LIFE-Steps toWellness
Living More with Less
What does it mean to live the good life ? The media sends us messages every day that success is measured by money and material possessions . We are conditioned to believe that what we have is not enough , so we constantly strive to meet unreasonable expectations .
While there is nothing wrong with having nice things , the value we place on these things must be kept in check . We may find ourselves working harder to purchase more things , and spending most of our time managing these possessions . As we do this , we fall into a cycle that can keep us from spending time on what is truly important in our lives .
Clearing our emotional and physical clutter allows us to make room for what adds value to our lives . This can mean better health , improved relationships and living a life filled with passion and growth . It can free up the time we need to make meaningful connections and contribute to the greater good .
Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of The Minimalists give the following tips on how to live a meaningful life with less stuff :
1 . QUESTION . Ask yourself “ How might my life be better with less ?” While it is important to consider the “ how to ” of decluttering , it is even more important to consider the “ why to .” What are the benefits ? Consider the improvements that can be made in your health , relationships and finances if you live a more simple life .
2 . START SMALL . Set a goal and make it fun by challenging a friend to downsize with you . Try the 30-Day Minimalism Game where you get rid of one thing on the first day , two things on the second day and so on .
3 . HAVE A PACKING PARTY . This is a drastic step , so maybe try one room or section of your home at a time ; pretend that you are moving and pack everything in that particular area in boxes . For a period of time , unpack only what you actually need . Consider selling or donating what is left .
4 . RULES . The Minimalists offer some guidelines to help in your decluttering journey .
• The Just in Case Rule . If you find you are holding onto something “ just in case ” you may need it someday , consider getting rid of it if you can replace it within 20 minutes and for $ 20 or less .
• The 90 / 90 rule . If you have not used an item in 90 days , and don ’ t think you plan to use it in the next 90 days , you probably don ’ t need it .
• The 10 / 10 rule . Try this exercise : Write down the 10 most expensive purchases you have made lately and consider the hours of work you had to put in just to pay for these things . Now write down 10 things that add true value to your life . Compare these lists to put things in perspective .
5 . ORGANIZE . Remember , the easiest way to organize your stuff is to get rid of most of it !
Keep in mind that emotional clutter can also keep us from living optimal lives , as can toxic relationships , overscheduling , and other time and energy drains such as excessive use of social media . Ask yourself this question : “ Does this add value to my life ?” Then , act accordingly .
Minimalism is not a prescription , but simply a recipe for a better curated life . What works for some may not work for all , but even taking small steps toward letting go of the things that hold us back can free up our time to truly engage in our lives and give back to our community .
Learn more at http :// www . theminimalists . com / start / �
Tech Tips Smartphone Etiquette
One tech tip ( and SLP / etiquette rule ) that seems to be escaping people is “ No Devices in Meetings .” There ’ s no way we can be fully paying attention to what ’ s going on in a meeting if we have devices open and monitoring email , texts and / or social media . We aren ’ t even able to take notes as effectively using technology since research has shown we remember much better when taking handwritten notes . So , what ’ s the real tech tip here ? If you can ’ t attend a meeting without turning on a gadget – or , of even greater concern – if you ’ ve unsuccessfully tried to curtail your device usage , you may be addicted to technology . Other signs of tech addiction include anxiety when forced to forgo device usage , staying connected / browsing online much longer than intended or feeling as though you have to respond immediately to your online devices .
So , the next time you need to be in a meeting , and are not typing minutes , challenge yourself by removing the devices from your space and engage with others “ the old fashioned way ” by making eye contact , taking notes and basically “ being present .”
LIFE AT LIFE VOL 8 . Issue 3
Read more about tech addiction and treatment / recovery at : https :// www . addiction . com / addiction-a-to-z / technology-addiction / technology-addiction-101 / https :// www . addiction . com / addiction-a-to-z / technology-addiction / technology-addiction-treatment / �
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