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Bit of a disclaimer for you here, as I will be talking about some books.
If you would also like a copy of any of these books, there will be affiliate links in this post to buy them from.
I only endorse items that I have read, bought or used myself and using these links will cost you no extra money – but may potentially make me a little, so thanks in advance
The Plan
One of the major parts of my ‘Main plan’ is having a massive declutter. This is being fought on a number of fronts. If you have yet to see any of my pieces on the subject head on over to the ‘Home I want’ menu and check out the dropdowns.
I have done a few pieces on why you should declutter, how to get started with that decluttering, why it’s a good idea to do it on your own AND where to put it all once you are done.
If you have read yesterdays post, you will also now know what to definitely not send to the charity shop! (And that is all of my past post plugging for today, I promise…maybe!) But you shouldn’t just take my word for it; there are plenty of great reads to get you in the mood for tidying.
It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that a person who intends to totally clear their home knows that reading about tidying and minimising is almost as good as actually doing it. Or something like that.
A good place to start
One of the first books I read on the subject of minimalism, was by a pair of friends who are conveniently known as ‘The Minimalists’.
While I have only read their first book ‘Everything that remains’, I did get to listen to them discuss the story behind the book when I saw them in Waterstones back in 2014.
The book starts with Joshua’s disillusionment with corporate life and his realisation that there was more to life than the rat-race. This idea was confirmed on the death of his mother when he was forced to empty her home and he took stock of all of the possessions that she had clung to over the years.
The book is more of a ‘why-to’ minimise than a ‘how-to’, but it is a great starting place for any would-be minimalist. If you prefer watching rather than reading there is also a 2016 Netflix documentary all about dangers of compulsory consumption, as well as a few TED talks.
To the extreme
I have mentioned Fumio Sasaki in previous posts – particularly here – and I am well aware that his extreme version of minimalism isn’t for everyone. A single man, based in a tiny Tokyo apartment, Sasaki is a prime example of why the simple lifestyle is easier for some groups. His life is not one I could emulate with 4 kids and a house with 25 years worth of tat to declutter!
His book ‘Goodbye, Things‘ does contain a helpful list of 55 suggestions though. One idea that particularly resonates with me is that of forgetting about ‘getting your money’s worth’; how many times have you kept hold of something you don’t need, or won’t use purely because you spent a lot of money on it?
Sometimes you just have to admit you made a mistake buying it, or accept that it will never fit you and move on!
Much of Sasaki’s philosophy is cultural, rooted as it is in ideas from Zen Buddhism and the acceptance of life’s ephemeral transience, and as such many may find his take a little extreme. But the book – Goodbye Things, is still worth a read anyway.
Lust for lists
I may have mentioned this once or twice before, but I have a thing for lists. That’s why I jumped on Dominique Loreau’s book ‘L’art de la liste’, particularly after enjoying one of her other books ‘l’art de la simplicité’.
This first book looks at embracing the simple life, by encouraging the reader to live with less. Her philosophy, however, isn’t one of denial. Rather she suggests that if you have less in terms of possessions, you can invest in better quality versions of the things you chose to keep.
So, less clothes, but better-made ones, for example.
In her book about lists, she expands on her ideas and offers suggestions not only on the cathartic power of writing things down but also how lists can help you become super organised. Of course, the best kind of list is a Bucket List, even if I do say so myself!
The art of tidying
At the risk of being hyper-Hipster, I was into Marie Kondo long before her Netflix series, and the whole ‘declutter’ movement kicked off. In fact, here is me in 2016 waxing lyrical with the Konmari love. While everyone has no doubt read her book ‘The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying’, it is one of her other books ‘Sparks Joy’ that actually contains all of the tips and ideas you need for tidying you home.
Much like all of the other books I have mentioned though, there is an assumption that your home is at a certain acceptable level of tidiness before you start on any of the courses suggested. This is why I am writing one of my own.
Have you ever read one of those money-saving sites that offer such sage advice as ‘buy the cheaper brand products’ or ‘cancel your gym membership’?
Have you thought to yourself what gym? I can’t afford a gym!? And we already buy the cheapest food the shop has! Well, that is how I feel when I read books on minimalism or watch programmes about it. The homes they show are already in pretty good condition, just a bit cluttered.
I, on the other hand, have a full 25 years worth of junk, coupled with 4 kids and a very tiny house. It is almost as if I have to do a foundation stage before getting to the level where I can incorporate all of the ideas I have picked up from the books above.
But I am sure its nothing a few skips, and a metric ton of rubbish bags won’t sort. Perhaps I will go do a bit of tidying now… perhaps
Over to you
Have you considered minimising your belongings and embracing a simpler life? What could you happily give up? What would definitely have to stay?