The year of Less

As January is well advanced already, I realize that I missed many of my appointments with you.

Starting with the 2019 review, which turned into a decade review (coming soon), finding my “word of the year” (for which I still have three very strong contenders), and planning ahead (and I have a brand new tool I can’t wait to share with you). Needless to say, I have been a tiny bit overwhelmed by all the wonderful things that are happening. And my response to that is one word: minimalistic.

When things start going all over the place, there’s only one thing to do: pause and reduce. That’s why, before even getting into exciting new projects (and pictures of my trip to New Zealand and Myanmar), I wanted to share how I’m starting this journey toward minimalism.

It has been on my mind for a while now, I started the process of decluttering in 2019, but without taking it very far. This time, I looked for help and I started polling both my friends (some of whom are much more advanced than me in this process) and the almighty internet. And I found some good stuff along the way.

Minimalistic Living 101

Where to start is often a big question. I know I need a form of road map. I found mine in Courtney Carvers’ (the creator of the Project 333 challenge) blog and this little nugget of direction: 7 Tiny Steps for the Beginner Minimalist.

It starts with Write it down… Check… I feel so accomplished already!

I’m probably going to need a bit of accountability, so I might give you updates on my progress here and there.

So now, the question is Why… Why do I want to become a minimalist? Well, first of all, I don’t like labels, so let’s say I want to “live a more minimalistic lifestyle”.

Minimalism takes many forms and whether you’re clearing things from your closet, your calendar, or your commitments, your body will thank you.
~Allison Fallon, 10 Benefits of Minimalism

Good reasons to move to Less are often a dime a dozen: clarity of mind, better health, less stress, more time… who wouldn’t want that. Of course, I’ll take it. But deeper than that, I want to go back to the root: being Untied.

This is not just about people or location, but it can be about objects too. And that’s what really matters to me: objects do not dictate how I should live my life (says the girl who just splurged on a fancy connected watch that tells her when she doesn’t move enough). Objects are just that: objects. They are here to serve a purpose (like telling me when I don’t move enough), why get attached? What if the fancy watch breaks or gets stolen? Is my life over because I don’t have anyone to tell me that yes, definitely, I don’t move enough?

Living a minimalistic lifestyle is part of the DNA of many location independant people. As Charlotte F. puts it: “I love being able to move around without ever feeling like I’m not home. I have only been traveling with the essentials for over a year, and turns out, it’s enough!“

What do we need to feel “home”? Is it about the objects? I’m not so sure.

So, off we go, on the road to minimalism. Next stop: Duplicate town! (My make-up bag is already hiding in fear…)

The long way home

Understanding why you’re taking that first step gives you the leverage you need to keep going.
~Joshua Fields Millburn, The Benefits of Minimalism

Here’s my pledge: I don’t own much, but that might already be too much. From one day to the next, I’m not going to stop buying hair ties and pick them in the street like my friend Julie P. does. But I’m going to start being more intentional about what I’m purchasing, what I’m saying yes to and what I’m bringing back home.

Call it a New Year resolution if you want. Although it’s something that has been brewing for several months now and that it just happen that I’m facing it in January.

“Simple” is one of the theme-words I’ve been toying with for 2020. It would certainly fit very well with this new endeavor.

Photo by Ev