuXs4NJO1qcNzVZ6_9mcDyyy3ZEkfJmekImYX-oVESXR2CKibpZQPMox/s2525/Uncluttered%203rd%20ed..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="UNCLUTTERED book" border="0" data-original-height="2525" data-original-width="1587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg57kAeQM8mPgq940EZ06x3Qh8GbA9J4HtmtEwe6c4OrJC6S1oRAJ5AsGQFnqiip2eFGha_LhB6Ku98C6wYuYpQzXg9mNWPrENRE1C_7Acq9j3H1Ce6_iSh4ddtPhE9_KWlf2ohuXs4NJO1qcNzVZ6_9mcDyyy3ZEkfJmekImYX-oVESXR2CKibpZQPMox/w201-h320/Uncluttered%203rd%20ed..jpg" title="UNCLUTTERED book" width="201" /></a></div>Many people are tired of the stress and frustration clutter brings, and want salvation from the frazzled lives they've been leading. They want focus and peace, but don't know what that would look like or where to begin.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My completely revised 3rd edition of <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4afg3l5" target="_blank">Uncluttered: How Minimalism Can Help You Thrive</a></b></i> is available now on Amazon. It's a comprehensive handbook for a simpler life – not a one-size-fits-all approach, but a creative, encouraging, multi-faceted guide to help you remove the stuff that's bogging you down, find time and space for what you care about, and uncover a more spacious home that supports your best life.</div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-86707632083247738392024-03-18T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-18T06:00:00.147-07:00It's Time to Undream the American DreamWhat is the American Dream? That depends on <i><b>when</b></i> you're talking about it.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the beginning, the American Dream was about "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." It came from the idea that all people have a God-given right to pursue their own course in life, without regard to their rank at birth, within the confines of an agreed-upon moral code. Freedoms included those of speech, worship, peaceful protest, fair courts, etc. (We'll ignore for now the fact that these liberties didn't usually extend to women or people of color.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By the mid-19th century, the American Dream had expanded to include the promise of free land, granted by the government if you "proved up" by building a house, raising crops, and enduring the dangers, loneliness, and harsh weather of the frontier. Millions of people spread westward, hoping for new and prosperous lives. (We'll ignore for now the fact that this land had been stolen from indigenous tribes.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Many other millions immigrated to the U.S. in hopes of escaping the rigid class restrictions of their homelands, looking for religious and political freedom as well as opportunity and prosperity. (We'll ignore for now the fact that many of those people endured discrimination and horrible living and working conditions in our cities.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2qLEMBKEmp_my-zQFmlviSBX4dZReEEpXQEBmgzBd5azhRu0BJb_xJHWv1YloP2SLPus5JfeJFKe8eIMtz7Ci7i_laNoAgGOr48KGb073LuLKy9jle6LBbdjZPvCvPPkUOFWfpWkCEmn4z0YRXuIjuHo2knqhGrQZxcm5zXdT5Kp38NNmEcN4Yi1GrHx/s1920/ximena%20torres%20rodriguez%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The statue of Liberty" border="0" data-original-height="1431" data-original-width="1920" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2qLEMBKEmp_my-zQFmlviSBX4dZReEEpXQEBmgzBd5azhRu0BJb_xJHWv1YloP2SLPus5JfeJFKe8eIMtz7Ci7i_laNoAgGOr48KGb073LuLKy9jle6LBbdjZPvCvPPkUOFWfpWkCEmn4z0YRXuIjuHo2knqhGrQZxcm5zXdT5Kp38NNmEcN4Yi1GrHx/w640-h478/ximena%20torres%20rodriguez%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="The statue of Liberty - photo by Ximena Torres Rodriguez on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How the Dream has changed</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The actual term "American Dream" comes from historian James Truslow Adams, who wrote during the height of the Depression in 1931. He said that "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement... regardless of fortuitous circumstances of birth or position." He added, "It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of a social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to... grow to fullest development."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When World War II came along, many Americans believed they were fighting for the ideals of the American Dream, summed up by President Franklin Roosevelt as four essentials: freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. When the war ended, however, a <b>new American Dream</b> was born which included home ownership and college education (funded in part by the GI Bill), and the acquisition of all the trappings of a "good life," such as cars, TVs, luxury goods, travel, and more.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Since many couldn't achieve all of those things all at once, they turned to credit. Once rare, credit cards became common. Saving was no longer necessary – the American Dream was purchased with debt.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Today, for many, the American Dream isn't just about freedom, security, or personal development. It isn't limited to owning a home or getting an education. It's about having all of the extra amenities. It's a consumer's dream, more like the so-called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream#:~:text=The%20discovery%20of,.%5B12%5D" target="_blank">"California Dream"</a> of instant wealth, good luck, and fame. The idea is that profits and perks will continue to rise, with unlimited growth forever.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why it's time to wake up</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>From birth onward, we're exposed to commercial messages. We learn that new products are what we need for happiness. If we want to fit in and find satisfaction, we need to buy what marketers are selling.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We've all been taught to want more than what we have and more than we need. This mindset is deeply embedded in our culture, so I don't blame anyone for believing it. But as comedian George Carlin wrote, "It's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's time to wake up from this version of the American Dream.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. We can't sustain this level of debt.</b></p><div>Credit card debt is one thing almost all Americans share, regardless of age, race, gender, or income level. According to Fortune.com, <a href="https://fortune.com/recommends/credit-cards/average-credit-card-debt/" target="_blank">average credit card debt continues to rise</a>, even as interest rates also climb. Of course, many of us also have auto loans, student loans, mortgages, and medical debt.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>According to CNBC.com, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/31/62percent-of-americans-still-live-paycheck-to-paycheck-amid-inflation.html" target="_blank">almost two-thirds of Americans live paycheck to paycheck</a>, meaning they have no margin for savings. This leaves them vulnerable to using credit cards when any out-of-the-ordinary situations arise.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Debt is the <b>opposite of liberty</b>. It holds you hostage to your financial choices of the past, and takes your current and future life energy to pay. It shouldn't be part of any American Dream.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. We can't sustain this level of consumption.</b></p><div>If everyone in the world consumed at the rate Americans do, we'd need the resources of multiple planets to make it possible.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Most people don't wake up with the desire to destroy the Earth or grab more than their share of resources. We do it without thinking, because we're pursuing today's version of the American Dream. And our desire for more and more is harming the only place we can call home.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The answer is not to keep <a href="https://www.worldvision.org/sponsorship-news-stories/global-poverty-facts#:" target="_blank">hundreds of millions of the world's people in poverty</a> so that we can enjoy our relative wealth. The answer is to believe that <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/01/enough.html" target="_blank">we already have enough</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. It doesn't actually make us happy.</b></p><div>Today's idea of the American Dream is designed to make us <b>want more</b>. By definition, the pursuit never ends, and satisfaction is never reached.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a recipe for longing, jealousy, and greed, not for happiness. If there's always the newest trend or upgrade to desire, then the American Dream is <b>a trick and a trap</b>. We need to opt out.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4 steps to opt out</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0WwLl9BpWZhQoMgtTP-e5D0yecxPr4SPXYSbjvgmL1qBOh9OFzm78HGZ6KveCRXVg8nEDCL5XXWWnvGo_uABIm_msc9qMdNtedChpGNCZ0Ooos087wV6nkFhitFh9D65JUiXSCVB6QpfhC6YPKB0W_hl1iwirenYTFT1NTFJvRwzcs2cPtQk3OVCYd-j/s2880/alejandro%20luengo%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="U.S. flag and spring blossoms" border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0WwLl9BpWZhQoMgtTP-e5D0yecxPr4SPXYSbjvgmL1qBOh9OFzm78HGZ6KveCRXVg8nEDCL5XXWWnvGo_uABIm_msc9qMdNtedChpGNCZ0Ooos087wV6nkFhitFh9D65JUiXSCVB6QpfhC6YPKB0W_hl1iwirenYTFT1NTFJvRwzcs2cPtQk3OVCYd-j/w266-h400/alejandro%20luengo%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="U.S. flag and spring blossoms - photo by Alejandro Luengo on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></b></div><b>1. Limit or avoid media</b><p></p><div>Today's version of the American Dream is like a virus spread through TV, radio, movies, magazines, and social media. It might be impossible to eliminate all of it, but we must be aware that the more we engage with any of these platforms, the more we'll be infected by the mindset. This goes for children too!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Stop competing and comparing.</b></p><div>Whether we do it consciously or not, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/04/friendship-worth-name.html" target="_blank">we often buy things to keep up with others</a>. We think we need trendier clothes, a better hairstyle, a cooler car, or a more exotic vacation. This isn't true – we only <i><b>need</b></i> what it takes to live simply. The rest is our ego talking.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/02/comparison-thief-of-joy.html" target="_blank">Comparison, the Thief of Joy</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Practice gratitude.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">By focusing on our next purchase or experience, we demonstrate dissatisfaction with what we already have. It's a mindset of entitlement and ingratitude. Not only is that unattractive, it's a habit that causes us to miss out on all the goodness of life. What a shame to ignore all the reasons we have to be happy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/06/secret-of-contentment.html" target="_blank">Learn the Secrets of Contentment</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Start creating instead of consuming.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">I've been becoming minimalist for nearly 30 years, but my consumption levels went <i><b>way down</b></i> when I started writing every day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/06/6-reasons-to-make-something-this-summer.html" target="_blank">Creating is much more satisfying</a> than simply buying something, and for good reason. For all of human existence, we've been producers, and that has made us independent and self-reliant (sounds like the original American Dream).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you stop chasing your next purchase, you have time to garden, cook, craft, or make music. Are you feeling overwhelmed by the task of decluttering your home? Take <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/01/the-best-way-to-reduce-clutter.html" target="_blank">the essential first step</a> and stop bringing new stuff in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/02/9-ways-to-free-yourself-from-trap-of.html" target="_blank">9 Ways to Free Yourself from the Trap of Consumerism</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Be original.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once you start to undream the American Dream, you can discover what matters most to you. You can behave like an individual instead of a cog in our economy. You can free yourself to follow your unique calling.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Come to think of it, that sounds more like "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" to me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMA2R-DGYL9wnoMfbHGBP2gT2kXf2Gy6UaEjsUrvhM3HJ8EBfHyGlP9uZ5Zv9-cYckWf3WPQt9CjjXv8RvfElDZvWSVKl07jc4-X5LjKGt1Z1eXMg1zRzNsrdBn-5CnVYzKjv4F5ZvmAsjShyVCu5UB1N-ghJkowM0s-6xNwwk1l26EhI7MZSiHBhbh2ZL/s500/Minimalism%201-2-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MINIMALISM 1-2-3 book" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMA2R-DGYL9wnoMfbHGBP2gT2kXf2Gy6UaEjsUrvhM3HJ8EBfHyGlP9uZ5Zv9-cYckWf3WPQt9CjjXv8RvfElDZvWSVKl07jc4-X5LjKGt1Z1eXMg1zRzNsrdBn-5CnVYzKjv4F5ZvmAsjShyVCu5UB1N-ghJkowM0s-6xNwwk1l26EhI7MZSiHBhbh2ZL/w201-h320/Minimalism%201-2-3.jpg" title="MINIMALISM 1-2-3 book" width="201" /></a></div>Minimalism is the balance between too much and too little – not the "more is always better" mindset of our culture, but probably not "monk in a cave" austerity either.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're interested in a balanced life that promises more satisfaction with less stuff, the second installment of my <a href="https://amzn.to/47gmGBH" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a> is perfect for you. <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/45AhfNt" target="_blank">Minimalism 1-2-3: Simple Steps to a Better Life</a></b></i>* will introduce you to some foundational concepts. You can start small and discover what's right for you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-5224983937964007962024-03-14T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-14T06:00:00.146-07:00How to Prepare Your Bedroom for Better Relaxation and Sleep<div style="text-align: left;">Imagine checking into a nice hotel room. It doesn't have to be the most expensive, just a clean and pleasant place in an area you want to visit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Put the key card in the slot, open the door, and imagine what you see. You may or may not like the color of the bedspread and drapes. You may or may not like the artwork on the walls. But you probably like the super-clean, spa-like bathroom and neatly made bed. Extra pillows and in-room coffee are nice too. (One place Jon and I like to stay on the Sonoma county coast has a gas fireplace in each room. <b>Love!</b>) </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hotel rooms offer a place to shower, store your clothes, and sleep while you're traveling for work or fun. Maybe they have a nice pool or a beautiful view. Nothing more. Nothing less.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's that simplicity that beckons you to curl up with a good book. Maybe you'll watch a bit of TV while you snuggle into the robe that's provided. Or you might take a nap in the afternoon before heading out for dinner or to visit friends.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb_UGi5-p4LXpGVI1eGC4AuXtzY2QENszAr7_d4iy-z5TLkWSjkwsXkWIL2kLtEWGIlZH2I70uRjtCa48W95cWi9vk-7eHdepEzDclZiYLtFvySqAxQgaEEnvDByaAFOjtREw-DwWe7C2YnmEfDKNHTr5BMZpzPVlMWr5VpwYBN8IskulP84qpVnFvesD/s2204/clay%20banks%201%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="simple, comfy bedroom" border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="2204" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMb_UGi5-p4LXpGVI1eGC4AuXtzY2QENszAr7_d4iy-z5TLkWSjkwsXkWIL2kLtEWGIlZH2I70uRjtCa48W95cWi9vk-7eHdepEzDclZiYLtFvySqAxQgaEEnvDByaAFOjtREw-DwWe7C2YnmEfDKNHTr5BMZpzPVlMWr5VpwYBN8IskulP84qpVnFvesD/w640-h430/clay%20banks%201%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="simple, comfy bedroom - photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">What's a bedroom for?</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Wouldn't you love to have that feeling at home? When you enter your bedroom, you want to feel relaxed and comfortable. You should instantly know that this room is where you take care of yourself and get a good night's sleep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It sounds simple. But some of us have bedrooms that are nothing like the useful refuge of our dreams.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Different rooms have different functions.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The kitchen holds dishes, cookware, appliances, and food so we can cook and eat.</li><li>The living room holds entertainment options and places to sit and socialize.</li><li>Bathrooms contain items for personal care and cleanliness.</li><li>Garages are for parking the car, and may also hold laundry facilities and garden tools.</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Perhaps your bedroom needs to provide a place to study, or a spot for intimate conversation. But its primary purpose is for relaxation and sleep. It doesn't need to be a home gym, business office, or toy room.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Before you think, "I don't have any place else to put those things," keep reading.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Get better sleep tonight.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are only a few things you need to have a good night's sleep:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a comfortable, supportive bed</li><li>pillows (<a href="https://www.naturepedic.com/adult/bedding/organic-cotton-pla-pillow" target="_blank">these Naturepedic pillows</a> are a great choice)</li><li>bedding (<a href="https://amzn.to/48gaemI" target="_blank">these 100% cotton sheets</a>* have received many awards)</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In additional to sleeping essentials, your room might need a few more things to be functional:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>bedside table and lamp</li><li>a comfortable chair or two (or a compact loveseat)</li><li>dresser</li><li>clothes closet</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Seriously, that's all you really need! When you add more, you turn your sleeping room into a multi-purpose space that might be anything but relaxing. How many of the following can be found in your bedroom every day (or at least most of the time)?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>exercise equipment</li><li>work desk, filing cabinet, computer, etc.</li><li>dirty laundry</li><li>baskets of clean, unfolded laundry</li><li>textbooks and school supplies</li><li>children's toys</li><li>dirty dishes</li><li>artwork and décor you don't care for</li><li>pictures of people that don't bring you joy</li><li>bulk purchases</li><li>boxes of things you've decluttered that haven't made it to the Goodwill yet</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to live in the real world</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL7aOKDFJcXlIawas56z6DQlMzB7KotQgwGg5v6QtcCtOHxTOKaLTaVPz4RCXKDbWR3nPPGg6_O0basJ_0P0uQUoOmsqmU7kkFhrkmH1xeK9MwhEmeC3TcZy4w9TZ_FrS7yiRna_XkF1sTWADTiqnsxVAEyoX4oBR_Ulr-HQrLcmfe3QxsquJtnW5v0D-/s2784/clay%20banks%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="uncluttered desk" border="0" data-original-height="2784" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL7aOKDFJcXlIawas56z6DQlMzB7KotQgwGg5v6QtcCtOHxTOKaLTaVPz4RCXKDbWR3nPPGg6_O0basJ_0P0uQUoOmsqmU7kkFhrkmH1xeK9MwhEmeC3TcZy4w9TZ_FrS7yiRna_XkF1sTWADTiqnsxVAEyoX4oBR_Ulr-HQrLcmfe3QxsquJtnW5v0D-/w276-h400/clay%20banks%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="uncluttered desk - photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash" width="276" /></a></div>In a perfect world, you'd remove all of those extraneous things from your bedroom and never let them in again. But we don't live in a perfect world, and sometimes our square footage doesn't quite accommodate all of our needs.</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That doesn't mean you should give up and let the extras invade your calm and restful space. All these reminders of things you need to do and take care of aren't going to put you in a stress-free mood.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Some items (such as dirty dishes and laundry) represent <b>habits you need to change</b> to make your bedroom (and home) a more pleasant place to be. It's a matter of putting things where they belong when you're finished with them, and that isn't in your bedroom. The piles of toys and bulk purchase items may be dealt with the same way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes the issue is whether you actually use these things or not. Are you really on that treadmill every day? Maybe the solution is to sell or donate the exercise equipment and get outside for a walk or run several times a week – no large appliance necessary.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Other items simply need to be removed from your home and life. Make a plan to get those Goodwill donations to the shop this week. Don't forget to remove the décor you're tired of. Do a thorough dusting, and let the trinkets you <i><b>do</b></i> enjoy have room to shine and be appreciated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What about those things that might be better in another part of the house? Maybe removing that unused chair and side table in the living room will provide a nice corner for your desk.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>Or not.</b></i> It would be nice to remove what doesn't belong, but it might not be possible. So you need to think about hiding and storing things away so you don't have to look at them all the time when you just want to turn off your mind and go to sleep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Storage solutions</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg2A2SDTUWn8DBKZ9lskFLr7QRWCh5Wr7hL_gD8Mz6vHnAJvrwUr7Rx9hiL166TRsg79RbPBAG240BrZ6NI0PR62oJYlwjw2nEQ_ZkOX_CS2dIok7DDShOFMOtW_dn8TajL64Cus8LfOBCLBu4h60c4jc5wwLLgSvUavWqydB39vPP7sg6VtiTW8wfvF_/s2749/tina%20witherspoon%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="comfy chair with a view" border="0" data-original-height="2749" data-original-width="1827" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg2A2SDTUWn8DBKZ9lskFLr7QRWCh5Wr7hL_gD8Mz6vHnAJvrwUr7Rx9hiL166TRsg79RbPBAG240BrZ6NI0PR62oJYlwjw2nEQ_ZkOX_CS2dIok7DDShOFMOtW_dn8TajL64Cus8LfOBCLBu4h60c4jc5wwLLgSvUavWqydB39vPP7sg6VtiTW8wfvF_/w266-h400/tina%20witherspoon%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="comfy chair with a view - photo by Tina Witherspoon on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>Maybe you work from home and need your desk and computer. Can you switch to a laptop so it can be closed and put away instead of being a constant, ugly presence? Maybe you're a college student and can't get rid of your textbooks, but looking at them just reminds you of all the work you need to finish. Your books and papers could go in <a href="https://amzn.to/48eMMqa" target="_blank">natural sea grass baskets with lids</a> – a beautiful solution that you don't need to hide.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Make your closet more functional. First, declutter the clothes and shoes you don't need or use. Then maximize storage with an <a href="https://amzn.to/48l290o" target="_blank">expandable system</a> of shelves and hanging rods. Add <a href="https://amzn.to/3RHYqTc" target="_blank">fabric storage cubes</a> if you want to be able to store some things out of sight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Utilize the empty space under your bed for out of season clothing, blankets, hobby supplies, or other things you want handy but hidden. Make sure that <a href="https://amzn.to/41GXIu5" target="_blank">under bed storage</a> is breathable so you don't create problems with mold or mildew.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">An <a href="https://amzn.to/4aF3j8a" target="_blank">over-the-door organizer</a> will neatly store a variety of items behind your bedroom door, closet door, en suite bathroom door, etc.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Good night!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you lay down to rest, the last thing you want is a messy space that reminds you of everything on your to-do list. As you declutter and organize, make sure your bedroom is the most beautiful, peaceful haven in your home. Then you'll be prepared for a good night's sleep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/07/house-beautiful.html" target="_blank">Your Very Own House Beautiful</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-44756998522681161692024-03-11T06:00:00.000-07:002024-03-11T06:00:00.145-07:00Tune In to the Power of OneWe live in a culture of plenty. So it's pretty typical for us to believe that we need more than one of almost everything. <i><b>Of course</b></i> you need a backup spatula, cooking spoon, or sauté pan! <i><b>Naturally</b></i> you want a selection of bath towels, dinner plates, and athletic shoes! <i><b>It's only common sense</b></i> to keep an extra umbrella, water bottle, or charger (or two, three, or a lot more).<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We don't even question this.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yet a lot can be gained by not owning more than we need:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We save money when we don't buy all the extras.</li><li>We save space when we don't store all the extras.</li><li>We save aggravation when we don't have to search through all the extras.</li></ul><br /></div><div>Not to mention the resources we don't waste, and the waste we don't generate, when we don't manufacture and package and ship all the extras.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Over the years, I've reduced my belongings to the point where I own a single copy of items that many people own multiples of. Some items are small and inexpensive, others are large or pricey. As you read along, keep in mind that this is <i><b>my list</b></i>, and it might not be applicable to you. But I hope it inspires you to consider how you might own <b>just one</b> of some things.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGvS6GcHpebC-iHb3NRls2Sf8-SFQvHq1OoYVC4iGoMY91uI_exG7R7c_fITYEw3ofzhtf2EnlVv714MMzDnTbQdnJn6ztY4YApNEu5FzZvVkxCJTFQ-KCT4S4UPg81u1SOK2PTHL5CVo-bEgLDfQzw3-myeE7d4Mh3wGDCJ8qByxlFiTUr-oN5WRy9D9/s1578/debby%20hudson%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="just one" border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="1578" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGvS6GcHpebC-iHb3NRls2Sf8-SFQvHq1OoYVC4iGoMY91uI_exG7R7c_fITYEw3ofzhtf2EnlVv714MMzDnTbQdnJn6ztY4YApNEu5FzZvVkxCJTFQ-KCT4S4UPg81u1SOK2PTHL5CVo-bEgLDfQzw3-myeE7d4Mh3wGDCJ8qByxlFiTUr-oN5WRy9D9/w640-h482/debby%20hudson%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="just one - photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">13 examples of one = enough</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Comb</b></p><div>Many people have a comb in the bathroom, bedroom, their purse, and maybe in the car or in their desk at work. I have short, wavy hair, and I don't need to brush or comb it constantly to keep it looking reasonably decent. I find that having one comb means I always put it where it belongs and never have to hunt around for it. I've replaced it perhaps once in the last decade. (Of course, I clean it every now and then.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Computer</b></p><div>I have one computer, my HP laptop. My husband has the same model. We don't have desktops or tablets. It's small enough to travel with, but has a powerful operating system that allows me to get my work done on a single device.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Daily shoes</b></p><div>Many people have <i><b>shoe collections</b></i>. They may be beautiful (if you're into that), but they might not be practical or comfortable. I like to get <b>full use</b> from something that's supposed to be useful. By owning just one pair of shoes that I wear daily, I actually wear them out. By the time I replace my black Sketchers Go Walk Joy shoes, they're not actually frayed, but the uppers are stretched out and the soles are getting worn down. By that time they're not that comfortable to walk in, so their usefulness is over.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Moisturizer</b></p><div>There are millions of products you can buy for your skin, and most women I know own dozens of them. The majority sit unused because they don't work, are too finicky for every day, cost too much to use regularly, or all three.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've used Olay Original beauty fluid for many years. I don't use eye cream, I don't use night cream, I no longer use a special cleanser. Using one potion makes my skin care routine very simple and quick. It's true I'm blessed with small pores and normal-to-dry skin, but I find that a washcloth, warm water, and Olay keep my skin clear and soft.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Suitcase</b></p><div>When Jon and I got married, we had an entire set of luggage I had been given as a college graduation gift. Huge suitcase, medium suitcase, carry-on suitcase, makeup case, over-the-shoulder tote bag. Five pieces. Today we use one carry-on roller bag for the both of us unless we need to bring dressy outfits, in which case we each use a carry-on bag.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGBeya1YsICdRi2OXoRm49GtN_eR6JZklCtNyoJj8wcgFJbLawQobRL5XgnTQTmtX9I06fgg1nk1dVuRgaRcM-OM_K64F7ZZhuxdgHZqYjhigbIp4pUZnC5N9DCbXCtLQ1sgilK21wXbuduokKc304MnIqEvXMo-R7invs-IV_tBvENHytGG69pZV4GyP/s1345/irina%20iriser%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="black purse" border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1345" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGBeya1YsICdRi2OXoRm49GtN_eR6JZklCtNyoJj8wcgFJbLawQobRL5XgnTQTmtX9I06fgg1nk1dVuRgaRcM-OM_K64F7ZZhuxdgHZqYjhigbIp4pUZnC5N9DCbXCtLQ1sgilK21wXbuduokKc304MnIqEvXMo-R7invs-IV_tBvENHytGG69pZV4GyP/w400-h266/irina%20iriser%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="black purse - photo by Irina Iriser on Unsplash" width="400" /></a></b></div><b>6. Purse</b><p></p><div>This is another item women tend to collect. I have a black leather purse with the perfect number of sections and pockets for what I need. I've used it for several years and it looks like new.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Television</b></p><div>Jon and I enjoy watching a DVD or streaming a TV series every once in a while, but I think it can be dangerous when we start putting screens in our kitchens, dining areas, and bedrooms. We have one television in our living room.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Sunglasses</b></p><div>By owning just one pair of sunglasses, I'm very conscious of where they are when I'm not wearing them (I keep them in my car). The ones I own are getting a bit scratched up, so I plan to replace them before summer, but I've been using them since just before the pandemic.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Vehicle</b></p><div>When our oldest child started at the local community college, we got her a reliable used car. That was the first time since our marriage that we owned more than one car, and once our younger child moved into his own apartment approximately 10 years ago, our multi-vehicle era ended. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We always made one vehicle work by coordinating our schedules, sharing rides, and using a bicycle. Over the years, this has not only saved us a lot of money, but it's made us more thoughtful and flexible about how we use our transportation.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Kitchen utensils and cookware</b></p><div>I've found that it's easiest to own just one of each kitchen utensil. I don't need multiple can openers, salad tongs, ladles, measuring spoons, etc. Likewise, I don't need more than one sauté pan, 3-quart saucepan, or 9x13-inch baking dish. Owning more than that just crowds my kitchen and insures that multiple items sit idly in the cupboard.