Tag Archives: minimalism

The Two Week Declutter

Decluttering and ultimately living “a small life” has been the catalyst for changing and improving my entire life.⁠
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Decluttering was the first step to:⁠
✔️Saving $30,000 for the downpayment on my small house.⁠
✔️Quitting my soul-sucking job and opening up my own business.⁠
✔️Traveling to places I had only seen on TV.⁠
✔️Reducing my carbon footprint and my reliance on “stuff” to make me happy.⁠
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To teach other’s the first step to living a happier life, I’ve just opened the Two Week Declutter Email Course. For each day for 14 days, you’ll receive an email from me with a decluttering task. These tasks will range from decluttering your wardrobe and kitchen to decluttering your obligations and mind. ⁠
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There’s no forum, nowhere to login and no complicated B.S. This is designed to be a simple email course, so you can focus on the important work of decluttering your home.⁠
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For the next week, I’m offering the course at the introductory rate of $27. That’s less than the price of a Target impulse-buy. I’m offering it at this price against the advice of a business coach because I understand what it’s like to not have much money, but still need help from a professional. After the next week, I’ll be raising the price.⁠
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If you’re ready to commit to change, click here. If you’re hesitating or have questions, feel free to send me an email or ask in the comments below and I’ll get right back to ya!

Let’s make 2020 our happiest year yet!
Melanie

Gifts for Minimalists

gifts-for-minimalistsIt’s that time again. The time of year when you have no idea what to get the minimalist in your life. I’ve done a lot of holiday gift challenges in the past. I’ve tried spending just $100 on gifts. I’ve tried handmaking everything. I’ve lost my damn mind. Just kidding. Kind of.

But my gift challenges were to create or purchase gifts for other people. Most people in my life are not minimalists and that’s OK. And I have a lot of lovely people in my life who want to get me a gift in exchange. I know as a minimalist I can be hard to shop for. I don’t like a lot of stuff. And I’m very particular about what “stuff” I bring into my life. Here’s some gift ideas for the minimalists you know and love. Continue reading →

Make Do and Mend: Key Lanyard

Make Do and Mend- Key LanyardLately I’ve been making a conscious effort to buy less and do the best I can with what I have. I’m sure I don’t buy as much as the average person and I do consider myself quite the minimalist, but it’s still really easy for me to think I don’t have any groceries, when I have plenty of cans in my cabinet or think I have no clothes to wear when I really just need to do the laundry. In an effort to keep up my accomplishments, I want to start a new series on the blog cleverly titled: Make Do and Mend. (Inspired by the ever inspiring series, With What You Have.)

Made Do and Mend- lanyardI recently started a new job at work. I’ll no longer be working the night shift and it’s much closer to my house. (Horray!) I’ve only been at this new position for a few weeks, but I’ve noticed that I use keys much more than I had previously. Hence, the need for a lanyard. I wanted something I could wear around my neck for convenience, but I ask wanted something fashionable– as fashionable as a lanyard could be. My first instinct told me to start looking around on Amazon. I was instantly met with 5,000 lanyard options. But I don’t need all those options. All I need is an old necklace and a forgotten key ring. Make do and mend.

How are you making do and mending? I love to hear from you.

love,
melanie

40 Fast Ways To Clear Clutter

Fast Ways to Clear Clutter
We’re all #busy and sometimes cleaning is the last thing on our minds. I get it. But when we have less things, there’s less to clean. That’s why it’s important to periodically weed clutter from our lives. Taking the time to clear clutter can be time consuming, but if we do just a little bit each day, we’ll have less stuff in no time. Here’s 40 fast ways I’ve found to clear clutter.

  1. Use Unroll me to get clean up your inbox.
  2. Challenge yourself to get rid of one thing per day for a week.
  3. Challenge yourself to get rid of one thing everyday for a month.
  4. Send yourself a daily reminder email or alarm to declutter just one area of your house.
  5. Get rid of something as soon as you wake up in the morning.
  6. Don’t let yourself go to sleep without getting rid of something.
  7. Set a no-buy day. Don’t allow yourself to buy anything on Mondays.
  8. Before you bring anything new into the house, get rid of something old.
  9. Before every birthday or gift-giving holiday, donate something.
  10. Ask for experience gifts, like massages or movie theater gift cards for birthdays and holidays.
  11. Have a “no gifts” policy.
  12. Challenge everyone in your house to get rid of three things.
  13. Go digital! Start scanning old pictures and documents.
  14. Get rid of duplicates in one room or area of your home.
  15. Set a timer for 5 minutes, challenge yourself to get rid of as many things as possible.
  16. Cut cable– it clutters up your mind!
  17. Fill one trash bag with junk to be thrown away.
  18. Fill one trash bag with things to be donated.
  19. Clear off your kitchen counter.
  20. Clean out one drawer.
  21. Begin placing what you wear to one side of the closet, after 30 days clear out the things you haven’t worn.
  22. Put five things in their place.
  23. Straighten your bathroom while brushing your teeth.
  24. Clear your desk at the end of each day.
  25. Get rid of previous issues of magazines.
  26. Throw away expired foods.
  27. Throw away expired medicines.
  28. Go through your mail and throw the junk mail in the recycle bin.
  29. Sort through your sock drawer, throw away your holey socks.
  30. Label your spice drawer.
  31. Donate something you haven’t used in a year.
  32. Get rid of something from the most cluttered place in your home.
  33. Clean out your pantry.
  34. Make a meal with rarely used pantry items.
  35. Donate something you’ve been meaning to donate.
  36. Put the donation bag in your car so you don’t forget about it!
  37. Get rid of one “someday” or “just in case” item.
  38. The next time you “need” something, challenge yourself to make do with something you already own.
  39. Put a note in your wallet to remind you not to make unnecessary purchases.
  40. Make a gratitude list before your next shopping trip. You’ll be reminded that the best things in life aren’t things.

