On Simplicity

When I asked about your definition of simplicity, many readers included the importance of having less, but enjoying more. When it comes to actually giving stuff up, though, it can be easier said than done. In that spirit, here are five ways you can make it easy to enjoy a life with less stuff.

Use what you do have. Go through your music collection and make a playlist of forgotten favorites. (I love doing this!) Pull a favorite book off the shelf and give it another read. Pull a passed-down antique out of the closet and give it a place of honor. Using and enjoying what you do have gives you a feeling of abundance that’s incredibly uplifting.

Keep a list of free and fun things to do. You could take a photographic walk, teach the dog a new trick, snuggle with a loved one, incite a family wrestling match, write bad rhyming poetry, take a nap, or dance to the radio. The more items you can dream up, the more fun you have at your fingertips.

Start seeing empty spaces as packed with freedom. Celebrate every empty shelf, bare wall, and exposed square foot of flooring as the ultimate victory. If freedom equals happiness (or at least a big component of it), then not having something just brings you closer to your personal nirvana.

Engage all five senses. Don’t just put on your shirt in the morning. Take a second to feel the weave, to take in the color, to smell the freshness (it is clean, isn’t it?). Okay, you don’t have to taste it, but you’re starting to get the idea. Same with your food. Don’t just eat it; savor the smells and sights of a delicious meal. By packing the mundane with meaning, we create a luxurious lifestyle out of nothing at all.

Make a list of the things you get in return when give things up. My list includes freedom, peacefulness, and room to think. Keep the list at the bottom of sock drawer and reference as needed. It’s a powerful reminder of exactly why I’m not filling my drawers with endless new things.

photo credit: apes_abroad

photo credit: DeaPeaJay

Let’s face it: 80 percent of being organized is simply having enough storage space. While newer homes and apartments have upgraded the amount of closet space available, most people don’t have multiple walk-in closets where they can stash their stuff.

If You Can’t Get Rid of It, Hide It

While it’s nice to think that we shouldn’t have more stuff than our closets can hold, it’s not always realistic. Due to a huge range of totally valid reasons, you may have a lot of stuff that you don’t want to get rid of, but don’t have a place for. The trick to keeping your home looking clean and calm is getting as much stuff as possible out of sight. It’s easy if you’ve got an extra room or closet. If you’re in an older home or an apartment, you can still get your stuff out of sight, you’ll just have to be more creative about it.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, just a few tricks that may work for you:

Under the Bed

Under-bed boxes are cheap and roomy. Available at places like K-Mart and Target, these cardboard wonders sell for just a few bucks. You can fill them with out of season clothing, old textbooks, rarely used memorabilia or mementos, blankets and linens, and just about anything. If they don’t fit under your bed, simply get a box cutter and go to work.

Pros: Cheap and roomy

Cons: Need a bedskirt to hide them, very un-feng shui (if you’re concerned with that)

Repurpose a Dresser

Dressers are a great way to stash stuff, since the drawers provide a built-in organizational system. Pick up some cool pieces at garage sales, from friends and family who are upgrading, or at Ikea or Target (anywhere, really). If a piece has good bones but a raging case of the uglies, try painting the exterior and changing the knobs or handles. With new knobs and paint, you can create a matching set. I’ve used my dad’s childhood dresser as an entertainment center (DVDs, CDs, video games, etc.) and it’s currently the default Repository of Crap for mail, keys, notes, chargers, etc and works very well.

Pros: Looks like real furniture (instead of a storage item), lots of room, easily organized

Cons: One more piece of furniture to port around, may take some work to actually be attractive

Attractive Boxes

Things look under control when they’re containerized. It’s a bit of an illusion, but it’s an illusion that works. You can make a room look less cluttered by putting any homeless items in a box, and then spraypainting, decoupaging, or wrapping that box. Whether it’s sitting on a shelf in a bookcase, stacked with other boxes as an impromptu coffee table, or simply piled in a corner, a box can hide a range of items. Hide CDs or DVDs, old love letters, spillover kitchen utensils, your old tax forms, or anything that needs a place. If you’re worried about losing track of items, place a label tag on the bottom or on the underside of the box lid.

Pros: Cheap, easily accessible, can also function as cheap decoration

Cons: Somewhat haphazard, can look like cheap decoration

Sneaky Coffee Tables

My mom’s house always look very neat and clean. Until you lift the skirt on the one of the coffee tables, that is. Who knows what you’ll find? Her DVD collection? An old fabric stash? Photo albums? If you’re really strapped for space, switch out your cool, minimalist coffee tables or bedside stands for a basic round card table and drape a throw over it. Everything underneath? Free storage space!

