Road to minimalism

This is going to be a short blog post but I did deem it important enough to be a blog post! For me -my blog is such a good way to remember the things I’ve been learning throughout the year.

At the start of the year me and my mum started the mission of re doing her house and that started with the daunting task of clearing out each room. I wrote a small Instagram caption about how good it felt to give away of unnecessary items that we never used but kept because they were ‘pretty’ or we just ‘liked them’. 

At the beginning of lockdown I noticed I was filling up all my shopping baskets on my favourite websites out of pure boredom. I made one decently sized order and considering I wasn’t working it wasn’t a good choice. I also make a ton of excuses to buy things like “oh I need it for my Instagram video” Knowing I have a similar item that will do just as well but this new item would really make that difference. So I purchase and never use again. I’m also really guilty of impulse buying. Especially clothes! My sister once shared her golden shopping rule when it comes to clothes and that was can I make 3 outfits with it using the items I already have at home? I’ve noticed I’ve left shops with much less when I think this way. I find for myself I fall into the trap of ‘temporary happiness’ really easily. I fall into advertising really easily and beautiful minimalism has helped me to stop doing that.

Since that first online purchase I made I said to myself ‘I don’t NEED anything else’ and after I said it I really didn’t have the urge to buy anything, as if I spoke it into existence.

I tend to wear about 10% of my wardrobe mostly because I can’t be bothered to go through everything or I just forget I even have them and that’s a level of ungratefulness I would be happy to change.  

I then started up my Depop to sell items I don’t wear anymore. They may be beautiful but I’m just not putting them to use and I’ve held onto items of clothing for YEARS just because they’re pretty. Clearing out my space clears out my head. I’m starting to see all of my clothes putting them all to better use and my most favourite part about my road to minimalism is not buying new items often has given me a new appreciation for the items that I already own. Its so refreshing to walk into my room and notice all the little details I’ve chosen to surround myself with rather than over crowded shelves and wardrobes.  Not to mention selling my items and not buying more has been good on my savings.

The small acts of giving away, not throwing away and only buying when necessary has hopefully improved my carbon footprint too, even if just a little!

I use to get put down by extremist and feel like the little things I’m doing aren’t helpful at all but that’s not true and no one should feel like a small contribute to any cause isn’t helpful, because it is.