4 Honestly Fun Reuse Habits
Values-driven creativity
Reuse in and of itself is a satisfying way to live a life. When you add in some creativity, you can get a little giddy.
Share in my reverie of creative reuse habits that can enrich your life in small ways. And they’re not bad for the planet, either.
Magazines are collage art
…or whatever kind of art you want them to be.
I’ve also repurposed old cards I’m comfortable cutting up for the same use.
Friends and family will get magazines that they no longer care to read. So they toss them to me and I snip out the most beautiful parts.
Sometimes, if I’m in the mood, I even go to the thrift store and buy a magazine or two for 50 cents each. I guess you could call that “re-re-used.” Hey! The more, the better.
Perfume isn’t just for the body
I don’t know about you, but some of the magazines I’ve been (accidentally) subscribed to come with those heavenly perfume samples. I’m one of those people who gleefully sticks their nose into the magazine for a good whiff. And, I use those perfume samples right away because they just make me feel so darn fancy. (Can you tell I don’t spring for the bottle?)
I would get a little oddly sad, though, when I had to throw out the paper with the spent perfume. I knew there was still some scent on there, but not enough for its original use. They are samples, after all. So I started sticking them in my dresser drawers and closet until they run out. They end up having the same effect as drawer sachets.
Old books can be poetic
By “old” I mean both books that you already own and have had enough of, and cheap, second-hand ones that you buy exclusively for this reason:
To write poetry!
Or rather, to blackout poetry. I can almost guarantee you’ll find a poem on every page.
If you want some help kickstarting your blackout poetry experimentation, read this article I wrote that lays out 5 simple steps to your next poem:
This art is a new frame of mind
Art is a good way to introduce a new mood into your space. But it doesn’t have to be brand new to have the same effect. The creativity in this one is simply in the choosing of a second-hand frame, that may or may not have a print.
I did this recently: I already had a print I knew I wanted to be framed, so I replaced the existing print. Then, I was able to donate the print right back to the store.
If you want to use the print-and-frame combination, then what a great find!
(Those golden thrift finds are mm mm satisfying)
I know, and you know: these habits won’t save the world. But I think the essence of their goodness is (1) you’re showing yourself you care. We feel good when we act on our values. Any way I can insert a value(s)-aligned action into my life, I’ll do it (probably) — and these are all designed to be relatively easy!
Point (2), you’re showing other people you care. One of the most effective things we can do about the climate crisis is to communicate that it is happening and that we can collectively do something effective about it.
