donate – Mind Beauty Simplicity

When we go through our homes & bag up unwanted items & send them on their ways to new homes, it feels like a weight has been lifted, doesn’t it? When we scroll through our news feeds & become pickier of who we follow, it feels inspiring & uplifting, wouldn’t you say? I’ve discovered doing all those things doesn’t seem like enough though. I wish we could donate our emotions & thoughts in the same exact way we donate a few old pieces of clothing. Why does the decluttering process have to take an immense halt when it comes to our minds & mental wellbeing? I think it’s something we seriously need to consider.

Our belongings fill voids of emotions we don’t want to acknowledge.

The decluttering process can become an endless cycle of bringing things in & sending things off. There were times where I felt like I wasn’t making headway with this less is more lifestyle. I’d get rid of bags of items & a few months later find myself with closets filled to the brim once more. There is a psychological component to consumption of all forms. We crave things because we know it makes us feel better. But in reality the things we tend to crave are the unhealthy things like scrolling through social media too much or buying tons of clothing or makeup or even food. It fulfills us in the moment but gradually that high goes away. To maintain a better wellbeing, we need to crave options that fuel us in a healthier way & don’t just give us that short lived satisfaction.

What we should focus on:

getting outside more often & even ground ourselves in nature

consume less media

declutter our homes

meditate

find activities that don’t cost a dime

Being One With Nature

During quarantine I learned the importance of getting outside. Even just opening the blinds & letting the sunlight peak through was enough. Taking walks in the neighborhood, breathing in that fresh air & just admiring the surroundings helped with my cabin fever & my overall mental health. In reality, when we are feeling closed in or not ourselves, we need to resort back to our roots of taking advantage of the Earth around us. As I was researching about this topic, I learned the concept of grounding & how we need to remember to use our senses & way of touch. Whether it’s doing some gardening or digging your feet in the sand at the beach, these actions actually benefit our mental wellbeing. I can attest to this because when we were renovating our backyard, I felt so alive. Although weeding was a lot of work & I got bit by a few bugs along the way, being outside in nature & away from technology gave me a sense of clarity.

Consume Less Media

As much as I love listening to podcasts & music during my walks, I made the habit to do these activities in silence. I think we drown our minds with sounds & voices so often we become restless when it’s silent. Even when I sleep, I’ve learned to rely on a sound machine. It’s something I’m trying to break from because in reality silence is peaceful. When I was pulling weeds in the backyard, I left my phone inside & just worked with merely the sound of the trees moving in the wind & the occasional chirp of a bird. I forgot how meditative that is. And I think we use these forms of media like binge watching a tv series or listening to music to drown out the thoughts we don’t want to acknowledge. Distractions can be healthy but if done too often, we are simply running from the problem instead of facing it.

Declutter Our Homes

This is something we know all too well. If we feel overwhelmed, we can get rid of a few things & clean our homes for some mental clarity. Although this isn’t the end all be all to feeling fulfilled, it’s still an avid step in mental minimalism. When our spaces are clear, so are our minds. On a seasonal basis, I go through our home, my social media & even personal relationships & see what I need to change. To get that boost in the right direction, sometimes it means to clean out a closet or organize the laundry room. It may seem insidental at first, but it actually trains our minds to have this less is more mindset.

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Meditate

Slowing down & just focusing on your breath is something so easy but also something we tend to forget. Lately, I’ve been feeling so busy & the other day I just sat in my favorite chair in my living room put on a relaxing youtube video [ shoutout to all my ASMR fans] & just meditated. I didn’t even close my eyes. I just stared into space & just completely let myself turn off my overthinking mind & just be one with this video. If someone walked in & saw me doing this they would probably think I was insane but it seriously relaxes me & sometimes even puts me to sleep. We need to learn how to balance our thoughts. We can’t let them eat away at us & cause headaches or worry. Telling yourself, “I’m setting those thoughts & emotions on the shelf at the moment & I’ll get back to them later” is the healthiest thing you can possibly do.

Find Free Activities

This might seem like an impossible task. But just like we should celebrate those small wins, we also must enjoy the simple things in life. I think we all can relate to the fact the pandemic caused us to see life with a different perspective. Some of my favorite moments are having a few people over the house & just having good & genuine conversations. Times we are getting to know one another on deeper levels is so priceless. Taking walks outside & admiring the views is something free we take for granted. I find those intricate plans & big events seem fun in the moment & are things I still enjoy, but those spontaneous times where no thought is given are ones I hold more dear. And on days I wake up with dread or sadness, I try to remember those precious & simple times. I try to find small ways I can make my day better. It doesn’t take much to maintain a sense of happiness. I think we place too much expectations where we end up feeling disappointed or let down. But if we focus on the big picture of why we are all here, I think our mental wellbeing would thank us for that.