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>11. Set of sheets</b></p><div>I buy high quality sheets for the bed Jon and I share, and mid-quality sheets for the bed my grandsons sleep on for one or two nights per month. I simply wash our sheets and put them right back on the bed, saving space in our tiny linen closet for an extra pair of bath towels, small stacks of hand towels and wash cloths, and the extra blanket for each bed that we store for eight months out of the year.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>12. Book shelf</b></p><div>At one point, my home had five bookshelves, and all were completely full. Most of the books were mine, some were my husband's, and each of my kids had substantial collections as well. I'm not sure what the total number was, but I'd guess it was about 400.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My current small home doesn't have room for five bookshelves, or even three. There isn't room to keep every book I've ever read (or might read someday). <b>Not even close.</b> I have one bookshelf in our living room, and it holds about 50 books I've read, loved, and will likely read again, about a dozen books I have plans to read this year, plus physical copies of the books I've written. In our spare room (used by our grandsons when they stay), there's a bin of picture books.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I finally figured out that a large and growing home library encumbered me, and that decluttering books wouldn't diminish me. I've <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/11/how-to-declutter-books.html" target="_blank">uncovered the books I love</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQjL7il3CtGEdK73fiRap8q7RqPUcEoavBww8VUQfY8HGdN9FTs2_soUrYJSQyCF-4uTXYfgFe1GCfVv-yifuz33hem_faxrn5w_74ZxQtH-mmccpzblcG_nwG3XhoGkRcDi295dgWM21re8ximWHdD1NJftMuOeTg2z8LYi1cvHEVB_Kjotgr67E-74D/s1968/marcus%20silva%20on%20pexels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="black dress" border="0" data-original-height="1968" data-original-width="1326" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQjL7il3CtGEdK73fiRap8q7RqPUcEoavBww8VUQfY8HGdN9FTs2_soUrYJSQyCF-4uTXYfgFe1GCfVv-yifuz33hem_faxrn5w_74ZxQtH-mmccpzblcG_nwG3XhoGkRcDi295dgWM21re8ximWHdD1NJftMuOeTg2z8LYi1cvHEVB_Kjotgr67E-74D/w270-h400/marcus%20silva%20on%20pexels.jpg" title="black dress - photo by Marcus Silva on Pexels" width="270" /></a></b></div><b>13. Little black dress</b><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">I've been a professional singer for several decades, and used to own the wardrobe to match. Since the pandemic, I perform less, but I still perform. Today, I own one beautiful black gown, and I accessorize with different jewelry and silk wraps for variety.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Not only does this save space in my closet for clothes I wear more often, but it means that the one gown I own is of high quality, designed and tailored just for me. Owning a "neutral" gown makes it more versatile, which justifies the higher cost. I feel confident that my voice speaks for me, rather than my clothes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The power in you</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One item is unique, like you. By owning just one of some things, you create a signature look or a distinguishing trait. Owning one creates confidence, since you're not following trends and influencers. <i><b>You</b></i> decide what you need, what will fulfill that need, and make the choice that suits you best.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In which situations would one be enough for you?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/09/things-i-stopped-buying-when-i-embraced.html" target="_blank">27 Things I Stopped Buying When I Embraced Minimalism</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-9828485061980604352024-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-07T06:00:00.127-08:00Don't Just Spring Forward - Give Slow Living a TryIf you live in the U.S. or Canada, you probably know that daylight saving time begins <b>this Sunday</b>, March 10th. (In Europe, you still have a couple of weeks before summer time begins.) Yes, it does seem to arrive earlier each year, although the current law which has it begin on the second Sunday in March has been in effect in the U.S. since 2007.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the World Sleep Society oppose daylight saving time and call for permanent standard time. The U.S. state of Arizona is one of only two states that does not observe the change (the other is Hawaii), citing energy conservation as the reason. With the hottest metropolitan areas on the continent, having an extra hour of sunlight while people are active would cause them to run their cooling systems longer, using even more energy than they already do. I believe the same is true here in the Sacramento Valley, but California has chosen to observe DST.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ2Nf6_31w_LhvujTp8tx9wb7mivQnV4jYgNuGyO7gWG7ypkuwUSEcdBhioD5wmttVrgYMY4DLfRJ961My6PmMQOBjeS7XLsOS2H9YkbnpnGH2uPRJoCC-lEZlAwfBMPBUC2wX4puWESCnQtHqG7JXV4F71anSrTuhNzACPavmazGt_2rF5CNp9njytwD/s2400/shannon%20mcnay%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clock at the Ferry Building, Port of San Francisco" border="0" data-original-height="1607" data-original-width="2400" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZ2Nf6_31w_LhvujTp8tx9wb7mivQnV4jYgNuGyO7gWG7ypkuwUSEcdBhioD5wmttVrgYMY4DLfRJ961My6PmMQOBjeS7XLsOS2H9YkbnpnGH2uPRJoCC-lEZlAwfBMPBUC2wX4puWESCnQtHqG7JXV4F71anSrTuhNzACPavmazGt_2rF5CNp9njytwD/w640-h428/shannon%20mcnay%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="clock at the Ferry Building, Port of San Francisco - photo by Shannon McNay on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The tyranny of the clock</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As we all adapt to darker mornings (for a while) and lighter evenings, we also seem to get even busier. Some people love the change. Golf courses, for example, collect millions in extra green fees. Retailers are happy because people shop more when it's light after work. Some people join sports leagues or plan outdoor parties. Of course, daylight hours increase as we get nearer to the summer solstice, no matter what our clocks say.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's odd to imagine living by the sun in our modern society. We're so used to clock time, which controls our lives. Work, school, and appointments are scheduled by the clock. Live TV shows and pro sports events are ruled by it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Slower living in our fast-paced world seems impossible, yet we aren't machines. Our bodies, like almost every living thing, respond to the sun. We need time to rest and recharge. And we feel less stress and get things done more efficiently when we <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/09/single-task.html" target="_blank">single-task</a>, instead of trying to cram more activity into the same time slot.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5 tips for slower living</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Pay attention.</b></p><div>Much too often, we go through life on autopilot. We speed through our days without noticing what's around us.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>We don't notice the weather except to turn up the heat or air conditioner.</li><li>We don't notice sounds except loud, intrusive ones.</li><li>We don't notice scents unless they're putrid or we're hungry, and then we eat too fast and too much to really taste our food.</li></ul><br /></div><div>And what do we feel? Certainly not the warm sun on our faces, the soft fragility of a blossom, the grittiness of sand, or the varied textures of tree bark. Even if we must spend all day inside, do we feel the difference between desktop, pen, paper, keyboard, and phone? Probably not.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to stop feeling so rushed and pressured, slow time by paying attention to what you're doing while you're doing it. Improve your connections to others by paying attention to the people you encounter. Do better work by focusing on important tasks. Don't wait for a big bucket list experience to engage with your life – experience the details of every day, and <b>you'll feel more alive</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s0ul4lPabGYRBQ_Bc8WQA9tEKTuw0sx-kyvDuYWd_r350_qNHcJPWWrut-3Qy60HKa-PF_KvPYdE99mckWtFk10gQqmRDMeVTtEj5_DtvQvvDZQ07EyyjqM2TrYtbwEwLjoZGwYSKVwvRcL283soQ4jAJu-rmdumHoL5KEcvBQCiKfYElvEjyD2WRpqg/s1600/bryce%20barker%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="clock at Grand Central Terminal, New York" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1291" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s0ul4lPabGYRBQ_Bc8WQA9tEKTuw0sx-kyvDuYWd_r350_qNHcJPWWrut-3Qy60HKa-PF_KvPYdE99mckWtFk10gQqmRDMeVTtEj5_DtvQvvDZQ07EyyjqM2TrYtbwEwLjoZGwYSKVwvRcL283soQ4jAJu-rmdumHoL5KEcvBQCiKfYElvEjyD2WRpqg/w323-h400/bryce%20barker%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="clock at Grand Central Terminal, New York - photo by Bryce Barker on Unsplash" width="323" /></a></div>2. Resist devices.</b></div><p></p><div>I'm guilty of checking my blog statistics and royalty reports much too often. I binge watch TV and scroll social media. But this causes me to ignore natural rhythms and miss what's happening in the real world.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Our devices have trained us to expect immediate results, so waiting for anything has become less tolerable. This can make it impossible for us to delight in the world around us, because the most interesting things don't move or change quickly. Try watching a baby, the change of seasons, or even a sunset. Did you know wildlife photographers and film makers will <a href="https://conservationvisuals.com/tutorials/wildlife/wildlife-photography-beginners/#:~:text=Patience%20in%20wildlife,moment%20presents%20itself." target="_blank">wait for hours – even days</a> – alone in a blind just to get the shot they're looking for?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Reserve one or two blocks of time for tending to emails and texts so they don't interrupt you throughout the day. Delete notifications so you're not constantly tempted to check in. Choose one or two evenings a week for streaming, and leave the others open for something that doesn't require an internet connection.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Say no.</b></p><div>It's so easy to become overcommitted. We hear of an interesting opportunity, or a friend asks us to get involved, and we say yes without thinking. We wind up frazzled, neglecting pursuits and people we care about, and dreading those extra meetings and activities.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Remember that everything you agree to requires a trade-off. When you say yes, what are you giving up? Family time? Personal time? The ability to focus on your priorities and life mission?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you ever want to control your schedule instead of letting it control you, you need to start viewing your time as a precious, non-renewable resource. Instead of thinking about everything you could possibly say yes to, choose what you want to focus on.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/04/how-to-say-no.html" target="_blank">How to Say No</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Plan free time.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">It's stressful and exhausting to be constantly on the go, so establish blocks of down time on your calendar. Give yourself a chance to anticipate and prepare for a busier afternoon or evening by making it a bit rarer. Leave that margin so you have more energy and fresher ideas for the obligations you choose to undertake.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Observe a weekly Sabbath. Whether it's Saturday, Sunday, or another day (and if you serve in your church or synagogue, it needs to be another day), give yourself and your family one day a week when you have no obligations. Then you have the freedom to spontaneously choose an activity you enjoy or that captures your attention. Or you can simply rest.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>5. Give thanks.</b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of getting caught up in what others have or in our own desires for the latest and greatest, let's notice how much we already possess. Loved ones, health, safety, a home, an education, the beautiful creation we live in, a job, food, clothing, and so much more. When we focus on what's great about life, we're less inclined to feel dissatisfied or become bogged down by our difficulties.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A gratitude journal can help you make this a habit, and gives you something wonderful to read and reflect on when you need it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep it simple.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Life is simpler when we slow down a bit, and it's certainly happier when we fully experience our surroundings and save our energy for our most meaningful activities. So don't just spring forward this weekend – slow down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/09/the-easy-5-step-antidote-to-crazy-busy.html" target="_blank">The Easy 5-Step Antidote to a Crazy Busy Life</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-74225123373418257152024-03-04T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-04T06:00:00.145-08:00Why You Should See Cleaning as Self-CareRecently, I returned home from a weekend trip and immediately unpacked what I took with me, washed a load of dirty clothes, and put everything away. I felt settled and at home. It was a good feeling.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A few days later, I was having a hard day. I started cleaning. I cleaned the refrigerator and wiped the kitchen counters. I decluttered a few old papers from my file box. I swept the porches and mopped the floor in the entry hall. It felt good.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8goipd5yijGyi0_EUtg4ssxJoo9RMwSWdpz5uYPV9VZDWeG8ks9NK8mFpwU8av2wJyoXi_ek6IAEmYXsonkghWV-kVhnPImAmJQU3DxktCGT8_aj81byQGZKro373fOC4CmEoLceMNGT-fD6_hK8JaCCENbicnJrYXoUVQbXBryZZqptmhh0sk7aWLDl/s1540/elena%20popova%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clean and pretty" border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1540" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8goipd5yijGyi0_EUtg4ssxJoo9RMwSWdpz5uYPV9VZDWeG8ks9NK8mFpwU8av2wJyoXi_ek6IAEmYXsonkghWV-kVhnPImAmJQU3DxktCGT8_aj81byQGZKro373fOC4CmEoLceMNGT-fD6_hK8JaCCENbicnJrYXoUVQbXBryZZqptmhh0sk7aWLDl/w640-h514/elena%20popova%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="clean and pretty - photo by Elena Popova on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Self-soothing with home care</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For me, cleaning, organizing, and decluttering are a form of self-care. I feel satisfied when things are clean and neat. I feel like I'm managing my life and ready for what's next.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I know that these activities can feel overwhelming for some, and so we avoid them. The feeling of not knowing where to start, or that there's just <i><b>so much</b></i> mess, can make you feel like a failure. But if you can just begin in one small area, you start to feel a measure of control, and the task becomes easier.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, there's always more to do. Cleaned areas don't stay clean. Organized spaces can get disorganized with use. And clutter can creep in unaware.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But that's the wrong way to look at it. Instead of feeling that homecare never ends (which is totally discouraging), try to think of it as new opportunities to fix things up and arrange them just the way you like them. There's always more self-care available.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Adding serenity, one task at a time</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As you clean, notice the difference your effort is making. Notice how pretty the wood is on the table you just dusted. Notice how comfortable and inviting the couch looks when the cushions are plumped and straightened. Notice that your entire bedroom looks peaceful and welcoming when the bed is made.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As you declutter and organize, notice how everything fits so nicely. Notice how much easier it will be to find the tools and supplies you need. Notice the slight feeling of liberation as you get rid of things you don't need.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We can extend this self-care into other areas of our lives. For example:</div><div><br /></div><div><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Today I organized paperwork so I can get started on preparing our annual tax return. It's not a job I look forward to, but it can be a nightmare of confusing piles of paper to frantically search through, or it can be less of a chore because I pruned the useless and organized the rest.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I also deleted a bunch of "not so great" photos from my phone, and reorganized others into the folders I've already established (one for each grandson and so on). They'll be easier to find and enjoy when I want them.</li></ul><br /></div><div>One item at a time, I'm taking care of my life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Any of these tasks can be overwhelming and dreaded, or pleasant and nourishing. <b>It's my choice</b>, and I choose to feel the satisfaction that comes from every sweep of my broom, every polish of my cleaning cloth, and every piece of clean clothing I hang in my closet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related articles: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/03/spring-clean.html" target="_blank">Spring Clean</a> and <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/03/12-easy-and-fun-ideas-to-refresh-your.html" target="_blank">12 Easy and Fun Ideas to Refresh Your Home in Time for Spring</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-jDL7qqAw2VEB32bnMHijfjNiBodxVH4griR4YFezFxhgMEKkI5iV-TLgdJWGzcpC6etfFK0tSlhpnWbEW-YUb6arZAxBx4rjJ4SXGkFGMbjXynRp5xwQzi4N-hY7O5FHPLiQh4g1n1lNKRagXD6i4bRrr-OkU1aNZs4QjcdltYcuqbUCjpX6JHYX_Du/s385/Exploring%20Minimalism.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="EXPLORING MINIMALISM book" border="0" data-original-height="385" data-original-width="242" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-jDL7qqAw2VEB32bnMHijfjNiBodxVH4griR4YFezFxhgMEKkI5iV-TLgdJWGzcpC6etfFK0tSlhpnWbEW-YUb6arZAxBx4rjJ4SXGkFGMbjXynRp5xwQzi4N-hY7O5FHPLiQh4g1n1lNKRagXD6i4bRrr-OkU1aNZs4QjcdltYcuqbUCjpX6JHYX_Du/w201-h320/Exploring%20Minimalism.jpg" title="EXPLORING MINIMALISM book" width="201" /></a></div>Want to know more about how minimalism can make a difference in your life? You'll appreciate my book <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3RXtJeh" target="_blank">Exploring Minimalism</a></b></i>, part of my <a href="https://amzn.to/3TyKYno" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a>.* </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Minimalism runs counter to our cultural expectations, so we need a guidebook to help us begin to look at things differently. Your life is too valuable to be wasted on what everyone else is choosing, so let <i><b>Exploring Minimalism</b></i> show you a better way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-70235347859210875192024-02-29T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-29T06:00:00.140-08:00How to Celebrate the Remarkable Value of One DayBetween one day and the next, I was married, and my life changed forever. I was committed to my husband of nearly 40 years.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Between one day and the next, I was a mother, and my life changed forever. My priorities and choices were permanently impacted by my daughter, who will be 35 next month.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Between one day and the next, I was a grandmother. What fun! I'm so blessed with my three grandsons.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Between one day and the next, any of our lives could change. It could be a promotion, an illness, an accident, or an award and the recognition that goes with it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkC3YJd4JXOZNJF6hQt8vKL2hB_VjSqKechB9edUv9FVpibABQX7mq9ZhT_C7AYfdnOViJtC1lEKzF-1P8CZpS2Vd55o_zdfmpZavBl7vwn1w2dqjQdHLQmTKxfvnUfXUj9M0f-th7al1KGi-g4mpmxHy2yBs3RGgz5mqUiJbWdiAmcLSkljPnuErLxMt/s1916/kevin%20andre%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="time" border="0" data-original-height="1446" data-original-width="1916" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkC3YJd4JXOZNJF6hQt8vKL2hB_VjSqKechB9edUv9FVpibABQX7mq9ZhT_C7AYfdnOViJtC1lEKzF-1P8CZpS2Vd55o_zdfmpZavBl7vwn1w2dqjQdHLQmTKxfvnUfXUj9M0f-th7al1KGi-g4mpmxHy2yBs3RGgz5mqUiJbWdiAmcLSkljPnuErLxMt/w640-h484/kevin%20andre%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="time - photo by Kevin Andre on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A gift</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If we live to be 70, we'll experience over 25,000 days. So what does it matter if we waste a few? So what if I lounge all day in my pajamas and binge watch <i><b>The Queen's Gambit</b></i>?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Each day we arise with energy and hope, or not. We successfully complete important tasks, or we don't. We enjoy pleasant and kind encounters with other people, or we don't. We connect with our ideals and refresh our spirits, or not. We're observant and thankful, or the opposite.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We don't control all the circumstances of our lives, but we do control these things. We have the privilege of choosing our attitude and how we spend our time. Each day is a gift, and today we have an extra – Leap Day!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>However, we tend to go through our days in a well-worn rut. We get up, do our tasks, get distracted, go to bed. Rise and repeat. Our days become an endless round of things to do and get through.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What would it be like if today were special, if we saw it as the gift it really is?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 practices to elevate your day</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Win the day.</b></p><div>Instead of starting the day with a long list of tasks to do, could you identify one or two things that would make your day a victory if you were to do them?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, maybe you need to run a load of laundry and pick up milk and Cheerios at the grocery store. Maybe you need to return a few phone calls and get to the dentist. Those might be necessary, but what are one or two tasks that would get you closer to achieving a goal you care about, or to fulfilling your mission?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For me, that might be writing this blog post. It might be rehearsing some music I'm going to perform soon. It might be babysitting my grandsons, and making sure I listen to them, read to them, and talk about important things like God, the beauty of the world, how to care about other people, what they like to learn about, or what they might do in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If I can get just those one or two or three things done, it will be a big win for my goals. And it would feel fantastic! This is what I want to keep front and center, and think about multiple times during the day. Maybe I won't completely succeed, but I'll certainly accomplish more by focusing my attention in this way.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Review the day.</b></p><div>At the end of the day, it can be valuable to review how things went, and celebrate anything you can.</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Did I win the day (see #1)? Celebrate any progress at all.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How did I do with the habits I'm trying to master? For me right now, that's avoiding sugar and reducing carbs. Any success is cause for celebration. Any failure is a chance to learn and start again.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Was I aware of the divine today? I believe in God, but you can think in terms of "the sacred" if that works for you. Did I practice kindness and <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/11/we-need-grace.html" target="_blank">grace</a>? Did I notice beauty and awesomeness? Did I ask for help, or give thanks?</li></ul><br /></div><div>This is a powerful practice that lets you celebrate your gift of life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Pause.</b></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh701YR1l9iJPe1CrTTgf_68j_olcmFEP-gEavbOORtGJv7ZYYUHYGUDm9Ye_-TuhBi1cwFQZNDRojs0T7VmXk4if-_4R8otO4khAI7sF_IWrm5ejxXJP7xzQfJcM3myVZTMKTtUGkDXomueHhfnnO2S9L27ZbIaNAlse1RlFCoawcsPmT1cRuKqqSBgV4s/s1600/kristaps%20ungurs%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="awesome" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1285" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh701YR1l9iJPe1CrTTgf_68j_olcmFEP-gEavbOORtGJv7ZYYUHYGUDm9Ye_-TuhBi1cwFQZNDRojs0T7VmXk4if-_4R8otO4khAI7sF_IWrm5ejxXJP7xzQfJcM3myVZTMKTtUGkDXomueHhfnnO2S9L27ZbIaNAlse1RlFCoawcsPmT1cRuKqqSBgV4s/w321-h400/kristaps%20ungurs%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="awesome - photo by Kristaps Ungurs on Unsplash" width="321" /></a></div>This can happen at any time, and multiple times, throughout the day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the past, as I finished any task, I'd have the urge to look at my list and see what I needed to do next. Yes, I might take a short break for water or food or something else, but usually my practice was to get right on to the next thing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This is what makes us feel that our work is never-ending. It's what lets our days blur into one another, and helps the time fly by unnoticed. What if we take a pause instead?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I finish the rough draft of this post, it's a chance to pause, reread, and reflect. I can think again about the idea I had for the post when I first began it. Did I express that idea? Or as I wrote, did I refine the idea into something better? Is what I'm writing worth reading? Might it be valuable to someone else?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a chance to appreciate the opportunity I have to write for an audience. (<b>That's you.</b> Thank you for reading!) A chance to remember those who have encouraged me and taught me my craft. A chance to celebrate and be grateful.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then I can move on to the next task.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2024/01/7-ways-to-slow-time-and-savor-your-life.html" target="_blank">7 Ways to Slow Time and Savor Your Life</a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">This "extra" day is a bonus.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Between one day and the next, we don't know what will happen. But isn't it amazing that we're here, and that we've been given life and awareness? That is <i><b>always</b></i> worth celebrating.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope your Leap Day is a success!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If you want to know the value of one year, just ask a student who failed a course.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If you want to know the value of one month, ask a mother who gave birth to a premature baby.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If you want to know the value of one hour, ask the lovers waiting to meet.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If you want to know the value of one minute, ask the person who just missed the bus.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If you want to know the value of one second, ask the person who just escaped death in a car accident.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If you want to know the value of one hundredth of a second, ask the athlete who won a silver medal in the Olympics.</span></b></div></blockquote><div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Marc Levy</div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-22490163752295592272024-02-26T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-26T06:00:00.346-08:0010 Tips to Help You Declutter When You Don't Feel Like ItThe basics of decluttering are pretty straightforward: Put stuff you don't need or want into boxes or bags and remove it from your home by selling or donating it. But motivating yourself to do something hard is a challenge for anyone.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You may have to declutter even if you don't want to when</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>you're moving</li><li>guests are coming to stay</li><li><a href="https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-clutter-affects-health" target="_blank">it's making you sick</a></li><li>it's causing friction in your relationships</li><li>you just know it's time to simplify your life</li></ul><br /></div><div>You may think you don't have time to declutter, or you might not be "in the mood." It can feel overwhelming when you're just starting out, but I promise life is better on the other side of decluttering your home and simplifying your <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/p/money.html" target="_blank">finances</a>, work, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/04/52-minimalist-hobbies-to-benefit-and.html" target="_blank">hobbies</a>, and much more. Read on for my best recommendations, and know that I'm rooting for you!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nkkPD9LAqKIhDUWCOOWpCRMovVGi4334Mb4qjBH2osuBOtY6F7ZGF6lZPvvPfKPOWzNv6XIw1d99RqEOdZ6UGsZDhLI5JkkMMN-u3Kp2w1Aloa3iYPh5U3wLWPeXSrjyuodv3xzg3MyOohWSAqz-tVMyJjSstZ5S3nGS5hiuCbENM23TNr_9dSKrAA83/s1999/clay%20banks%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="uncluttered living room" border="0" data-original-height="1401" data-original-width="1999" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nkkPD9LAqKIhDUWCOOWpCRMovVGi4334Mb4qjBH2osuBOtY6F7ZGF6lZPvvPfKPOWzNv6XIw1d99RqEOdZ6UGsZDhLI5JkkMMN-u3Kp2w1Aloa3iYPh5U3wLWPeXSrjyuodv3xzg3MyOohWSAqz-tVMyJjSstZ5S3nGS5hiuCbENM23TNr_9dSKrAA83/w640-h448/clay%20banks%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="uncluttered living room - photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to energize yourself to declutter (when it's such a big job)</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. You need to know why.</b></p><div>There are many ways to declutter (and I'll discuss some as we go along), but knowing why is what will make it stick. Why do you want to live with less? What do you want to make room for in your life?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Consider this carefully, or you may find that you simply make space for new clutter. Be sure that you're making room for life and your priorities, not just for stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Stop adding clutter.</b></p><div>If you already feel the burden of your clutter, stop adding to it! Before you bring home even ONE new object (including something that's free), ask yourself these two questions:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Do I have a real need for this item?</li><li>What will I remove if I bring this item into my home?</li></ul><br /></div><div>To succeed at decluttering, you need to <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/01/how-to-resist-shopping.html" target="_blank">stop shopping</a> for entertainment, stop walking into stores "just to look," and stop visiting yard sales, flea markets, or online buy/sell/trade groups. When you start to control your clutter-collecting tendencies, you'll be able to make real progress on your current piles.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Begin with a challenge to make it fun.</b></p><div>A decluttering challenge can help you get over that initial "I don't want to/I don't know where to start" hump. Otherwise, you may be stuck in idle.</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/01/the-declutter-dare.html" target="_blank">The Declutter Dare</a></b>. 14 spaces. One hour. 100 (or more) items.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/05/five-minute-minimalism.html" target="_blank">Five-Minute Minimalism</a></b>. Here are 31 areas that can be decluttered in just five minutes each!