Very timely post. One thing has been running through my mind lately, conquering the fear of trying new things. Specifically, starting an online business. Sometimes the new things work out, (building a tree house from salvaged lumber), sometimes they don't, (selling collectibles, writing a blog). Sometimes it's an education process, (gardening, canning, quilt making, woodworking). No one is born an expert, everyone starts somewhere. Even my grandmom, (who was awesome), had to learn how to cook. What is the worse case scenario? Can I afford the cost?, then plow in.
Whatever works for you, as long as you pull the 10 Things every day and put them some place that they don't accidentally get reabsorbed into your clutter.
I have several tote bags in that are for the post office, the used bookstore, the homeless shelter, etc...I put things into the tote bags and then drop the stuff off at its final destination, when I'm running other errands in the area. I DO NOT get to count the items until they are officially out of my possession, but I'm not generally running all over kingdom come every day.
The other thing about this practice is that it has made me really learn about the free/barter economy in my immediate neighborhood. I started a "Trading Post" in my neighborhood on the stairs to what is now a vacant lot. I drop things that are still useful, but wouldn't sell at a thrift store, off at the stairs. My neighbors have started doing the same thing. I walk past the stairs every day and have never seen anything last more than 24 hours. It works like a neighborhood "FREE" box.
I also use the freecycle, reusit network, and free stuff on craigslist for bigger items. People pick up the stuff from my front porch, which saves me time. I also recommend joining forces with a friend or two. I rarely have to drop off donations to my local school, as I can usually get a student to pick up the stuff on way to school as they walk or drive past my house. This is a good community builder because it forces me to interact with my neighbors.
Finally, I get rid of a lot of things via my local charities. I've asked my local battered women's shelter, Boys & Girls club, grade schools, etc...what they need. When I come across something on the charity list in my house, I put it into my daily tote bag, so I remember to drop the item off when I'm walking around my neighborhood.
As you can probably tell, I do a lot of walking in the process of getting rid of things. However, this has allowed me to get rid of my gym membership, so that's an unexpected perk of this practice.
You were correct. I didn't know that Skype could do all these things. The one that could come in handiest for me is the desktop sharing. I have used WebEx and other services paid for by my company to do this, but I have not been able to share desktops with family and friends.
While I agree with most of the suggestions, the lawn suggestion is the worst idea EVER! Obviously, you have never HAD a lawn and just "left the clippings" or you would know that over time, (and it doesn't take more than a few years) your lawn area becomes HIGHER and HIGHER and eventually is taller than the SIDEWALK or CONCRETE patio that it's next to...and then it looks really lame. REALLY LAME.
This is what happened with our regular tract home lawn. If you want to compost those clippings and use them for fertilizer in the plant/shrub area of your yard...that is a good idea. But don't just let the clippings drop or you will have a huge mound of grass (instead of a flat lawn) and it will be expen$ive to get it back to normal.
God bless you for this article. we nearly rushed to the clinic with my husbands stomach ache until I read your article and tried the charcoal. it worked like magic and he is deeply sleeping and not in pain again.
KAYAKING!! Walking, hiking, being outside. Anything that has to do with not being inside after a very looonnng winter. We live in a beautiful area, so I can't wait for all the snow to finish melting! (Yes, we still have snow!)
These are all great! I never use the sleep tracker on my FitBit wristband, but I do wear my wristband 24/7. FitBit is not as accurate as my free phone apps, but it does enforce good habits. I am incentivized to do my errands on foot, especially since I know that I'm using as many calories as I would at the gym...without the gym membership or the time out of my schedule to exercise at the gym.
I applaud your minimalism! My brain definitely works better when I have less visual noise. I recently worked overseas for three months, and all my possessions had to fit into one laptop bag. It was amazing how much free time I had because I didn't have to waste time taking care of material things. You don't really realize how much time is spent taking care of possessions until you don't have them. But, downsizing to even 1000 things is a frightening prospect for most people. Americans have been taught that minimalism=deprivation. Imagine how impossible 100 Things Challenges sound to the average person who has more than 100 things just in their bathroom drawers.
A great book to read on the subject of American consumerism is LIFE AT HOME IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, which is based on a 9 year study by UCLA anthropologists who studied 32 American homes like they were on archeological digs. They discovered that the average, middle-class, American family home contains 250,000 items!
Americans are super consumers. For example, Americans have 3.1% of the child population of the world, but buy 40% of the toys. We've all been taught to buy in bulk to save money, but we haven't been given a plan to get rid of all the things we acquire.
I also use the "1 in, 1 out rule," which is a great maintenance tool. Thanks for your insightful comment.
Thanks for this article. I'm not sure I could drive somewhere every day to drop off 10 things, but I could certainly get them together and perhaps make one trip a week on the weekend.
