Living Life: Sustainably

Hello again! As a quick recap, please refer back to the first two parts of my three-part series: Mindfulness and Minimalism. This last bit is putting it all together in a way that works for you and your family in the long haul. It's not a diet or a fad, it's a lifestyle change!

According to Wikipedia, "Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resources and personal resources."

I've been a "tree hugger" for as long as I can remember. When I was around 10 to 12 years old I made homemade pins to pass out and attempted to organize my neighborhood kids to pick up trash along the ditches of my country road. Each year for Earth Day I make a New Year resolution--yes, one that I actually follow through with! 

To give some ideas, these are things I've done in the past: 

• Bought a clothesline 
• Transitioned to only using cloth grocery bags
• Stopped buying paper products and requested cloth napkins for Christmas

I don't think we can reverse the current climate change but at least you can prepare for the upcoming ice age, right? Haha! The point is to change your habits permanently and create new, better, SUSTAINABLE habits that will save you money and help reduce your carbon footprint.

Here are my suggestions:

• Totally eliminate all disposable plastic (i.e. grocery bags, ziplock baggies, eating utensils, straws, etc.) For ideas for alternate food storage options (including glass or stainless steel straws, I never would have thought of that!) check out this website.

• Totally eliminate all disposable paper goods (i.e. napkins, paper towels, etc.) The one issue I have with this is cleaning up animal messes, but you get used to it. I suppose the same would go for cloth diapers, but I don't have any kids so no personal experience with those (yet).

• On that note, if you REALLY want to reuse, I have friends who swear by reusable menstrual pads or cups (although I haven't taken it to this level myself just yet). Check out diva cups or glad rags for more information.

• Totally eliminate shopping at the mall. Purchase from local shops, handmade items (like on Etsy), or used and thrift items. I haven't purchased off the rack clothing since a pair of jean shorts cost me $40--that was my final straw about two or three years ago!
  
• Reduce your gas and electric usage: 
• ALWAYS unplug EVERYTHING! (Microwave, washer/dryer...sometimes we even unplug our refrigerator overnight as it's the loudest monster you've ever heard in your life and we can't sleep.) 
• Better yet, don't even use your dryer, except maybe in the winter (unless you're hard core), and hang clothes outside on a line or inside on a drying rack. I have one that looks like this.

• Be aware of the every day products that add chemicals to your body (and waste, pollution, etc.). We recently switched to all natural and organic hygiene products, including soap, make up, deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste, etc. 
• I'm OBSESSED with Dr. Bronner's Castile soaps (can also be used for laundry, shampoo and toothpaste--I've never tried it for my teeth). I highly recommend the lavender scent, it will change your life!

• Finally, become a one car household. Although this is extreme, we have been doing it since May 2011 and we are still married! There are lots of things to consider and it is often very challenging to balance the schedule, BUT now that I'm used to it, I do enjoy the quality time together and even though we now have the money available, I'm in no particular rush to purchase a second (used) vehicle.
• There are a LOT of blogs talking about this rising money-saving choice. Money Saving Mom blog reports they saved $1,500 per year. 
• Even if you have two vehicles, increase the time you spend on foot (exercise is always a good thing), carpooling or taking public transport.

Amanda Masters is a pediatric occupational therapist, tree hugger and hippy-in-training.

Living Life: Minimally

Okay, welcome back. Or rather, thank you for reading my first blog! I gather that if you are reading this, perhaps you tried to add mindfulness into your daily routine over the past days or weeks? Mindfulness and meditation is very challenging for me--I'm a sensory seeker--I talk or sing to myself and my cats if left alone without entertainment devices. If you're like me, you may find minimalism has more immediate gratification.

What is MINIMALISM?

Eliminating excess. Celebrating a simple life. Enjoying what you have here, now, today instead of constantly seeking more of what you don't have. Eliminating  the "I want..." for material goods. Becoming a very selective consumer.

The idea of minimalism is largely in contrast to the "American dream" and other first-world cultures (always seeking MORE consumerism, materialism, technology updates, etc.). My husband frequently reminds me to be aware of what is "normal" for third-world countries (think amounts and varieties of food, clean water, housing, hygiene, clothing, transportation differences, etc.). Wow--what an opportunity to practice gratitude!

Remember this is a journey--becoming minimalist can be taken to an extreme: "just one" of everything (think 90% of the global population) or delve into this lifestyle more slowly using "just 10" as a starting point.

HOW to begin?

1. Make a list of your 10 essentials--this can go by room or consider all of your possessions depending on the level of excess you own. I decided to go through each room as part of the process.
2. Decide your limit--I chose "just 10" of everything (10 short sleeves, 10 long sleeves, 10 pants, etc.) There are many blogs about becoming minimalist to guide you--one woman used 40 hangers to encompass her entire wardrobe, others keep much less. I really like the 40 hanger idea...but I have too much stuff, so that will be an ongoing goal. Remember--this is a LIFE change--it doesn't happen overnight!
3. Choose a room to start--I chose my bedroom, so this will be my example.
4. Pull EVERYTHING out. YES. Throw it all on your floor/bed. This includes ALL your summer/winter/athletic gear, belts, purses, SHOES, accessories! I purged by category using my limit of "just 10". (I did bend the rule for work clothes as I have an embroidered uniform.)
5. TRY ON--this is where you may need a buddy. I was shocked at how many clothing or shoe items I haven't worn in nearly a decade, but... "maybe I need it for ____." Trust me, you do NOT need it! This is where QUALITY comes into play. If you have multiples of one item choose your one favorite and purge the rest. If you have multiple items and you don't like or wear any of them, (for example, I discovered five little black dresses, including three from high school!) purge ALL and buy a nice one you actually want WHEN the occasion presents itself.
6. CONSIDER: what items do you really truly NEED (vs. want) to save for an emotional or sentimental reason. Lessons include: You DON'T need to keep those fat pants "just in case they fit again", you DON'T need to keep those work clothes from your previous job if they are no longer relevant to your present career goals or needs. 
7. Divide into two piles: Keep. Donate. (Notice: there is not a third "sell" pile, see below for an explanation as to why.)
8. Repeat the process with next room. Consult your spouse/roommate as needed.
9. Have fun giving your possessions to those in need (younger siblings, homeless shelter, Goodwill or Salvation Army) while simultaneously reaping the benefit of a cleaner, organized streamlined room and life. It's a win/win! 

   NOTE: Keep your receipts from donations for tax purposes. Make sure you count the number of items donated for this receipt.

10. Feel joy, love, peace and gratitude with what you have and what you no longer need cluttering your life!

WARNING! Do NOT try to sell your stuff. I tried this by taking four large white trash bags of clothing to Plato's Closet and ALL of it was denied except ONE pair of jeans. They gave me $7. Not only was this experience a bit embarrassing but also a waste of time and energy. I learned a valuable lesson: this process is about MINDFULNESS and GIVING to others, NOT about earning some cash!

A good rule of thumb with Christmas on it's way is if you receive (or purchase) one new item you then GIVE two items away.

Want to learn MORE?

www.becomingminimalist.com
"The potential of minimalism lies in what you choose to pursue with your life in place of material possessions. Choose contentment. Pursue gratitude and generosity. Invest in relationships, grow spiritually, discover truth, and find purpose."

mnmlist.com
"The more I focus on living, the less it seems I need."

Amanda Masters is a pediatric occupational therapist, meditation student and strives for minimalism.