The Beauty of Simplicity
It’s 6:30 in the morning, and I’m wrapped in a cozy sweater, feeling the coolness of an early October morning. The sun is coming up over the mountains in the distance, and I can hear the gurgling waters of the creek nearby. Sitting here with my first cup of coffee, I take in the stillness and beauty of the early morning.
Before I check my email and review my to-do list, I take this time to sit in silence, breathe, and listen to my heart. I think about how I’ve simplified my life in the last few years and how it’s created more room for clarity, connection, and creativity. I believe that simplifying your life will enhance your well-being, not only physically but mentally. Simply put, simplifying your life will change your life.
You may find that embracing simplicity will work its way into your heart and psyche, opening up space and leaving you room to breathe. Simplifying will create less efforting in your work and in your relationships, and you may find a deeper sense of inner peace. We all want more time and space in our everyday lives, more peace and happiness. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: having purpose in our lives, joy in our hearts, and a deep connection to ourselves and others.
The Necessity of Adaptation
When we were all asked to shelter in place last year, we had to adapt to the situation and change the way we work and live. After realizing it was going to be more than a few weeks and the reality of COVID-19 hit hard, many of us felt the need to organize and rearrange our living and work spaces. It seemed necessary for our sanity.
We were all forced to adapt to a new way of living and working from home. If I can add a bit of optimism in these difficult times, and not to minimize the loss and suffering many people have endured, I would say one of the positive things that has come out of the pandemic is the necessity to reexamine our lives.
Simplifying for Clarity and Calm
I want to share with you the ways I’ve simplified my life, how releasing items I decided I no longer needed cleared up so much space, both physically and mentally. Let me just state that I’ve never been a collector of things – you’ll never see me on an episode of “Hoarders.” But I did move earlier this year, twice in a time frame of two months, so I was inspired to pare down more than ever.
Here are some ideas for you to clear out space. I hope this motivates you to organize and simplify your life, and therefore feel the tremendous benefits from it.
Create a Capsule Wardrobe
A capsule wardrobe is a limited selection of interchangeable clothing pieces that complement each other. These are often classic pieces that do not go out of style and are primarily composed of neutral colors. A capsule wardrobe allows you to create a variety of different outfits with a small selection of clothes. It feels amazing to open up your closet to see a well-organized and clutter-free space.
As many of us are now working from home at least part of the time, there are probably a lot of clothes and shoes you just don’t wear anymore. Donate your clothes to homeless shelters, schools, churches, and textile recycling centers. When you buy something new, purchase from eco-conscious companies that are making organic, fair-trade clothing with eco-friendly manufacturing processes. The clothing industry is a large contributor to the climate crisis, so being mindful of your purchases is crucial.
Cut Down on Paper
Get rid of paper in your life – most everything is digital now. Opt-in for paperless bills, and keep your notes and to-do lists on an app like Milanote or Evernote. This cuts down on paper in your home and keeps all your notes organized and in one place. You’ll know exactly where to find them. And here’s a great resource to finally stop that constant stream of junk mail that invades your mailbox on a daily basis.
Curate Your Book Collection
Keep your favorites and donate the rest. Here is a helpful guide from Becoming Minimalist with twenty places to donate used books. I donated some of my books and only kept the books that I know I will go back to – mostly non-fiction, art, poetry, mindfulness, and spirituality. I now have a nicely curated collection that I can display on my bookshelves.
Organize Your Photographs
This is a tough one that I haven’t quite mastered yet. There was a time in the olden days before we all stored photos on our phones when we actually printed out pictures. I have a few photo albums I will probably always keep because I took the time to curate and put them together. But what do I do with my boxes of random photos? Do I ever go into that box? No. There’s the option to digitize the ones you want to keep, but this poses another problem – these photos are probably not recyclable due to the chemicals coated on the paper.
Declutter Your Kitchen Pantry
Nothing feels better than to have a well-organized cupboard. We tend to accumulate so many cups, dishes, pots, and pans over the years, half of which we don’t use and are just taking up space. Make some room in your pantry and donate your unwanted dishes. Your old cups, plates, bowls, and silverware can make a big difference in the lives of America’s veterans and their families. You can schedule a pick-up from the good people at Pickup Please.
Manage Your Media Intake
We all struggle with this one on a daily basis. I don’t watch the news anymore – I don’t have cable, and in my new location, I cannot get a signal for regular TV. This is a blessing in disguise. It has given me more time in the early morning hours to have a more meditative morning routine before I start my workday. I know where to find the news when I want to – the New York Times online, for example.
Having the news constantly in the background, in my humble opinion, is seriously harmful to your psyche. Like most of us, I am continuously checking Instagram, and I am aware of it most of the time. I am making an effort to only use it for my business and only follow people who are putting out good things in the world. You can simplify your feed by cutting out the negativity.
The Rewards of Minimalist Living
In conclusion, when your surroundings are clean and uncluttered, your heart will feel light, and your head will feel clear. Silence and inner peace are always there; they’re always within you. When you have that space and stillness, you tend to find the clarity and wisdom within yourself, as opposed to seeking the answers outside yourself. You’re the answer to your question, and that, my friends, is the ultimate form of calm and confidence.
As you can see, simplifying your life can have a profound impact on your mental and emotional well-being. By embracing minimalism and mindfulness, you can create a harmonious living environment that nourishes your soul and fosters a more peaceful, purposeful lifestyle.
If you’re ready to explore how eco-friendly, nature-inspired furniture can enhance your mindful living journey, be sure to visit Unfinished Furniture. Their selection of sustainably sourced, handcrafted pieces can help you bring the beauty of nature into your interior spaces, cultivating a sense of balance and tranquility in your home.