</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/07/how-to-declutter-this-weekend.html" target="_blank">Declutter 30 Things (or More!) With Ease This Weekend</a></b>. Removing these things will be totally painless. Get going in the kitchen, office, bedroom, bathroom, living area, and even your car.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/05/minimalist-tool-kit-throw-packing-party.html" target="_blank">Throw a Packing Party and Gain a Simpler Life Today</a></b>. The challenge is big, but the results are amazing.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/09/the-4x4-wardrobe.html" target="_blank">4 Easy Steps to Create a 4x4 Minimalist Wardrobe Now</a></b>. This is a truly easy and fun way to create a minimalist wardrobe you can wear for a month or forever.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Get everyone involved.</b></p><div>When you begin decluttering, invite your family to join you. Don't demand, <i><b>invite</b></i>. I know it's sometimes easier to see other people's clutter than it is to see your own, but resist that temptation. Help your family to see the benefits of decluttering by demonstrating them yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some tips to get started:</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Try a <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/12/the-12-days-after-christmas-scavenger.html" target="_blank">Scavenger Hunt</a></b> (adapt it for any time of year).</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Be specific and set a deadline.</b> "Please sort the video games into two piles by dinnertime. I want to see those you play and those you don't."</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Offer a carrot <i>and</i> a stick.</b> "You can have the money we get from reselling the old games." And "After dinner, I'm moving all unsorted games into a donation box."</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Randomize it.</b> Write 10 tasks on separate slips of paper and have family members draw them from a bowl.</li></ul><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXiIvjIIbK91Xs0m41xF10YEj1l_gCKoj6eJbml0yUggN2YWYU85JCdkGbTJnVRg3qZBZZyilaBBC9cgXIKzRB29m870Sjjiut6OaKsxLPb2AeVKC4kC-0NwBVKpqvhzcb9PyaTCBOyAaBCsYyIAT2ePrZKN33-aIHnxpVQ2BSEh1WG_WarLTAVRNUwju/s1274/clay%20banks%203%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="cozy corner" border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="862" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXiIvjIIbK91Xs0m41xF10YEj1l_gCKoj6eJbml0yUggN2YWYU85JCdkGbTJnVRg3qZBZZyilaBBC9cgXIKzRB29m870Sjjiut6OaKsxLPb2AeVKC4kC-0NwBVKpqvhzcb9PyaTCBOyAaBCsYyIAT2ePrZKN33-aIHnxpVQ2BSEh1WG_WarLTAVRNUwju/w271-h400/clay%20banks%203%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="cozy corner - photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash" width="271" /></a></b></div><b>5. Do a Seinfeld chain.</b><p></p><div>Jerry Seinfeld has said that the way to be a better comedian is to create better jokes, and the way to create better jokes is to write every day. His advice is to get a big calendar and put a red X on each day that you do your task of writing (or anything else). "After a few days you'll have a chain," he says. "Your only job is to <b>not break the chain</b>."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This isn't about motivation. It isn't about whether you feel like it. It's simply about being consistent. Pick a goal that's meaningful enough to make a difference but simple enough that you can get it done. Try just <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/08/try-this-easy-10-minute-declutter.html" target="_blank">10 minutes a day</a> at first.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Try timeboxing.</b></p><div>Instead of focusing on a big task, such as clearing out the garage, focus on time. Set an alarm for a work period (say 25 minutes), and do as much as you can before the alarm goes off. Then take a short break (5 minutes) for stretching, getting a drink of water, checking texts, or just sitting quietly. Repeat if you can.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This works because you're looking at the job in small chunks, which helps you feel less overwhelmed by it. You enjoy a sense of success at each stage, instead of deferring until the entire project is finished. And each time you come back to the task, you have renewed energy and focus.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Work like a machine.</b></p><div>Be methodical about how you approach any space you're decluttering. Work from left to right, high to low, front to back – whatever makes sense for your project. Don't jump around the space. This will let you see your progress and keep you on track.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Set a boundary.</b></p><div>Setting a limit can help you declutter until you reach a manageable number of items. Perhaps you decide that you'll keep your four favorite pairs of jeans, and remove the rest. Maybe you decide that two sets of sheets for each bed is ample, and the excess can go. You could choose to keep one set of everyday dishes and one set of formal dinnerware. Or maybe you can simply use one set for everything! You might keep tools and supplies for just two favorite hobbies, and even limit those items to one bin per pastime.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Whether choosing just three favorite photos to place on top of the piano, or opting to keep just one box of holiday decorations, a boundary lets you <b>focus on quality and function</b>. You can get excited about keeping the best while removing the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Turn guilt to gratitude.</b></p><div>If you struggle with guilt about letting go, money spent, or time wasted, shift your thoughts toward gratitude. If you're thinking "I shouldn't have spent that money," think "I'm grateful that I have enough" or "I'm thankful that I understand what's important to me now."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Recognize that you've already received value from the item – you used it for however long. Or that it no longer has value for you – it's just been in storage for however long. Either way, you can give thanks for whatever the item meant in the past, and give up guilt about removing it from your space today.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Overcome emotion.</b></p><div>The last stage of decluttering is usually reserved for sentimental items – stuff with emotional connections like inherited pieces, collectibles, handmade things, and possibly books.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You might benefit from having a neutral person help you at this stage. When you don't physically handle your childhood Teddy bear or your Grandpa's paintings of old barns, you can be more clearheaded about whether or not they're keepers.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And remember that <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/02/how-to-let-go-of-sentimental-keepsakes.html" target="_blank">one item</a> <b>on display</b> can be far more meaningful than boxes of stuff you never look at. Get ready to <i><b>enjoy</b></i> your sentimental treasures instead of being burdened by them.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Remember rewards.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do something positive for yourself as you finish each decluttering session or project. Don't wait until your home is completely decluttered. Celebrating along the way will make you excited for the next celebration!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This can be very simple:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Sit down with a restorative cup of coffee or tea.</li><li>Put on your favorite music and dance.</li><li>Ask your partner for a neck massage.</li><li>Call a friend to share your victory.</li><li>Read a chapter of a good book.</li><li>Savor a small portion of your favorite snack.</li><li>Post a picture of your success.</li><li>If you've decluttered your kitchen, host a small dinner party.</li><li>If you've decluttered the living room, plan a family movie night.</li><li>Simply relax in your newly decluttered space.</li></ul><br /></div><div>Your home should be a place of refuge and comfort, and you're making it happen!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrvin-VoNit3Av7dafYsCg-ZOvXclRUftS5UCc1rS4u_-F4wI8tt6LRXRWZdSmQM-ANujfrWk22awavimp-TSey8bd3DZiAknqPaxusKiBrpuU2xnBfQJh3qLbDAoNsIUTVjAGYQw2BN2GyJ2awDc-czpmFO3EV9mVMujmnIKTzUxy0yx1FgNWtVq_WO9/s500/Decluttering.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DECLUTTERING book" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrvin-VoNit3Av7dafYsCg-ZOvXclRUftS5UCc1rS4u_-F4wI8tt6LRXRWZdSmQM-ANujfrWk22awavimp-TSey8bd3DZiAknqPaxusKiBrpuU2xnBfQJh3qLbDAoNsIUTVjAGYQw2BN2GyJ2awDc-czpmFO3EV9mVMujmnIKTzUxy0yx1FgNWtVq_WO9/w201-h320/Decluttering.jpg" title="DECLUTTERING book" width="201" /></a></div>Are you just starting your decluttering journey? Do you feel like you need a "cheat sheet" to keep you on track?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've written a pocket-size guide to decluttering that breaks the process into manageable tasks. It's the road map you've needed, delivered in bite-size pieces to help you achieve the larger, cleaner, more organized home you're longing for.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Look for <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/48nK15v" target="_blank">Decluttering: The Simple Guide from A to Z</a></b></i> on Amazon.* It's the first book in my best-selling <a href="https://amzn.to/3OAbVnh" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-23539438335291039152024-02-22T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-22T06:00:00.125-08:00How to Accomplish More by Accepting Your ImperfectionWhen it comes to getting things done, too often we overthink and obsess about each decision. We sit idle because we're afraid to choose wrong.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Guess what? You aren't God. You don't have all knowledge and control. So accept that.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKeOs3ynnAz6ubDFdi0FmQ-pjCDH25m_pOJRrFg5nEfsCdlPPa8srrBlCQCbY63VMI10nVtpLZsjLtt1j217GGYmnbqUTQ7im3pQvcH6HChRILVbQO5yzOqgcdJLXqQn3h2khc12nEW31QDMEixH4STuVFqLbA0CuZAnM46NTxbKsD6igPo8LXWA5vYbj/s2400/kyle%20glenn%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Which way?" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKeOs3ynnAz6ubDFdi0FmQ-pjCDH25m_pOJRrFg5nEfsCdlPPa8srrBlCQCbY63VMI10nVtpLZsjLtt1j217GGYmnbqUTQ7im3pQvcH6HChRILVbQO5yzOqgcdJLXqQn3h2khc12nEW31QDMEixH4STuVFqLbA0CuZAnM46NTxbKsD6igPo8LXWA5vYbj/w640-h426/kyle%20glenn%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="Which way? - photo by Kyle Glenn on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to decide</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The way to get better at making decisions is to decide. Choose, choose, choose, and you'll get better at choosing. Learn to trust that you'll make the right choice or that you'll be able to deal with a wrong one.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Most decisions aren't about life and death, but we act as if they are. Should I take Clark Avenue or Gray Avenue to get to my appointment on time? What if I choose Clark Avenue and run into heavy traffic? I'm such an idiot!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well no, you're not. You've just proved something you should already be aware of – you're not prescient. Stop beating yourself up for being human and limited.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And stop turning all of your decisions over to technology. Siri may be able to gather data from sources you have no access to and deduce which route is fastest, but if you never practice making decisions (especially small, relatively unimportant ones), you'll never get better at it. And you wouldn't need Siri if you'd stop rushing around and trying to do everything and be everywhere at once.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(There's that God complex again.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The (non-linear) path of life</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Long ago, a mentor told me that the way to make a decision is to make a decision. It sounds very Zen, but he was right. In your imagination, make a decision and act on it. Do you feel happy about the result? And if you're not happy, can you fix it or figure out how to live with it? If you're not happy, make a different decision. Then act, don't dither.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Too often, we anticipate regret. Here's a news flash – there will be some things that don't work out the way you hoped. You can punish yourself forever for being imperfect, or you can use that energy to make the best of your situation. It might even turn out that the insight you gain and the skills you develop are more helpful than having everything mapped out and perfectly smooth in the first place.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When I was in college more than 40 years ago, like everyone else I made plans for my life. There's absolutely no way I could have imagined the actual path I took to get where I am today. There is no straight line from there to here. And that's what life is for all of us. It's a <b>voyage of discovery</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">You don't have to be perfect.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdkQ-CjQYgTs3hfozM7L04HjwkFYOnnd4ZZXtZZCFEjcgQgUT9IZuXYJvWJTEc8A5rY0crCDXWC2MKcyhLiCbGvbto6oSpI_EFb4bmEMcUljcnt9oEzTYFYDuxOvlI_lBgMIs1X7R3VNKZVMccMmGnIa_JHD4SH85uXM2VFPXEIcXXwYIaOa_TwSvkIb9/s3200/martino%20pietropoli%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="the road" border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPdkQ-CjQYgTs3hfozM7L04HjwkFYOnnd4ZZXtZZCFEjcgQgUT9IZuXYJvWJTEc8A5rY0crCDXWC2MKcyhLiCbGvbto6oSpI_EFb4bmEMcUljcnt9oEzTYFYDuxOvlI_lBgMIs1X7R3VNKZVMccMmGnIa_JHD4SH85uXM2VFPXEIcXXwYIaOa_TwSvkIb9/w300-h400/martino%20pietropoli%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="the road - photo by Martino Pietropoli on Unsplash" width="300" /></a></div>Don't be impossible to please. No one is happy and successful all of the time, but it <i><b>is</b></i> possible to make yourself constantly miserable by lamenting your imperfections.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So do you want chocolate or strawberry? (That's about how important many of our decisions really are.) Either ice cream might be good, but which is <i><b>best</b></i>?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Just choose already! You can always change your mind, or decide that <b>good is good enough</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We make the road by traveling. We get more done by doing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">John Steinbeck, <i><b>East of Eden</b></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do you enjoy my work? Why not <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/karentrefzger" target="_blank">buy me a coffee</a>?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-48467596925207982722024-02-19T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-19T06:00:00.124-08:00How to Find More Time and Freedom for Your LifeDo you remember life before social media?<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course you do. If you're over 30, you remember. And if you're in your 40s or older, you actually <i><b>had</b></i> a social life before social media. You met friends face to face, called them on the phone, and maybe even sent cards and wrote letters!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDYLXGTP4fMP9rpy75QJho3t8M2IOzJ8tM0Ojms_uXX3Zv1TzvubdWsI0_8w8rYk5c4q0EIESeeLSqkGCeHJ_JdOAwyRUUCIydJTnqopBkRFRglmmwuLD4M-DkidHr0FJFy0Az8DtZ9Yj0_n_2CIw2SBYFIuL75Goa8mqHbelKG9aAzz9469aQF0h3nRy/s2400/les%20anderson%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="vintage photo of friends out together" border="0" data-original-height="1634" data-original-width="2400" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzDYLXGTP4fMP9rpy75QJho3t8M2IOzJ8tM0Ojms_uXX3Zv1TzvubdWsI0_8w8rYk5c4q0EIESeeLSqkGCeHJ_JdOAwyRUUCIydJTnqopBkRFRglmmwuLD4M-DkidHr0FJFy0Az8DtZ9Yj0_n_2CIw2SBYFIuL75Goa8mqHbelKG9aAzz9469aQF0h3nRy/w640-h436/les%20anderson%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="vintage photo of friends out together - photo by Les Anderson on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The good, the bad, and the ugly</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, social media is a fast, efficient way to touch base with friends and family who live far away (you can also use texts, which is what I do). I wouldn't say it maintains <i><b>close</b></i> connections, since you're usually posting to anyone and everyone who might look at your stuff. In other words, <b>it's not personal</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're a content creator, you may keep in touch with readers via social media, and it's one way to grow your following and maybe increase your income. However, if you want something more than general communication with a group, your readers are going to use a contact form or personal email. (By the way, if you want to get in touch, mine is karen@maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But let's be honest. Most of the time, social media is 110% draining. Between the lack of privacy we all now deal with, to the thousands of reports of bad things happening around the world, to the toxic comparison game that goes on whether we admit it or not, social media can be overwhelming.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And I haven't even mentioned the addictive, black hole time-suck that social media has become, which steals our attention and keeps us aloof from real life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6 things I miss about life before social media</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. We didn't photograph everything.</b></p><div>We live in a very visual era. And while it's fun to be able to take a photo and look at it (even edit it) right away, we might have lost something when we stopped having to get film developed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do you remember taking your film to the drugstore to have the photos printed? You had to be much more thoughtful about the photos you took, because it was too easy to use up all your film and have nothing left for the really great parts of a party, outing, or vacation.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Your photo-taking priorities were different, because you were looking for shots you wanted to document forever. You didn't photograph what you ate, or the store you visited, or the outfit you had on. You didn't take pictures of yourself just because you could.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe you still amassed hundreds of photos in a box somewhere that you never looked at again, but you might also have taken the time to choose the best shots to put in an album or scrapbook. And let's be honest – we still have photo clutter. We still have hundreds of pictures on our phones we never look at again. It's clutter, even if it's not physical.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. We lived more in the moment.</b></p><div>When we didn't feel obligated to document everything on Facebook or Instagram, we spent more time participating in what was happening.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe you've heard the expression, "If it isn't documented, did it even happen?" I want to shake the person who said that. Were my children born if I didn't have someone taking video of it? Did we celebrate birthdays and holidays if I don't have the pictures? Yes, and yes. And without a bunch of photos and videos, I have actual <b>memories</b> of what occurred.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a disturbing bit of information. When we snap a picture, we're essentially <a href="https://ideas.ted.com/if-you-really-want-to-remember-a-moment-try-not-to-take-a-photo/" target="_blank">outsourcing the memory of that event to our camera</a>. We don't pay attention to what's happening because we believe the photo will capture the memory. Linda Henkel, professor of psychology at Fairfield University in Connecticut, says, "If your camera captures the moment, <b>then your brain doesn't</b>."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure you've seen people at a gorgeous vista or ancient monument, staring at their phones to get a picture. Don't you want to say, "You're missing it. Don't miss it!"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To form lasting memories, we must pay attention. Don't just look – listen, smell, touch, and taste. Photos do serve as memory cues, but they don't tell the whole story.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b>3. We didn't know everyone's business.</b></b></div><p></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyBRzzhBXeeeNaOY53icJaF3cXQD6o-BVCfD_OXgSMK94yn1RvKD1jlcjV-bkmVA-lx3A9BUf2UAdB94LgqgJsl1JQ3RuVO-gZqz2LMdXEGCVwb3JZfeYU-23R1rhOcMJz2HBYJ8YA-FGUFnXIR-0av8jNHuzt4g0pii75mNKnsFDgCQ7nzlrSn3MWLRQ/s1600/bruce%20mars%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="reading the newspaper" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1290" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyBRzzhBXeeeNaOY53icJaF3cXQD6o-BVCfD_OXgSMK94yn1RvKD1jlcjV-bkmVA-lx3A9BUf2UAdB94LgqgJsl1JQ3RuVO-gZqz2LMdXEGCVwb3JZfeYU-23R1rhOcMJz2HBYJ8YA-FGUFnXIR-0av8jNHuzt4g0pii75mNKnsFDgCQ7nzlrSn3MWLRQ/w323-h400/bruce%20mars%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="reading the newspaper - photo by Bruce Mars on Unsplash" width="323" /></a></div>I admit I'm a fan of Google. If I want to know the latest research on a subject, the original meaning of "antidisestablishmentarianism," or a recipe for maple-glazed carrots that doesn't use butter, Google is my go-to.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What I'm not a fan of is knowing everyone's business, including their mom's, sister's, and the person they used to do Zumba with.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I'm a blogger, and I share certain things about myself online. I'm very thoughtful about what I share and how I share it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I wish others would follow suit. But with social media, I'm often exposed to people's private issues and dirty laundry I'd rather not see. Is it just me? I'd rather not know everyone's marital problems, money issues, political views, or strange obsessions.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. We didn't make news so personal.</b></p><div>We used to read the newspaper, or turn on radio or TV news, to learn the important local and international news stories. Information was reported, and we might pass it on, discuss it, or give our opinions.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But we didn't post angry rants about what was happening. We didn't do our part to create viral video and internet memes. We didn't pass along fake news.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We spend so much time and energy demonizing each other. This doesn't make us better-informed, and it doesn't make the world a better place.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. We acknowledged each other.</b></p><div>I know you've been out somewhere, especially in a line or a waiting room, and noticed that no one is speaking to anyone else. You've seen couples and families "sharing" a meal in a restaurant, not speaking to each other. Every person (including the toddler) has their phone or tablet out and is scrolling or watching.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even people older than I am, who lived at least 50 years before smart phones and social media took over the world, display this same behavior.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And if you do try to start a conversation, people look at you suspiciously. "Why are you invading my space and bothering me?" they seem to be thinking. "Why are you trying to talk to my kid?"</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>No one likes to wait. I get that. But somehow we used to manage without our digital crutches.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You know, we'd be <b>aching for human interaction</b> if we were marooned on an island for any length of time. We'd start talking to ourselves (or a <a href="https://amzn.to/3TugPpc" target="_blank">volleyball</a>*) in lieu of having a real person to share with. It would be a survival mechanism. Yet <b>we maroon ourselves</b> with social media even though we're surrounded by other people.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Comparison and competition had its limits.</b></p><div>Yes, "keeping up with the Joneses" has been around for generations. But before social media, we knew about the lives of people we were in direct contact with (and, to a much smaller extent, celebrities and TV characters). We didn't compare and compete with every stranger on the planet.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Today, it's hard not to be reminded of the things we don't have, places we haven't been, and accomplishments we haven't gained. We see the highlights (real or staged) of other people's lives and wonder what's wrong with our own.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even if you remind yourself that the majority of what's on social media is enhanced and curated, you may still struggle with inadequacy and the fear of missing out. And the younger you are, the more vulnerable you are.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We used to be more real, and it was refreshing.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">More time, more life</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXysYlvaGdlFbgx3L3RdqeiJCZtTwLXAi8aP6ACZEOvehBv33nDrpepaUdJ2AtuPNGauwCAxUdPbUgyzU_CLZZCRWJimpZD28Och-MvZBSriuKS6xU85QvZzfguX26SBbLSy40j0UcsJWAzxqfoEptDcMFH5Cxi5-u-rkDgS5BLk8LfUbot3H6OdLT-fhX/s2235/lucas%20favre%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="British telephone box" border="0" data-original-height="2235" data-original-width="1478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXysYlvaGdlFbgx3L3RdqeiJCZtTwLXAi8aP6ACZEOvehBv33nDrpepaUdJ2AtuPNGauwCAxUdPbUgyzU_CLZZCRWJimpZD28Och-MvZBSriuKS6xU85QvZzfguX26SBbLSy40j0UcsJWAzxqfoEptDcMFH5Cxi5-u-rkDgS5BLk8LfUbot3H6OdLT-fhX/w265-h400/lucas%20favre%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="British telephone box - photo by Lucas Favre on Unsplash" width="265" /></a></div>Maybe these are growing pains, and as time goes on we'll get better at using social media as a tool instead of a crutch, distraction, ego boost, or means of self-harm. Maybe we'll overcome the <a href="https://sunlightrecovery.com/social-media-algorithm-mental-health/" target="_blank">addictive algorithms</a> that platform designers and marketers create to keep us coming back.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, we can choose to follow accounts that inspire and uplift us. We can set boundaries on the time we spend on social media, and leave it alone during meals, family gatherings, and before bed.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But we should all realize that <b>time is precious</b>, and social media engagement is generally not a good use of that irreplaceable resource. Instead of wasting those hours, let's revisit life before social media. What did you used to do instead?</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>talk to other people</li><li>really listen</li><li>participate in real life</li><li>take care of tasks and chores</li><li>exercise and do other self-care</li><li>pray or meditate</li><li>get outside</li><li>read a book because it looks interesting, not because an influencer says you should</li><li>mind your own business</li><li>make or do something without having to document, compare, brag, or gain validation from "friends" of "friends"</li><li>take the path less traveled</li><li>simply relax with your own thoughts</li></ul><br /></div><div>Reclaim your life before social media.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-34198961964182376802024-02-15T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-15T06:00:00.121-08:00Help - My Partner's Clutter is Driving Me Crazy!You love your partner. But you don't love her stuff. (And she doesn't love your nagging about her stuff.)<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a common issue for couples. In fact, some surveys have found that nearly half of all couples argue about clutter. A few even have the argument every day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're in this situation, decluttering by itself isn't going to add to your peace. In fact, it might create more tension in your household. It's important to find ways to come together in this area.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1LKRyaBYdNHPsS96om05rY2qUgv7mJJOe45nhNPzPZ09E8F_uouY4Wzt2Vq97m2GxtYrb_TOnoPliI0n30dmawXdd1NeB0WrK8nGJp1Z7VOuB0d31lwQiz_obALhWsP341c_TipBUI8PnAI4FR44OWgioj0sNYdoGIH8eAZskerqp80qNp1u1heWikpd/s2074/andrik%20langfield%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="opposites" border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="2074" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq1LKRyaBYdNHPsS96om05rY2qUgv7mJJOe45nhNPzPZ09E8F_uouY4Wzt2Vq97m2GxtYrb_TOnoPliI0n30dmawXdd1NeB0WrK8nGJp1Z7VOuB0d31lwQiz_obALhWsP341c_TipBUI8PnAI4FR44OWgioj0sNYdoGIH8eAZskerqp80qNp1u1heWikpd/w640-h428/andrik%20langfield%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="opposites - photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Why clutter is an issue</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One reason there's so much friction about this topic is that, for many of us, possessions are part of our identity. Your husband's tee shirt may look to you like it's ready to become a dust rag, but to him it might be a reminder of the time he saw his favorite band perform. Your attempt to downgrade it might feel like a personal attack. It's not so much about the physical item as it is about the <b>emotion</b> that's attached to it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How can this be resolved? What do you do when one partner finds security and connection with her belongings, and the other partner feels stress when surrounded by too much?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not perfect in this regard – not at all. I've participated in my share of arguments. I've nagged. I've called other people's belongings "junk" and "crap." None of that improved the situation. Here are some ideas I have, either hard-won through experience or gleaned through research and asking questions. See if any seem helpful to you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">8 ways to make peace when you disagree about clutter</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Designate clutter/no-clutter zones.</b></p><div>Neither of you is going to change overnight, so agree on which spaces will be clutter-free and which will be anything goes. For example, your bedroom might be a peaceful, uncluttered area, with agreements that clothes will be put away or into the laundry hamper, piles are not allowed on the dresser or bedside tables, and work stays out. On the other hand, you say nothing about the state of her computer desk.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Establish physical boundaries.</b></p><div>Your partner may jam-pack his side of the closet, but he doesn't encroach on your minimalist side. Or maybe one of you collects teacups, but you agree that they have to fit on one shelf.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Choose one landing zone.</b></p><div>One of you may tend to scatter receipts, mail, keys, phone, wallet, jacket, and more as he comes in from work. The other may prefer less visual noise. So create just one spot (probably at the entry point you use most) with a tray and wall hooks for capturing these items. Agree that everything lands there in an orderly fashion. Meanwhile, once you've cleared off other spaces where these things used to collect (perhaps the kitchen counter, dining table, or bedside table), put one useful or beautiful object there to remind you that it's no longer a dumping zone.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUHd1-F6Qfgi-tUR5bV-8FxzRK-1XiPZHdD6zWvRXAahCLm1s1_W3Agu_SUZwHpbqURB0LbqOIiEu4F3hoysQDgdMb6QmI_GIq8nZRawvtHHMkOcMYZtknxqdYGcmZTVRWsTxhJ3U8IgYWU5SfKVcTzlYHf8UlDcPCII_p5R-WGk1rbUxl6KS3T5bCiZ8/s2880/priscilla%20du%20preez%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="together" border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUHd1-F6Qfgi-tUR5bV-8FxzRK-1XiPZHdD6zWvRXAahCLm1s1_W3Agu_SUZwHpbqURB0LbqOIiEu4F3hoysQDgdMb6QmI_GIq8nZRawvtHHMkOcMYZtknxqdYGcmZTVRWsTxhJ3U8IgYWU5SfKVcTzlYHf8UlDcPCII_p5R-WGk1rbUxl6KS3T5bCiZ8/w266-h400/priscilla%20du%20preez%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="together - photo by Priscilla du Preez on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>4. Showcase a few treasures.