Simplifying life can feel like a process. A process feels like the opposite of simplifying. Instead of overwhelming yourself with the idea of perfection, start slowly. Start by seeing where life is sticky for you. Where life is mysteriously sucking up your time.
I have read (listened to) every Minimalism and Decluttering book you can think of. If I have come across it, I have downloaded it on Audible. Over the last year and a half, those books have helped me make even the tiniest changes that have simplified our lives regularly.
1| Whole Foods Delivery.
Go ahead and roll your eyes at the level of bougie. Whole Food Delivery is not actually a million dollars. I thought it was going to be for sure. Surprise to me… It’s cheaper.
It’s cheaper in multiple ways.
As a Prime member, I get extra discounts; I can see if each item is on sale. If there’s something”trending” in the area, it usually means it’s in season or on sale. I don’t pick up random stuff. I can stay on budget by seeing the total as I go. And I can easily “put things back” before checking out. I wish we had done this when we had newborns at home.
I save on drive time and gas. I save my sanity. AND Whole Foods specifically doesn’t up-sell you on items. You tip a few bucks and call it a day. It’s a win for everyone involved.
By discovering the delivery system, I am no longer running around like a crazy person with two toddlers in 35 degrees, healthy food is always in the house, and I’m not stretching myself thin. I don’t order EVERYTHING from Whole Foods. I usually stick to Ripple, fruits (they are so much better there), and veggies.
2| An Auto-Off Coffee Pot.
Hi. I’m Candace. I used to leave the coffee pot on by accident ALL the time. It drove my husband insane. I just don’t have the capacity to remember it sometimes. Something as simple as a $19.99 12-cup coffee pot that turns off after four hours is so helpful. It sounds too simple to list. I’m telling you it’s fantastic. Find a tiny thing you always bicker over and Google a solution. It might be a $30 fix.
Minimalism Book List
The Hair Tool That Changed Everything
3| Cutting My Hair Short.
I have had long hair for a long, long time. One day, I decided to just cut it off. Ok, have someone else cut it off. Since then, I have had to wash my hair less. It dries so quickly. The styling time is much lower. It’s all-around easier. A good haircut is worth every penny. If you are looking at your week and realizing how much time you spend brushing and blow-drying your hair, maybe it’s time?
4| Downsizing My Wardrobe.
Decision Fatigue is real. For you. For me. For kids. For Steve Jobs. Having too many options all the time takes up unnecessary space in our minds. For me, clearing out what I don’t use helps me get ready fast and easy. I didn’t go down to 33 things, but I have really cleared out what works for me. If clearing out isn’t your MO, think of laying out outfits on Sunday for the week ahead.
I used this decluttering/simplification process for my makeup as well. I have pinpointed the 5ish items I use every morning to get ready. I can now get ready for the day in minutes, but I cleared out the drawer and realized what works.
5|Donate/Resell Bins
I mentioned in my Where to Sell/Donate post that I regularly donate and send items to eBay or ThredUp, but to dive into that, I’m going to batch it. How does that work?
I keep a cute bin upstairs and a cardboard box in the garage. As I get dressed and notice an item no longer works for me, or the littlest kid has outgrown those jeans, I put them in the bin. When the bin fills up, I order a paid shipping label from ThredUp.
Before I send the items to ThredUp, I will see if there is anything I want to list on eBay or Poshmark first. Items like an unopened beauty product, a lovely dress can be listed. If they don’t sell in 2 weeks, they go. The cardboard box in the garage is for bigger items, toys, or household items. Changing out knobs – the old knobs go in a ziplock bag and into the cardboard box. That box will be taken to the Habitat for Humanity Restore when it’s full.
Batching this task keeps my house decluttered and takes the load off my brain that “I should go through stuff”. Decluttering isn’t taking me hours at a time because I’m just adding to bins as I go. It’s all in one place, and I can deal with that. It also gives me a little time in case I actually do still want that sweater.
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