I distinctly remember the moment that I discovered the world of minimalism. My son was a few months old and I was not only exhausted, but I felt like I was drowning. Drowning is so much stuff that was cluttering my life, weighing me down, holding me back.
My kitchen was bursting at the seams with so much stuff, baby stuff to be precise. Bulky, brightly coloured and predominantly plastic. All these things I had rushed out to buy, dragging myself from shop to shop, building endless lists of what I thought I would need and help save me time, was in fact holding me back from living my best life and being able to really treasure this very special time with my son, Rocco.
I stood up and took action. Working through the clutter, questioning each item around me, if I really needed it, if I really valued it, if I actually used it and if not, responsibly discarding it through the circular economy.
Through this process of letting go of the items that I no longer needed was cathartic and eutrophic to say the least. I felt a huge rush of energy, a returned sense of clarity and a newfound sense of direction and I have never looked back.
Selling these items to the circular economy not only helped me kick start my $1000 Project portfolio, but it also felt responsible that I was no longer contributing to landfill. I was helping other families, by making this available for them to use and that item could continue to have life and benefit another baby, another family.
If you are looking to declutter your home, this is how I recommend you start.
- Take it easy – it can be tempting to rip through your cupboards and drawers and neurotically discard items, but remember we need to remove what we truly don’t need, otherwise we end up replacing the items we discarded.
- Focus on one area at a time – the act of decluttering can be invigorating, but to help you stay efficient, focus on one area of your life (such as baby items or your wardrobe) or one area in your home (such as one room or one area within a room).
- Discard responsibly – in the rush of embracing less, it can be tempting to simply place your unwanted items in your bin. However this only adds to our environmental damage. Try selling your unwanted items to the circular economy and put the money towards something special for yourself or even towards a financial goal. Markot’s platform is perfect for all of your no-longer-needed baby essentials and through their white glove service, they can make this process quick and easy for you.
- Look for the lesson – minimalism is not an overnight transformation. It is a journey, filled with temptations, setbacks and challenges. As you let go of items, learn about why you purchased it, why it doesn’t work for you and what you can learn about yourself so that you do not repeat the wasteful purchase again (assuming that it was an item that you never used). This act will help you become a more savvy and mindful consumer, leaving your savings account flourishing.
- Take a moment to look at the change – after you finish decluttering a space or an area in your life, stop and take a moment to see how you feel. Notice the space freed up, the greater sense of organisation and simplicity, the increase in more free time, maybe even seeing more money in your savings account…and then feel proud.
The journey into minimalism is an incredible one. One to be experienced with presence, responsibility and discovery, especially if you want to take your life to a deeper, more meaningful and authentic place. And the money that you can amke by selling on Markot can be used for experiences that add even more richness to your life. Just get started.
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The information contained on this website is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation, need or goals. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice from a financial adviser before making any decisions.
Investment, tax, legal and other matters referred to on the Markot website are of a general nature only and are based on current laws, limits, and legislation etc at the time, which are ever changing so should not be relied upon in place of appropriate professional advice.
CANNA LICENCE DETAILS:
Canna Campbell is a Corporate Authorised Representative and Corporate Credit Representative of Wealthstream Financial Group Pty Ltd ABN 35 152 803 113.
Australian Financial Services Licensee AFSL 412079.