Pros: Cheap, easy to change as your tastes evolve, easy to access

Cons: A bit girly, easy to accidentally kick stuff underneath, not great for home with little ones or curious pets

Maximize Closet Space

Your best bet for hiding stuff is in the closet, and there’s almost always some wasted space built into closets. Whether it’s the square feet of floor space or the three feet over the hanging bar, look for empty space. Shelving options are pretty cheap, especially if you’re not trying to make your closet into a masterpiece. Cheap wire cubes (between $10 and $20) can give you both horizontal and vertical space, plus they help keep things compartmentalized. Use them for t-shirts, pajamas, shoeboxes, sweaters, or anything that’s sucking up space.

Another good place to check is in the garage and yard sections of department stores. The items you’ll find here are usually more affordable than products marketed as “closet solutions,” plus you get an industrial-chic look. Pick up bookcase-style metal racking for around $10 to score extra shelves for folded clothes or room for hobby materials. I’ve yet to run out of uses for a hand-me-down plastic shelving unit that has four shelves that break apart. If you’re really concerned about the ugly factor, use plastic spraypaint to add some style.

There are plenty of additional solutions, but these are all things that have worked for me. (And trust me, I crammed a lot of stuff into some small spaces!) So if you’ve got additional suggestions, please pack into the comments and add to the list!

photo credit: cursedthing

Okay, I know your first question: why would you want to do less? I’ll give you a few reasons:

• Less stress
• More time for fun
• Doing things better

Convinced? Alright then, let’s identify one of the biggest culprits: your to-do list. If your to-do list has become a repository of things you wish you would do, then that’s putting extra pressure on you. You wouldn’t be alone if you found yourself rundown and tired from constantly doing things, but feeling like a bum because you never get to the bottom of your list.

If you’re ready to do less and enjoy more, it’s probably time to declutter your to-do list. The following ideas have worked for me:

1. Cross off any big items that you wish you were going to do, but aren’t actively planning on doing anytime soon. This includes things like, “paint the house” or “finish writing novel.” If you really want to get it done, keep the first step on the list (”pick up paint swatches” or “outline chapter three”).
2. Cross off any items you feel like you should do, but don’t actually care about. For instance, items like “Organize photos in albums” will only make you feel guilty and unproductive. Of course, this doesn’t mean you get to nix stuff you need to do, but just don’t want to–like “Schedule doctor’s appointment,” or, “Breast self-exam.”
3. Limit your list the number of things you can realistically do in a day or two. Just because you include 20 items, that doesn’t mean you have time in your day to complete them. In the end, you’ll just feel busy and overworked.

That’s it! I know it’s not a long list, but these three steps can take you a long way toward a simplified to-do list. If you’ve got any other tips, please share them in the comments! Let me know what works for you–or what hasn’t, and I’ll put together a follow-up for a few weeks from now.

photo credit: Jun Kaneko

Feng shui, in its Westernized form, is the art of arranging rooms to maximize the flow of positive energy. Whether or not you practice feng shui as a hobby or a lifestyle (or not at all), there are quite a few good ideas that come out of this tradition. But what does feng shui have to say about clutter?

The Dangers of Clutter: Scarier Than You Think

First, clutter is a serious problem. We typically think the biggest problem with clutter is that we lose some time here and there looking for items. If you’re practicing feng shui, you’re more worried about clutter damaging your health, decimating your bank account, and making you tired and depressed. Since feng shui is about creating a positive flow of energy, clutter is seen as literally blocking that flow. In a cluttered room, your energy stagnates, your mood declines, and your focus dwindles. There’s no energy to bring in new ideas and inspiration. You’re essentially trapped.

What’s the Definition of Clutter?

So what constitutes clutter? You’re going to love this: anything you don’t use or love. This is a definition that allows us to let go of things that may be useful (someday) or that we feel obligated to keep. If you don’t use it or love it, chuck it. And if you love an item, it’s good for your home. So what if your favorite cozy blanket doesn’t match the decor? If you love it, it’s bringing you good vibes.

Other energy-sucking clutter zones include unfinished projects (I’m in trouble here…), unorganized areas, and a glut of items. Since each room only has space for so many items, there’s a cap to how many tchotchskes you can have before they start to strangle you. Plus, any items that aren’t in their proper places are also considered energy-blockers.

