#Minimalism means giving up everything you own. April fool’s! While the concept does include letting the things that don’t bring value to your life go, minimalism is really about giving yourself more time, space and freedom, Simple Lionheart Life says. You can still have a collection or hobby as long as it brings joy and satisfaction into your life — if you love and use books, for example, keep lots of books! But the #minimalist lifestyle goes beyond simply #decluttering your #stuff and can help you focus on relationships, diet, spending patterns and more.
Tag: donating
Shopping for Christmas … From Your Screens
The novel #coronavirus has upended life as we know it. Even the holidays haven’t been spared, with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommending that more than 330 million Americans reconsider their Thanksgiving travel plans to stop the spread.
Generally speaking, the fewer people you come into close contact with, the better. And with Christmas, Hannukah and other celebrations due up, CDC lists “Going shopping in crowded stores just before, on or after Thanksgiving” as a high-risk activity.
Since it rarely requires interpersonal interaction, online shipping is low-risk. It has been growing apace with the internet for more than 25 years, and it is now set to eclipse all other channels for holiday gift-giving during the pandemic.
Retailers are ready to provide home delivery and contactless pickup if you’re willing to offer a credit card number. The deals aren’t bad, either; many outlets are offering loss leaders just to get you through their online storefronts.
Sitting in front of a screen trying to source great gifts can be tedious — there’s just no way to browse as fast as you might in a physical setting. That’s where online gift guides can help: They can point you in the direction of good gifts for anyone on your list.
Stuck for ideas? Just Google “gifts” and few keywords of the things and activities your giftee likes, and you’ll soon have a page of links to lists suggesting products with click-throughs to online stores ready to take your money.
Whatever they like — be it tech, gaming, music, movies, pets, exercise, cooking — there’s a gift guide for it. At the Organizing Blog, we like to give gifts that don’t add to clutter, meaning they are immediately useful or take up little space. Gourmet foodstuffs, a subscription to a streaming service, or a charitable donation are good options.
To help fund valuable veterans programs during a particularly stressful and often isolating holiday season, consider donating your extra stuff to ClothingDonations.org or making a direct donation of money or a vehicle to VVA.org. The veterans appreciate the help. Now get shopping!
Keep Only the Essentials When Decluttering
“A bag a day keeps the clutter away,” according to the Inspired Room blog. Author Melissa Michaels’ 12-month plan offers a systematic method of ridding your home of unwanted stuff. “Only keep what you actually use or need,” she says. “Be ruthless and focused on the end goal: a clutter-free home and the peace that will come with knowing where everything is.” Call ClothingDonations.org for a pickup every month, and your home can be clutter-free in no time.
Small Closets, Big Opportunity!
Don’t let your small closet keep you from staying organized. Wire rack shelves are great, inexpensive ways to keep your closets in check. Simply attach them to the wall inside your closets, and put your sweaters, shoes, or T-shirts on them. This will help you maximize closet space.
Suitcases Aren’t Just for Vacation!
If you are storing suitcases in your bedroom closet, don’t let that space go to waste. Consider storing clothing items in them. Whether they’re things you wear a lot, or they’re pieces you wear on occasion, using your suitcase to store clothing or accessories in small spaces is a great idea!