the joy of less

the joy of less a minimalist living guide by francine joy aka @missminimalist This is not your average minimalisit book 30 chapters 286 pages (with the conclusion) But it IS something I could see my family members reading... ...who wouldn't typical read an e-book on minimalism Francine targets 4 key areas Philosophy aka why minimalism matters Steamline Room by Room Lifestyle aka her process to minimalize aka applying the process aka taking minimalism outside the walls of your home Our stuff can be broken into 3 categories Useful stuff Beautiful stuff Emotional stuff Anything you use often, which truly adds value to your life is WELCOME in a minimalist life However... most of us have a lot of POTENTIALLY useful stuff that never gets used We are not our stuff Our stuff doesn't define us It's what we DO -- NOT what we own that's far more... Less stuff = less stress We stress over not having stuff We stress over how to aquire stuff We stress over how to keep our stuff in good condition We stress over how to fix it We stress over replacing our stuff with the latest & greatest stuff (rinse and repeat) OR Realize that: Less stuff = more freedom! When we're no longer chained to our stuff... We can connect with others and have greater participation in our communities Illuminating and who wouldn't enjoy that? Start over Trash, Treasure or Transfer? Have a reason for each item Everything in it's place Clear all surfaces Make use of modules Set limits If something comes in, something else must go out Narrow it down Everyday maintenance Clean out the entire room/space Start from scratch Decide what items you want to keep, rather than what to toss Make three piles: TRASH (throw away/recycle) TREASURE (items you'll keep) TRANSFER (donate to Goodwill or someone who will USE it) Decluttering is far easier when you're deciding what should be kept... vs. What should be thrown out Examine each item in your treasure box There must be a legitimate reason for keeping everything TIP: Invite your spouse to hear your reasons if you're uncertain Talking through your reasons to someone else may make holding on to an item much less logical A place for everything, And everything in it's place If you can't find a REASONABLE place for an item -- chances are you don't need it Surfaces are not for storage Floors Countertops Coffee tables Imagine them being slippery vs. Sticky Don't let them become places of storage Keep items grouped together in modules (small containers) Art supplies DVDs CDs Toys Computers Etc. Only bring out the modules when you need them When you're finished, pack everything up and put the modules back in their place Limit your stuff to pre-defined areas If you can't fit all the toys in the toy box -- it's time to get rid of some If you can't fit all your books on your bookshelf -- it's time to get rid of some If you can't fit all your tools in your toolbox -- it's time to get rid of some If you can't fit all your wrapping paper/gift bags in your one box -- it's time to get rid of some When your stuff overflows it's boundaries... Don't expand your boundaries... Simply weed out the stuff you're less likely to use. Only keep your favorite items. Our level of stuff only goes down when you stop pouring more stuff in When something new comes in Something old must go out Figure out what you need... And then get rid of the rest This will be different for everyone & every family Think Rational Minimalism (Joshua Becker www.becomingminimalist.com) This will vary depending on your family, your interests, your passions Once you've gone through the process... Maintain it. It's not a one-time process. It requires daily mainteance. Like your diet when losing weight.