Downsizing, Decluttering & Becoming Minimalist-ish
Overconsumption is devastating our planet.
The world is consuming 1.75 earths worth of natural resources every year.
I always assumed the earth was consuming more than we should, but I didn’t quite know how bad it was. This inspired me to shift my personal focus to lowering my consumption of everything, not just single use items.
I’m working toward a minimalist-ish life, and downsizing and decluttering my home and collections. I really don’t need to keep everything just because I spent money on it.
How To Stop Over-Consuming
Before we talk about how to get rid of your items sustainably, we need to address the overconsumption in the room. We need to stop this at the source! Everyone has struggled with overconsumption at one time or another, so I’ve developed a “Should I Buy?” guide to help me stop and think, do I really need these items?
Is it high quality, made ethically & sustainably, and packaged eco friendly?
Can I buy it from a small business instead of a large corporation?
Can I find this or something similar secondhand?
Can I borrow it from someone?
And, honestly, is this an impulse purchase?
All of these questions help me think critically about whether or not I should be purchasing this item, and adding to consumption, or if I don’t really need it. If I buy it new, I can justify it. If I don’t, then I save money.
How to Downsize and Declutter Sustainably
No, you shouldn’t throw items you don’t want anymore in the trash, and you shouldn’t donate them either. Landfills and thrift stores don’t need your stuff. In 2019, when Tidying Up with Marie Kondo appeared on Netflix, thrift stores became absolutely swamped with items and they can’t keep up with it.
Thrift stores are often overwhelmed, so instead of donating to thrift stores, opt to pass things on to family and friends, or join your local Buy Nothing Group.
A Buy Nothing Group is a group on facebook where you can post your items for free and people in your town can come get them. If people are willing to drive to your house to pick up an item, odds are it won’t go to waste and they will actually use it.
Another sustainable option is to hold a garage sale, the same sort of deal. If people are willing to drive to your house to pick up an item, odds are it won’t go to waste and they will actually use it.
For clothing, instead of overwhelming the thrift store, check with local charities or shelters. They often are in need of clothing of all styles and sizes, and they will go to a good home.
When all else fails, post the items for free or cheap on Facebook Marketplace.
How I feel Decluttering
With every item that leaves our home, I feel so much lighter and not overwhelmed with the amount of things in our home. My 2023 goal has been to remove 2,023 items from our home, and we have less than 600 items left to go.
I am one of those people who get SO stressed out from visual clutter, and I’m finally at a place in our home that I would say is minimalist~ish, and although we could get rid of more things, it’s a work in progress.
Join the 2023 Declutter Journey:
