Decluttering and minimalism are en route to becoming a mainstream way of living. Much of this is because we are exhausted from life and we are seeking ways to implement simplicity into our lives. I don’t know about you, but man oh man, I am beat most days. Besides averaging over 150 work emails a day, I have my phone ringing too, and then my regular work tasks which need to be completed, all the while answering and advising on inquires from clients in addition to “fire fighting” when something goes sideways; all of this happening within a 7.5 hour day of work. I know some of my friends who live in larger cities such as Toronto are taking one hour commutes to and from work and then working ten hour days with a similar volume of work. When we get home if we have the energy to cook, we have to take time to make a meal and then do the dishes, do laundry, do ironing, pay bills, maybe go to the gym, and if we are lucky do something with our friends or a significant other.
When I think back to how my workplace operated less than a decade ago, it is baffling how much more we are doing with all of these advancements in technology. So many technical road blocks which once existed no longer exist, so with this new found efficiency, why is it that our work volumes feel like they have doubled? However, we are being asked to provide better customer service to our clients which includes faster turnaround times, and what normally would take a week to do, is now completed in one to two days. I am tired just thinking about it.
When we come home from work, the last thing we want to be doing is rifling through a drawer looking for the cork screw so we can pour a much needed glass of wine.
We don’t want to come home to an environment with clothing, trinkets and such strewn all over the place. We don’t want to be sorting through a mess of papers looking for an invoice or bill (however most of this can now be done electronically).
You want an environment of peace and serenity and simplicity, as we have enough craziness in our work lives. It is human nature to want order, and funny enough with all of this efficient, instantaneous results driven way of life, we are finding ourselves feeling pretty burnt out.
You go to sit down on a couch and you have to move five cushions to find a comfy spot to flop into. Your cupboards are bursting at the seams with mugs you don’t even like nor use, and there is a cross stitched pillow your Grandmother made which was passed onto your mother who decided to pass it onto you (thanks Ma…), and you keep these pillows kept in a closet as they are not your style.
You go in your closet searching for a box with a DVD you want to watch, which you don’t have anything to play it on, you are hit in the head with the cross stitched pillow!
Do you see where I am going with this??? Why on earth are we keeping this clutter in our lives? Why am I keeping this clutter in my life? It makes me frustrated, angry and stressed.
Marie Kondo author of “Spark Joy” says we shouldn’t keep anything which doesn’t “spark joy”. I have written about this before, but I found the Konmari process to be too aggressive, although apparently it works, I would require a solid week off devoted to decluttering if I were to follow her guidelines. I don’t want to spend a week touching every item I own and seeing if it “sparks joy”. So, I am going to try and be rid of some more stuff, to hopefully open up a bit more space and maybe make a few dollars on some choice items I can sell, otherwise there are many in need.
I dream of an apartment with clean counters, dust free floors, one bottle of perfume on my vanity instead of five, owing one teapot and a cupboard full of my favorite mugs. I need simplicity, I want to make less choices at home and I want to own less stuff. I am tired of dealing with materials taking up space which I have to move around or put in a box wishing it would go away. I am just going to get rid of it all.
I am boxing this wee pile up tonight to give away…
Have you tried Marie Kondo’s “Konmari” method? How did it work for you? Does anyone have any tips on how you have simplified your life so it is more peaceful? I would love to hear your suggestions and thoughts!
Her books are a great source for inspiration. I would also recommend the free podcast “Budget & Cents” by bloggers Cait Flanders & Carrie Smith; there is a great podcast on minimalism.
Peace & Love – Rachel
You Know Jacques! 