Eco-Friendly Tips on a Minimalist Journey
This is a guest feature by Maggi of CluelessCurl.com.
Congratulations! Kudos to you for taking this step. I'm on the journey as well and I shared it here. This journey is complex, but don't be discouraged. I would suggest writing down why you want to do it, so when you get frustrated you can look at why you started in the first place. Doing that will help you find and understand what matters most.
I have a few simple, eco-friendly tips I'd like to share. They have greatly helped me along the way. As always, everyone's journey is not the same. Again, find what's most important to you and go from there. Start small and you'll gradually see how far you've come.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- Don't throw those containers out yet! Why not reuse them to reduce your carbon footprint. They can make great storage containers or you can use them for something else. Here are some ideas to get you started. Be creative!
DIY- This is a favorite of mines. Learning how to do these projects will save you time and money. One such project that I'm most proud of is making my own skin care products. For years, I suffered from oily/acne prone skin and I wanted to do something about it. I spent hours researching valuable information online. I was sold and never looked at buying commercial products again.
I love diy-ing too. Watch my natural skin care recipes video here.
Groceries- This was a struggle for me when I started. I was the type that would just dump the groceries in the cart with no care in the world. Now, I still have a long way to go, but I've gotten better than before. Shopping with a list (I utilize the notes app on my phone instead of wasting paper) and buying fruits and veggies that are in season, have allowed me to try new recipes I would have given the side eye. I've also taken advantage of Meatless Monday and have some meatless dishes on my blog.
I love my meats, but it's the most expensive items when I go shopping. Also, I learned that everything doesn't need to be organic. If you can afford it fine, but for those who are on a budget like me, there are some fruits and veggies that don't need to be. Mangoes, avocados, eggplants, and onions are just a few you don't need to spend extra for. Their skin protects them from all the toxins.
Thrifting- I know I can't afford designer clothing but that doesn't mean I can't look like a million bucks. Shopping at second-hand stores is not to be overlooked. Some unique items are there waiting for you to discover. There's also the Really Really Free Market. I was introduced to the RRFM a few years ago and have been going when I can.
It's like an outdoor community garage sale, but here's the thing… you don't pay anything. No money, no barter, no trade. You see something you like, you better go for it before someone else does. That's what I did when I saw a like-new Ann Taylor blazer staring at me dead in my eye. SCORE! I've also brought some items I no longer want or need to the RRFM.
Good luck to you on your journey! Remember to keep it simple and research.
Maggi can be found blogging for the underdogs at CluelessCurl. A blog about her ups and down to an eco-friendly lifestyle. It's a mash-up of Health News, DIY's, Recipes, Natural Hair, and more. She also has a recurring Green Light feature where she highlighting women of color who are on the same journey.
P.S. Yours truly is featured in the Green Light series. Click here to read my interview.
What are some of your eco-friendly tips?
32 Ways Minimalism Has Impacted My Life
Just in case you needed a few more reasons to embrace minimalism and start your journey, I have compiled 32 ways minimalism has impacted my life. The ways are not in any particular order.
- Critical, discerning, analytical, and questioning- I look at everything differently now. I'm less likely to accept what's on the surface. In past situations, I was afraid to question things because I thought it would appear that I didn't understand.
- Conscious- I’m aware of myself, surroundings, and the impact I have on them. I have an increased personal, cultural, and environmental consciousness.
- Better writer- It's all about editing. I write shorter sentences, with less adjectives, and get to the point quicker.
- Organized- With less clutter, it’s easy for me to sort and find items.
- Style- By paring down my wardrobe, I was able to solidify and identify my style.
- Focused- I’ve reduced the multi-tasking and can better ignore distractions.
- Refined design skills- I can compose a web page, graphic, or piece of jewelry that matches my tastes.
- Courageous- I’m willing to do more things in spite of fear.
- Distinguish needs from wants- I could do this before, but I chose to rationalize the things I wanted. Learning to accept delayed gratification is also key here.
- Travel alone and efficiently- I've traveled alone with a reasonable budget and feel like I can go anywhere now.
- Learned to say no- There were certain people in my life that I felt guilty saying no to, but I realized I had to make a choice to do what's best for me and they would get over it.
- Learned to say yes- I welcome the things that I emphatically want.
- Creative- I’ve learned to make more from less.
- Clarify my goals- I can do this in general and in all areas of my life.
- Clarify my business message- I redesigned my website and found a topic that I'm passionate about.
- Reduced my possessions, recycle, and reduce impact on the environment.
- Charitable- I donate or giveaway my clutter to charitable organizations, friends and family. I also donate more to projects and causes I believe in.
- Spiritual- I meditate and pray more. I also more easily isolate the causes of my feelings and symptoms.