Unblocking the Chi: How to Clear out a Room

How do you clear it out? There’s no mystery here: get rid of stuff. Anything that you don’t love and value should be considered ripe for the “outta here” pile. Then, organize what’s left. Both visible and out-of-sight clutter count, so if you’re really trying to create a positive flow of energy, you’ll need to hit the closets and drawers in a space as well.

So does the feng shui definition of clutter resonate with you? Do the dangers of clutter seem realistic? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments!

photo credit: tomry11

Simplicity is about abundance and enjoying life’s rewards, but if we’re completely honest, it’s also about giving things up. Sometimes we give things up, only to regret it later. Most of the time, we hardly remember ever having them at all. This weekend, I want to hear from you. What are three things you’ve given up and never regretted?

Here’s mine:

1. Nail polish
2. Magazine subscriptions
3. The thought of changing my husband

So, let’s hear it! What have you given up in the name of simplicity? Leap into the comments and let us all know!

photo credit: Unhindered by Talent

Is your pantry bursting at the seams? Are your canned goods spawning? Time for a quick and dirty decluttering session! Remember, quick and dirty isn’t about getting it done perfectly, it’s about getting it done good enough for now. Here’s how I tackle the pantry when it gets unruly:

1. Scan for items you can’t remember purchasing and toss or donate them. Not sure when that can of creamed corn came into your life? Then there’s a big, fat chance it’s out of code. Either way, it’s time for it to go. Check the date and toss it if the expiration date has passed. If not, toss it in a food drive bag. You’re clearly not interested, so pass it on to someone who needs the food.
2. Seek and destroy container clutter. If you buy things in bulk, they’ll usually come in large boxes. By the time you’re halfway through the stash, the box is just taking up space. Empty the contents onto your shelves (if that makes more room) or a smaller container and chuck the Meta-Stuff.
3. Stick like items together. Sometimes clutter isn’t clutter, it’s just disorganization. Put breakfast items together, snacks together, drinks together, and so on. Plus, this is a good way to figure out what you need and what you have too much of. (I have, like, eight cake mixes but no tubs of frosting…)
4. Start eating! Okay, I’m not talking about stuffing yourself sick right this second, but there’s no point in beautifying your pantry if you’re not using the items you’ve already got. So start cooking with the things you’ve already got (that are now kind of in order) and you’ve found an automatic way to keep the clutter to a minimum in the future.

Woo-hoo! You’re done! If you’ve got any tips to add (or just a record-breaking out of code item), let it fly in the comments!

photo credit: Daveybot

You are more than your CD collection. There, I said it. I’ve officially pissed off every High Fidelity-loving, rare B-side collecting, “I loved them before they sold out” music junkie. It had to be said. I’ll say it one more time for the cheap seats: you are more than your CD collection.

Collecting can be a beautiful thing when it’s done with passion and deliberateness. And what could be better than surrounding yourself with music? It’s easily the most collectible form of art, it’s a known mood enhancer, and it’s fun to boot. So what’s the problem?

You’re Cooler Than the Latest Undiscovered Act

An impressive stack of discs in a posh bookcase is a poor stand-in for personality. That’s the problem. When we rely on our musical tastes to inform our friends and acquaintances about ourselves and our values, we do our personalities an extreme disservice. No matter how hip your tastes are or how authentic your collection is, you are far more interesting than a bootleg cut.

Displaying a CD collection for the sole purpose of having other people see it is a cop-out. It’s the equivalent of fishing for compliments with a flashing neon lure. The worst part is that it rarely works. People who aren’t passionate about music aren’t impressed and might even be intimidated. People who are music junkies will be intrigued, but probably feel the need to one-up you. By equating your personality to pop culture, you’ve either alienated people or made no impression whatsoever. In the end, the statement you’re making with a for-show collection is, “I’m really not that interesting, so I enjoy letting inanimate objects do the talking for me.”

True Confessions of a Music Junkie

From the true confessions file, I’m saying all of this from experience. Back in college, I lived with a roommate who loved to display her “stuff” as a way of showing off her personality. It probably wouldn’t have been an issue if a good 90 percent of the three-person townhouse hadn’t been plastered with her things. What was my method of fighting back? I bought a bookcase to show off my music collection.

