The four best decisions I ever made thanks to minimalism
My minimalist journey started over five years ago now and writing this book has whisked me right back to the beginning.
I’m 28,000 words into writing and I’ve been spending a lot of time with my past self as a result. Reconnecting with who I was back when I set out to create a simpler more intentional life for myself has been an eye opening experience.
I had no idea what this new life I wanted for myself even looked like, only a strong desire and a bucket full of curiosity. Fast forward to now and I’m a completely different person because of the path I’ve chosen and decisions I made. This is true of all of us no matter what our lifestyle is but I wanted to share the four best decision I ever made thanks to choosing a simpler slower lifestyle. These are the decisions that are still benefitting me today and the ones I’m most grateful I made.
Simplifying my finances
I still can’t believe I paid off over £15,000 of debt and my student loan all thanks to taking a more minimalist approach to money. Getting to the bottom of what was fuelling my out of control spending habits and then taking steps to alter them truly changed my life. Shopping became a completely different experiences as the focus shifted from wants to needs and things that added value to my life in some way. Our financial situations can change at the drop of a hat but I wouldn’t have the same sense of security I feel now if I’d carried on the way I was instead of being more mindful and intentional when it comes to money.
Letting go of toxic friendships
I used to think my time and energy for other people was unlimited. It isn’t. We only have so much time and energy to give other people and spending it on a higher quantity of people reduces the quality we’re able to give. This begs the question, who are we giving our time and energy to and who is suffering as a result? Focusing the time and energy we do have on those who give back as much we give to them can be an incredibly difficult mindset to shift to but the day I decided people could only take from me what I was willing to give was the beginning of deeper more beautiful relationships with those who really matter. I know these relationships wouldn’t be what they are today unless I’d taken that leap and built those boundaries.
Creating my capsule wardrobe
My relationship with my body has always been a troubled one. Learning how to dress for the body I’ve got, what my personal style even is and how to create a slower more sustainable wardrobe still serves me every single morning when it comes to getting dressed - even in lockdown loungewear. I used to think I had to be fashionable to feel stylish but now I know that true style transcends all fashion and time. A good quality capsule wardrobe has saved me so much time, space and money that I’ve been able to spend on other things instead of being trapped on the consumerism hamster wheel.
Decluttering my life
I come from a long line of hoarders. I inherited a deep love of stuff and thought a house wasn’t a home unless it was messy or full of things. Learning how to declutter properly showed me how important it is to surround ourselves with the right things and what a positive impact this can have on both our physical and metal wellbeing. I never realised how much dead weight I’d been suffocating my home (and life) with until I got rid of everything I didn’t want to clean, insure, store or maintain. Decuttering is a skill for life we can’t unlearn. I wish they taught it in schools.
My deadline is looming and the book is set to be published in January 2022 but in the meantime my ebooks are always available. They cover all of these topics and are designed to hold your hand through the simplifying process while guiding you to uncover your version of a simpler more intentional life.
