Almost two years ago, I needed to make a change. I was exhausted. I wasn’t functioning or coping well. Every week, by Friday I was too exhausted to accomplish anything, let alone meal plan or clean. My house was a mess. There were always SO MANY DIRTY DISHES. I didn’t want to do anything, go anywhere, or see anyone. I spent a lot of time watching Netflix while surfing Pinterest from my iphone. Through this I was introduced to minimalism by accident. In the Marie Kondo craze of organizing, Pinterest exploded with pins and how to’s. At first I scoffed, but then I started to take everything in. This could be the answer! Then The Minimalists started a podcast. That’s what really got me in gear. I wanted to be a minimalist.
The photos I saw on interest, the blog posts and books I read, and the podcasts I heard all give me the same feeling of connection to this idea. This is what I need, this will help me distress, and clean less, and have more money and time to do things I enjoy. It will keep me out of target, and TjMaxx, and Goodwill, and the Anthropologie sale section that I can’t afford anyway.. I’ll have less shit all over my house. I’ll be less messy. I won’t have clothes all over my bedroom because I’ll actually like the clothes I own.
So in January 2016, I jumped both feet first into this journey. I read “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and listen to the Minimalist Podcast. I pinned lists from the internet and read “how to” blogs. I did the most important thing I could do; I started. I purged a lot of things. From all of these sources, I heard one thing, do what works best for you. What’s best for me is definitely not taking every piece of clothing I own and dumping it on my bedroom floor. They’d never get picked up.. Asking if a period stained panties, “sparks joy” seems ridiculous to me. I mean I need underwear. No, those don’t spark joy, but neither does going commando.
Some parts of this minimalism thing, just didn’t work for me. When Marie Kondo told me to get rid of my books, I threw hers across the room. So there! One book down! In the end, I did end up getting rid of a few books. Ones I didn’t like, didn’t finish, or were never going to read. Most of my books are still here and I continually add to them. I have yet to deal with a lot of my sentimental clutter. I own three Christmas trees, enough ornaments to fill them, and enough baking supplies to run a commercial kitchen. This is what works for me.
I started to focus on myself (in the way only a self indulgent millennial can). What makes me stressed, what makes me calm, what makes me have a great day. I became more self-aware. Once right after entering a store, I realized I was getting very overwhelmed and stressed. I asked my self, “why am I doing this?” I realized I didn’t have a great reason, so I turned around and left. If running non-essential errands is going to ruin my mood for the day, I just shouldn’t do it. Who really needs lamps shades any way. I attempted to bullet journal. I looked at my priorities and focused on them.
Last year I traveled more than I have in the last four years. I spent quality time with the people I love, I went on a weekend solo trip, I spent a week with my mama, I saw all my favorite tiny humans, I got outside, and ended the year in Europe with my best friend. I channeled my treasure hunting skills into an Etsy business. I started to become more intentional with my time and money.
It’s been a lot of trial and error. There have been long stretches when I’ve not been focused on maintaining this thought process. I didn’t get rid of everything I own, or even half of it. I don’t have a picture perfect minimalist apartment. I own more than one spatula and three {gasp} cookie sheets. There are stacks of books on the floor, and random stacks of paper on the kitchen counter. I am still working on this journey and I think I always will be. So this is where you find me. Starting year three of a giant mind shift and lifestyle change. Assessing everything around me, and trying to be more intentional in all aspects of my life. Welcome to the chaos. I hope that reading about my journey can help you with yours.