I did my downsizing ala Dave Bruno, the 100 Thing Challenge. Thus, I can no longer get rid of 10 items a day. I don't run a business out of my home and I have ceased purchasing everything that catches my eyes. The less I purchase, the less chance of my space becoming overcrowded with stuff. Good post for people who have not pared out the useless items in their lives. Speaking of downsizing . . . I bought a new pair of jeans and two new tees. Now I have to select an old pair of pants and two tops to drop off at the used clothing center. The "1 thing in 1 thing out" rule also helps me stay on track.
I love how versitile Skype is and the XBox One video connect is definitely a feature worth trying if you havn't already. I use it to stay in touch with my sister who lives on the coast.
I so agree with you Carrie. The flip side of the "we may need it someday" argument is this question to ask yourself when deciding whether to get rid of something: "If I didn't have this, would I go out today to buy it?" If the answer is no, then you should get rid of it.
Great list. I'd also add [Shake](http://shakelaw.com). It's a great app for creating freelance agreements to ensure. The app itself is free and, by using a contract, you'll help to ensure that your clients actually pay you for your work.
As the snow is melting in spring (in Alaska!), I love looking for moose poop in my front yard. I know moose visit in the winter, because they leave tracks, but I seldom see them. The poop is the proof that they stopped for a while.
Planting flowers! I love to see them when I drive up to the house & I enjoy them on my back patio. I also love eating outdoors, on the patio at home or at restaurants with outdoor seating.
This writer makes the same mistake many inexperienced travelers do: she confuses a "direct" flight with a "non-stop" flight. They are different things entirely. A non-stop flight is exactly what that: the plane does not stop anywhere between point A (your originating airport) and point B, your final destination.
A direct flight, however, DOES stop at an airport between your originating airport and your final destination. The flight stops but you don't have to change planes. After other passengers embark and disembark, the plan continues to your final destination. THAT is a direct flight.
Hi Amy, aloe vera is not good for people with type O blood. The ginger and charcoal is excellent.
Very timely post. One thing has been running through my mind lately, conquering the fear of trying new things. Specifically, starting an online business. Sometimes the new things work out, (building a tree house from salvaged lumber), sometimes they don't, (selling collectibles, writing a blog). Sometimes it's an education process, (gardening, canning, quilt making, woodworking). No one is born an expert, everyone starts somewhere. Even my grandmom, (who was awesome), had to learn how to cook. What is the worse case scenario? Can I afford the cost?, then plow in.
This is a great list. I've never heard of Boomerang before, but I will use that to schedule emails. What a time-saver!
Excellent article and oh so true!
Hi Cheryl--
Whatever works for you, as long as you pull the 10 Things every day and put them some place that they don't accidentally get reabsorbed into your clutter.
I have several tote bags in that are for the post office, the used bookstore, the homeless shelter, etc...I put things into the tote bags and then drop the stuff off at its final destination, when I'm running other errands in the area. I DO NOT get to count the items until they are officially out of my possession, but I'm not generally running all over kingdom come every day.
The other thing about this practice is that it has made me really learn about the free/barter economy in my immediate neighborhood. I started a "Trading Post" in my neighborhood on the stairs to what is now a vacant lot. I drop things that are still useful, but wouldn't sell at a thrift store, off at the stairs. My neighbors have started doing the same thing. I walk past the stairs every day and have never seen anything last more than 24 hours. It works like a neighborhood "FREE" box.
I also use the freecycle, reusit network, and free stuff on craigslist for bigger items. People pick up the stuff from my front porch, which saves me time. I also recommend joining forces with a friend or two. I rarely have to drop off donations to my local school, as I can usually get a student to pick up the stuff on way to school as they walk or drive past my house. This is a good community builder because it forces me to interact with my neighbors.
Finally, I get rid of a lot of things via my local charities. I've asked my local battered women's shelter, Boys & Girls club, grade schools, etc...what they need. When I come across something on the charity list in my house, I put it into my daily tote bag, so I remember to drop the item off when I'm walking around my neighborhood.
As you can probably tell, I do a lot of walking in the process of getting rid of things. However, this has allowed me to get rid of my gym membership, so that's an unexpected perk of this practice.
You were correct. I didn't know that Skype could do all these things. The one that could come in handiest for me is the desktop sharing. I have used WebEx and other services paid for by my company to do this, but I have not been able to share desktops with family and friends.
Thanks for the information.
While I agree with most of the suggestions, the lawn suggestion is the worst idea EVER! Obviously, you have never HAD a lawn and just "left the clippings" or you would know that over time, (and it doesn't take more than a few years) your lawn area becomes HIGHER and HIGHER and eventually is taller than the SIDEWALK or CONCRETE patio that it's next to...and then it looks really lame. REALLY LAME.
