Minimalism: What it looks like to me {before and afters}

If you read my blog yesterday I mentioned that I've been listening to a podcast by the Minimalists since November.  Their remarkable documentary The Minimalists also came to Netflix in December and I highly recommend you watch it, and if you have teens, it should be a requirement.  

If you've followed me on Facebook for sometime you may remember that a year ago I started the Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, aka, the Kon Mari method to organizing.  It helped.  I donated tons of clothing and shoes my family didn't need and that weren't "sparking joy", but speaking to my inanimate objects just wasn't my jam and to be honest, I got sorta lazy, so within one year my home was back to CLUTTER!  Clutter makes me crazy!  Like certifiable.

The Minimalists really speak to me.  I like their style, their story, I just really like them.  They seem very logical and reasonable to me and while I don't think I could live quite as simply as they do, it's something honorable to aim for.  Their question to themselves and their audience is: does this add value to your life?  If not, donate, or sell, or toss, but stop hanging on to STUFF.  Makes sense, right?  Do we own too much stuff, or does too much stuff own us?

In addition to their documentary and weekly podcast I've joined like minded people in a Minimalist Facebook group so that I can stay motivated.  My plan is to tackle only one room at a time.  Because I spend hours a day on my coaching business, I decided to tackle my office/Gracie's study & art area/tv and workout room.  Here are my before and afters:

Tons of photography tools under my desk, nowhere to place it all

Gracie couldn't even do homework or draw at her desk, isn't that the point of a desk?

Books, books, everywhere books!  Time to edit.

I can't even.....

I'm embarrassed to say I lived like this for months and months.  I'd tidy up here and there but because there was TOO MUCH STUFF and not a specific home for each item, it would end up like this.  Between my makeup career, my photography business and my coaching business, I had little time or mental energy to deal with this too. 

BUT there is hope...... 

Gracie just loves her desk and works at it each day

My desk makes me happy and now no clutter underneath

LOTS of books had to go and many more are on their way out

Gracie knows where everything is now and is back to playing with her Lego Friends.  Anyone need a Yorkie?

My daughter Gracie is only 9 but exclaimed "how beautiful" and thanked me for two days straight.  My husband breathes a sigh of relief when he comes home from work to a clean, tidy, room.  We spend a lot of time in this family room.  Our moods have been lighter this past week.  I truly believe that ridding your home of clutter brings mental clarity and light-heartedness.  We just all feel better this week.  My husband and I work hard so coming home to a sanctuary is a treat!  We deserve this! 

My next project is my closet and my stack of mail that I've literally ignored since August.  It's oppressing.  I will be sure to post my progress each time I complete an area.  Goodwill is my second home, both for donations AND purchases, but I'm sort of on a spending freeze right now so not even GW treasures tempt me as I don't really need anything right now.  I will only bring home what I truly need or what adds value to my life.

Let me know if this has helped you or if you watch the Minimalists documentary on Netflix.  I would love your feedback.  Feel free to add your email to receive my blog posts OR follow me on my Facebook page Michelle Spieler Fit By 50.

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Thanks for reading and I hope this was A Good Fit!