Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
New England Proverb
We live in a throw away society. We have become enamored with stuff – the more the better.
But there is little thought given to what happens to last seasons dress or the last generation of tech when we step out to buy the latest trend. The idea of use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without has all but disappeared in this society.
It is my mission to bring the make do mindset back into my lifestyle. The way it was when we were kids and our moms would make our Halloween costumes out of scraps from around the house. When you could count of grandma to fix your favorite sweater before your big date. Or how you knew there would be supplies stashed away somewhere to help you get that A on your science fair project. Back when slow wasn’t a movement but a way of life.
You can read more about the slow movement here.
I know what you are going to say. “That all sounds nice but who has the time.” And that is exactly where shifting our mindset to slow and really prioritizing our precious time is important. We are missing out on the “good ol’ days” but we don’t have to. All we have to do is slow down.
Would you like to join me?
Learning the Art of Slow Living
When I decided to begin slow living, I gathered tons of information on the topic. From that research, I created a 4 week slow living challenge, to take you and me through a different slow living principle each week. As I write this, I am implementing each change and challenge into my life right along with you. You can read more about my call to slow down here.
During the first week of the challenge, we learned to begin to shift our mindset.
This week, we take a look at our home and closet. We will learn how we can change our mindset from “more, more, more” and happily accept the idea of enough.
Ready to start?
Slow Living Challenge
Week Three – Slow Living at Home
Below you will find a graphic for each day. Clicking on the graphic will jump you to the section of the page with the instructions or inspiration for each activity.
P.S. Make adjustments to the prompts as you see fit. Have fun with it. This is all about how you are able to fit slow living into your life. The only rule is that you try to enjoy the moment!
Day 15 – Evaluate your Relationship with Stuff
Our relationship with stuff can be complicated. Some of us struggle with the question “What if I need it someday?”. Others struggle with the sentiment behind objects whether it be memories tied to things or to the people who gifted them to us. Then again, there are some out there who tend to swing the other way and their life could be summed up by one suitcase full of “stuff”.
Today, I challenge you to think of your relationship with your “stuff”. Do you hold on to things longer than you want out of obligation to those who gifted them to you? Do you have so much stuff that you find yourself often buying duplicates because you cannot find something? Are you feeling guilt when you question whether it is time to pass along something because you might need it again someday? Does clutter in your home make you agitated? Is it difficult for you to organize your belongings? Is your closet spilling over, leaving garments forgotten at the back? Spend some time thinking about your home and what is inside it.
Day 16 – Declutter with Intention
We have all seen the organizing gurus on television. Whether they teach us to organize by color, season, or zone they all have one thing in common – we need less stuff in order for our homes to feel calm and inviting. But what happens to the things you accumulated between organizational purges. That is where intention comes in.
Choose an area of your home that is in need of some organization. Collect the things in the space that don’t belong, have lived past their prime, or that you simply don’t see a use for. Box the items up and put this box aside for later.
Clean and organize the space only using things you already own. Try not to buy more plastic totes to store overflow. If you discover you need something to house objects, try shopping your own home or repurposing something destined for the recycling bin.
Day 17 – Learn to Make Do
From yesterdays box, examine objects through a sustainable lens. Was there anything in the box you were ready to toss in the trash that perhaps you could repair? We have long forgotten the days when it was easier to repair than replace something. However, our overflowing landfills are in desperate need for a renaissance of making do.
A few examples of what you might have thought were lost causes but still have life left in them include knives and scissors that just need sharpening, shirts that are missing buttons, pants that are ripped on the seam and can easily be repaired, or books that can be mended with some tape or glue.
Day 18 – Find Something to Upcycle
Along the same lines as yesterday’s challenge, view your box of tired objects with the intention to give something new life. Perhaps there is a knick-knack that would look better painted a trendy color or a dress that is too small but could be upcycled into a fun toss pillow or re-useable shopping bag. Looking at things and thinking about what it could be takes some practice and skill. But a simple change in mindset could soon turn you into a DIY queen.
Here are some inspired DIY posts from around the internet.
Along the same lines of upcycling, perhaps there is something from your box that just needs a new home within your space. Could that vase you are tired of looking at on your kitchen table find a new home on the bathroom vanity? Or will that throw blanket on the chair in the corner work better draped across the foot of your bed?
Day 19 – Learn about Thrift
Second-hand shopping is a great way to be more sustainable. Items that still have life in them get diverted from the landfill and others can obtain treasures at a lower cost than buying new. For me and my family, we always search second hand stores for clothes or housewares first. Even if it only saves us a few dollars we appreciate giving new life to an already discarded object.
Today’s mission is twofold. First, choose something that you are ready to pass along and donate it to your local thrift shop. Most thrift stores accept just about any item that still has some life in it – clothes, housewares, books, linens, toys and knick-knacks.
Second, when you are there take some time to look around. If you have never shopped at a thrift store before you might be surprised at just how much care they take in displaying their items for sale. If there is something you have been thinking about buying, see what the thrift store has. Warning: don’t get carried away. Often times there are so many great finds at such little cost that it is easy to get caught up and buy things you do not actually need resulting in clutter and overfull closets once again. Be discerning when looking and think about what you really need.
Day 20 – Re-gift is not a Dirty Word
I am not really sure why re-gifting got such a bad rep. It is only logical that, if you have an item at home that doesn’t fit your tastes anymore or if someone gifted you something you have little use for, and you know someone how would love it, that passing it along should be seen as a good thing.
Think about the people you know who might love one of the items you were ready to toss or donate. Is the item still in great condition? No need to try passing it off as new or anything, but clean it up or give it new life before wrapping it up and gifting it to someone else. The old adage “it is the thought that counts” should be the sole intention behind a gift not how much it cost. And, in my opinion anyway, if the person receiving the gift believes the cost is more important than the thought, perhaps they weren’t the right person to receive a gift anyway.
Day 21 – Appreciate your Surroundings
The final part of this weeks challenge is to take some time to appreciate your home. Spend a few minutes to be grateful for your shelter. Go outside and sit a while taking in the sights and sounds of your yard or community. Think about the things you love about where you live. Do you have access to nature? Are you surrounded by friendly neighbors? Does your heart sing when your house is tidy and you can sit and appreciate all that you love about it? Spend 10 minutes journaling about what makes your house feel like home.
Don’t forget to come back next week for the final seven days of the challenge when we look at moving forward and making slow living a permanent part of our lifestyle.
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