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Minimalism is far more than getting rid of a few old belongings. To get to the core of the issue, we must look inward & take care of our mental wellbeing. We must not let our minds be filled with clutter & useless information. We must not let people’s opinions or projections flood our minds & cause pointless worry. As someone who struggles with anxiety & stress, learning about mental minimalism & decluttering my mind has been the best coping mechanism. So, you CAN donate & clean up your thoughts & perspectives just as easily as any other form of clutter. It’s probably the most crucial one of all.

–B

I try to declutter my closet & dresser on a seasonal basis & sometimes monthly if I’m feeling extra spicy. Even though I have a relatively small collection to begin with, I believe a routine refresh is always in order. As I change & grow as an individual, so does my style. A few months ago, I posted about how I downsized my wardrobe in half & donated around five large trash bags full of clothing pieces, shoes & accessories. To read about that decluttering session, click here. Of course, the cycle of getting new items in & letting old ones out never truly stops, so I’m back with another decluttering post. I was actually requested on Twitter to talk about the things you truly don’t need in your closet to begin with & how I’ve managed to cull a capsule wardrobe in the first place. So, let’s get into the tips. Here Are Things You Don’t Need In Your Wardrobe:

Items That Are Worn Out, Damaged or Stained

I’m guilty of holding onto items for far too long. As I’m writing this, I’m thinking about this worn out white t-shirt with a hole in the armpit that I wore (just around the house) the other day. I get it. Sometimes you need a few frumpy items. But you really deserve better than this. Even I know I should probably recycle that armpit holed t-shirt before I wear it out in public. Any clothing pieces that are extremely worn out (like from being over washed), stretched out or damaged in some way or another need to leave the collection. Find crisp & clean replacements so you can feel the most put together. When you look good, you feel good.

2. Those Free Event T-shirts You Were So Excited To Get

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been to an event or concert (especially in college) where I would come home with a free advertisement t-shirt & feel like I won the jackpot. Do you really need that bright red t-shirt with the AT&T logo on the back? Probably not. But again, I’ve been guilty of holding onto these types of items so I would have a proper cleaning day or painting shirt. If it’s truly necessary, leave it to only one & get rid of the rest.

3. Dresses You Wore Once & Won’t Wear Again

I try to purchase event attire that is timeless & can be worn multiple times. But there are still moments where there’s a dress or even a top that was made to be seen once & only once. Those types of items can be donated or even given to a friend. And if you are looking for other alternatives for large events, you can always rent dresses & suits online.

4. Uncomfortable Shoes & Clothing

Whether it’s an itchy sweater, ill fitting shoes or a bra that won’t stay up; there is no reason to have these pieces take up real-estate. I know these types of things would just sit in my drawers or remain hung up never been worn anyway. Get them out of here.

5. Clothing That Doesn’t Fit Your Body Type

Quit having the mindset of “oh I will fit into this one day” or “I’ll keep these just incase if I gain a bit back later.” Always just keep the pieces that work for you body type right now. Focus on the present moment instead of always worrying about the past or even the future. Why would you give space to items you won’t even wear? Keep the pieces that make you feel the most confident & get rid of the rest.

6. Colors That Don’t Suit Your Skin Undertone

For reference, I have red undertones in my skin. I look like I’m sunburnt or embarrassed even when I am not when I go makeup- less. I tend to stick with neutral shades such as white, grey & black & when I do venture to colors, I stick to Earth tones. The muted down shades compliment my skin tone & makes me feel more confident. There is no sense in owning the entire rainbow when not all the shades compliment you.

7. You Can Like It From A Far & Still Have It Not Work For You

I tend to like certain patterns or styles on other people, but when I try & mimic it on myself, I rarely like it in the same way. I’ve learned to enjoy the art of window shopping & liking things from afar but not needing it for myself. I’ve learned to be more practical with my spending choices.

8. Graphic or Juvenile T-shirts

I finally let go of my old Jurassic Park t-shirt along with a few others because I tend to get tired of logo shirts after a while. Not to say I’m too mature for them, but I did feel like I should focus on plain, solid color basics from now on. I get more use out of basics & no one has to refer me as the girl with the Kale sweatshirt as much.

9. Clothing Other People Gave You

Sometimes gifts are hits & other times they are complete misses. Don’t feel the guilt of needing to hold onto anything just because someone gave it to you. If you won’t wear it, it’s better off at a home with someone who will get use out if it then collecting dust on your hanger. Sometimes I’ll wear it once & test the waters before I completely give it away.

10. Items You Said You’d Get Altered But Never Did

And you probably never will. Most of the time, if I end up with a jacket without a zipper or a button missing, I just quickly donate it. Half the time I never remember to bring it to the cleaners. I either try to fix it myself right away or let it be someone else’s problem.

-B

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Mental Minimalism & How We Can Declutter Our Mind?