Where’s all my Stuff?
I usually wouldn’t encourage the use of the “s” word in writing, but I’m going to use it throughout this article. In fact, I’m going to make it the focus of this article. That’s right, I’m going to use the word “stuff.”
In the last four years, I’ve lived in five different cities and inevitably accumulated of a lot of stuff. When I moved back to my home “town” of New York City two years ago, I was finally able to see all my things in one place for the first time in a few years. To my surprise, I owned over a hundred pairs of shoes, more clothes than I could wear in a lifetime, stationary I had been collecting since the eighth grade, jewelry I rarely touched, books that I thought I would need to read again someday…you get the point.
I couldn’t believe I had been carrying all of the items before me along with me to each new adventure I took (talk about baggage).
To be fair, I had always been a hyper-organized clean freak. Even people visiting my college dorm were impressed. I kept my surfaces clean and empty because it made me feel energized, so I had a storage solution for everything and always knew exactly where any item I owned was tucked away.
But I’d still absolutely dread packing whenever I moved.
Looking at my stacks of boxes and piles of organized stuff would drive me nuts. But I couldn’t get rid of any of it. There had to be some other use for that washi tape that had been sitting in my drawer for two years; an event that I would wear that red top to (I don’t wear red); a purpose for those strappy high heels I bought to wear to parties I never ended up going to. I paid money for all my stuff on a broke-college-student budget, so it made sense to keep it all.
And I continuously bought stuff no matter where I went without realizing. Having lived in Istanbul, Boston, and San Francisco during my college years, I had no visibility into everything I was throwing into storage until I had finally brought it all out in front of me. I tried for months to organize it all. I even bought more storage solutions on top of the many I already owned to get it all to fit.
And then I began to reflect.
Why did I feel so stressed out? Was it because I was starting a new chapter in my life? Was it being too close to home after college? Was it the new job? The truth was, it was all stressing me out. But the root of it was the lack of clarity I was experiencing.
I had too much clutter around me and was trying to design my life around my stuff instead of having my stuff cater to me and my lifestyle.
Remember I mentioned my obsession with keeping my surfaces empty and clean? It’s because I’m most effective when my surroundings are minimal. Some people perform optimally when they’re surround by nature, some are happiest when their environment is loud and bustling, and some even love living and working in a hot mess. The secret for me is minimalism.
Having less stuff makes me more happy. It really is that simple.
Instead of following the best lifestyle for me, I did what most people do: implement the habits of parents, friends, and peers in my living space.
And so, I decided to embark on a minimalism journey. The first thing I did was read Marie Kondo’s “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” Very original, I know. But there’s a reason why most minimalists love Kondo’s book. I learned to keep only the things in my life that spark joy.
And then, for an entire year and a half, I went through every single item I owned several times and kept only things I need and love. I probably now own roughly 20% of the things I had following my college graduation two years ago and I couldn’t be more happy. I can find things in my closet with no hassle (since I don’t have a dresser) and can easily list what my essentials are (but that’s for a different article). As relieving as it is to own less stuff, I was genuinely surprised by the exponential benefits of decluttering. Here are just a few unexpected ways minimalism has enhanced my life:
Firstly, I pay significantly less rent and generally have lower costs than my friends.
Decluttering has transformed the way I think about my needs in a living space. The beautiful, big condo downtown would be nice, but I don’t need that. I only spend 10% of my base salary on rent every month and am able to save or invest half of my income. I love the location of my apartment and considering I live in a relatively small city, it still takes less than a half hour for me to get to work.
I’m also a more effective decision-maker.
Knowing I can practically live a nomadic lifestyle makes adventure and risk more of a possibility. I didn’t think I would ever leave New York City when I moved back after college, but when I received an offer for a cool role for my dream company, I took the leap and moved to Boston. Not having to worry about moving a ton of belongings made the decision pretty simple. “Establishing roots” doesn’t have to be about buying expensive furniture — I now see it from the perspective of investing time in a place and building relationships.
Unexpectedly, I eat much healthier.
To keep my kitchen from getting cluttered, I prioritize my food needs. I consciously choose a healthy diet comprised of fruits and vegetables and keep only a few high quality kitchenware items that I use all the time. Think about it — how many items do you have in your kitchen that only serves one purpose? Is it contributing to a healthy lifestyle? The answer is likely “no.”
Last but certainly not least, my social life is more robust. Less stuff = more mental space + more energy to focus on friends.
Trust me on this.
Overall, my point is: embarking on a minimalism journey has hyper-enhanced my quality of life and can do the same for you. I’m a living example of someone who doesn’t own much and yet has found immense fulfillment in life. I enjoy my job, feel financially secure, can focus more on my health & fitness, direct my energies toward maintaining relationships, and have time to plan for a future that makes the most sense for me. Now I consider that good stuff :)