</b></div><p></p><div>Understand the emotions that make it difficult for your partner to give up stuff. Maybe it was Grandma's, or it represents a past accomplishment. Letting go can seem like a betrayal.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of keeping 15 boxes of Great Aunt Edith's stuff in the garage or basement, choose one special item to display and remember her. Maybe she was a great cook, and you'll display her favorite serving platter in the dining room. Or maybe she taught you to crochet, and you'll place one of her lap blankets on the couch, ready for use. Be sure to listen to your partner's stories, because sometimes sharing is what's most important.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Do the heavy lifting.</b></p><div>Maybe your partner would like to pare down, but feels overwhelmed. You can be the one to go through everything. Let your partner sit there and say "yes" or "no" as you hold up one thing at a time. Then bag up the discards for sale, donation, or recycle/trash, and get them out of the house as soon as possible. Congratulate yourselves on your success. No matter how much or how little you removed, you've achieved a leaner, cleaner home.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Try labels.</b></p><div>Maybe your partner's tools are meticulously organized on a peg board, but he puts the groceries in random spots. Her scrapbooking supplies are carefully stored in a compartmentalized bin, but she leaves grooming tools and potions all over the bathroom counter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously, each of these people possesses organizational skills. They're simply not applied in every circumstance. Try labels – in the pantry, the dish cupboard, the bathroom cabinet, the linen closet – and see if that sometimes-organized person becomes a bit more methodical.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Agree to a "tidy time."</b></p><div>One partner only wants to neaten things weekly, or when they've become a real mess. The other can't tolerate mess at all. Try planning a five-minute period for you to tidy together every day – perhaps right after dinner or before bed. Consider it a bonding time. Put on music if you like, but be sure to set a timer so the session is finite – and short.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Don't get stuck.</b></p><div>Everyone has tidying or organizing tasks they enjoy less than others, so why not swap with other family members so no one always has to do a chore they hate? I don't like to empty the dishwasher, but my husband doesn't mind, and he's really fast at it too. He dislikes dealing with the mail, so I'm usually the one who goes through it and recycles, shreds, files, notes on the calendar, or pays as needed. Working together, we keep our home tidy and clutter-free.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Focus on the love.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't debate this subject when you're tired and cranky. Sit down over coffee or take a walk to the park to discuss it. It's important to remember that you're on the same team and you want to find ways to come together.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Focus on the love, and you'll be able to figure out the stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOxd4ws0RLdM8uwPHb4nklH48Ycd6D6cadpRc_F24PC_Id4cmw64UPe0P-bvwir-QNHt2_FY7frVBNQSucEvhsDZ8ip9qBbb6kjgaOD_H0HqfbLNv6VSwOFq8m01kOqIgsUVvD0eNCk7he_7ppS3o-0eAdOgxDJcOFN-nIFcU78F1HqDh6fRt_B1ynnce/s425/The%20Minimalist%20Experiment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="MINIMALIST EXPERIMENT book" border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOxd4ws0RLdM8uwPHb4nklH48Ycd6D6cadpRc_F24PC_Id4cmw64UPe0P-bvwir-QNHt2_FY7frVBNQSucEvhsDZ8ip9qBbb6kjgaOD_H0HqfbLNv6VSwOFq8m01kOqIgsUVvD0eNCk7he_7ppS3o-0eAdOgxDJcOFN-nIFcU78F1HqDh6fRt_B1ynnce/w201-h320/The%20Minimalist%20Experiment.jpg" title="MINIMALIST EXPERIMENT book" width="201" /></a></div>Did you enjoy this article? You'll love my just-published book, <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4boRyTS" target="_blank">The Minimalist Experiment</a></b></i>, the 6th volume in my new <a href="https://amzn.to/4bktVfd" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a>.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's useful to experiment with simplifying your life. You can find out what's hard, what's easier, what works or doesn't work for you, and what you might like to make permanent in six life areas: physical clutter, digital clutter, your mindset, your schedule, your finances, and your personal well-being.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><b>The Minimalist Experiment</b></i> lets you explore the possibilities, with plenty of inspiration and encouragement for your journey. Big changes come from tiny steps taken over and over. One or more of these experiments is sure to make a positive difference in your life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">Parts of <b>The Minimalist Experiment</b> were previously published as <i>The Minimalist Challenge</i>. The work has been completely revised, updated, expanded, and reformatted to fit the <b>Minimalist Basics</b> series. BTW, if you buy through my link, I may earn a small commission.</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-14765164862545569292024-02-12T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-12T15:37:57.462-08:00Looking for Love and FriendshipOnce upon a time I was looking for love, and I literally bumped into it.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, actually, first I went to Sunday school. I had been hired to sing at a large church, having met the pastor several months before at a conference where I provided the music. Since I had never been to this church, I arrived early on the Sunday morning to work with the sound system and make sure the technician had my accompaniment tapes ready to go.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That taken care of, I had about an hour to wait before the main service. The technician casually mentioned a Sunday school class for college-age people that was meeting just down the hall.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw36edI4XFsMQfHO7u6KZ4g8pahVVGdNXZ1Wohlv_fA_c5GwQJCyYkZ-1o86ETPmOCbJ35vQ1ywJhshRiY-vOi6sZlu9gTXRw0i9nVfC8GGXtSNvcJd3_kM9w4b6nBxlwDcDITh86lu7wyAOqaMxik7N4xpeaLikf_3UISsQkGqtpqPQ58yGz3EARXr5aM/s1920/saiph%20muhammad%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="love" border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1920" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw36edI4XFsMQfHO7u6KZ4g8pahVVGdNXZ1Wohlv_fA_c5GwQJCyYkZ-1o86ETPmOCbJ35vQ1ywJhshRiY-vOi6sZlu9gTXRw0i9nVfC8GGXtSNvcJd3_kM9w4b6nBxlwDcDITh86lu7wyAOqaMxik7N4xpeaLikf_3UISsQkGqtpqPQ58yGz3EARXr5aM/w640-h428/saiph%20muhammad%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="love - photo by Saiph Muhammad on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Just a way to pass the time</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>To be honest, my first inclination was not to go. I didn't feel like walking into a room of 30 or so people, none of whom I knew, that I would have to interact with. (Not at all like walking into a room of several hundred strangers I would sing to.) But it was February, and raining, and the prospect of waiting in my car was not attractive. So I steeled myself and went to the class.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There was (of course) only one empty chair.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As I sat, I couldn't help noticing the attractive young man on my right. Sandy-haired, blue-eyed, smiling. We introduced ourselves, and as we chatted discovered that we were both in the credential program at California State University Sacramento – he in the English department and I in elementary education. Our classwork and student teaching were very different, and we would never have met at Sac State. But here we were next to each other in Sunday school, 50 miles away.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This guy was interesting to talk to, and as the class continued it became clear that we shared a background of studying and discussing the Bible.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I left a bit early to get ready for the service. During my performance, I unknowingly sang one of my new acquaintance's favorite songs. After church, he came to the front with his parents and identical twin brother so they could meet me too. It was all very pleasant, and then we went our separate ways.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Crossing paths</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The next day at about noon, I was leaving the university campus to go to my 4th graders, and he was coming onto campus after working with his high school literature students. I was taking a short cut through the six-floor library (one of the largest in the CSU system) – he was taking the same short cut. And we literally bumped into each other in the entrance.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Thrown together, you might say.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe you've guessed that the man I met in Sunday school is my husband, Jon. All of this happened 41 years ago this month, and we still feel that God brought us together.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Meeting face to face</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe you're looking for love, or even just some friends. As we get older, we often lose touch with old friends and find it harder to make new ones.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing we need to do is to <b>be available</b>. I almost didn't go to that Sunday school class because I felt shy about having to meet people. Whether you're an introvert or a loner or whatever, <b>meeting people is basic</b> to finding love. Even extraverts need to think about how to put themselves out there. You meet different people in a bar than you do at church, a political gathering, a yoga class, or a community organization you volunteer for. And now with so many events happening only online, you have to work a bit harder to meet people in real life.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5 steps to be prepared</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can put yourself out there, but you don't know who you'll meet or how long it will take. It's uncertain and uncontrollable, and if you imagine a perfect soulmate will just show up one day, you'll not only be disappointed when it doesn't happen, but you'll be unprepared when someone important <i><b>does</b></i> appear.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Accept uncertainty.</b></p><div>There are no guarantees, and honestly, wouldn't life be boring if everything was planned out ahead of time? Whether you find someone to love is unknown, and whether the person you just met is right for you is unknown. So accept uncertainty, and practice with it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>How do you practice? These suggestions come from Leo Babauta at <i><b>zenhabits.net</b></i>:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Make small talk with strangers every day.</li><li>Don't always shop at the same stores or go to the same old restaurants.</li><li>Take a day trip to a nearby city with no set plans, and follow what looks interesting.</li></ul><br /></div><div>You'll get better at uncertainty when you don't let yourself settle into all the ruts.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Relax your ideals.</b></p><div>I knew someone in college who had an "ideal man" list with all of her desired characteristics – looks, interests, fitness level, career goals, etc. Good luck with that. You're just making it harder to find someone who not only has all those characteristics, but who you also like and who likes you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Maybe there <i><b>is</b></i> one thing that's a deal-breaker. For example, I wouldn't have dated an atheist. That's <i><b>me</b></i>. For you, there might be some other area that you're sure you'd want to have in common with the person who becomes very close to you. But otherwise, it's better to be open to what emerges. Be curious instead of certain.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFXR51wIP-Be_WXIfp9PM9tpZhS8jQKQlEhr0UubACHi85KEfxapNigAkfMtaEMy-CrxWTkAS1Ycp4XfUsz9o7EwJ9HqQmFGdY8k5Jwpy9lHv2MMY9DyWKFLMaE4lxmhijxLfM0DUGgszyUwKDNi_10AYbwera1jlHD8jAt4XiYsoEKCrM9CmsIgqgiLH/s1586/ryan%20franco%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="together" border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1286" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFXR51wIP-Be_WXIfp9PM9tpZhS8jQKQlEhr0UubACHi85KEfxapNigAkfMtaEMy-CrxWTkAS1Ycp4XfUsz9o7EwJ9HqQmFGdY8k5Jwpy9lHv2MMY9DyWKFLMaE4lxmhijxLfM0DUGgszyUwKDNi_10AYbwera1jlHD8jAt4XiYsoEKCrM9CmsIgqgiLH/w324-h400/ryan%20franco%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="together - photo by Ryan Franco on Unsplash" width="324" /></a></div>3. Become emotionally self-reliant.</b></div><p></p><div>When we're kids, our parents try to meet our needs for love, comfort, support, validation, etc. Of course they want to give us everything. But as we get closer to adulthood, we look for someone else to meet those emotional needs. The reasons most of us don't marry our first boyfriend or girlfriend is because neither of us knows how to be happy and secure within ourselves, and we're expecting the other person to fix that.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Sometimes even adults rely on friends to explain their feelings, handle their problems, and help them deal with other relationships.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Instead of needing someone else to prop you up, you need to learn about yourself and your inner strengths and resources. Then your relationships can develop from a place of <a href="https://zenhabits.net/self-reliance/" target="_blank">wholeness and balance</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Get health and finances in order.</b></p><div>This is about being your best self, whatever that means for you. If necessary, start stretching and walking (or lifting and running, if you can). Give up soda and junk food and eat more veggies. Pay off your debts and start saving (and then investing). Be someone who's ready to move forward in life, with fewer things to hold you back.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That said, Jon and I started out with basically nothing. Our salaries were small, and we had no savings. However, we had both managed to put ourselves through college and grad school with only about $3,000 debt between us. Our car was old, but paid for. We knew how to budget. And we were in excellent health and knew we didn't need to get drunk or high to have fun.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Do interesting things.</b></p><div>This could include travel, learning languages, or mastering a sport or performance skill. It could mean making and building things, starting a business, or being a remarkable volunteer. Do things that are different than most. Take the challenge. You'll become a more interesting person, but you'll also have fun, learn to deal with uncertainty, become more self-reliant, and have a few good stories to tell your future mate or friends.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Now you're ready.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you do most of the things on this list, you'll be prepared when you bump into love or your new best friend. And if you're not in a relationship this Valentine's Day, you can be getting ready for that buddy or significant other to appear.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-27898422303621764722024-02-08T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-08T06:00:00.133-08:0014 Strategies of the No-Diet Diet that Might Change Your LifeAfter the most recent Season of Excess (Halloween through Christmas and New Year's to Valentine's Day), some of us swear that we will (really, honest) lose weight.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But long-term calorie restriction is extremely hard to maintain, and also slows your metabolism because your body finds ways to store energy (read: fat) more efficiently to stave off the famine-like conditions you're simulating. Likewise, removing whole food groups from your diet, such as with low-carb regimens, can be difficult to stick with long-term.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>(On a personal note, I have several times succeeded at losing more than 10% of my body weight with low-carb diets, but got very tired of going without fruit, oatmeal, and even beans.)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxI_Er6-xrkLZt0BeXF1OOz0aMSs3TU9fuDXxZ2jAbkSEbF3uuPOUhGp1ozgi8NroHYL8t4L62POTY4GJ0KqNraqot_JW_Hrvo-1vofhxeF5OJbm6DjL_7hSh-UoPGbkazNqwMTb914KD2KUD2O98OFRYszvxiHJrSdLJuqz2NQWhcPc-BBPM6PpquZKu/s2275/monika%20grabkowska%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="oatmeal with fruit" border="0" data-original-height="1699" data-original-width="2275" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxI_Er6-xrkLZt0BeXF1OOz0aMSs3TU9fuDXxZ2jAbkSEbF3uuPOUhGp1ozgi8NroHYL8t4L62POTY4GJ0KqNraqot_JW_Hrvo-1vofhxeF5OJbm6DjL_7hSh-UoPGbkazNqwMTb914KD2KUD2O98OFRYszvxiHJrSdLJuqz2NQWhcPc-BBPM6PpquZKu/w640-h478/monika%20grabkowska%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="oatmeal with fruit - photo by Monika Grabkowska on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A minimalist option</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I've been looking into a concept I call a No-Diet diet, which may be the best way to lose weight and keep it off.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's not a typical diet, because you're not counting calories and you're not removing certain food groups from your plate. It's simpler than that, which definitely appeals to the minimalist in me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>According to B. J. Fogg, founder of Stanford University's Behavior Design Lab, and author of <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/39hogI1" target="_blank">Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything</a></b></i>,* if you identify your current eating habits and merely give them a tiny tweak to move you in the right direction, you can see immediate improvement and then stick with it long enough to renovate your old behaviors.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I love Dr. Fogg's key maxim – <i><b>Simplicity changes behavior</b></i>. Not willpower, not determination, not cold turkey boot camp rules and regulations. <b>Simplicity.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Because the behavior is so small, risk is reduced. The change doesn't take much time, and you don't need to make a big deal about it. There's no real failure with such tiny habits (or the No-Diet diet). There are little stumbles, like a toddler learning to walk, but as long as you get up again, <b>it's not failure</b> – it's a new habit in the making.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Simplicity changes behavior.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This sounds like my writing habit, which I shared in a <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/02/the-secret-to-maintaining-new-habit.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> a few years ago. After I make my bed (which happens after I get dressed), I write one sentence for this blog. My habit is one sentence, but I often write 1000 or more words. That's "extra credit" behavior, though. My habit is so tiny, I can't fail to do it every single day. As Fogg said in an interview with <a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/02/25/809256398/tiny-habits-are-the-key-to-behavioral-change" target="_blank">NPR</a>,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"></span></b><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">It's so simple that it's almost like you have no excuse not to do it. So even when you're in a rush or you're sick or you're distracted, it's so tiny that you can still do it.</span></b></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By slightly changing some of the things you do routinely without much thought or effort, you avoid having to make huge, all-or-nothing changes, which are so often doomed to failure.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So before you start a complicated, restrictive diet plan or sign a contract with an expensive personal trainer, make sure you take advantage of some of these simple No-Diet diet tips.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Bonus:</b> They start with coffee and end with chocolate!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">14 No-Diet habits</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Drink black coffee.</b></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHU1hqhPpFFOidawLIuDd0FVHcgpqyKiDLBn-GyX39IX3B_-OXSwbdRYCFua2Xjjr_RYeaTBJLt42FpEjG8Ja5d9hz3e2ofM7r4EiWxUN1Shu6Nowc5UygPx2LCTOzMyRWMHiR314qCRRcWr_Zxy70Ua4WwPblJO95iFB6rUEUtFSktC1sOrBO7tJ2Pb7/s1348/tanaphong%20toochinda%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="morning coffee" border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="1091" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHU1hqhPpFFOidawLIuDd0FVHcgpqyKiDLBn-GyX39IX3B_-OXSwbdRYCFua2Xjjr_RYeaTBJLt42FpEjG8Ja5d9hz3e2ofM7r4EiWxUN1Shu6Nowc5UygPx2LCTOzMyRWMHiR314qCRRcWr_Zxy70Ua4WwPblJO95iFB6rUEUtFSktC1sOrBO7tJ2Pb7/w324-h400/tanaphong%20toochinda%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="morning coffee - photo by Tanaphong Toochinda on Unsplash" width="324" /></a></div>The caffeine in coffee may increase metabolism and reduce body fat. But adding sugar, agave syrup, artificial sweeteners, flavored creamers, syrups, sweetened condensed milk, or a ton of half and half really defeats the purpose! Coffee is usually an acquired taste anyway, so learning to drink it black or with a little milk is a change I've been able to make.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Eat red fruits.</b></p><div>They're the best for weight loss because they contain more flavonoids, which help reduce fat storage. So when you crave a sweet snack, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/03/just-eat-apple.html" target="_blank">eat an apple</a>, a small bunch of red grapes, a handful of cherries, a cup of raspberries or sliced strawberries, or a bowl of diced watermelon.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Stop eating cereal.</b></p><div>I can scarf down a big bowl of packaged cereal on a busy morning and have another bowl for an evening snack. But substituting slow-cooking rolled oats is better for cholesterol levels, gut health, blood sugar, and even mood. And it helps you feel fuller, longer.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Overnight oats even eliminates morning cooking. (Heat them in the microwave for a minute if you want a hot breakfast.) Simply mix ½ cup rolled oats with ½ cup dairy or nut milk in a microwaveable container that has a lid. Make sure the oats are completely submerged in the liquid, then mix in one or more of the following:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 tablespoon unsweetened shredded coconut</li><li>1 tablespoon raisins</li><li>¼ teaspoon vanilla extract</li><li>several dashes ground cinnamon</li></ul><br /></div><div>Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 to 5 hours). In the morning you can add more protein with a tablespoon of sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or any chopped nuts. Top with ½ cup raspberries, blueberries, sliced strawberries, diced apple, sliced banana or peach or whatever you have. I dare you to feel hungry before lunch!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Start with a broth-based soup.</b></p><div>Numerous studies show that eating a cup of broth-based soup as a first course at dinner fills you up enough to reduce total calorie intake for the rest of the meal (some studies show a reduction of 20%). Since salads always include dressings, a broth-based soup can be <b>a better way to get a serving of vegetables</b> with much less fat. My favorites include <a href="https://www.cookingclassy.com/slow-cooker-chicken-tortilla-soup-2/" target="_blank">chicken tortilla</a> and vegetable-rich <a href="https://www.cookingclassy.com/italian-vegetable-lentil-soup/" target="_blank">Italian lentil</a> soups.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Go breadless.</b></p><div>Here's a quick lunch. Lay a slice of cheddar or Swiss cheese on a plate. Top with two or three slices of deli turkey or Black Forest ham. Drizzle on some Dijon mustard and add a couple of slices of avocado. Wrap like a jelly roll and eat.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Choose potatoes instead of other starchy foods.</b></p><div>Baked potatoes will not make you fat. In fact, white potatoes are full of fiber, potassium, folate, B vitamins, and vitamin C. Sweet potatoes and yams are additionally high in vitamin A. They're filling and delicious.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But stay away from the loads of butter, sour cream, bacon, and cheese that most people pile on their potatoes. Instead, choose:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>low fat cottage cheese and a sprinkle of toasted nuts or seeds</li><li>a scoop of spicy black beans (garlic, cumin, chili powder, oregano) and some fresh salsa</li><li>a poached egg with a dash of Tabasco sauce</li><li>salt, pepper, and some fresh parsley, rosemary, and chives</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Add water.</b></p><div>Wash your hands before you eat and let that be your cue to drink a big glass of water. As with the broth-based soup (#4), the water helps fill you up. And often when we think we're hungry we're actually thirsty, so remaining hydrated can lessen hunger pangs.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Don't follow the foodie.</b></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cEPw0deieEyG84fdQanmubUNFff1TJANtTq2WDi4eoMgU7MNd-pm14sXbHTMZph3iS-MagBloP58DZM_88WtD0m5HD53ahyK5bhMDAYbFE0XAlrXgcsBepJB5r9-cr3iPHq8iItSYeedl2Gz8Ajo4d9GNJ7ipjb7bYyJAJ0LT6Xd0cYdEiKgfkqpY8IL/s2879/nathan%20dumlao%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="broth-based soup" border="0" data-original-height="2879" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cEPw0deieEyG84fdQanmubUNFff1TJANtTq2WDi4eoMgU7MNd-pm14sXbHTMZph3iS-MagBloP58DZM_88WtD0m5HD53ahyK5bhMDAYbFE0XAlrXgcsBepJB5r9-cr3iPHq8iItSYeedl2Gz8Ajo4d9GNJ7ipjb7bYyJAJ0LT6Xd0cYdEiKgfkqpY8IL/w266-h400/nathan%20dumlao%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="broth-based soup - photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>You know that walking down the cereal aisle in the grocery store makes your child want all the most sugar- and artificial color-filled brands. Watching commercials can make you crave the pizza, soda, or other junk food being advertised.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, cooking shows and your favorite food blogger's Instagram posts have been linked with weight gain as well. Our bodies are conditioned to increase the hunger hormone ghrelin when we see decadent food. So banish the Food Network and unfollow foodies on social media.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Sleep.</b></p><div>Plenty of research shows that people who sleep less are more likely to be overweight. Recent studies have found that even short-term sleep deprivation is connected to a preference for high-calorie, high-carb foods and bigger portions. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Develop <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/01/the-chief-nourisher-in-lifes-feast.html" target="_blank">better-sleep habits</a> like closing your eyes and taking three slow deep breaths, turning off the computer and phone an hour before bed, or freeing your mind by making a list of tomorrow's priorities.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Dump soda, including diet versions.</b></p><div>This one might be hard! Although it's marketed as a smart choice, many studies have shown that <a href="https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/diet-soda-weight-gain-metabolism-insulin-brain-fat-metabolic-syndrome.html" target="_blank">diet soda causes weight gain</a>. Substitute a variety of unsweetened iced teas – I like Earl Grey, but my favorite is <a href="https://amzn.to/3RG2MeO" target="_blank">Good Earth Sweet & Spicy herbal and black tea blend</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>11. Ask for half to go.</b></p><div>Since the average restaurant meal contains 1,500 or more calories, you'll easily reduce that number by asking your server to box up half the meal before it even reaches the table. Alternatively, share an entrée with your dining partner, and start with a broth-based soup (#4).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>12. Don't eat distracted.</b></p><div>Research published in the <i><b>American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</b></i> found that when people eat at their desks or in front of the TV, they consume an average of 288 calories more than they would otherwise. Over the course of a week that's more than 2,000 calories – an <b>extra day's-worth</b> of food! Keeping your mind busy while you eat can prevent your brain getting the cue that you've had enough. So even my habit of doing the crossword while I eat could be a problem!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>13. Go dry.</b></p><div>Alcohol contains calories, mostly from carbohydrates. If you stop drinking, and don't replace alcohol with other sources of empty calories, you should start to lose weight without much effort. There are tons of other <a href="https://www.eatthis.com/dry-january-tips/" target="_blank">well-documented benefits of giving up alcohol</a> – it might be the best choice you ever make.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>14. Add dark chocolate.</b></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Zw6lT5VIqVC_n4dcdqWe0L7U4boDvqzaf6_sV_ES7kDewes7HG6f9AQySwSc3h8AC3D2F49LYo5eHppZGqBGmPNXDmZJJ4GfaewbkKwrxweNS1bNoTOARFQV50O7bWGTUCDIl8hzpaynh7FK0M-RJIHdtTYi-IvShgabufgSCHKZjy0mtP7Y5Vp2F_zC/s2351/tetiana%20bykovets%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="dark chocolate" border="0" data-original-height="2351" data-original-width="1610" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Zw6lT5VIqVC_n4dcdqWe0L7U4boDvqzaf6_sV_ES7kDewes7HG6f9AQySwSc3h8AC3D2F49LYo5eHppZGqBGmPNXDmZJJ4GfaewbkKwrxweNS1bNoTOARFQV50O7bWGTUCDIl8hzpaynh7FK0M-RJIHdtTYi-IvShgabufgSCHKZjy0mtP7Y5Vp2F_zC/w274-h400/tetiana%20bykovets%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="dark chocolate - photo by Tetiana Bykovets on Unsplash" width="274" /></a></div>Instead of munching down some empty-calorie cookies, donuts, or a low-quality candy bar, savor a piece of dark chocolate.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>70% dark chocolate contains pure cocoa butter, a digestion-slowing, healthy fat that can help you eat less. Additionally, the flavanols in dark chocolate work with the caffeine in cocoa solids to boost blood flow to the brain, which improves cognitive function. <b>If it replaces all the junk</b>, dark chocolate can even improve your heart health. And we all know that <a href="https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/importance-chocolate-harry-potter#:~:text=Aside%20from%20a%20way%20to%20show%20love%20and%20friendship%2C%20chocolate%20was%20also%20used%20as%20a%20remedy%20in%20the%20wizarding%20world%3A%20a%20remedy%20against%20some%20of%20the%20gravest%20creatures%20ever%20to%20darken%20the%20pages%20of%20the%20Harry%20Potter%20books%20%E2%80%93%20the%20Dementors." target="_blank">chocolate is a remedy</a> for so much – it definitely belongs in a healthy diet!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ready to begin?</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) is next week. Forget long-term calorie restriction or banishing entire food groups. Choose a simpler route to healthy weight loss today. It only takes a few tiny habit changes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Do you enjoy my work and find it useful? Why not <a href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/karentrefzger" target="_blank">buy me a coffee</a>? Thanks!