This is what happened with our regular tract home lawn. If you want to compost those clippings and use them for fertilizer in the plant/shrub area of your yard...that is a good idea. But don't just let the clippings drop or you will have a huge mound of grass (instead of a flat lawn) and it will be expen$ive to get it back to normal.
God bless you for this article. we nearly rushed to the clinic with my husbands stomach ache until I read your article and tried the charcoal. it worked like magic and he is deeply sleeping and not in pain again.
KAYAKING!! Walking, hiking, being outside. Anything that has to do with not being inside after a very looonnng winter. We live in a beautiful area, so I can't wait for all the snow to finish melting! (Yes, we still have snow!)
These are all great! I never use the sleep tracker on my FitBit wristband, but I do wear my wristband 24/7. FitBit is not as accurate as my free phone apps, but it does enforce good habits. I am incentivized to do my errands on foot, especially since I know that I'm using as many calories as I would at the gym...without the gym membership or the time out of my schedule to exercise at the gym.
Yes, it is. The check is fake. The buyer probably asked you to pay the mover through a wire service of some sort. You will lose $1500.00 on this!
Hi Beverly--
I applaud your minimalism! My brain definitely works better when I have less visual noise. I recently worked overseas for three months, and all my possessions had to fit into one laptop bag. It was amazing how much free time I had because I didn't have to waste time taking care of material things. You don't really realize how much time is spent taking care of possessions until you don't have them. But, downsizing to even 1000 things is a frightening prospect for most people. Americans have been taught that minimalism=deprivation. Imagine how impossible 100 Things Challenges sound to the average person who has more than 100 things just in their bathroom drawers.
A great book to read on the subject of American consumerism is LIFE AT HOME IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY, which is based on a 9 year study by UCLA anthropologists who studied 32 American homes like they were on archeological digs. They discovered that the average, middle-class, American family home contains 250,000 items!
http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/trouble-in-paradise-new-ucla-book.aspx
Americans are super consumers. For example, Americans have 3.1% of the child population of the world, but buy 40% of the toys. We've all been taught to buy in bulk to save money, but we haven't been given a plan to get rid of all the things we acquire.
I also use the "1 in, 1 out rule," which is a great maintenance tool. Thanks for your insightful comment.
Thanks for this article. I'm not sure I could drive somewhere every day to drop off 10 things, but I could certainly get them together and perhaps make one trip a week on the weekend.
I did my downsizing ala Dave Bruno, the 100 Thing Challenge. Thus, I can no longer get rid of 10 items a day. I don't run a business out of my home and I have ceased purchasing everything that catches my eyes. The less I purchase, the less chance of my space becoming overcrowded with stuff. Good post for people who have not pared out the useless items in their lives. Speaking of downsizing . . . I bought a new pair of jeans and two new tees. Now I have to select an old pair of pants and two tops to drop off at the used clothing center. The "1 thing in 1 thing out" rule also helps me stay on track.
I love how versitile Skype is and the XBox One video connect is definitely a feature worth trying if you havn't already. I use it to stay in touch with my sister who lives on the coast.
I enjoy bike riding in the Spring
I so agree with you Carrie. The flip side of the "we may need it someday" argument is this question to ask yourself when deciding whether to get rid of something: "If I didn't have this, would I go out today to buy it?" If the answer is no, then you should get rid of it.
hiking
Great list. I'd also add [Shake](http://shakelaw.com). It's a great app for creating freelance agreements to ensure. The app itself is free and, by using a contract, you'll help to ensure that your clients actually pay you for your work.
Taking walks and planting our garden.
I can't wait to make plans with a girl friend to get pedicures and frozen yogurt, now that the weather is so nice.
As the snow is melting in spring (in Alaska!), I love looking for moose poop in my front yard. I know moose visit in the winter, because they leave tracks, but I seldom see them. The poop is the proof that they stopped for a while.
Planting flowers! I love to see them when I drive up to the house & I enjoy them on my back patio. I also love eating outdoors, on the patio at home or at restaurants with outdoor seating.
This writer makes the same mistake many inexperienced travelers do: she confuses a "direct" flight with a "non-stop" flight. They are different things entirely. A non-stop flight is exactly what that: the plane does not stop anywhere between point A (your originating airport) and point B, your final destination.
A direct flight, however, DOES stop at an airport between your originating airport and your final destination. The flight stops but you don't have to change planes. After other passengers embark and disembark, the plan continues to your final destination. THAT is a direct flight.
I love spring!
Gardening, long walks with my beloved on warm, breezy evenings, and biking are at the top of my list.