A happy new year and welcome to the first entry of 2020! Let’s face it everyone is having resolutions, so are we. As a baby in minimalism, I know that I still have a lot to learn on this journey. I have taken an interest in this lifestyle from late 2018 and although I have decluttered a solid 50% of my physical belongings during 2019, I know for a fact that I still keep things and issues more than I need. As the new decade just commenced, I want to have a plan and take it farther as a minimalism adapter. If you have taken an interest in reading this and the idea of minimalism resonates with you, thank you! Here are my 7 resolutions in the realm of minimalism. I hope you can take something with you and that this makes sense to you the way it does to me.
1. Only Own One Of Rule
Avoiding duplicates. I am still working on this. Seeing my pens, notebooks, journals, shoes, the list can go longer. I still hoard them for the reason that I can’t just throw them away. I need to do something about it. We don’t need that many pens and shoes unless we use each of them every day which is way far from possible.
2. Invest in Quality over Quantity
To name a few: tackling tasks, clothing, relationships. From day 1 at school, I was taught to multi-task and put my eggs in multiple baskets but I absolutely don’t have to if I don’t need to. What I want to do is prioritize, keep the things that will last longer, and have anything that I’ll get sufficient use out of. The rest is just clutter.
3. No Buy Challenge
Setting a goal not to spend money for a day, a week or even months. Say, for example, bringing packed lunch at work or fight the aching desire to eat out because I’m too tired to prepare a meal at home. Commit to no shopping for a month or 3, or just being intentional about the things I want to bring in my space.
4. Say No
This one I struggled for as long as I can remember and honestly, I still do. I will feel bad if I say no like 80% of the time so I ended up saying yes anyway, which can be destructive sometimes to my health, my values and my goals. I will make it a goal for 2020 to be comfortable saying no to things that don’t make me feel good, don’t benefit me and don’t serve a purpose.
5. Create a Routine
Routine is a good kickoff start in forming a habit. On my day off is when I re-visit my to-do list for the entire week/month and tackle my calendar for appointments and deadlines. I will try to schedule my work-related meetings and whatnot at work. Basically, all things related to my fulltime job will be done during workdays and personal matters will be done at home during days off. I want to focus on work and not be distracted with personal issues and the same thing goes if I have a rest day. I also have started to schedule to water my plants (very important) so I don’t mess up the days’ intervals and eventually kill my plants. I do flip with these routines sometimes especially when I am too tired but I will make it happen, master them, and eventually able to do it by default.
6. Limit Plastic Use
Okay, you don’t need to go blown-out zero waste but at least make an effort to minimize it. I am so pleased I have cut down my plastic use to 50% if not more for the entire 2019. This as well doesn’t mean you have to discard all your plastic belongings and change to glass containers or other sustainable alternatives. That again defeats the idea of having plastic as waste. Continue using them until their last life and try not to acquire additional plastics. If I’m needing for a certain thing to buy and its wrap in plastic I would look for an alternative, whether it’s in a glass container or I buy it in bulk and popped out my reusable bags. I can only count with my fingers the amount of time I have been in a coffee shop and had single-use cups for the whole 2019 and I always have a stainless steel fork in my bag that comes in handy for whenever my colleagues and I eat out after work. If you can’t avoid ordering food out at least refuse to have the plastic cutlery and condiments then use your utensils at home. If you buy a single item in a shop, ditch the plastic bag and pop it in your handbag or just hold it as it is. I always do that, it doesn’t hurt. Although sometimes it’s hard to try to go grocery shopping without plastic at all, this 2020 we’ll try harder.
7. Simplify Food
The first point is to go back to basics. Fresh produce and less processed food. I know that ready to go food comes with convenience because I actually do but it’s not healthy in the long run. Not healthy for your body, your wallet, and the environment. Opt for simple food that is nutrient-dense and ditch junk food. Vegetables are doable and you don’t have to make it too complicated with all the seasonings and grillings. I don’t go crazy with them because I think its unnecessary, but if you do then, by all means, you do you no judgment just make it simple with your own definition of simplicity. About minimalism with food, it doesn’t mean you have to eat less at all. It means we should only eat what our body needs with a bit of sustainability. For 2020 let’s make it a mission to keep it simple and only consume healthier food.
Life is too short to do things we don’t need and don’t serve a purpose. Focus your energy on people, things, and experiences that matter and make you happy. Now is the time to drop everything that is not working for you because you glow differently when you’re doing better.
Let’s make 2020 simple!
Love,
Jinky xx
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