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-991753510857714532024-02-05T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-05T06:00:00.144-08:0011 Revealing Ways to Experiment with a Simpler Life Today<div style="text-align: left;">I've said it before – experiments are fun and can be very enlightening. Since we live in a consumerist culture, experimenting with minimalism can yield some real surprises.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course, we're all consumers. We eat, we need clothing and shelter, we use tools and supplies to accomplish our work. Life requires consumption. But <i><b>consumerism</b></i> is a social and economic order that "encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts," according to Wikipedia.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFERhe8L3wAOzOFpcGGVHxnQRr8qItK-Yx2lTp_IkrXOOt4KCAF7aRU7jhbKFLdsMn74hAUApKJsNjTjeD9MOsS1T1wlHe500M1bdR17-y59IcbBYPZfwso-1Jhl3TZA0Lk94adD-g1wFElCXEbluTx9v6ub6dg7wCrB8Q6GpCBBHXu0byYVg01L-ukThM/s2400/le%20creuset%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="dish cupboard" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFERhe8L3wAOzOFpcGGVHxnQRr8qItK-Yx2lTp_IkrXOOt4KCAF7aRU7jhbKFLdsMn74hAUApKJsNjTjeD9MOsS1T1wlHe500M1bdR17-y59IcbBYPZfwso-1Jhl3TZA0Lk94adD-g1wFElCXEbluTx9v6ub6dg7wCrB8Q6GpCBBHXu0byYVg01L-ukThM/w640-h426/le%20creuset%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="dish cupboard - photo by Le Creuset on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">A questionable goal</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In our society, we're not supposed to establish a sustainable level of consumption, but are expected to meet increasing desires. It's considered normal and desirable to consume more and more as time goes by. That's called "getting ahead."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By almost every measure, we consume <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/09/mid-century-minimalism.html" target="_blank">more per person now than we did 60 years ago</a>. Yet most of us still have long lists of things we want or believe we need.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We never seem to be satisfied – and our society doesn't want us to be! But are we really "getting ahead" if we're never happy?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We have to consume to survive, but we don't have to consume an ever-increasing amount, even if others expect us to. We can decide to buck that trend, whether it's to</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>gain financial freedom</li><li>gain energy and time for different pursuits than earning and spending</li><li>reduce stress and decision-making</li><li>reduce environmental impact</li><li>redefine success and what makes a good life</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11 ways to sample minimalism</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Any or all of the following experiments will help you see "how low you can go" – that is, how little you really need to live a happy, comfortable life. You won't really know unless you try, and if you don't try you'll have less incentive to ignore consumerism.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's the part that might convince you – you don't have to give away most of your belongings and then discover that super-simplicity is all wrong for you. You can sample it first.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Choose one or more of these experiments, and notice how it affects your daily life and how it makes you feel. You might be surprised.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Try one-piece dining.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Most of us have cupboards full of dishes – maybe two or three sets or more. If you're someone who has friends over for dinner every week, or makes a habit of inviting neighbors in for coffee and snacks, you might not be able to do this experiment. But a lot of us never have someone over except on holidays, and may use disposable dinnerware for those.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So challenge yourself to use one plate, one bowl, one cup, one fork, one knife, and one spoon for all of your meals for one week. Use one pot, one pan, one spatula, and one cooking spoon. Use one knife, one cutting board, one mixing bowl, one baking dish, and one set of measuring utensils.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You'll probably prepare simpler meals as a result of having less to cook and eat with. That's all part of the experience.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Create a work uniform.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">You don't have to restrict clothing options for every area of your life to give this a try. Simply take a cue from Steve Jobs and former President Obama, and limit your options for work. Some of the most successful people in the world do this because it saves time, lowers stress, increases productivity, and lets them discover a style that makes them feel confident and comfortable.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You could literally choose one suit or dress (and vary with accessories), or just go with black or navy pants (or skirt) and a white shirt. But for a bit more flexibility, try a <b>7-piece mix-and-match wardrobe</b> of three bottoms, three tops, and one layering piece, such as a blazer or cardigan. If you stick with two or three colors that you like together, these pieces will combine into <b>18 unique outfits</b> (half of them don't use the layering piece).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf148-aK_QDpRzy17CAvfGcdarO-8FpD0ppY3BmZwen1v-5cTrrtazz1w8Vd6AZgbWfTxrw5fWHHkD9jcE5wFZ1urEVa9eVnPQfhRP0zUf0kIUGXpqC4UsQl5hd6qI2ocVH2CVkyCMnN9_ZB01NWNM10zi8DUKh6bo3Zr9ByQ9rRI3_cvsAjLJ_xm_RLkg/s1592/nathan%20oakley%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="furniture light" border="0" data-original-height="1592" data-original-width="1289" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf148-aK_QDpRzy17CAvfGcdarO-8FpD0ppY3BmZwen1v-5cTrrtazz1w8Vd6AZgbWfTxrw5fWHHkD9jcE5wFZ1urEVa9eVnPQfhRP0zUf0kIUGXpqC4UsQl5hd6qI2ocVH2CVkyCMnN9_ZB01NWNM10zi8DUKh6bo3Zr9ByQ9rRI3_cvsAjLJ_xm_RLkg/w324-h400/nathan%20oakley%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="furniture light - photo by Nathan Oakley on Unsplash" width="324" /></a></div>3. Go furniture-light.</b></b></div></b></b></div></b></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Some minimalists choose to live with very little furniture. I remember a long-ago Miss Minimalist post about <a href="https://www.missminimalist.com/2009/11/minimalist-living-questioning-the-couch/" target="_blank">her decision to live without a couch</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not saying minimalists can't have couches. But we should make our possessions fit our lifestyle, rather than buying and owning something just because it's expected.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So leave your couch and your bed where they are. But question your many side chairs, and all the little tables (end, bedside, coffee). Question your bookshelves and your desk (I love working at my dining table). Question stools, benches, curio cabinets, and any piece that has simply become a place to stash your stuff.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">That's right – some pieces of furniture are no more than clutter catchers. Famous <a href="https://amzn.to/3OWuQcF" target="_blank">cleaning expert Don Aslett</a>* called them "junk bunkers."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Cedar chest: a fragrant way to protect things you never wear</li><li>China hutch: a space to keep dust off the stuff you never use to feed anyone</li><li>Magazine rack: a high-class way to store reading matter you'll never read again</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What can you remove?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Travel small.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Packing for a week or weekend getaway with a small carry-on-size piece of luggage is a great way to try out a super-simple life. You give yourself the chance to decide on your absolute must-haves, and leave everything else behind.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Borrow, don't own.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Do you own something that you use only once a year or just a few times during part of the year? It might be a candidate for borrowing (or renting) instead of owning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">For example, you might be able to borrow a tent and other camping gear from a family member or friend. In return, you can take care of their pets, plants, and mail when they go on vacation.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Or maybe you own a weed whacker which you use half-a-dozen times every summer. Perhaps you could borrow one from a neighbor, and then whack their weeds in exchange.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can borrow books from the library. Or rent dishes, tables, and chairs from a party supply company when you host Thanksgiving dinner. There are a lot of ways to own and store less.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Reduce décor.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">In one room, take everything off the walls, then remove the area rug, toss pillows, vases, candles, photos, plants, and any other knickknacks. (It's a great time to dust, polish, vacuum, and otherwise deep clean your space.)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Live with your <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/03/undecorate-simple-home-reset.html" target="_blank">undecorated space</a> for a day, or up to a week. Let yourself adjust to a barer room. Does it seem larger and peaceful? Or sterile?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Add one lovely plant or a vase of fresh flowers. How does it make you feel?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Thoughtfully add 1-5 additional decorative pieces. Appreciate those pieces for the next couple of weeks before deciding whether you need more.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Consider no makeup.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">If you're used to wearing makeup every day, this may be startling. So pare down to just three products – perhaps a foundation with sunscreen, a bit of mascara, and lipstick or <a href="https://amzn.to/45nV3pG" target="_blank">tinted lip balm</a>. You can file and buff your nails instead of using polish, which is <a href="https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a20494618/stop-using-nail-polish/" target="_blank">healthier for you</a> anyway.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How do you feel about the faster, simpler start to your day? Do this in conjunction with #8 below, and see if you can remove other self-care products such as tooth whitener, acne treatments, and eye creams.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZquy1y0TZzl0UIOseCandmugBX03WwSX9md-WE9JvpMu5IfZFk6jRvRGP_tV1HSlqYuId8hNqDbypm3yiPm3Expg4uOQOkBp2O0eiGMGqbahzVEnsvFbx0VeaF92-C72ohIWtlmryJ0YqIKdZKEdALmz64JutunfCTxSR0VGNjcuaK5vHmde5ia_GIrMu/s1597/thao%20lee%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="water" border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1191" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZquy1y0TZzl0UIOseCandmugBX03WwSX9md-WE9JvpMu5IfZFk6jRvRGP_tV1HSlqYuId8hNqDbypm3yiPm3Expg4uOQOkBp2O0eiGMGqbahzVEnsvFbx0VeaF92-C72ohIWtlmryJ0YqIKdZKEdALmz64JutunfCTxSR0VGNjcuaK5vHmde5ia_GIrMu/w299-h400/thao%20lee%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="water - photo by Thao Lee on Unsplash" width="299" /></a></div>8. Drink more water and less of everything else.</b></b></div></b></b></div></b></b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Coffee, tea, sodas, juices, milk, and even many fruits and vegetables will help hydrate your body, but water is calorie-free, caffeine-free, and sugar-free (and without the artificial sweeteners found in diet drinks).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm currently doing this myself, and have just 1 or 2 cups of coffee or tea per day. I drink 6-8 cups of water, sometimes infused with lemon, lime, or mint.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">My grocery list is shorter, and I save money when we eat out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Change gift-giving.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">When your next birthday or a holiday arrives, ask your loved ones for no gifts. Alternatively, suggest a charity to which they could donate in your name, or express your preference for experiential gifts over material ones. Let them know that a meal out, a concert ticket, a massage, or a museum visit would make you happier than a new gadget, tchotchke, or clothing item.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">While you might possibly give physical items to the young children in your life, consider making all other gifts experience gifts too. If you <i><b>must</b></i> have something to wrap, choose a gift that will be used and used up, such as:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>organic, fair-trade dark chocolate bars</li><li>homemade soup mix-in-a-jar (here are <a href="https://wholefully.com/homemade-soup-mixes-in-a-jar/" target="_blank">six delicious options</a>!)</li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/44utytH" target="_blank">magnetic list pads</a></li><li><a href="https://amzn.to/3QNm0iu" target="_blank">blank note cards</a> which can be used for thank yous, birthdays, get well, etc.</li><li>soy, non-toxic <a href="https://amzn.to/4ajy16N" target="_blank">candles</a> in containers than can be cleaned and recycled or repurposed</li></ul><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Go car-light.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">If you don't live in a city, you may not be able to go car-free. But you can still reduce the miles you travel.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Share a ride. Go with a friend to church or another place you both regularly visit. Investigate carpooling to work.</li><li>Work from home. Even one day a week will save 20% of your commuter miles.</li><li>Combine errands so you can take care of them in one trip instead of several small ones.</li><li>When possible, walk or ride a bicycle instead of taking the car.</li><li>Reduce after-school activities so you don't spend every afternoon in the car.</li><li>Reconsider driving to the next town over just to go to a certain restaurant or see a movie.</li></ul><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>11. Stop shopping.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">I recommend doing this for at least 30 days to start breaking the modern habit of buying something new whenever the notion strikes us. Limit your purchases to food (from grocery stores, not restaurants), gasoline, and necessities like toothpaste and toilet cleaner. Obviously, you can still pay for medical care or auto repairs if needed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Become aware of your shopping triggers. What makes you want to buy things you don't need? Are you addicted in some way you've never noticed before? (Maybe you suddenly crave a fast food burger and fries instead of the tuna sandwich and apple you've brought for your lunch.) Keep track of the things you feel like buying but are able to resist. How much money does this represent?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Decide for yourself.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One insight gained by these experiments is to learn that much of what we eat, wear, buy, and otherwise consume is a result of <b>habit, not necessity</b>. We often don't think before we acquire more, which is the goal of advertisers. When we shake things up a bit, we're able to stop letting them hijack our decision-making.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How low can you go and still live comfortably? You might surprise yourself.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWVlbnKfwnOm6Evh9icoM7LhuqKLjXW1tB7wuXKLCVUrWBgDiKxsBdqTpbJfWAf_Hr0X8wdsq3XVug-nBRjdFU4A5NUjE0ixD0K-3-hlEkVMvViHaji45gc9FMPd5GuEA2dlu0xVPIoI2pDIwz3A-5eWH-abLUcsmW5WiWymFBapWNR4VgXK0chmOsBh7/s425/The%20Minimalist%20Experiment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MINIMALIST EXPERIMENT book" border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="267" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWVlbnKfwnOm6Evh9icoM7LhuqKLjXW1tB7wuXKLCVUrWBgDiKxsBdqTpbJfWAf_Hr0X8wdsq3XVug-nBRjdFU4A5NUjE0ixD0K-3-hlEkVMvViHaji45gc9FMPd5GuEA2dlu0xVPIoI2pDIwz3A-5eWH-abLUcsmW5WiWymFBapWNR4VgXK0chmOsBh7/w201-h320/The%20Minimalist%20Experiment.jpg" title="MINIMALIST EXPERIMENT book" width="201" /></a></div>Did you enjoy this article? You'll love my just-published book, <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4boRyTS" target="_blank">The Minimalist Experiment</a></b></i>, the 6th volume in my new <a href="https://amzn.to/4bktVfd" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a>.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's useful to experiment with simplifying your life. You can find out what's hard, what's easier, what works or doesn't work for you, and what you might like to make permanent in six life areas: physical clutter, digital clutter, your mindset, your schedule, your finances, and your personal well-being.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>The Minimalist Experiment</b></i> lets you explore the possibilities, with plenty of inspiration and encouragement for your journey. Big changes come from tiny steps taken over and over. One or more of these experiments is sure to make a positive difference in your life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">Parts of <b>The Minimalist Experiment</b> were previously published as <i>The Minimalist Challenge</i>. The work has been completely revised, updated, expanded, and reformatted to fit the <b>Minimalist Basics</b> series.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-1306851735778328442024-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-01T06:52:30.916-08:003 Questions to Help You Recover Your Minimalist MotivationI've been practicing minimalism for nearly 30 years, but sometimes I get off track. In the busyness of everyday life, in the middle of our consumerist culture, it's possible to get complacent and careless. So how do we rediscover the conviction and enthusiasm we felt when we first started on the minimalist path?<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The following questions have helped me stop and take a breath to consider what really matters to me, and remove the things that don't.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M8VUPREucDlxL4JzTItFAYIoCnBuY_ZVY02gpS7LepY2XovohT2knfsda0riSWRTcWBmSWTRGdPNJnOEznFDsLB8ZZOcxa4kBMQdvUKnLIuxtmBVbBq6yqkpB52asS8LPPN-1iyfd4Qq-QkIMPCrqiEyAPLThJ-Zy1-84_r4p_wO49z9s3XmKUZT8m5e/s2265/austin%20fathman%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="on the road" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2265" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M8VUPREucDlxL4JzTItFAYIoCnBuY_ZVY02gpS7LepY2XovohT2knfsda0riSWRTcWBmSWTRGdPNJnOEznFDsLB8ZZOcxa4kBMQdvUKnLIuxtmBVbBq6yqkpB52asS8LPPN-1iyfd4Qq-QkIMPCrqiEyAPLThJ-Zy1-84_r4p_wO49z9s3XmKUZT8m5e/w640-h428/austin%20fathman%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="on the road - photo by Austin Fathman on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 back-to-basics questions</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. What would I miss?</b></p><div>Blogger and podcaster Emily McDermott calls this question "the disaster exercise."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Imagine you're on vacation. You have your purse, cell phone, wedding ring, medications, a useful capsule wardrobe, and a couple of personal items. Your phone rings, and it's your neighbor telling you your house has burned down.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You have ten seconds to list the three most important things you would miss. <i><b>Go</b></i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Look at your list. What matters to you? Are you surprised by the answers? Consider all you <i><b>wouldn't</b></i> miss. This exercise should enlighten you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And now it's time for some action. What are you doing to preserve those important items in case something happens to them? Do you need to scan physical photos? Make a video of yourself holding (or next to) an important item as you tell about the memories and events connected with it? A <a href="https://amzn.to/3v6Ir9C" target="_blank">32G USB flash drive</a>* doesn't cost much, <b>holds a ton of data</b>, is easy to update and share, and is super-portable.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One more thing to think about: We know that clutter isn't neutral. It's implicated in problems of stress, anxiety, overwhelm, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/10/zero-waste-challenge.html" target="_blank">waste</a>, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/08/4-empowering-steps-to-free-your-life.html" target="_blank">debt</a>, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/08/clutter-and-obesity-there-is-connection.html" target="_blank">obesity</a>, <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/08/3-effective-ways-to-bring-hope-to.html" target="_blank">depression</a>, and more. Does answering this question make it easier for you to let go of items that didn't make the list?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. How would I feel if this item simply blew up or disappeared?</b></p><div>This question comes from <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/07/how-to-own-less-1010-possessions-theory.html#:~:text=The%2010/10%20Possessions%20Theory%20is%20a%20challenge%20suggested%20by%20Joshua%20Fields%20Millburn%20and%20Ryan%20Nicodemus%2C%20the%20writers%2C%20filmmakers%2C%20and%20public%20speakers%20known%20as%20The%20Minimalists." target="_blank">The Minimalists</a>, and it's perfect for items you've inherited or been given that aren't meaningful to you. If your answer is "I'm so relieved!" not only does that indicate that you might as well declutter the thing today, but it also helps you understand why you've hung on for so long.</div><div><br /></div><div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>You feel guilty.</b> It belonged to dear Aunt Faye, or your son bought it for you, or it's an old wedding favor. <b>News flash:</b> You've carried the guilt of not liking or using it for long enough.</li></ul><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>You feel responsible. </b> It cost a lot, so you're obligated to get your money's-worth. Alas, it sits at the back of a closet, unused. <b>Truth:</b> You've carried the responsibility to make good on your purchase for long enough. </li></ul><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>You feel fear.</b> "Maybe I'll need it someday" or "Grandpa wouldn't like it if I didn't take care of his favorite fishing tackle." It hasn't been useful so far, and Grandpa wouldn't want you to be burdened by his old stuff. (And if he would, you have even less reason to honor him.) <b>Remember:</b> You've carried the fear of being in need or not making everyone happy for long enough.</li></ul><p></p></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Letting go doesn't erase the memories inside you. It doesn't erase the love displayed by the original gift experience. Letting go simply allows you to move forward into a hopeful future.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. If I were to pass away today, what would my loved ones say at my funeral?</b></p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM_Ul5L1LRlI0fZkXHau6BGG1n_AzAW82ICdk8uOgYagebwDtxU_1TkojtD6MzC-O-HhYKc1I-1QAuYuQo12FdaVGS2m3bxtzD3FIZkGR7VHMMk8SnoJFFHaJvLw_7Dz89t-iRNPNlAUphi89p7iCe6VB9vQrCSOpHVW5VHfUdDCxAYf8nl5_uDb7OhMj/s2310/aaron%20wilson%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="on the path" border="0" data-original-height="2310" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwM_Ul5L1LRlI0fZkXHau6BGG1n_AzAW82ICdk8uOgYagebwDtxU_1TkojtD6MzC-O-HhYKc1I-1QAuYuQo12FdaVGS2m3bxtzD3FIZkGR7VHMMk8SnoJFFHaJvLw_7Dz89t-iRNPNlAUphi89p7iCe6VB9vQrCSOpHVW5VHfUdDCxAYf8nl5_uDb7OhMj/w266-h400/aaron%20wilson%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="on the path - photo by Aaron Wilson on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>We don't like to think about the end of our lives, but doing so is a good way to assess whether we're living the way we want to live.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When we say that our spouse and kids are the most important things in our lives, is that what our everyday actions are showing? What will your kids remember about you?</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"Mom always said those three little words... 'Just a minute.'"</li><li>"Mom was always busy... on her phone."</li><li>"When we asked Mom how she was doing, her answer was usually... a complaint."</li></ul><div><br /></div>We say our faith matters. Our health. Our purpose. But is this reflected in what we do every day? Are we so busy with our stuff and our shopping, our committees and our side hustle and the news, that we can't be the person we really want to be?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And will our loved ones associate us most with our hobbies and collections, or with the ways we loved and listened and taught them? I sure don't want my books or my <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/05/cherished-collections.html" target="_blank">English blue and white ironstone</a> to be the main things people associate with me.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Now is the time</b> to make decisions that will relieve our loved ones from having to deal with the burden of our stuff. Keep what you use and enjoy, but start downsizing the rest.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Question the status quo.</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Practicing minimalism means that we have to buck the trends and thoughtfully question what we buy, keep, and do. Imagine what purpose you might find for your life if you removed everything that's holding you back! That alone may help you rediscover your motivation on the the minimalist path.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8BWgcwFq_SpBT4EwfC51ENhac4QMzMDSXYbidPwev8u0vuIX4m7tFOHiISbzYPAEq2Y7fvSzR0gOe7_azfNGaTrHPITn1wdYmMe4gv9OpcCosmAJdtnCam_1JF72YkZbxjSoQeNbS0tn5OLXpxBdl4Yjq7k9Fi_ZfWImvKgD15xRGurLjgVZxsHh06aT/s425/Minimalism%20A%20to%20Z.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MINIMALISM A to Z book" border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="267" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM8BWgcwFq_SpBT4EwfC51ENhac4QMzMDSXYbidPwev8u0vuIX4m7tFOHiISbzYPAEq2Y7fvSzR0gOe7_azfNGaTrHPITn1wdYmMe4gv9OpcCosmAJdtnCam_1JF72YkZbxjSoQeNbS0tn5OLXpxBdl4Yjq7k9Fi_ZfWImvKgD15xRGurLjgVZxsHh06aT/w126-h200/Minimalism%20A%20to%20Z.jpg" title="MINIMALISM A to Z book" width="126" /></a></div>Looking for more minimalist inspiration? Seeking that just right point of "enough"? My book <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/478bPtK" target="_blank">Minimalism A to Z: Strategies for a Simpler, Joyful Life</a></b></i> (part of my <a href="https://amzn.to/41nq8sU" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a>) contains practical ideas and thoughtful questions to help you get there. Much more than tidying up, minimalism helps you find the life you want... with less to distract you from it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-45532254342215522712024-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-29T06:00:00.129-08:00Why You Should Make "Less is More" Your Mantra for LifeMaybe you've heard the saying popularized by architect Mies van der Rohe in 1947: "Less is more."<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's an oxymoron – a phrase that seems to contradict itself. Others include "old news," "open secret," "unbiased opinion," and "awfully good." Or the lament, "Parting is such sweet sorrow."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What does "less is more" mean? It's wonderfully open-ended. Answers to that are as varied as the people who reply. Consider:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Less anxiety, more peace.</li><li>Less debt, more savings.</li><li>Less busywork, more substance.</li><li>Less clutter, more space.</li><li>Less comparison, more contentment.</li><li>Less sugar, more vegetables.</li></ul><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVg7-ymfFek4IOvxwBLNuIIGF6Ilxruoz5J4KC19aA-PvxReHEnDlpnMTSothQ_FJu9334euYwzQeNxgDvUAnqt90B8uNYx-UQ4AMBGElBTxgzFHLC3eLhhQyY852p-1lbpRlQTYtTkYjriCup9OyoEBsYRIk1KZUruhNrLf4WnUeiz04Kq0ZbO0unWkd/s2400/aaron%20burden%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="less is more" border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVg7-ymfFek4IOvxwBLNuIIGF6Ilxruoz5J4KC19aA-PvxReHEnDlpnMTSothQ_FJu9334euYwzQeNxgDvUAnqt90B8uNYx-UQ4AMBGElBTxgzFHLC3eLhhQyY852p-1lbpRlQTYtTkYjriCup9OyoEBsYRIk1KZUruhNrLf4WnUeiz04Kq0ZbO0unWkd/w640-h480/aaron%20burden%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="less is more - photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Voluntary simplicity</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Back in the 1990s, a fair number of Americans realized that the continual quest for more and better was stressing them out and keeping them from creating lives of purpose. After the consumerist binge of the yuppie-era 80s, some started wondering if the big house, flashy car, exotic vacation, and Rolex were really worth what they cost in terms of time, energy, and ultimate satisfaction. Life seemed to be about acquiring stuff and following endless to-do lists, and people started to feel like mere caretakers of things.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Many decided they wanted less consumerism and more control over their lives. The movement was labeled "voluntary simplicity," an acknowledgment that members were <i><b>choosing</b></i> less, rather than having austerity forced on them.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Today, "less is more" is part of the minimalist movement, a lifestyle which separates needs from wants and chooses to own and do less for practical, emotional, social, and environmental reasons.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Going countercultural</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Understanding that less is more takes practice, since you may have to challenge the beliefs and values you were raised with. Our society bombards us with messages about how we need this or that product to find happiness. Pretty soon, a new message says that now we need this <i><b>other</b></i>, newer, supposedly better thing to be <i><b>really</b></i> happy. And that pursuit doesn't end.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Over and over again, studies show that it's not belongings that make us happy, or even secure. Instead, relationships, experiences, and what we've learned make all the difference. We pay lip service to this truth, but need determination to actually live it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">16 reasons to choose "less is more"</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Less clutter, more calm.</b></p><div>Science has proven that clutter stimulates cortisol levels, which elevate stress and anxiety.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In the same way that gazing at the uncluttered vista of an ocean or forest uplifts and relaxes us, an uncluttered home reduces stress.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>There are many things in life we can't control, but our living environment isn't one of them. When other things are chaotic, home can be a refuge. Imagine coming home to a serene space where everything you own fits comfortably, with room to spare. Imagine how comfortable you'll feel when home is simple and straightforward.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Less clothing, more utility and creativity.</b></p><div>A minimalist wardrobe is a small, carefully chosen collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create dozens of outfits. This approach saves money, time, and space, and makes getting dressed an easier, less emotional project.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The process of minimizing your wardrobe also helps define your personal style and preferences. It lets you wear your favorite pieces more often and get more creative about how you combine and accessorize them.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2024/01/10-fun-no-risk-ways-to-try-minimalist-wardrobe.html" target="_blank">10 Fun, No-Risk Ways to Try a Minimalist Wardrobe Today</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Less clutter, more energy.