5 Minimalism Struggles // What I keep bringing into my home & life

Buying food & making food that I end up throwing out.

I’ve had a problem with making large portions of quinoa or lentils that I can never seem to finish before they expire. I also have had a problem with buying tofu and never ending up using it all within the week, and it ends up rotting. So, I find myself throwing them out… Money down the drain.

What can I do to fix it?

• Stop buying tofu and food you know you can’t cook more than one meal with.
• Make smaller portions and look up online portion sizes of certain foods.
• Try to create a meal plan that uses the food multiple times.

Thrift shopping too much.

I feel like I have to go to the thrift store every day, so I don’t miss out on anything good. But, instead of keeping to my apparel wishlist, I end up buying other apparel that I don’t need; usually it’s on trend fashion, that I only wear a few times.

What can I do to fix it?

• Thrift shop at most 3x a month.
• Only look at the aisles where your apparel wishlist is located.
• Think about your How to Shop Smarter + Save Money questions.

Collecting receipts.

I find receipts at the bottom of my purses, in all the pockets of my wallet, on my desk top, and on my nightstand.

What can I do to fix it?

• If you paid on card, and you know you aren’t going to return the item, like groceries or eating out, say no thank you to the receipt.
• Create a designated place for receipts in my bag. At the end of the week when budgeting, look through them and decide what to keep in a stored mason jar, and throw out the rest.

Putting effort on people who don’t reciprocate. 

I’m surprised that I’m still trying to befriend those who clearly don’t put in the time for me.

What can i do to fix it?

Stop. Stop, putting an effort on those who don’t give back. Sure, you can still be friends with them at the workplace or wherever you met this person, but stop trying to make them a bigger part of your life when they clearly aren’t interested.

Spending hours online mindlessly.

I spend a lot of time on the internet. Some of it is productive. Like, gaining inspiration or learning something new. But, sometimes I spend too much time mindlessly scrolling or reading information that does not add anything to my life, or even binge watching t.v. shows.

What can i do to fix it?

• Create a list of what you like to do on the internet. (Ie. watching youtube videos, reading blogs, watching ted talks, watching t.v. shows, scrolling through instagram, taking quizzes etc.) Figure out what adds to your life, what is entertainment, and what is a waste of time. Look over this list and decide if there is anything you want to cut out completely. You can then look at the rest of your list and make scheduled time for any of the rest you’ve kept on your list to ensure you are doing it intentionally.
• Delete apps
• Clean out and organize files on laptop and cell

 

 

What do you struggle ridding yourself of that no longer serves you? Let me know!

 

Related Readings:

• 4 Tips to Get Shit Done // Maximize Productivity
• My Ideal Fall Schedule // Plan for a Balanced Life
• 10 Week Minimalism: Style Challenge
• Starting the Path to Minimalism

 

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