These are five lessons I learned along the way to becoming a minimalist, that you can apply to life without the van:<\/h2>\n![\"Minimalism](\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/24064329\/Minimalism-book-on-white-bed-sheet.jpg\")
Less is more. Image: Oliver Hae<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n1. I wish we\u2019d started getting rid of our stuff sooner<\/h3>\n
Even though we lived a (relatively, by Sydney standards) low-cost life in a small apartment in Sydney\u2019s Inner West (the second bedroom serving as my husband\u2019s jewellery studio), during the packing process we discovered we still had an obscene amount of stuff. In the five years since we got married we had accumulated, but never sorted through. Our built-in wardrobes just got more and more full as we used them to store things we \u201cmight need one day\u201d, but never actually did.<\/p>\n
I stumbled across this quote while we were packing:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the longest time, I thought I needed to be more organised. Now I know I just need less stuff.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If you are serious about decluttering there are plenty of resources out there to get you started (the documentary,\u00a0Minimalism<\/a>; best-selling book\u00a0The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/a>\u00a0and the Project 333 clothing challenge<\/a> to name a few), but my advice is to just start now<\/strong>. I wish that we started going through our stuff sooner so it wasn\u2019t such an enormous effort when it came time to move.<\/p>\nOne tip I found particularly helpful during the process was advice from the KonMari<\/a> method to \u201cdiscard by category not location<\/em>\u201d in this order:<\/p>\n\n- Clothing<\/li>\n
- Books<\/li>\n
- Paperwork<\/li>\n
- Miscellaneous items<\/li>\n
- Sentimental items (which definitely needs to be left \u2018til last because it takes forever to get through stuff that triggers nostalgia!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The great thing about this approach to decluttering is you don\u2019t have to wait until you\u2019re making a life-changing move. You can action it now. Start by putting a few hours on Saturdays aside to go through your stuff \u2013 creating a weekend ritual that can add little bit more freedom and extra room to your life, both physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n
Set aside some time every weekend to start your decluttering journey.<\/div>\n <\/p>\n![\"Minimalism](\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/24064328\/180323-TabsAndCarl-0143.jpg\")
Only keep items that have real sentimental value to you. Image: The Year of Simplicity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n2. Just because it\u2019s valuable, doesn\u2019t make it valuable to me<\/h3>\n
I can\u2019t tell you how many things we pulled out of the back of our spare room wardrobe that hadn\u2019t been touched in five years, including a lot of stuff that was \u201cvaluable\u201d from a monetary perspective. From motorbike helmets and craft supplies, to dive gear and unwanted wedding gifts, we discovered we owned quite a lot of expensive things that didn\u2019t actually hold any real value (at least not to us).<\/p>\n
The KonMari technique involves taking everything out its storage place, dumping it out in a pile and (as naff as it sounds), holding each item as you ask yourself whether it brings value or joy into your life. If not, time to let go. Sell it or donate it so someone else who can find value in it. You might even make a bit of pocket money along the way (money that can be spent on experiences with loved ones instead of accumulating more stuff).<\/p>\n
These Australia wide charities would love your good quality clothing or furniture donations:<\/p>\n
\n- Red Cross<\/a><\/li>\n
- Salvos Stores<\/a><\/li>\n
- Refugee Council of Australia<\/a><\/li>\n
- Vinnies<\/a><\/li>\n
- Lifeline<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\nStay true to your own values and only keep what has meaning or use to you.<\/div>\n
![\"5](\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/24064328\/Cup-of-coffee-on-white-sheets.jpg\")
Stop, have breaks and refresh. Image: Iris Juana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n3. Downsizing can be draining<\/h3>\n
Packing mindfully with the view to dramatically downsize meant a good couple of months living and working in a home that looked like the entire contents of our life had been vomited out of the cupboards and into the middle of the lounge room floor.\u00a0As someone who enjoys a clean and tidy space this was more stressful than serene.<\/p>\n
Getting away from Sydney didn\u2019t bring the expected relief at first either. Despite my excitement at the promise of the new life we\u2019re creating, and the relief of putting the packing chaos behind us, my main feeling when we arrived at our home-base of Tasmania was intense exhaustion.<\/p>\n
I guess it\u2019s to be expected \u2013 packing up your life, getting rid of most of your stuff, quitting your steady job, setting up a business, selling your apartment, buying a van and moving across the sea is not a straightforward process \u2013 and it took me a good few weeks to bounce back.<\/p>\n
My point here is to expect the downsizing process, no matter how big or small, to be draining, so be ready and willing to give yourself the kindness you need. One way I did this during the packing process was to carve out what I referred to as my \u2018Calm Corner\u2019 amidst the sea of chaos \u2013 a Turkish rug (the one we got married on), two velvet arm chairs, a vintage sideboard and a big pot plant. This helped me to compartmentalise so I could cope with the mess.<\/p>\n
Create a calm zone among the clutter.<\/div>\n![\"Lessons](\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/24064327\/Tabitha-working-on-laptop-van-life.jpg\")
Time to call in an expert! Image: The Year of Simplicity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. It\u2019s important to recognise when you need to call in an expert<\/h3>\n
