Getting Rid of Excess

ByMichelle Garrett

Today’s topic has been a personal struggle of mine in the past – getting rid of excess.  Each person’s journey is different and may begin for different reasons. For many adopting certain parts of the simple lifestyle may be all that is needed. Or, it may push you to try others. The changes you make all depend on what you want from life. Lots of money is also not a requirement. In fact, you may find yourself having more money as a result of trying it.

Can you still live luxuriously? That will depend on your definition of the word. The idea is to eliminate possessions that weigh you down and offer no real value to your life. Instead you may find that there is more financial freedom to do things with the people you love. Life is meant to be experienced, not locked away in a closet. Would you rather have a trip to Paris or that new top-of-the-line mixer?

Getting rid of excess is evaluating what you really don’t need and then purging. It is not getting rid of all your material possessions. #simpleliving #mariekondo #declutter

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Getting Rid Of The Excess

Let’s be very clear –  You do not have to get rid of all your worldly goods. The idea is to evaluate what you really don’t need and then purge. It won’t be easy. We keep lots of things out of sentimentality. Others, we cling to as security. Take it slowly and you will eventually see the wisdom of letting go of some things that are actually weighing you down.

Questions to Ask before Eliminating Material Possessions

 

  • Do I need all of these clothes (do they all even fit)?
  • Do I have more than one of an item that I am not using?
  • What physical item can be eliminated through technology (newspaper subscription, magazines, and physical books to begin with)?
  • Can I clean out the attic?
  • What is sitting in the garage that is not being used?
  • What “security blanket” items do I need to part with?
  • How can I condense what I own?

You won’t be able to purge everything at once. Go through one room at a time and do it as a family. Teach your kids to live on less as well.

Overall, do you have a better understanding of simple living? Maybe you were already moving in this direction but didn’t know what to call it. Now you have a name to go with the concept. The beauty is that simplistic living can look different in every household. What works for my family may be totally different in your household. That’s okay.  The manner of it is subjective so don’t worry if your results don’t look the same as someone else’s. What is important is that you find what you are looking for out of life as a result of this lifelong journey.

This is Part 5 of our 5 Part Series on Simple Living – Is It Right For Me?

Catch up with the series and our other topics:

Part 1: Decluttering Our Lives: The First Steps
Part 2: Simple Living: Just What Is It?
Part 3: 8 Simple Living Practices You Can Start Now
Part 4: Why Adopt A Simpler Lifestyle?
Part 5: Getting Rid of Excess