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">A cluttered home drains your energy. Sometimes clutter is the result of lethargy, but clutter can also <i><b>cause</b></i> fatigue. When you feel overwhelmed by your belongings, it's hard to muster the energy to deal with them. You feel burdened by their weight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/06/10-tiny-decluttering-tasks.html" target="_blank">Small steps to relieve clutter</a> can give you inspiration, hope, and more vitality to carry on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Less spending, more saving.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">A cluttered home demonstrates a <b>spending problem</b>. This is true even if the items come from thrift stores and yard sales. With shopping impulses out of control, you keep adding to your clutter and your debt. Even if you follow a "one in, one out" practice, you may still be a slave to sales and trends, figuring it's no problem as long as you get rid of old stuff.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Less quantity, more quality.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Start by choosing one luxury item over ten cheap products, but then apply this to everything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Would you rather go on one excellent date per month, or a fast food date every week? Would you prefer to go on a trip to your dream destination, or travel each quarter to places you don't care so much about?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you're more selective with your choices, you're more satisfied with the results.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztsMYR5tbfL5JkRZMOjG1HtmdlS5m45zSiCBmnqm9bczaYWQ4jY3AHQrdcpcCatM9pJ9H0QGSJlhEZtifuUq44JbJkZVOIEMEGhH1SVVXgzVuiKaUIQnKAPJhyphenhyphenzl-YqmHASjtyIyDsR9IrUXl9QOAz6WxBwc_RJBN1T1xMtae9Fom_Poh48JxPBq73lSE/s1442/aaron%20burden%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="less waste, more green" border="0" data-original-height="1442" data-original-width="1073" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztsMYR5tbfL5JkRZMOjG1HtmdlS5m45zSiCBmnqm9bczaYWQ4jY3AHQrdcpcCatM9pJ9H0QGSJlhEZtifuUq44JbJkZVOIEMEGhH1SVVXgzVuiKaUIQnKAPJhyphenhyphenzl-YqmHASjtyIyDsR9IrUXl9QOAz6WxBwc_RJBN1T1xMtae9Fom_Poh48JxPBq73lSE/w298-h400/aaron%20burden%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="less waste, more green - photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash" width="298" /></a></b></div><b>6. Less waste, more green.</b><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Clutter creates huge amounts of waste, even if it's donated. In fact, <a href="https://www.greenamerica.org/unraveling-fashion-industry/what-really-happens-unwanted-clothes" target="_blank">many of our clothing donations end up in landfills</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And that doesn't count the wastefulness of packaging and shipping things we don't need all over the world. When you reduce consumption, you also reduce the garbage and emissions that harm our environment.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Less clutter, more focus.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">If your home is like the average American home, <a href="https://www.becomingminimalist.com/clutter-stats/#:~:text=1.,past%2050%20years%20(NPR)." target="_blank">there are 300,000 items in it</a>, from combs to coffee cups to comforters.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All of that clutter – stuff on the counters, piles on the tables, knickknacks, pictures, toys, and more – adds to the volume of <b>visual noise</b>. Your brain struggles to tune it out so you can focus on important tasks and people, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and headaches. It makes it <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-you-cant-concentrate-at-work-1494342840" target="_blank">harder to work</a>, and can <a href="https://hespinterpretation.com/2017/10/20/visual-noise-distractibility-and-classroom-design/" target="_blank">impair learning</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you own less, you'll prioritize, concentrate on, and finish tasks with greater ease.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Less furniture, more space.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">My youngest grandson is at the "perfect" height to keep hitting his head on tables and desks. He wants desperately to keep up with his older brothers, but lacks their coordination. Bumps and tears follow. Maybe having a bit more space would help him.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you've been holding on to furniture you don't use, it might be time to let go. Donate furniture that just sits in your spare room to make space for a yoga studio or an entertainment zone for your kids. Get rid of the pieces you've stored in the garage and park your car inside.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whether you live in a 3,000 square-foot home or a tiny studio apartment, less furniture equals more open space, which creates new possibilities.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Less choice, more confidence and satisfaction.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Have you ever stood in the grocery store and felt confused about what to buy because there was just too much? You're not alone!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Everyday decisions – big and small – have become more complex due to the overwhelming abundance of choices. Even though we assume that greater choice insures greater satisfaction, the opposite is true. Barry Schwartz, author of <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4ajuxkA" target="_blank">The Paradox of Choice</a></b></i>,* explains that choice overload can make you question your decision-making ability, create unrealistically high expectations, and take the blame for all failures. This leads to avoidance, anxiety, and stress.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When you pare down your options, they become manageable. You're more content with simple choices about what to wear, what to eat, and which mug to drink your coffee from when you have two choices instead of 20.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Less screen time, more life.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">The digital generation is busy, busy, busy. But what are we doing? Often, it's not much.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Scrolling, browsing, and binge-watching not only leave us sedentary and uncreative, they shorten the time we have to do important tasks. They steal our attention from the people right in front of us. They make us unobservant of the real world. And they remove any spontaneity from our existence.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Fortunately, we can change. Limit screen time in favor of being present for your life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>11. Less busyness, more time.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not recommending that we neglect our responsibilities. But why not take the opportunity to peruse your weekly schedule and cross off everything that's not essential? You're left with more time and energy for activities that really matter to you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>12. Less comparison, more connection.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">The pressure to keep up with trends and social expectations can feel overwhelming. It leads to feelings of envy, inadequacy, dissatisfaction, and dislike. That's why our social feeds only show the highlights – we're all comparing and jockeying for acceptance and admiration. This kind of rivalry (which we don't admit to) doesn't make for close, supportive relationships.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do yourself a favor and compare less.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>13. Less complaining, more gratitude.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Complaining is easy. Maybe it's human nature to notice danger and disaster (it's a survival mechanism). But letting that be your focus makes you miserable and angry. It makes you helpless, because you spend all your energy on doom and gloom, and none of it on solving problems and taking positive action.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Gratitude is the door to happiness. Learning to pay attention to what's good helps you notice more and more that is beautiful and worthy of praise. You start to see blessings everywhere!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>14. Less wishful thinking, more action.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">We've all done it. "I want to write a book." "I want to lose 30 pounds." "I want to learn Japanese." "I want to run a marathon." We have these wishes that we talk about, read about, and make aspirational purchases for. Then we get busy (see #10 and #11), so we don't follow through. And we regret and complain about our "lost dreams."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Instead, choose something you really want to do. Think about one tiny step to get started (so tiny, you can't fail). <b>This isn't a purchase</b> – it's an action. Then take the action.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Write one sentence a day for your book.</li><li>Use mustard on sandwiches instead of mayonnaise.</li><li>Get a <a href="https://blog.gaijinpot.com/free-apps-for-studying-japanese/" target="_blank">free app</a> and learn one word per day.</li><li>Run around the block every morning.</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And repeat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/02/tiny-steps-big-change.html" target="_blank">How Tiny Steps Can Lead to a Big Change</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74udFd-Z7TF2V-gjmqOjxYpPFWQ2r01TIzfwqBXwlvQpnp-qLXz1M7VWK9iad_rNyFFaWWJ4ht9cLUHERA8Bu7UN8ud6gtMicRB49eYMAcIube2k-IKd3Q1LUvDInYpJ7VMpZ-y5tUhcXmk8rCUY5zxrxnDKzOa82Lj71Fe_IKjjtZIYrp054B41d3zTV/s1968/ethan%20hu%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="creative play" border="0" data-original-height="1586" data-original-width="1968" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi74udFd-Z7TF2V-gjmqOjxYpPFWQ2r01TIzfwqBXwlvQpnp-qLXz1M7VWK9iad_rNyFFaWWJ4ht9cLUHERA8Bu7UN8ud6gtMicRB49eYMAcIube2k-IKd3Q1LUvDInYpJ7VMpZ-y5tUhcXmk8rCUY5zxrxnDKzOa82Lj71Fe_IKjjtZIYrp054B41d3zTV/w400-h323/ethan%20hu%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="creative play - photo by Ethan Hu on Unsplash" width="400" /></a></div>15. Fewer toys, more play.</b></div><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Are the toys out of control? Decluttering is a great way to refocus on imagination and creativity. Many studies show that with fewer toys, children share and collaborate more, play with each toy longer, and think of more ways to use what they have. Fewer toys might mean smarter and happier kids!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These results may also hold true for adults and their hobbies. By focusing on one hobby, we spend more time, gain more skill, and complete more projects.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Say goodbye to toy chaos, and to stepping and tripping on scattered items, since corralling fewer toys is so much easier.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>16. Less stuff, more generosity.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Decluttering gives you the opportunity to donate your excess items to people who need and will use them. But it also lets you see, clearly and concretely, that <b>you have enough</b>. In fact, clutter is a sign of wealth. And once you understand that you're wealthy, you'll feel more gratitude and want to be even more generous. It's a beautiful feedback loop.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/10/rich-minimalists-in-needy-world.html" target="_blank">Rich Minimalists in a Needy World</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">My favorite oxymoron</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope one or more of these "less is more" phrases inspires you, or that you'll come up with your own. They seem to be contradictions, but there's plenty of truth to be found in all of them. Try one today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoSkCmyDIU1X_IMBb3lCgnLn3pavXaRJXv7Gr3mh8kTryOOYMgnY-ba4fBA2zvlVsUJ8gPEMTRhJVoHECzJEkxiRW3IhMM-J8XcNDdRcke4wz0wmGfOYAKwj6hyT37lkLem9pwYluxdWuK345P0pxVziG3OAXu_CNLWDQcS4EOshcvHGaymiT9vZPrAUV/s500/Downsize%20Now.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="DOWNSIZE NOW book" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSoSkCmyDIU1X_IMBb3lCgnLn3pavXaRJXv7Gr3mh8kTryOOYMgnY-ba4fBA2zvlVsUJ8gPEMTRhJVoHECzJEkxiRW3IhMM-J8XcNDdRcke4wz0wmGfOYAKwj6hyT37lkLem9pwYluxdWuK345P0pxVziG3OAXu_CNLWDQcS4EOshcvHGaymiT9vZPrAUV/w201-h320/Downsize%20Now.jpg" title="DOWNSIZE NOW book" width="201" /></a></div>If you've ever dreamed of a simpler life with more time and energy for what matters to you, you need to downsize.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Downsizing can be hard, or it can be easier. My book, <b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/3RkXx2W" target="_blank">Downsize Now</a></i></b>, gives you the tools and inspiration to get the job done so you can start enjoying all the benefits. You get all the joy of a clutter-free, fresh start, plus all the scientifically proven benefits of living without a load of useless baggage:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>less stress</li><li>less indecision</li><li>less cleaning</li><li>less laundry</li><li>more clarity about your priorities</li><li>more ease in finding what you need</li><li>more focus and concentration</li><li>more energy and creativity</li><li>better sleep and overall mental health</li><li>a sense of accomplishment</li><li>more gratitude for all you have</li><li>more time, more room, and more money for what you care about</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Get your copy of <i><b>Downsize Now</b></i> so you can start discovering these good things today.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-51246101890061427412024-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-01T20:46:38.861-08:009 Secret Habits of Neat and Organized PeopleMany of us get interested in minimalism because we feel overwhelmed by everything we own, everything we need to do, and everything we need to care for. That's why decluttering brings such peace and relief for most of us. With less to wrangle, we gain confidence that we can succeed at our responsibilities. Too much is simply too much.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>But even when we own less, we might still find things getting out of control. Organization isn't a natural skill for everyone, and without it, the laws of nature take over. Like it or not, <b>order is always temporary</b>. Once-tidy rooms attract dust. Tasks and trash multiply. Things wear out, skin wrinkles, and hair turns gray or stops growing back. Unfortunately, we can't expect anything to stay the way we leave it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The good news is that a few minor shifts in how you think and what you do on a daily basis can yield major positive results. Anyone can master these skills – even you!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUY1vMMRCUWRp09hKd-PGplKaNh9BzoHTy9_q2etVC_bsgqvRwubjzX943KDMQ4qj3NrhVXz9J4LqjzQYvHabrs_aupqbXUFe-BuG6yWGtQQPbIQ1Un_YnICl2o6kFC0AJOBjQfZhX_oeDcQ4Etig6a39I6YIRaCv1zLevF0ycC4DE5mGysbbG1_755Cw/s1452/pickawood%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="organized" border="0" data-original-height="1097" data-original-width="1452" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPUY1vMMRCUWRp09hKd-PGplKaNh9BzoHTy9_q2etVC_bsgqvRwubjzX943KDMQ4qj3NrhVXz9J4LqjzQYvHabrs_aupqbXUFe-BuG6yWGtQQPbIQ1Un_YnICl2o6kFC0AJOBjQfZhX_oeDcQ4Etig6a39I6YIRaCv1zLevF0ycC4DE5mGysbbG1_755Cw/w640-h484/pickawood%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="organized - photo by Pickawood on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9 low-effort, big-impact organizing habits</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Avoid big black holes.</b></p><div>A large, open storage area is primed for a huge mess. Uncontained stuff expands to fill whatever room you give it, so a garage, attic, basement, or rented storage space will always fill up with items you have no immediate use for. And once that happens, stuff piles up until finding anything becomes a big chore (and you don't remember what's there anyway).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Containers</b> are your fix. Add bins to a closet to separate the sheets for each bed, and never dig through a pile of different sizes again. Keep small pouches in a big handbag (or buy a bag with separate pockets), and never search for your pen, lipstick, hand cream, or keys in a jumble at the bottom. Put garden soils and fertilizers on one shelf and weed killers and pesticides on another, and you'll never wonder what you're running low on. Resist the temptation to add more just because you can make it fit.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Say no to spillover.</b></p><div>Too many stuffed animals for their bin? Too many spices for the rack? Some of those items are no longer loved or used. Instead of getting a bigger container or starting to fill another one, remove the extras you don't need.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, organized people will (surprisingly) <b>choose less storage</b>, not more. Remember that clutter expands to fill as much space as you'll allow (see #1). Once you add one thing you don't need or use, other items will inevitably join it. With less storage, you either resist clutter or live surrounded by piles. You know what an organized person is going to choose.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Hang more items.</b></p><div>When you hang garden tools or sports equipment on a pegboard, brooms and mops on a wall organizer, and backpacks on heavy-duty pegs, you have everything within easy reach plus a clear floor. Not only does the space look neater and more spacious, but it's easier to sweep or vacuum.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Store things by usage.</b></p><div>For example, first aid items are in a kit together near the bathroom; extra blankets are in a closet near the bedrooms. In the pantry, pastas and sauces are grouped together, pancake mix is with syrup, nut butters with jams. A pet station with leash, waste pickup bags, and flashlight is near the back door. Nail files, clippers, buffers, polish, and remover are in a box together near your preferred manicure area. This makes it so much easier to grab just what you need <i><b>and</b></i> to put it away again.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you find yourself storing items in unusual places, such as extra serving platters under the guestroom bed or bags of snacks in a cupboard in the laundry room, consider the fact that you may simply have <b>too much stuff</b>. There are two reasons it might be stored in a hard-to-access spot:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The storage area that makes more sense is full of other clutter.</li><li>The weirdly-stored items are actually clutter that needs to be purged.</li></ul><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3RKP8Nfc7kmu1mshAwRZxTCV6BnwUceiQvaGbo3mOrnvPT283w9qLRy-TjWK7ydvXXv_ypAn_qZv_tpwdSatudmMo9F4MExaSH32zwpSuIcTCoNN6xs7UeYA1AHHUDNfJF296qcsoSbEbVdvRydN5oWmkMwhIqdln4GNwEPXLSRzW9QSadCnbf-i3g2x/s2880/andrea%20davis%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="peaceful bedroom" border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3RKP8Nfc7kmu1mshAwRZxTCV6BnwUceiQvaGbo3mOrnvPT283w9qLRy-TjWK7ydvXXv_ypAn_qZv_tpwdSatudmMo9F4MExaSH32zwpSuIcTCoNN6xs7UeYA1AHHUDNfJF296qcsoSbEbVdvRydN5oWmkMwhIqdln4GNwEPXLSRzW9QSadCnbf-i3g2x/w266-h400/andrea%20davis%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="peaceful bedroom - photo by Andrea Davis on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>5. Use behavioral hooks.</b></div><p></p><div>A hook is a behavior that leads directly to another desired behavior. It's a simple association you can teach yourself in order to make a useful habit permanent, like the way your mom taught you that using the toilet was a hook for flushing it, which was a hook for washing your hands. So as you rinse your coffee cup with one hand, use your other hand to open the dishwasher and pull out the rack so the cup winds up there rather than stacked in the sink.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Obey the Golden Rule of a tidy house.</b></p><div>What's the rule? When you're done with something, <b>put it away</b>. If you create a place for everything to live in your house, and you put it all away when you're done, you make it almost impossible for clutter to reaccumulate.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Spend one minute now to save hours later.</b></p><div>You can't control clutter if you keep procrastinating on small jobs. My dad used to say, "If it only takes a minute, do it now." So hang up that towel, brush the mud off your shoes, wipe the sticky countertop, deal with the mail, and put your clean clothes away.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When you take a bit of time now, you save yourself the big headache of 20 unfinished jobs that will take an entire afternoon to sort out and deal with later.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Don't over-organize.</b></p><div>Believe it or not, you can be <i><b>too</b></i> organized. A bespoke farmhouse pantry and a luxury closet system may look gorgeous on Pinterest or in your favorite lifestyle magazine. But do you want to spend all your time organizing, or do you want a life that's made simpler and easier <b>because you're organized</b>?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You could systematize your housework, catalog your paperwork, add labels to your linen closet, arrange your kitchen utensils, and reconfigure your garage to hold more stuff. But true minimalism means that many of <b>those systems are unnecessary</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I don't need a fancy shoe rack because I own four pairs of shoes.</li><li>I don't need a filing cabinet because all of my paperwork fits in a <a href="https://amzn.to/46RHPC7" target="_blank">portable file box</a>.*</li><li>I have a (paper) <a href="https://amzn.to/3thfxmE" target="_blank">calendar</a>, but most of my weekly schedule is in my head because it's not that complicated.</li><li>I don't need a makeup tray because I use four products when I want to be dressy, and just <a href="https://amzn.to/3uQNdIh" target="_blank">tinted lip balm</a> the rest of the time.</li></ul><br /></div><div>If you remove what you don't need, you'll find that you don't have so much to organize. You probably don't need a bunch of fancy storage solutions – you just need less stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Don't worry about missing what you purge.</b></p><div>When you realize that decluttering is a practical decision, not an emotional one, it becomes much easier to let go. Having an organized, clean, easy-to-maintain home is more satisfying than having a bunch of "maybe I'll need this someday" or "but that was Grandma's" things. It's easier to choose and use what you really need and care about, and happily let go of everything else.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">In it for the long haul</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now that these secret habits are not so secret, you'll be able to master them for long-term decluttering success. Order may be temporary, but you can enjoy peace and confidence every day.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTegR4HJkF7Dl-Nx8Oiw70IUsKzGOpjt0FoT9FIJGm_4792NqoF5WRJqojUUvnC8AmvHNuwjiM1qDCdWBKmuYnnK1C4zwA8ORHXyZA3cFwrRHG6Cf-MbJySIpnP6DdAXPGGZf1G-IEXjn_lUzFtjVI-2IDnyCP5kga1KCzxJ2_UF2_kBqFV6hDMD0RkuN/s500/Decluttering.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DECLUTTERING book" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieTegR4HJkF7Dl-Nx8Oiw70IUsKzGOpjt0FoT9FIJGm_4792NqoF5WRJqojUUvnC8AmvHNuwjiM1qDCdWBKmuYnnK1C4zwA8ORHXyZA3cFwrRHG6Cf-MbJySIpnP6DdAXPGGZf1G-IEXjn_lUzFtjVI-2IDnyCP5kga1KCzxJ2_UF2_kBqFV6hDMD0RkuN/w201-h320/Decluttering.jpg" title="DECLUTTERING book" width="201" /></a></div>As much as we might want to live with only the things that "spark joy," that also means we have to deal with all of the things that <i><b>don't</b></i>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Never fear! A beautiful, spacious, uncluttered home may seem like an impossible dream, but it doesn't have to be.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>My book, <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Nhnak4" target="_blank">Decluttering: The Simple Guide from A to Z</a></b></i> (first in my <b><a href="https://amzn.to/3uTJpGf" target="_blank">Minimalist Basics series</a></b>), breaks the decluttering process into manageable tasks, making it easier to achieve the larger, cleaner, more organized home you're longing for. It's the cheat sheet you've needed to keep you on track.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-15754787208438535132024-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-22T06:00:00.131-08:007 Ways to Slow Time and Savor Your Life"Time flies." "Where did the time go?" "Time is a thief." Life today is consumed by planning, doing, doing more, and looking ahead to what's next. No wonder time seems to speed by. We rarely observe and experience what's right in front of us.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm in my 60s. And if I let it, the rest of my life could fly by. Before I know it, my grandkids will be grown and I'll be <i><b>really</b></i> old (not just in late middle age).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Even if you're in your 30s or 40s, do you want to miss the best, most productive years of your life? You don't want time to drag, you don't want to be bored, but you also don't want to wake up one morning and realize that days, months, years, even <i><b>decades</b></i> have flown by.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Time moves as fast as you let it. You can follow our society's model and let it move at warp speed, or you can intentionally slow down.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXJMpLZnrWsDmP15Eqo8ImVGrbkPlpHdjbc2vzl6fURk9wEhVhW4YYdUzsSacbjCC_I45cgExQbQ9evtX6HDh7JAmE3vaieSuZJ6Bz-BFeK0e82YMCwXuZsSY2bjpRsGC874OpoaQM0gHQ2R0wEA5kPJdns42kLnstPH8mYsYcRVtoy32yU9BCBZVoRcM/s2400/colin%20watts%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="winter sunrise" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="2400" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXJMpLZnrWsDmP15Eqo8ImVGrbkPlpHdjbc2vzl6fURk9wEhVhW4YYdUzsSacbjCC_I45cgExQbQ9evtX6HDh7JAmE3vaieSuZJ6Bz-BFeK0e82YMCwXuZsSY2bjpRsGC874OpoaQM0gHQ2R0wEA5kPJdns42kLnstPH8mYsYcRVtoy32yU9BCBZVoRcM/w640-h426/colin%20watts%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="winter sunrise - photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Like a child</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When we're young, time ambles, with endless car journeys, luxuriously long summer holidays, and birthdays and Christmases that seem <i><b>so</b></i> far apart.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As children, we find the world endlessly fascinating, full of new sensations and novel experiences. We're constantly taking in new details, and psychologists theorize that when our brains process so much information our perception of time slows.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As we get older, the world becomes more and more familiar. We become desensitized to our experiences, which means that we process less information, and time seems to speed up. We all know what it's like to hop in the car and drive to work or some other familiar destination, arriving with no sense of time having passed and no clear idea of what happened along the way.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You might think the answer is to start experiencing as many new things each day as possible. Foreign travel, new cuisines, different languages, unfamiliar music, and cutting-edge technology would be just the beginning. Exploring the many varieties available in the world would be pretty exhilarating. And kind of expensive. And maybe ultimately unfulfilling, as we would train ourselves to expect something new and exotic at every turn.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean we should never take in new experiences and opportunities, but it shouldn't be the only way we increase the information our brains have to process.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to expand your sense of time</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Be an observer.</b></p><div>Another way to enjoy new sensations is to be more mindful of what we're seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, and hearing. It's a different approach to avoiding the commonplace. Instead of seeking something "new and improved," we change our attitude to the familiar things around us.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For example, when taking your morning shower, instead of letting your mind babble on about the things you need to do today, the things you did last night, or that unnamed tune that's stuck in your head, you could bring your attention to what you're doing. Feel the water cascading over your body, enjoy the scent of your lavender soap, listen to the drops splashing on the shower curtain, give thanks for the warmth and cleanness. If the tune's still there, figure out what it is and sing!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>On the way home from work, instead of thinking of your tasks and problems, look outside at the sky. Notice buildings, trees, and other landmarks as you pass them. Tune in to how your body feels after a long day, relax tight muscles, and take deeper breaths.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When you do a task like folding clean clothes or washing the dishes, don't lose yourself in daydreams or music on your headphones (save that for when you're actually dancing around the house). Instead, notice the objects you're handling and the physical sensations you're experiencing. I think you'll enjoy yourself more. Instead of seeing these activities as chores, see them as a chance to enlarge the amount of information you process. Let time expand as you become mindful.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu8Y1R04FVOZNKC-k60fUvZLoztgJrQLgZWqFxiLpN2LlHcw32KdcxOXqxdAV75SgFSfKdNfFmWPJGLFpVeRstgJh1pucXLlPHDfSPQb6bceYxnb-JDykKxm4GJW52uNmfq1j6sY3eABGnNOqjPqz76_MW58LqDJeDfPz7WRXKf44VscX0_2YUenkcoQb/s2880/nikola%20tomasic%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="delicate ice" border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRu8Y1R04FVOZNKC-k60fUvZLoztgJrQLgZWqFxiLpN2LlHcw32KdcxOXqxdAV75SgFSfKdNfFmWPJGLFpVeRstgJh1pucXLlPHDfSPQb6bceYxnb-JDykKxm4GJW52uNmfq1j6sY3eABGnNOqjPqz76_MW58LqDJeDfPz7WRXKf44VscX0_2YUenkcoQb/w266-h400/nikola%20tomasic%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="delicate ice - photo by Nikola Tomasic on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></div>2. Change the routine.</b></div></b></div><p></p><div>Of course there are things we do again and again, day after day. But it's possible to make those experiences less mindless. Just because you work in the same building each day doesn't mean you have to act like a machine in order to get there. You could shake up your expectations by:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>finding different routes to drive</li><li>taking the bus</li><li>riding your bicycle</li><li>walking</li><li>taking the stairs instead of the elevator (or vice versa)</li><li>turning your desk to face a different direction</li></ul><br /></div><div>You might be able to do the same activity at a different time or in a different location. If you usually eat lunch in the cafeteria, try finding different places outside to eat. If you usually answer emails first thing in the morning, try returning phone calls instead and leave email for a bit later. If you always fix pasta for Monday dinners, try serving it with a different sauce, adding a different vegetable, or preparing a different shape. Or make pasta salad instead. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Choose human speed over high speed.</b></p><div>It's not just our <i><b>perception</b></i> of time that has speeded up. Our expectations have too. As long as we continue to demand instant access and information, our lives will keep moving faster.