We spent the money we made selling our stuff in two important ways. The first was towards the purchase our enclosed trailer that meant we didn\u2019t need to lose money on storage hire fees during our nomadic year. The second was hiring an Airtasker to help us with the final packing push.<\/p>\n
1. I wish we\u2019d started getting rid of our stuff sooner<\/h3>\n
Even though we lived a (relatively, by Sydney standards) low-cost life in a small apartment in Sydney\u2019s Inner West (the second bedroom serving as my husband\u2019s jewellery studio), during the packing process we discovered we still had an obscene amount of stuff. In the five years since we got married we had accumulated, but never sorted through. Our built-in wardrobes just got more and more full as we used them to store things we \u201cmight need one day\u201d, but never actually did.<\/p>\n
I stumbled across this quote while we were packing:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the longest time, I thought I needed to be more organised. Now I know I just need less stuff.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If you are serious about decluttering there are plenty of resources out there to get you started (the documentary,\u00a0Minimalism<\/a>; best-selling book\u00a0The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up<\/a>\u00a0and the Project 333 clothing challenge<\/a> to name a few), but my advice is to just start now<\/strong>. I wish that we started going through our stuff sooner so it wasn\u2019t such an enormous effort when it came time to move.<\/p>\n
One tip I found particularly helpful during the process was advice from the KonMari<\/a> method to \u201cdiscard by category not location<\/em>\u201d in this order:<\/p>\n
\n
- Clothing<\/li>\n
- Books<\/li>\n
- Paperwork<\/li>\n
- Miscellaneous items<\/li>\n
- Sentimental items (which definitely needs to be left \u2018til last because it takes forever to get through stuff that triggers nostalgia!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The great thing about this approach to decluttering is you don\u2019t have to wait until you\u2019re making a life-changing move. You can action it now. Start by putting a few hours on Saturdays aside to go through your stuff \u2013 creating a weekend ritual that can add little bit more freedom and extra room to your life, both physically and emotionally.<\/p>\n
Set aside some time every weekend to start your decluttering journey.<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
Only keep items that have real sentimental value to you. Image: The Year of Simplicity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 2. Just because it\u2019s valuable, doesn\u2019t make it valuable to me<\/h3>\n
I can\u2019t tell you how many things we pulled out of the back of our spare room wardrobe that hadn\u2019t been touched in five years, including a lot of stuff that was \u201cvaluable\u201d from a monetary perspective. From motorbike helmets and craft supplies, to dive gear and unwanted wedding gifts, we discovered we owned quite a lot of expensive things that didn\u2019t actually hold any real value (at least not to us).<\/p>\n
The KonMari technique involves taking everything out its storage place, dumping it out in a pile and (as naff as it sounds), holding each item as you ask yourself whether it brings value or joy into your life. If not, time to let go. Sell it or donate it so someone else who can find value in it. You might even make a bit of pocket money along the way (money that can be spent on experiences with loved ones instead of accumulating more stuff).<\/p>\n
These Australia wide charities would love your good quality clothing or furniture donations:<\/p>\n
\n
- Red Cross<\/a><\/li>\n
- Salvos Stores<\/a><\/li>\n
- Refugee Council of Australia<\/a><\/li>\n
- Vinnies<\/a><\/li>\n
- Lifeline<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Stay true to your own values and only keep what has meaning or use to you.<\/div>\nStop, have breaks and refresh. Image: Iris Juana<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 3. Downsizing can be draining<\/h3>\n
Packing mindfully with the view to dramatically downsize meant a good couple of months living and working in a home that looked like the entire contents of our life had been vomited out of the cupboards and into the middle of the lounge room floor.\u00a0As someone who enjoys a clean and tidy space this was more stressful than serene.<\/p>\n
Getting away from Sydney didn\u2019t bring the expected relief at first either. Despite my excitement at the promise of the new life we\u2019re creating, and the relief of putting the packing chaos behind us, my main feeling when we arrived at our home-base of Tasmania was intense exhaustion.<\/p>\n
I guess it\u2019s to be expected \u2013 packing up your life, getting rid of most of your stuff, quitting your steady job, setting up a business, selling your apartment, buying a van and moving across the sea is not a straightforward process \u2013 and it took me a good few weeks to bounce back.<\/p>\n
My point here is to expect the downsizing process, no matter how big or small, to be draining, so be ready and willing to give yourself the kindness you need. One way I did this during the packing process was to carve out what I referred to as my \u2018Calm Corner\u2019 amidst the sea of chaos \u2013 a Turkish rug (the one we got married on), two velvet arm chairs, a vintage sideboard and a big pot plant. This helped me to compartmentalise so I could cope with the mess.<\/p>\n
Create a calm zone among the clutter.<\/div>\nTime to call in an expert! Image: The Year of Simplicity<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n 4. It\u2019s important to recognise when you need to call in an expert<\/h3>\n
We spent the money we made selling our stuff in two important ways. The first was towards the purchase our enclosed trailer that meant we didn\u2019t need to lose money on storage hire fees during our nomadic year. The second was hiring an Airtasker to help us with the final packing push.<\/p>\n
![\"5](\"https:\/\/airtasker-seo-wordpress-blog-assets-prod.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/24064327\/Minimal-open-road-van-life.jpg\")