The Power of Decluttering

Imagine a life…

nearly devoid of the unnecessary.

We wake up in our bedroom that has only the things which contribute to our experience. Without clutter.

We head to the bathroom and find it rather tidy, only having the stuff we need. It makes it simple. And it makes it especially calming for the morning.

Instead of a bunch of space being taken up for things like our box of cotton swabs or boxes of tissues, we have minimalist, compact, reusable versions like LastSwab or LastTissue. Or maybe you don't use either of those things, and that's completely fine!

Not only is our bathroom free of clutter, but it is also free of waste. This starts our morning aligned with our values which will help keep our actions aligned throughout the day. 

We get dressed and find our closet to be filled only with clothing that is quality made and fits very well. And most importantly, we enjoy everything in it. In a way, this makes deciding what to wear harder since it is all so great. But it makes it even easier because we can simply just “feel” what is right for the day.

We head to the kitchen, where we may have some junky options to eat and drink, but for the most part we have food and drinks that will contribute to our overall health. Our kitchen is also free of clutter. Thus contributing to a more zero waste experience.

We head to work in a way that we enjoy, not what society tells us to do. This could look like biking, walking, bus, train, or maybe even driving! But what’s important is we have gotten rid of the unnecessary forms of transportation in our lives.

We have stopped searching for physical goods to fill our voids that can only be filled by meaningful experiences and connection. Because of this, we are spending way less money. We have paid off debt and begun to even start saving. Plus, we don’t have to work as much because we are living more within our means!

We have more free time to love. More free time to play. To spend with friends and family. Or to build something we are passionate about.

And maybe it isn’t all about free time, but also priorities. We begin to prioritize experiences over stuff. We prioritize connections and love over the appearance of success or possession of things. 

We have time to travel. And we travel light. This way we don’t get bogged down by our things. Instead we only have things that contribute to those experiences or simply allow us to fully enjoy them.

How having less things affects other areas of our lives

In the pursuit of a clutter free life we may just arrive at a more clutter free mind. Not free of stress, but certainly less of the unhealthy kind. Not free of sadness, but certainly more fulfilled knowing we are contributing and living our most authentic lives.

The journey of minimalism usually begins with getting rid of the things that no longer bring value to our lives. But as we begin to question what things don’t add value, we begin to also question other parts of our lives that aren’t as material. 

We begin to question which actions are in line with our values. We also begin to think about the things we do day to day and whether or not those things help our lives.

Asking questions is hard, but worth while

We’ve talked about why LastObject and minimalism are like two peas in a pod. But really that applies to zero waste in general. This is because when we go zero waste we are beginning to ask questions: questions about the environment and our footprint. As well as questions about what actions (in regards to the planet) are in line with our values.

These questions lead to more struggle at first, because sometimes it’s easier to not ask the questions. But is it healthier? Is ignorance actually bliss? And if we know something is wrong for us but choose to not think about it, is that actually ignorance or just fake ignorance?

Fake ignorance couldn't be bliss, right?

At some point, the struggles of change and asking questions give way to a beautiful feeling of authenticity and fulfillment. We stop, take a breath, and enjoy this moment. But then we look for the next thing to improve on. Because it is a minimalist journey, not a race or a pursuit.

There is no finish line or trophy. And that’s beautiful in it’s own way.