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It's easier to buy things than ever before. It's easier to communicate. It's easier to consume information. But should it be? Easy is nice, but what are the consequences? Clutter, debt, stress, overload, inanity, impatience. Maybe even the obesity epidemic – think about fast food, junk food, processed food, DoorDash, and meal kits.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not going to advocate throwing out all automation and technology, but taking more time and effort isn't always a bad thing. When we do more things by hand and in person, it forces us to consider whether they're worth doing at all. We pause for a decision about how to use our energy and resources.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>That pause is everything.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If we "don't have time" to write a note, cook a meal, have a conversation, or make or do something for ourselves, maybe we need to get away from screens and machines to <b>make time</b>. Maybe we need a return to knitting, mending, kneading bread dough, ironing, and <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/08/magic-in-your-mailbox.html" target="_blank">snail mail</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Take a break.</b></p><div>Being productive is what it's all about in our society. "What do you do?" is the question any new acquaintance asks. But when we're constantly "doing" we have no chance to fully experience anything.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Slow down time by setting an alarm for intentional pauses. For me, 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. work well. I take 5 to 10 minutes to sip a cup of tea, pray, sit in a quiet place outside, read a page or two of a good book, mindfully vocalize (I'm a singer), or just close my eyes.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>These pauses change the pace of my day, shifting my focus toward "being," which is where time moves most slowly.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Stop multi-tasking.</b></p><div>Multi-tasking is usually done to "save time" for other things. We think, "If I can make dinner, watch <i><b>The Crown</b></i>, and call my sister all at once, I'll save time for later." But at the end of the evening, the dinner will be overcooked, you won't remember what happened on the show, and your sister will complain that you never listen to her. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Instead, focus on the one thing you're doing, and do it well. When you cook, or watch, or have a conversation, give all of your attention to it. Appreciate it. You won't always feel like you're in a rush to get to the next thing, and that will slow down time.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Be an explorer.</b></p><div>The world is more interesting than we give it credit for. We stumble half-awake through a morning routine, go to school or work or errands, come home, and watch TV or browse online. That's a good way to make time fly by unnoticed. Instead, become an explorer – of your neighborhood, your world, and yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Try a different grocery store or the local farmers' market.</li><li>Visit a different coffee shop, or invite a friend over for a coffee break.</li><li>Go to the library, and check out a book by a different author or from a different genre than what you usually read.</li><li>If you're a night owl, take an early walk and watch the sunrise. If you're an early riser, go out late to look at the stars.</li><li>Can you write a poem? Grow some of your own food? Play or sing a new piece of music? Challenge yourself. Learning new things helps us access a <a href="https://www.betterup.com/blog/beginners-mind" target="_blank">beginner's mind</a>, which works slowly.</li></ul><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQedxF4pvSqx9Ol_yjWU98Xfcr8ahHqMb-Yt3MjAj3VbnglBA__KbW5ObXV3_voI05s30vYWlzfE6ZK7jUrnYGg3J_vdGd45SAcZnO9mfjlY-EbklDi5V-2CEDGjM59n4_mixYSE4d5WVhTUiOQLFSAu8pFF8QiY_mMgaA3KV0S5b_wxbusOdK1an1GkB8/s2560/annie%20spratt%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQedxF4pvSqx9Ol_yjWU98Xfcr8ahHqMb-Yt3MjAj3VbnglBA__KbW5ObXV3_voI05s30vYWlzfE6ZK7jUrnYGg3J_vdGd45SAcZnO9mfjlY-EbklDi5V-2CEDGjM59n4_mixYSE4d5WVhTUiOQLFSAu8pFF8QiY_mMgaA3KV0S5b_wxbusOdK1an1GkB8/w300-h400/annie%20spratt%202%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="delicate ice - photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash" width="300" /></a></div>7. Capture the moments.</b></div></b></div><p></p><div>Time races by when we're not looking. Suddenly, it's May, and summer's almost here, and what happened to that cloudy, cold, spend-time-cozily-inside January afternoon? You missed it.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Try taking notes. Most of us know that <a href="https://jamesclear.com/journaling-one-sentence#:~:text=What%20Journaling%20Can,of%20my%20favorites." target="_blank">journaling has many benefits</a>, but we never get around to doing it. How can we make it simpler, so we can gain the benefits without making it feel like yet another obligation?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'd like to suggest a <a href="https://amzn.to/47PyjRg" target="_blank">one-sentence journal</a>.* It's easy and fun. And a habit doesn't have to be impressive in order to be useful. <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2021/02/the-secret-to-maintaining-new-habit.html" target="_blank">My habit</a> of writing one daily sentence for this blog has led to over 550 posts and more than a <a href="https://amzn.to/3GCeXTH" target="_blank">dozen published books</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What can you write about? One sentence that lets you focus on something important about your day, such as:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>one event</li><li>one person</li><li>one quote</li><li>one idea</li><li>one gratitude</li><li>one decision</li><li>one accomplishment</li><li>one beauty</li><li>one kindness</li><li>one mistake and what you learned</li><li>one adventure</li><li>one funny thing</li></ul><br /></div><div>This journal will become a keepsake that lets you ruminate and remember your life. It will let you savor and secure those moments in time before they fly by.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"></span></b><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">If the days and weeks pass by in a blur, let us slow down time with more luxurious attention on this moment.</span></b></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: center;">Leo Babauta</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-6030737501498860772024-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-18T06:00:00.147-08:008 Simple Steps to a More Relaxed Morning<div style="text-align: left;">It's morning. You wish you could roll over and sleep a bit longer, but the day is calling. You pad in bare feet out to the kitchen, flip on the light, and are greeted by a sink full of dirty dishes and a countertop still covered with crumbs. Ignoring the mess for now, you make coffee and wander into the living room, stepping painfully on your son's scattered Lego bricks and wondering where the TV remote is hiding this time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Throw pillows are scattered on the floor, a pile of mail and your daughter's crayons cover the coffee table, and a half-drunk glass of milk adds a sour smell to the room.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As you sip your coffee, you don't know where to start with the mess, so you browse social media instead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What a <i><b>great</b></i> way to start the morning – defeated before you even get dressed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnuHE5SIivnVhCNjmFfNst3aU9yApghdO54xPFmE1C90gbRkyKUVioYXqfj7HKPySU8gZkTbkEvr_y7WGi57jj51D-lPEueysQk5gK92NSK6WADwH5-CCB9aDk3AhME8iFoBTtxyUy9xvuEhwafyPi7dl1niACr_KjAlN1aGvB4yxorEXGwKzjlYV8mOQ/s1697/im3rd%20media%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="clean kitchen" border="0" data-original-height="1132" data-original-width="1697" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnuHE5SIivnVhCNjmFfNst3aU9yApghdO54xPFmE1C90gbRkyKUVioYXqfj7HKPySU8gZkTbkEvr_y7WGi57jj51D-lPEueysQk5gK92NSK6WADwH5-CCB9aDk3AhME8iFoBTtxyUy9xvuEhwafyPi7dl1niACr_KjAlN1aGvB4yxorEXGwKzjlYV8mOQ/w640-h426/im3rd%20media%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="clean kitchen - photo by IM3rd Media on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">And now for something completely different.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Imagine walking into your neat and clean kitchen. No pile of dishes, no sticky countertops – everything is ready for use.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As you enter the living room with your coffee, there's not a toy in sight. The couch is comfortable with throw pillows in place, mail has already been sorted and dealt with, and nothing smells funky. Everything is orderly, and you feel relaxed and happy. Nothing is nagging you to clean, put away, sort, file, or otherwise deal with it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Now you're free to do something that lifts your spirits. You might watch the early birds in the back yard, read from a devotional book, jot a line or two in your journal, or even just sit quietly with your coffee and calmly think about the day ahead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>You deserve this.</b> You deserve to start the day without chaos. You deserve a home that supports and inspires you – that helps <i><b>cure</b></i> your stress, not cause it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Starting with a mess can kill your motivation for the rest of the day. It makes every task harder and slower, and can negatively impact your mood, your work, and your relationships. It affects your spouse and kids in all of those ways too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It just isn't worth it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The cure</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to say goodbye to chaotic mornings, you need to learn to do an <b>evening reset</b>. This isn't just for the end of the week, or for half of every Sunday, but <i><b>every</b></i> evening before bed.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Does that sound too demanding? You may need to <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/11/42-things-to-clear-out-and-simplify-your-home-today.html" target="_blank">start first with decluttering</a>, because when you live with too much clutter, things get messy faster. The payoff is that once you own less, a reset will take mere minutes, not half of your evening.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Start about half an hour before you want to relax with Netflix or a book, or before you want to scrub off your makeup, put on your PJs, and crawl into bed. (You'll get the process down to 15 minutes or less as you practice.) Take 8 easy steps to prepare your home for a chaos-free morning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The 8-step evening reset for happier mornings</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Collect.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">With basket in hand, go around your living spaces picking up objects that aren't where they belong. From remotes, grooming tools, and piled-up paperwork to stray dishes, reading glasses, and toss pillows, pick up everything that isn't where it should be. (You might consider decluttering some of these things if they're a regular problem.) Your kids can help with their toys, and your spouse with his/her items.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Replace.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Everything out of place needs to go home. Therefore, <b>everything needs to have its own spot</b> to belong.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What does that really mean? It means I can hand my child any item that belongs to him or is used by the whole family and say, "Put this where it belongs," and he knows exactly where to go. I can ask him to get me something that belongs to him or is used by the whole family, and he returns with it right away because the item is exactly where he expected it to be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This makes putting things away so much faster, because you're not trying to decide where they might fit for now. You don't have to reinvent the wheel every evening.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And if you don't have room to put things away? Obviously it's time to declutter.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Hide the toys.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">This is not about having a playroom that looks magazine-styled. It's about having things organized and put away. Use bins or baskets to put like toys together. These are also great for keeping a limit on numbers – if the stuffed animals have multiplied beyond the capacity of their storage bin, it's time to declutter those that have become less-loved. Use shelves, drawers, and closets to maintain limits on how much you own. Believe me, you'll still have plenty.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Even if you don't have children, you have toys. You just call them <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/04/52-minimalist-hobbies-to-benefit-and.html" target="_blank">hobby supplies</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlQmqZFtkG_K0dMivzmnzKR79fJtFzDrByZdhNhCCT0DvSCxM-ZSOgH7FSriYnfUfYgJSU99JUBucW_w3TgtT6tGf9DZq4GAf5QmTfIrUySOuQQMPU9AGquo_M4beneV_V4HsoDaW8EA9_PK81MAS_ju1vG0YuNnkaqXYJK4bDWJd5UIrupjEHtwaamWi/s1486/spacejoy%203%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="living room" border="0" data-original-height="1486" data-original-width="1044" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlQmqZFtkG_K0dMivzmnzKR79fJtFzDrByZdhNhCCT0DvSCxM-ZSOgH7FSriYnfUfYgJSU99JUBucW_w3TgtT6tGf9DZq4GAf5QmTfIrUySOuQQMPU9AGquo_M4beneV_V4HsoDaW8EA9_PK81MAS_ju1vG0YuNnkaqXYJK4bDWJd5UIrupjEHtwaamWi/w281-h400/spacejoy%203%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="living room - photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash" width="281" /></a></b></div><b>4. Deal with paper.</b><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">This job really shouldn't be left until the evening reset.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When you come in with the mail, don't just add it to a pile somewhere. Immediately recycle what you can, shred what you need to, file important papers, and pay any bills.</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When your child comes in with schoolwork or a permission slip, take a few moments to look, comment, and/or sign. If you like, display <b>one</b> item on a bulletin board for several days.</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When you get an appointment reminder or invitation, note the date and time on your calendar, then recycle the paper.</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Okay, I realize that sometimes you simply don't have time to read, file, pay, etc. So keep a basket on your desk and put action items there until later. Plan to deal with all of them together, say on a weekend afternoon. This chore is <b>so much less daunting</b> if you don't let the piles get big. You'll thank me when you no longer frantically search for a statement or bill you "know you have somewhere." My paperwork takes 5-10 minutes per day – definitely less than an hour per week.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Put away clean laundry.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">This insures that you can find the clothes you need in the morning, plus it frees up the laundry baskets for the next round of dirty clothes. (If you have kids, you know that's coming up <i><b>fast</b></i>.) Practice quick and simple ways to fold, hang, and store like items together. Don't worry so much about an Instagram-worthy drawer or closet if just getting clean items put away is a challenge for you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Straighten up tables and other decorative surfaces.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Only certain things belong on the coffee table, end tables, desk, or sideboard. Limit those surfaces to one or two items, for example:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a lamp on the end table</li><li>one knickknack or plant on the coffee table</li><li>a basket for paperwork and the family phone dock on the desk</li><li>a couple of photos on the sideboard</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If surfaces always seem crowded or hard to dust, you probably have too much stuff. Consider leaving at least <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/08/how-naked-table-makes-my-home-life.html" target="_blank">one surface bare</a> for versatility and a calmer space. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3guISlZE2Qs-zsAprgpL2Y8oFPL9Tsbp2CU587mIdOpObDFah7mb7NMY3kzNEMSGMmtdbu3DzrKPsXX4y4Tkp81-pKf6Y_qcQNDaCVF15GBtySTvppWQWsOc1l3RGAz8VQL32uOhIi7_d49uMPWg24CXtzOxGxLUedhCDkNaS898JAg1yQBxxBL-sCNZ/s2131/andrew%20barrowman%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comfortable" border="0" data-original-height="2131" data-original-width="1906" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT3guISlZE2Qs-zsAprgpL2Y8oFPL9Tsbp2CU587mIdOpObDFah7mb7NMY3kzNEMSGMmtdbu3DzrKPsXX4y4Tkp81-pKf6Y_qcQNDaCVF15GBtySTvppWQWsOc1l3RGAz8VQL32uOhIi7_d49uMPWg24CXtzOxGxLUedhCDkNaS898JAg1yQBxxBL-sCNZ/w286-h320/andrew%20barrowman%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="comfortable - photo by Andrew Barrowman on Unsplash" width="286" /></a></b></div><b>7. Wash and put away cooking implements.</b><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">It really doesn't take that long to wash a pot, pan, salad bowl, baking dish, and the utensils you used to fix your evening meal – especially if you <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/04/clean-as-you-go.html" target="_blank">clean as you go</a> while cooking. Run the sink full of hot, soapy water, and put each piece in as you finish using it. While something simmers or bakes, clean what's in the sink and put it away. You'll be left with far less to do after dinner.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Put away leftover food and have everyone load their plates and flatware into the dishwasher after you eat, before moving on to evening pastimes. Be sure to start the machine before bedtime.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Clean the countertops.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">This might involve spray cleaner and a washcloth or an antibacterial wipe, depending on what's there. The point is to have a hygienic, tidy space ready for breakfast prep, making lunches, or writing a to-do list. And if there are too many storage containers or decorative items in the way of your cleaning (especially if you usually just wipe <i><b>around</b></i> all of them), consider decluttering. I mean, if there's any place that needs to be really clean it's where you prepare your food, right?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Victory!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders and neck, and give me a big smile, because your mornings are going to look different from here on. As with every habit, the more you do these evening steps the more natural they'll feel, the faster and easier they'll become, and the more smoothly your reset will be accomplished. Soon you won't even think twice about the process – you'll simply enjoy a calmer, happier, more efficient start to every day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/05/7-secrets-of-clutter-free-family-home.html" target="_blank">7 Secrets of a Clutter-Free Family Home</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5bJIfJb6z-AR5ct9v_n_MaJk81JNI0-FWRqu1rcV29_eTXO8fBcHoiBnOgnMk070v6kSCz7t1TQEkBO6tXbv8_7IF3iVQQ2SmgwNorSiWAz0BuEJyGaS7AzNwFYRuYrYewQs8oYOOaS3x2RjiTyMivFCfYS5vSKwEOIr-Em2k2ejA1WKrz54PLPISXtY/s500/Uncluttered.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="UNCLUTTERED book" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5bJIfJb6z-AR5ct9v_n_MaJk81JNI0-FWRqu1rcV29_eTXO8fBcHoiBnOgnMk070v6kSCz7t1TQEkBO6tXbv8_7IF3iVQQ2SmgwNorSiWAz0BuEJyGaS7AzNwFYRuYrYewQs8oYOOaS3x2RjiTyMivFCfYS5vSKwEOIr-Em2k2ejA1WKrz54PLPISXtY/w201-h320/Uncluttered.jpg" title="UNCLUTTERED book" width="201" /></a></div>If you're tired of the stress and frustration that clutter brings, you'll appreciate my book <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4acda5m" target="_blank">Uncluttered: How Minimalism Helps You Create the Life of Your Dreams</a></b></i>.* <i><b>Uncluttered</b></i> offers more than a one-size-fits-all approach – it's an encouraging, multi-faceted guide to help you</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>remove the stuff that's bogging you down</li><li>uncover a cleaner, more spacious home that welcomes and supports you</li><li>overcome bad habits and practice better ones</li><li>highlight your favorite belongings</li><li>and more!</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can be happier with less, and <i><b>Uncluttered</b></i> will show you how.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-11131008695576105022024-01-15T06:00:00.000-08:002024-03-18T16:44:16.462-07:0010 Fun, No-Risk Ways to Try a Minimalist Wardrobe Today<div style="text-align: left;">Is your closet bulging with clothes, yet you feel like you have nothing to wear? Do you shop often for new pieces, yet still feel unsatisfied with what you own? I've been where you are. Maybe, like me, what you really need is a minimalist wardrobe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A minimalist wardrobe is a small, carefully chosen collection of versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched to create dozens of outfits. When you streamline and craft your wardrobe in this way, you can break free of the never-ending cycle of buying, purging, and buying even more clothes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I realize that a minimalist wardrobe can sound scary. When you're used to an overstuffed closet, the idea of paring down in order to gain more usable choices seems impossible, impractical, and like something you're going to regret.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had similar feelings when I first tried a minimalist wardrobe years ago. That's why I've created this list of ways to test the idea before you make a full commitment. It's an approachable way to find out if a minimalist wardrobe is right for you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_wK2xiBsMRwLghoe-E_pVNS8mPcljhX-MbTYpozQuY3L1nYNmWao2tGD-XCJBJmqYN5NELP_fWNqHkYw2kTrviPDaToxOCNtnvAoAdC6A_mOpfWbYl9Zwij7aEZFOhuNMdkwbTkL0PxJv4higkrdsMepRfBVxO9eGyToO9oesvtqDyfwJ14WVM0njjWy/s3676/angela%20bailey%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="comfy wardrobe choices" border="0" data-original-height="2766" data-original-width="3676" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_wK2xiBsMRwLghoe-E_pVNS8mPcljhX-MbTYpozQuY3L1nYNmWao2tGD-XCJBJmqYN5NELP_fWNqHkYw2kTrviPDaToxOCNtnvAoAdC6A_mOpfWbYl9Zwij7aEZFOhuNMdkwbTkL0PxJv4higkrdsMepRfBVxO9eGyToO9oesvtqDyfwJ14WVM0njjWy/w640-h482/angela%20bailey%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="comfy wardrobe choices - photo by Angela Bailey on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10 minimalist wardrobe experiments</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Choose a number.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">One popular way to try a minimalist wardrobe is to choose a specific number of pieces to wear for a set period of time. If this sounds familiar, you might have heard or read about <a href="https://bemorewithless.com/project-333/" target="_blank">Courtney Carver's Project 333</a>. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Courtney's rules are simple. Choose 33 wardrobe items (clothes, shoes, accessories) to wear for 3 months. Does that sound hard? Don't worry – you don't have to sacrifice style. In fact, limiting your options inspires you to <b>choose your favorites</b>, which lets you feel good about what you're wearing every day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The triple threes make an easy-to-remember title, but you can adjust the experiment to fit your needs. Choose 40 items to wear for a month, 12 items to wear for a week, or create a <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/09/the-4x4-wardrobe.html" target="_blank">4x4 wardrobe</a>. Simply choose a number and give it a try.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Embrace a work uniform.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Instead of restricting all of your fashion options, narrow them down in just one area. It's a fun way to project your personal image, and lets you practice with a minimalist wardrobe before committing to a complete purge.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you have a go-to outfit for work, you don't have to stress about what to wear each morning, and you can spend that time doing something more valuable, such as exercising, journaling, or enjoying a nice breakfast. Plus, by limiting your clothing options, you can invest in higher-quality pieces that look better and last longer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Follow the lead of servers to <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2020/09/why-uniform-might-work-for-you.html" target="_blank">plan a work uniform</a> for yourself. You don't have to go with black pants and a white shirt. I've known someone who chose a simple black dress she altered with different belts, sweaters, scarves, and jewelry each day. Someone else wore a navy suit with different shirts and ties. Choose whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Wear one piece all week.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Choose your favorite article of clothing and wear it all week to see if a minimalist wardrobe is right for you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You could choose your favorite jeans, your best cardigan, or your fitted leather jacket. You'll get to appreciate the versatility of that one item as you mix and match it, dress it up and dress it down, and wear it in different settings.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">After a week of wearing the same thing, you'll have a better idea of whether you want to commit to a minimalist wardrobe. Did it feel good to have less clutter in your closet and fewer decisions to make each day? Did you enjoy challenging your creativity, or did you feel bored and limited by the lack of variety?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Limit shoes.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Don't stop at simplifying your clothes. Pare down your shoe choices too. I suggest trying three pairs per season.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">When choosing shoes, consider their practicality. Are they comfortable enough to wear every day? Do they suit the activities you like to do? Are they right for the weather you expect to encounter?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Make shoes do double duty. For example, you may need running shoes, but you could also wear them to the gym or out to the grocery store. Maybe you need hiking boots, but you could choose a pair lightweight enough to wear around town. Lower heels may be better for work, but you could also wear them for a night out.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEwj-B4Vvvuxi0h29CxmjHrrpxJM19-PW3wDwHcg-BzSR34A4HSVkX9g7ehtXFtC7Ke3ifN9CG9_NsKJhERf5I5kJdi6yaHB5ptAhfyKCQDx7CoXDOHr0GcQ_aKG1jiczAQ02wE0sxTVLhmrBtUWtWrz9wnfyfF9WCGVUd3dOwTu1ZeC_0d382FctgyRd/s2880/carlos%20vaz%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="streamlined accessories" border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDEwj-B4Vvvuxi0h29CxmjHrrpxJM19-PW3wDwHcg-BzSR34A4HSVkX9g7ehtXFtC7Ke3ifN9CG9_NsKJhERf5I5kJdi6yaHB5ptAhfyKCQDx7CoXDOHr0GcQ_aKG1jiczAQ02wE0sxTVLhmrBtUWtWrz9wnfyfF9WCGVUd3dOwTu1ZeC_0d382FctgyRd/w266-h400/carlos%20vaz%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="streamlined accessories - photo by Carlos Vaz on Unsplash" width="266" /></a></b></div><b>5. Streamline accessories.</b><p></p><div style="text-align: left;">Here's another way to experiment with less. <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2022/10/one-surprising-reason-to-declutter-half.html" target="_blank">Pare down to a few key pieces</a> that can be worn with a variety of outfits. Perhaps your favorite pair of simple earrings plus your favorite pair of dressy earrings. A nice belt or watch could add just the right amount of sophistication to your attire. One special necklace could be your signature piece.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It can be liberating to have a few go-to items that save you time each morning, always look great, and are of a high quality that you'll enjoy wearing for years.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Pick a color palette.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Limiting your choices to a particular set of colors is a great way to experiment and see if minimalist fashion appeals to you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Begin with a base color, such as black, brown, navy, beige, gray, or another neutral. Next pick two or three colors you like to wear with your base color (they don’t have to be neutrals). Now remove everything from your closet that doesn't blend with those colors, and start mixing and matching within your chosen palette.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You may just discover a new and simple way of dressing!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Show off a statement piece.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">If you like, add extra personality to your mix-and-match palette (see #6). A bold graphic tee, a bright blazer, or a felt fedora could shine for a season as the star of your wardrobe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This gives you the chance to make the most of a statement piece, wearing it intentionally and with greater frequency. Do you find that you appreciate that piece more when it's your only option for adding spice to your outfits?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Use one coat and one bag.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Do you really need five winter coats? Do you need a different purse for each outfit?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Test your ability to enjoy a minimalist wardrobe by choosing one coat per season. Whether a belted trench, a fleece-lined denim jacket, a powder blue raincoat, or a simple hoodie, reduce decision fatigue while keeping utility and style. Also choose one bag for each season, and save the hassle of switching out the contents while still enjoying variety through the year. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Dress up casual pieces.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Special occasions can send us running to the store, looking for something new to match the event. Why not experiment with different combinations and discover the versatility of what you already own? Once you dress up your favorite pair of jeans with a silky blouse and high heels, or change a simple black sheath dress into date night attire by adding a gold belt and dangly earrings, you may realize you don't need as many pieces as you once thought. Not only will this save you money and space, but it gives you confidence in your choices as you play dress-up with your existing wardrobe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Get more wear from fancy pieces.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">If you have a lot of dressy pieces in your closet, but want to experiment with a more minimalist approach, dress down!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Feel empowered and creative by finding new ways to use those things you thought you could only wear to a wedding or New Year's party. Maybe that cocktail dress will be really cute with some sneakers and your denim jacket, or that embroidered bolero jacket can go to the office over your black trousers and plain white tee. You may even find a new favorite outfit in the process.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Try it, you'll like it!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A minimalist wardrobe simplifies daily life, saving money, time, and space, while adding to your personal style, confidence, and creativity. Don't worry about making a full commitment today – try one or more of these 10 experiments to find what works for you. I think you'll discover that less really is more when it comes to fashion.