What are your favorite fast ways to clear clutter? Talk to me in the comments!

9 Ways to Reduce the Stress of Technology

Ways to reduce the stress of technologyI feel like I have the physical stuff part of minimalism down pat. Give me clutter and I can conquer it! But the mental part, that part for me is much harder. I constantly want to fill my day with emails and websites and checking Instagram and Pinteresting ALL THE THINGS! Those things add little value to my life. Those things only add stress. To live a simpler, happier life, I need to let some technology go. Maybe one day, I’ll let all the technology go, but for now, here’s some ways to reduce the stress of technology. Continue reading →

A Small Life Book Club: Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life

minimalism

This month I read Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life. I “read” this book via audiobook. That may have colored my review. In this case, I enjoyed the reader’s voice. It was authoritative, yet personal– like a good chat with a long-time friend.

The first part of this book shared Josh and Ryan’s journey to minimalism. While I found that part relatable and quasi-interesting, I enjoyed the second part of the book much more. The second part of the book describes the five dimensions of living a meaningful life: health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution.

I must admit, I have an easy time with the “stuff” aspect of minimalism. I love throwing stuff away. And I love a clean, sparse space. The “stuff” that I hold onto is mostly mental stuff. I get really caught up in the day-to-day junk that doesn’t add value to my life. This book helped me to reflect on what’s truly important and a little more difficult– the mental part of minimalism.

I did enjoy this book. It was a quick, worthwhile read, but I did have a few bones to pick. I think an issue with much of minimalism writing is that it is written by people who once made a great deal of money. The authors do admit they were once in debt, but they also had six figure incomes. Once you start exchanging unimportant large expenses for smaller ones, like a mortgage on a large house for rent in an inexpensive apartment, you’ll be able to cut expenses incredibly quickly. With a six figure income, you’ll get out of debt quickly and you’ll be able to save quickly. For most people, it’s not so easy. I wanted strategies for sustaining minimalism. What do I do when minimalism gets really hard? It often does. How do I contribute to my health, relationships, passion, growth and contribution when I have little time for myself? Not everyone can quit their full-time jobs. I want to hear from those single moms who found minimalism!

Maybe I need to write the answer. Maybe “Minimalism for busy people” will be my next book? 🙂

Have you read Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life? What strategies do you have for sustaining your minimalist lifestyle? Let me know in the comments.

love,
melanie

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A Small Life Book Club: August’s Pick

minimalism

August’s pick for the book club is Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life.* It’s by the guys who write TheMinimalist.com so I’m pretty excited about it. I think it’ll be a lighter read than the last book. 🙂 God willing, we’ll be discussing it in just a couple weeks on August 3rd. So download your copy today!

love,
melanie

*Affiliate link

Tuesday Thoughts: Man’s Heart Away From Nature Becomes Hard

man's heart away from nature becomes hard

“Man’s heart away from nature becomes hard.” -Standing Bear

One of the unexpected benefits of living in our Airstream has been getting closer to nature. I’m so much more aware of the seasons than I was when we lived in an apartment. I can now head into my backyard and see the beans growing or the field barren. I hear the rain on the roof and I  can feel the hot sun through our windows.

I used to think I wasn’t an outside person. There’s bugs and creatures and humidity out there! But there’s also a softness and quietness about living closer to nature. Nature is the ultimate minimalist.

love,
melanie

Tuesday Thoughts: Be Thankful for What You Have

Be thankful for what you have

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you’ll never have enough.”

Yes, queen!

Happy Tuesday!

love,
melanie

 

Tuesday Thoughts: Nature Does Not Hurry

Nature does not hurry

Mother nature doesn’t hurry, but she gets shit done.

Here’s hoping your Tuesday is full of unhurried productiveness!

love,
melanie