- Self-promotional- I’m less afraid to promote myself and my message. As Andrea Lewis says, "Social media is for self-promotion." We are promoting ourselves to connect with others.
- Productive- I know how to prioritize and focus on the essential tasks.
- Save time and simplify routines- See my simple mornings and simple evenings videos.
- Live on a limited income and budget appropriately- I’ve been working part-time in various jobs and pursuits for a couple of years now in addition to creating my businesses and I know how to stretch my money.
- Self-editing- Looking internally at thoughts, feelings and the words that come out of my mouth.
- Wrote my first book- Live Simply + Be Free Declutter workbook.
- Slow down and have more patience- I'm more present and embrace the moments.
- Connect to others- Both in person and virtually. It’s refreshing to find people who share your desires and values and to learn more about others in general.
- Accepting- Everyone has their own path and it’s not my place to have an opinion about it.
- Authentic- Not that I was fake before, but now I know myself better and can portray myself more accurately.
- Less worry- Many things and outcomes are not in my control. A way will always appear.
- More responsible and mature- I accept my involvement, actions, and roles.
- Less judgmental- We all judge. I just try to do it less these days and do more of #27.
- Outspoken- I found my voice and feel more comfortable sharing my opinion.
Plus two more.
Take risks- I've left jobs and overall reduced the hours I spend working for others, not afraid to make mistakes, and invest in myself through training and other ventures.
Confidence- Overall, I've grown significantly and feel secure in the person that I am today.
How has minimalism or simple living impacted you?
5 Things to Know Before Starting Your Minimalist Journey
Before you start anything, a job, an exercise, a relationship, it's best to have some idea of what you're getting into. Here are five important tips I wish I would've known before starting my minimalist journey.
1. Minimalism is different for everyone.
Be realistic with your goals and don’t feel like you need to adhere to any rules proposed by others.
As you seek to learn more about minimalism and simple living, you will come across a lot of information about how to start your minimalist journey.
There are ranges of minimalism from the tiny house enthusiasts to the luxurious minimalists, backpackers, extreme minimalists, and eco-minimalists.
You will also visit sites that encourage you to pare down to 100 items or give some other kind of standard for you to aspire to on your journey.
There is no right or wrong way to be a minimalist as long as you share the general philosophy that you're able to live with less and are conscious of what you add to your life.
You're only goal is to find the right amount of less for you.
2. Be prepared for a basket of emotions.
These emotions can include excitement, fear, guilt, resolve, and peace.
These days I mostly feel resolve that I've chosen the right lifestyle for me. I find peace in knowing that I use most of the things I own on a daily basis. Also, I can pack up and leave at any time with my backpack and suitcase.
Even still, there are some days, when I need to do a little fringe decluttering and I come across something I bought which I didn't need and probably could've used the money for something else.
You may feel excitement when you finally decide to embrace a simpler life, see the money you have saved, or revel in the new open spaces in your home.
You will also feel bouts of fear when it's time to let go of certain things and guilt about the money you wasted.
The good news is the negative emotions will eventually fade and peace will become the norm.
3. You may become addicted to purging.
Unfortunately, there is no Declutterers Anonymous, but you’ll survive.
Maybe I shouldn't call it an addiction. I will say that you'll be better able to spot clutter and become more efficient at cleaning and tidying.
Organizing will be a cinch and you will no longer look at these tasks as chores, but will approach them with determined energy.
In fact, you've actually just gained a superpower. Every time you walk into a room, your declutter vision will activate.
This also leads me to the next thing you should know.
4. You will want to help others declutter and encourage them to start their own minimalist journey.
As long as you do so with their permission and respect their choices, simple living could help you form and forge deeper bonds with others.
Resist the urge to tell people how they should be living and what they could do without.
I still struggle with this at times as some of my friends and family can attest, but I will say that any suggestions are given out of love and a desire to see them flourish.
I know the power of simple living and how it's impacted my life. (Sidenote: Whenever I talk about the benefits of minimalism I feel like I'm testifying or trying to convert someone to a religion.)
The main thing to remember is each of you are on your own journey. Help others as much as you can, but know the boundaries between advice and support.
5. You may just start out decluttering, but if you keep at it, it will become a lifestyle. You will look at other areas of your life differently.
Instead of limiting your decluttering to the new year and spring cleaning, how about making a life change.
A recent article in the Washington Post suggests you do just that and it's also the reason why I created the Live Simply + Be Free workbook. So you can declutter your whole life at any time and develop practices to sustain your simple life.
Naturally, as you start decluttering one area, you will wonder what else you can simplify. If you have a competitive spirit, you can turn becoming a minimalist into a lifelong sport with immeasurable rewards.
Hopefully, with these tips, you're more than ready to jump into your minimalist journey.