Did it change my living situation at all? Nope. Did people like me any more than before? Nope. Were people instantly impressed? Not in the slightest. Because we’re all more than our music collections. You are your actions, your passions, your opinions, your relationships, and your insights.

If your music collection is out in plain sight purely for the benefit of others, consider putting it away, or at least somewhere more private. I can almost guarantee you that nothing in your life will change. People will still want to get to know you, you’ll still have awesome conversations about music, and if you’re truly a cool, interesting person, people will know it without the visual proof. Put away the stuff, and let the real you do the talking.

“What Not to Wear,” a TLC show dedicated to saving fashion victims from themselves, is a modern miracle. For a show that’s all about spending money, it rests on a philosophical base that’s not very far off from what simplicity groupies believe.

Wait for It, Wait for It…

The shows highlights one new (usually) woman each week who is nominated by her loved ones for her horrific wardrobe. Then our hosts, Stacy and Clinton, ambush the victim on camera and offer a $5,000 New York shopping spree in exchange for giving themselves up, “mind, body, and wardrobe.” The victim is then subjected to a range of torture methods, most of which end in being mocked by family, friends, and our genial hosts. Sounds awful, right?

Here’s the amazing thing. Each week, you see a person go from being insecure and image-conscious to confident and excited about life in a period of about three days. How do they do it? What Not to Wear does the same thing I would do: they force people to get rid of the crap in their lives.

Lessons in Simplicity from What Not to Wear

I’m not going to pretend that What Not to Wear is some kind quasi-Zen guide to life. It’s not. But the show’s intention is more admirable than you might think. Their ultimate goal each week is to make a woman’s life better by teaching her to be comfortable with herself. While designer clothes might not be the most ideal tool to do this, it works. Here’s what you can take from the show and apply to your own life:

Your personality does not rest in your clothes. There’s a part in the show where Stacy and Clinton go through the woman’s wardrobe and throw out the items that don’t flatter her. Usually, this leaves 98 percent of items in the trash can. The women freak out, cry, swear, and pick fights over the disputed items (including polyester ponchos and glitter boots). The most common battle cry is, “These clothes are who I am!” and, “But this piece shows off my fun/unique/quirky personality!” Their appeals fall on deaf ears and the offensive items are given away. And you know what? The women still manage to retain their personalities! It’s a miracle! Because the hosts know something these women don’t: personality has nothing to do with what you wear. Your personality lies in the way you carry yourself, live your life, and interact with others. The clothes are nothing but a crutch–a crutch that actually prevents a lot of people from noticing these women’s true personalities because they’re too distracted by exposed bellies and/or psychedelic colors.

To make room in your life for something new, you have to get rid of something old. The only way these women are able to move forward is because they’ve cleaned out the old remnants of their lives and dreams. Not only is there not physical space for two wardrobes, there’s not room in your mind. Trying to balance two versions of your dreams, your friends, and yourself is a recipe for disaster. Letting go of the old visions you have, along with most of the physical reminders (from old movie tickets to beat-up sweatshirts) gives you room to create new ideas and habits. You don’t have to let go of the memories or the lessons learned, just the life-stopping, deadening weight of the past.

Feeling good about yourself benefits everyone. Most women chosen for the show seem like genuinely good people. They have friends who adore them, bosses who value their work, and families that love them. They give all their energy to make these people happy, and leave very little for themselves. In fact, they seem to think that any attention or money they spend on themselves is wrong. But once these women are forced to treat themselves and let people take care of them, it’s fascinating to watch them blossom. When they’re reunited with their friends and family, the comments go something like this: “She’s just glowing,” “I love seeing her this happy,” and, “She’s so much more confident and in control.” The people who love you don’t want you to sacrifice everything for them. They want you to be happy and excited about life. Treating yourself now and then and taking time for yourself doesn’t have to be selfish. Sometimes it’s the best way to make sure your loved ones get to spend time with the best “you” possible.

It’s not what you buy that makes you happy, it’s what you let go of. As adorable as the women of What Not to Wear look in their new outfits, I don’t think it’s the clothes that really make them happy. My theory is that it’s the freedom they feel that makes them seem so light and carefree. They’ve been relieved of the burden of being who they think they have to be, something that was reinforced every day when they put on clothes that symbolized years of bad habits and low self-image. The feeling is almost tangible; they’ve realized that no matter how old they are or where they are in life, they have endless possibilities in front of them. If you want to feel better, you probably don’t need a $5,000 Visa debit card. You may just need to let go of the “stuff” that’s holding you back.