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz12WkR9bZk6a3EUafY1nUCcVfrgymut8wxNjDyyWPTLtIW_7L081E95VEZ0CdBcTx5b_oVadDmqWWsey2UteeZigNaLynwz8OfuezQHRkHhOjwlHmoTMDmR2VJZNPao1ftuwNJQ5f2Vfux89cdVc670ixc_EMw5GVAZ39G7GkB0Ti-I-bgBPC8XlDMMVy/s500/The%20Minimalist%20Wardrobe%203rd%20ed..jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="MINIMALIST WARDROBE book" border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz12WkR9bZk6a3EUafY1nUCcVfrgymut8wxNjDyyWPTLtIW_7L081E95VEZ0CdBcTx5b_oVadDmqWWsey2UteeZigNaLynwz8OfuezQHRkHhOjwlHmoTMDmR2VJZNPao1ftuwNJQ5f2Vfux89cdVc670ixc_EMw5GVAZ39G7GkB0Ti-I-bgBPC8XlDMMVy/w201-h320/The%20Minimalist%20Wardrobe%203rd%20ed..jpg" title="MINIMALIST WARDROBE book" width="201" /></a></div>If you liked this article, you'll love my book <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/4aarqLL" target="_blank">The Minimalist Wardrobe: Buy Less, Choose Well, and Feel Confident Every Day</a></b></i>,* available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's a modern consumer belief that we need a large wardrobe to be interesting, but limits encourage creativity, and a smaller closet doesn't have to be boring or restrictive.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><b>The Minimalist Wardrobe</b></i> will help you learn</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>how to build a smaller wardrobe</li><li>how to make decluttering decisions</li><li>how to let your closet inspire you</li><li>how less is more when it comes to creating your personal style</li><li>how three words can help define your preferences</li><li>how a signature outfit might increase your peace, poise, and productivity</li></ul><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>... and so much more. This best-selling book can be your guide to a wardrobe that passes the "feel good test" and lets you wear your favorite things every day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Read Kindle books on your phone, tablet, or computer with Amazon's free app, or borrow them with a <a href="https://amzn.to/3R3TGHa" target="_blank">Kindle Unlimited subscription</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-59806249325136399542024-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:002024-02-01T20:34:29.880-08:0010 Surprisingly Easy Ways to Declutter BooksDon't get me wrong – I love books. I've been an avid reader since I was six years old, and it's a habit I never want to lose.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoy beautiful physical books, but a large and growing library is physically cumbersome. It's heavy, space-hogging, and expensive to boot.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When you're ready to think about decluttering books, these suggestions will help.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4mxEW5Ce2ccpgqT3MAuZ3Eq66EbOxng6hsspPVit1bxJ1HlB0iupA-vaWAc6vI1p_6mfISprB03GJjKo5u2qQKV2oPPzinbLlf2gPcBC-ownhnJY4IZ4Cs4kHd9RuRTBtUNJI65z9NCxwbgoV9CVkE7qbxQnSX6zYuA8Q64gUJ8BpMFfGhyK8HAZpsBt/s1920/ines%20sayadi%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="home library" border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="1920" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4mxEW5Ce2ccpgqT3MAuZ3Eq66EbOxng6hsspPVit1bxJ1HlB0iupA-vaWAc6vI1p_6mfISprB03GJjKo5u2qQKV2oPPzinbLlf2gPcBC-ownhnJY4IZ4Cs4kHd9RuRTBtUNJI65z9NCxwbgoV9CVkE7qbxQnSX6zYuA8Q64gUJ8BpMFfGhyK8HAZpsBt/w640-h546/ines%20sayadi%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="home library - photo by Ines Sayadi on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to prune your home library successfully</span></b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Count your books.</b></p><div>Decide to give a certain percentage away (start with 10% if you're unsure).</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Give away a bookshelf.</b></p><div>Choose your favorites to fit on the shelves that remain.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Curate your ultimate classics.</b></p><div>An ultimate classic is the iconic representation of its class – the best, most useful, most valued, just-right item. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>your favorite pair of jeans</li><li>the most comfortable, good-looking chair</li><li>the perfect <a href="https://amzn.to/49r2eQP" target="_blank">ceramic skillet</a>* you reach for again and again.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You probably have favorite books you read over and over. These are the books you want to have beautiful hardcover copies of, or that you buy cheap, used paperback copies of so you can loan them out to all your friends. They're the books you want on your proverbial desert isle.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Forget the also-rans and stick with your ultimate classics.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Reduce the TBR pile.</b></p><div>Those of us who love to read always have a pile of things we plan to read "someday soon." Reduce or even eliminate your pile. After all, there's a reason they're still just sitting there.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsff5IXy0cL70qD2bKHEOfmTvTMf0SAbh-1JuSr-Tq2MrNmYZ99vMN0I1ppS0WUJyOesfTZIxsDf3PlvDqNwFyVzPuEYHRnIQOFF-liZsFFxvLT9Tb1Oc52giZiqjykdTj4oEdK9IRu-cLX7tOXo11kk3ArS0zKS0NQ8aPaVYoAVpqhVsQV8P7Xa9PfvgM/s2789/annie%20spratt%201%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="a favorite book" border="0" data-original-height="2789" data-original-width="1920" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsff5IXy0cL70qD2bKHEOfmTvTMf0SAbh-1JuSr-Tq2MrNmYZ99vMN0I1ppS0WUJyOesfTZIxsDf3PlvDqNwFyVzPuEYHRnIQOFF-liZsFFxvLT9Tb1Oc52giZiqjykdTj4oEdK9IRu-cLX7tOXo11kk3ArS0zKS0NQ8aPaVYoAVpqhVsQV8P7Xa9PfvgM/w275-h400/annie%20spratt%201%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="a favorite book - photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash" width="275" /></a></b></div><b>5. Check out the library.</b><p></p><div>Libraries have been around for millennia, but for most of that time they were only available to scholars and the very rich. By the 1600s there were a few libraries open to the public, but most required a reservation and a pass, and the books were chained to the shelves or desks. In the 1700s, lending libraries were more common, but most required subscription fees, which not everyone could afford.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The first free library, open to all, didn't exist until 1833. Today, you probably have easy access to a public library (mine is less than 2 miles away). Yet many people <a href="https://www.aei.org/politics-and-public-opinion/if-libraries-are-about-finding-the-truth-lets-be-honest-about-their-decline/#:~:text=Almost%20six%20in%2010%20Americans%20report%20they%20seldom%20or%20never%20visit%20their%20local%20public%20library%2C%20with%2032%20percent%20%E2%80%94%20the%20plurality%20in%20the%20sample%20%E2%80%94%20saying%20they%20never%20do" target="_blank">seldom or never visit their public library</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Decide not to be one of those people. Visit your library regularly, and enjoy what it has to offer. When you make a habit of borrowing books, you don't need to own so many.</div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Investigate Kindle.</b></p><div>I've always been one to bring a book along when I travel or when I think I might have to wait somewhere (such as a doctor's office). Once I downloaded Amazon's free Kindle app, I was able to keep e-books on my phone, making them much more portable.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For the most memory, portability, and distraction-free reading, consider a <a href="https://amzn.to/3FQGJv6" target="_blank">Kindle</a>. Without ads and with three free months of Kindle Unlimited (a subscription service allowing you to borrow rather than buy e-books), the cost is less than $120.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>By the way, all of <a href="https://amzn.to/3FSu0bj" target="_blank">my books</a> are available in Kindle editions and on Kindle Unlimited!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>7. Create a reading nook.</b></p><div>Have you always dreamed of dedicating a room in your home to your books? Instead of an entire home library, create a reading nook instead. Make it tiny, cozy, and filled with only the best. Try a comfy chair, one small bookcase, a small table and a lamp. Bliss.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>8. Lose your ego.</b></p><div>Books often represent our learning, culture, and savvy – at least to ourselves. After all, how can you show how smart and sophisticated you are without your books? Well, how about with your conversation? If you've actually read the books, you'll have plenty to discuss.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>9. Give up fear.</b></p><div>Fear is a major barrier to decluttering anything. What if I want or need this again someday? What if I get bored or there's another pandemic? Learn to trust your resourcefulness.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>10. Write your own.</b></p><div>We're used to relying on others to supply us with entertainment and enlightenment, yet for millennia humans created their own stories, music, dance, etc. While it can be fun to think about your "desert island" book collection, that would by definition be extremely small. What happens after you've read those few precious works?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A wonderful 1980s children's sci-fi book by Jill Paton Walsh, <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Q8QlGk" target="_blank">The Green Book</a></b></i>, answers that question (among others). Pattie, who is eight, writes her own. Culture exists because of people who create. Why not be one of them?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-27176900861515649322024-01-08T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:00:00.141-08:00How to Make the Lifestyle Choice That's Good for Everyone<div style="text-align: left;">Minimalism isn't new. People have been choosing what's valuable and removing what isn't for years.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In 1995, the Merck Family Fund released survey results in which 28% of Americans polled said they had made voluntary changes in their lives that decreased their earnings (not including retirement) during the previous five years. They brought more balance into their lives by reducing work hours, switching to lower-paying jobs, or quitting jobs to stay at home. They wanted to reduce stress, reclaim free time, or spend less time at work and more time with their children.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">28% of Americans were choosing to make do with less <b>so they could have more of what they valued</b> in their lives. This grassroots movement came to be called <i><b>voluntary simplicity</b></i>, and it was a significant subculture that embraced slower living, lower consumption, and environmental ideals.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>I was one of those people.</b> I wanted to homeschool my two kids, and my husband and I wanted to live on one salary so I could do it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6QAVDGbdspVAIH6vkcCsWbCU0zCMuY3Ka4SeY4ZRrJd2fcudCB_DRUam5yTGy9wjphD9BYkCAy2vz8HuUyRnaY4uv73oD2EUUkkHfEJcn_CgHC27IjBZwN4KKMokVtlCAK2jhKhuUdf7Eo0wXC1B4mJt3kT9tcENSEKD5MEjLPJeMPNMKQ0RcRpGY1w/s2400/Mike%20L.%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="winter forest" border="0" data-original-height="1676" data-original-width="2400" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ6QAVDGbdspVAIH6vkcCsWbCU0zCMuY3Ka4SeY4ZRrJd2fcudCB_DRUam5yTGy9wjphD9BYkCAy2vz8HuUyRnaY4uv73oD2EUUkkHfEJcn_CgHC27IjBZwN4KKMokVtlCAK2jhKhuUdf7Eo0wXC1B4mJt3kT9tcENSEKD5MEjLPJeMPNMKQ0RcRpGY1w/w640-h446/Mike%20L.%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="winter forest - photo by Mike L. on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Overcoming the lie</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Many of us grew up believing that the way to be happy was to accumulate all the material goodies of life. That was the way to attain more leisure, more freedom, and more options. Ride the highways in your new car. Be the envied hostess with your new house and all the furnishings. Express your individuality with your new wardrobe. Education, travel, technology – it was all going to make life so wonderful.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And then we learned the truth. Working to earn all the money to buy all of the toys made us slaves to our jobs, and put us on a treadmill of work and spend, work and spend. There was always something newer or bigger to acquire. Eventually, some of us realized that owning 40 shirts, 20 pairs of shoes, and all-new appliances didn't make life better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In 1994, I subscribed to a quarterly newsletter called <i><b>Simple Living: The Journal of Voluntary Simplicity</b></i>, edited by a Seattle-based woman named Janet Luhrs. Something she said resonated with me:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"></span></b><blockquote style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">Voluntary simplicity isn't lying around in a hammock all day. It's about living with a passion and a purpose – and giving yourself the freedom to do so. You can't do that if you are too busy paying off all your debts for your big TVs and your big cars, and you're buried in junk at home. You don't have any control that way.</span></b></blockquote></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also read Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez's 1992 book, <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3Ra3Sy3" target="_blank">Your Money or Your Life</a></b></i>* (revised in 2018). Robin said, "We've developed a consumer system... that would have us all maximize our consumer needs. We've created a society in which people don't even recognize there is an alternative." Her book details the alternative.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">* <span style="font-size: x-small;">This blog is reader-supported. If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But the book that kickstarted my journey toward simplicity was displayed on an endcap at the B. Dalton in my local mall in 1994. <i><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3NDFHav" target="_blank">Simplify Your Life: 100 Ways to Slow Down and Enjoy the Things That Really Matter</a></b></i> by Elaine St. James helped me reevaluate nearly every facet of our lives, from clutter, laundry, and grocery shopping, to cars, spending, and debt (which was sucking the life out of us), to our TV, volunteer commitments, and gift-giving. Along with the simple, child-led, little-to-no-textbook educational philosophy of <a href="https://amzn.to/3sk9UDB" target="_blank">John Holt</a>, it was my go-to guidebook for the next several years.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Minimalism for all</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXxSub5Nhn7H3KGhKcNL3gFZrJMje5qe6lgZDVwD0_pTFx1jPN5F7fmSK-6-jVEfGj8Uk611YVeeWLQdoX82NTTgudhqmA-bkJVBE91lo6yHXwyu4zdgwwQ-nHPoCFNEwf86Hv0BD354KjWHxOj4ZkV35HYMHLP9-xWik_nwWz0OWrJVhtZ1WSIIipBZM/s1598/lionello%20delPiccolo%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="winter tree" border="0" data-original-height="1598" data-original-width="1196" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXxSub5Nhn7H3KGhKcNL3gFZrJMje5qe6lgZDVwD0_pTFx1jPN5F7fmSK-6-jVEfGj8Uk611YVeeWLQdoX82NTTgudhqmA-bkJVBE91lo6yHXwyu4zdgwwQ-nHPoCFNEwf86Hv0BD354KjWHxOj4ZkV35HYMHLP9-xWik_nwWz0OWrJVhtZ1WSIIipBZM/w299-h400/lionello%20delPiccolo%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="winter tree - photo by Lionello del Piccolo on Unsplash" width="299" /></a></div>In the '90s, nobody called this minimalism. Minimalism referred to a simplified design aesthetic, or music that used repeated patterns and motifs to create a mesmerizing soundscape.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nobody called it minimalism, but it fits with today's idea of a minimalist lifestyle:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the intentional consumption of what you need and what adds value to your life, while removing everything else</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>simple, repeated routines and choices that free your energies for projects that require more creativity and flexibility</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>a few essential elements combined for the most satisfying effect</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the choice to minimize distractions that keep you from doing what matters most to you</li></ul><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>recognizing that time, energy, and resources are finite, and making the most of them</li></ul><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>curating the things you own and do to best reflect your priorities</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Minimalism is an effective tool for living an intentional life. If we all woke up from our consumerist dream, and stopped being influenced by the influencers, I think <b>we'd all want this</b>. It just makes sense.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3 first steps</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So here I am, 30 years later, writing about minimalism every day. It has become my passion and purpose.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're interested in minimalism, here's what you should do first:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Remove one thing.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">You can read all about it (I recommend my <a href="https://amzn.to/47Itw3T" target="_blank"><b>Minimalist Basics</b> series</a>), or watch a thousand YouTube videos, but the best way to learn is by doing. Find one thing you don't need and donate it. A piece of clothing, a serving dish, a camping lantern, a knickknack, a book. Whatever it is, find out what it's like to make a bit of space in your home, and get past the question of "where do I start." Then repeat.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Stop adding what you don't need.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Whether that means unsubscribing from Amazon Prime so you don't purchase mindlessly, staying out of the Dollar Store and bypassing yard sales, or even skipping the candy, chips, and alcohol aisles in your grocery store, take steps to stop purchasing things that add clutter to your home. Create some questions and guidelines to help you decide what adds value to your life and what doesn't.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Create white space on your calendar.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">This could be as simple as putting down your phone or turning off your computer one hour earlier every evening. Or saving TV for certain nights and leaving it alone the rest of the time. Or scheduling a block of "me time" every week. Or resigning from one commitment that no longer interests you. Use any of this space to read a book, work at a hobby, have a conversation, take a hike – or even catch up on sleep.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In art, white space is the area between design elements. White space allows other elements to stand out. It increases focus, enhances flow, and eases communication. It's not wasted space, but improves the form and function of the entire work.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">White space on your calendar will do all of that for you too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't wait.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope it doesn't take something drastic like a huge pile of debt, a job loss, or bad health news to encourage you to give minimalism a try. It's life-enhancing benefits are good for everyone, all the time, no matter what you call it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3199402513564391276.post-14615961924223551132024-01-04T06:00:00.000-08:002024-01-04T06:00:00.126-08:006 Simple and Effective Ways to Be Happier Every Day<div style="text-align: left;">When asked what we most desire from life, many of us say, "I just want to be happy." And what do we want most for our children? Happiness. Many of us even consider it a basic human right, as in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Yet often we aren't as happy as we could be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Perhaps this is because we spend so much time gripped by discontent. Whatever our circumstances, we continually wish for more, better, and different.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53ge2Lu2v-E_ithsn5iu5k5P2qsgpt5V7XubNVkfej1evnx_QaAJSuw6JSvnqAp6RGksG-yja4qLjOkYk5jmgIvjqmc3ZSzoSbIP9I2ZN4SRIWeev7p6g-aTNG0Icsf9Rt894vK8kZWxPOw6LfvOufPxALx93GtCQ6t5vZwQ-K6S2z8orAYfQAjCSCR8T/s2400/sixteen%20miles%20out%20on%20unsplash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="light for today" border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="2400" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53ge2Lu2v-E_ithsn5iu5k5P2qsgpt5V7XubNVkfej1evnx_QaAJSuw6JSvnqAp6RGksG-yja4qLjOkYk5jmgIvjqmc3ZSzoSbIP9I2ZN4SRIWeev7p6g-aTNG0Icsf9Rt894vK8kZWxPOw6LfvOufPxALx93GtCQ6t5vZwQ-K6S2z8orAYfQAjCSCR8T/w640-h458/sixteen%20miles%20out%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="light for today - photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Two influences</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are two forces that push us in the direction of discontent. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. External</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Our culture is designed to make us discontented. Ads, media, and influencers are constantly reminding us that whatever we possess must be the latest and greatest. Our economy depends on us to keep up with changing fashions, cutting-edge technology, higher-end transportation, and the next must-see destination.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We're told that we're missing out on something better if we don't wear the current looks, follow the latest diet trend, experience the hottest entertainment, or dine at the newest destination restaurant.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Every time we focus on something we don't have, we lose sight of what we already possess and feel discontented. That mindset is exactly where retailers want us to be, because it primes us to buy what they're selling.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Internal</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">We can't blame all of our tendency toward discontent on outside forces. It seems to be our default pattern.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Psychologists call this tendency <i><b>hedonic adaptation</b></i>. It's in our nature to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes. In other words, regardless of what happens to us or what we acquire, we revert to the same level of happiness we had before the change occurred.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We see this when we buy a new car, house, or even a new outfit or handbag. At first, we're excited about driving, having people over, or simply wearing our new acquisition. We'll tell anyone who'll listen about the special features or what a great deal we got with our purchase. But all too soon, we adapt. The newness fades, and the item recedes into the background of all we own. We're neither more nor less happy than we were before. And so we repeat the process.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If we believe that we'll feel happier or more complete if we just buy or experience or achieve a certain thing, we'll always be disappointed eventually. We can never be permanently satisfied in this way.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As a result, we don't notice happiness. When we measure it according to those high points, they seem to last for such a short time. We focus more on our feelings of discontent, which makes us feel that we're not really happy most of the time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But we're not so much unhappy as <b>unappreciative</b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">How can we change that?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6 ways to increase appreciation</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Stop comparing.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTcpgYq6a0T13d0GXhIF5Lq_6vd6yfiKkgBfJq8aEaq7oxtlvQzgsM2uF1iBc8ap5EyI0mnh5V86gZd0TbumVId98FNrUiuX_nhc3lY5pyDWGBUtPyotbEjNWsw64ziox-DKbRQkLV8ZexGjBNUzeid-5o0ZjuCEIGDCdG6nfV5DCeIShY56BOFwR6_iA/s2341/jonathan%20kemper%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="sleigh ride" border="0" data-original-height="2341" data-original-width="1571" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTcpgYq6a0T13d0GXhIF5Lq_6vd6yfiKkgBfJq8aEaq7oxtlvQzgsM2uF1iBc8ap5EyI0mnh5V86gZd0TbumVId98FNrUiuX_nhc3lY5pyDWGBUtPyotbEjNWsw64ziox-DKbRQkLV8ZexGjBNUzeid-5o0ZjuCEIGDCdG6nfV5DCeIShY56BOFwR6_iA/w269-h400/jonathan%20kemper%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="sleight ride - photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash" width="269" /></a></div>This is a common human tendency that can be positive or negative. If comparing yourself to someone else is a source of inspiration that helps you to choose and work toward a goal, that could be a good thing. But all too often, comparisons lead to jealousy, cliquishness, and discontent.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Remember that what gets shared on social media is generally the highlights and successes of other's lives, and doesn't represent the whole picture. Everyone experiences challenge and failure, but you wouldn't know that by looking at what gets posted.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Focus on your own achievements and delights, and don't compare them with others'. Life isn't about being better than everyone else. It's about being the best <i><b>you</b></i> can be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Pay attention to what's good.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">When we're busy (and most of us are), it's easy to start operating on autopilot. We move through the day focused on our to-do lists, and lose sight of most everything else. That's how we can miss a beautiful sky, a delicate scent, or a small lovely sound. We stop smiling, and don't notice anyone else's smiles. We stop feeling, and don't notice the details around us.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2019/08/attention.html" target="_blank">Pay attention</a>, and you'll start to notice many small, enjoyable events that you usually ignore. They'll really brighten your day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Say it aloud.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">This idea comes from author Joshua Becker. He suggests that you do more than <i><b>think</b></i> about your blessings, but that you actually say, "You know what? I've got it pretty good." He writes:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">Every time I utter that sentence, I can't stop with those words. I feel compelled to say more – continuing the thought rolls naturally off the tongue. I begin to immediately list something I have that is good.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Satisfy; font-size: x-large;">It usually sounds something like this: "You know what? I've got it pretty good. I have a job that I enjoy. I have clothes on my back. I've got my health. I love my wife. I enjoy my kids...." And the list continues.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next time you're alone (or maybe with a friend), say it aloud. "You know what? I've got a good life."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Remember what you liked at first.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">No one's life is perfect. There is no perfect job, house, or marriage. And it's possible to make yourself miserable by focusing on the imperfections.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">But you can reverse that by turning back the clock in your mind. Think about what you initially loved about your job. Remember what initially impressed you and drew you toward your spouse. Remember what excited you about your house or apartment when you first moved in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Before you go down the path of complaining about what isn't perfect, remind yourself of what is good. For example, instead of thinking about how you'd like to change your spouse, focus on what he or she adds to your life. Maybe they don't clean up around the house, but are they the first to make you smile? Maybe they're not the most adventurous person, but are they sensible and reliable?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Apply the same principal to other situations:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>My car isn't fancy, but it's reliable and completely paid off.</li><li>My house isn't huge, but it's easy to keep neat and clean.</li><li>My kid isn't going to be a Rhodes scholar, but he/she is hard-working, funny, and kind.</li></ul><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's almost always something to like if you look hard enough.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>5. Stop thinking if/then.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI_UDupkVbylORK5ItsrU4J04V__J_bSCOJmOT-Nt6kGBRVaTJeOo3kg_csrHg4mzGt-J2ND1kpb2VsyeU_qo2m0o397n_5G9igV8W4CQhPXK3jYs3NCY5oENy82xH2N37tYeb4GKOZEDNgpWcqilwnTjSALWGASOQkpOIzOpQ9VQqOCQhpZ4wuhYpADX/s2252/nataliya%20melnychuk%20on%20unsplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="candlelight" border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="1689" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuI_UDupkVbylORK5ItsrU4J04V__J_bSCOJmOT-Nt6kGBRVaTJeOo3kg_csrHg4mzGt-J2ND1kpb2VsyeU_qo2m0o397n_5G9igV8W4CQhPXK3jYs3NCY5oENy82xH2N37tYeb4GKOZEDNgpWcqilwnTjSALWGASOQkpOIzOpQ9VQqOCQhpZ4wuhYpADX/w300-h400/nataliya%20melnychuk%20on%20unsplash.jpg" title="candlelight - photo by Nataliya Melnychuk on Unsplash" width="300" /></a></div>"If I can just get this promotion, then I'll be happy."</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have you ever said something like that? Once upon a time, I said, "If we can just get the loan approved on this house, we'll be set." Well, we got the loan, and then the 2008 economic downturn happened, and we struggled financially for the next four years, and finally sold the house at loss, simply happy to be done with it and have the opportunity to move on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm not saying you should have no goals or that you shouldn't work hard to be the best you can be. But if/then thinking is dangerous. It keeps us focused on an imaginary future and unable to appreciate what we have today. And when things don't work out (as they sometimes don't), if/then thinking can leave us feeling cheated and defeated.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If life can only be good if we change "x", it'll be hard to feel that life is good <i><b>today</b></i>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b>6. Find purpose every day.</b></p><div style="text-align: left;">Each day is a chance to find meaning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our culture can make us feel we have no worthwhile purpose if we don't become a star or an influencer, if we don't set records and win awards, or if we don't produce a paradigm-changing product or become incredibly rich. But a sense of purpose shouldn't be confined to how big and amazing we can be.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Think about the people who have made the most difference in your life. They weren't the rich and famous. They were the ones who cared about you, helped you, took care with their everyday tasks, and shared moments of fun and joy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can do the same. Whether you work effectively at your job, make someone smile, connect with your child, or create a comfortable, organized space, you add value to the world.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Being useful and kind will give us all the purpose we need for a happy life.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Related article: <a href="https://www.maximumgratitudeminimalstuff.com/2023/10/8-ways-to-make-any-day-better.html" target="_blank">8 Simple, Sure-Fire Ways to Make Any Day Better</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Karen Trefzgerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08860603569108130134noreply@blogger.com0