MAKING LESS OF LIFE: THE CALM OF A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE, AND HOW SELF-STORAGE CAN HELP ACHIEVE IT
WHEN DID LIFE GET SO MUCH ABOUT STUFF?
Our ancestors literally got through the day with one of each thing they needed, if they were lucky. And here we are, with not only something-for-everything, but in different sizes, shapes and colours too. Does it truly make us happier? Maybe not.
Scientific studies show that a cluttered environment can overstimulate the senses which, in turn, can make it difficult to relax. It also sends constant signals to the brain that work isn’t done, which in turn contributes to feelings of anxiety. It follows that the more stuff we have, the more stressed we could potentially be. One answer to this is reducing anxiety through Minimalism.
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?
Minimalism isn’t a new concept, but with the advent of smaller living spaces, increased consumerism and Marie Kondo many people are realising that less, truly is more.
A minimalist lifestyle means choosing to live intentionally with fewer possessions, creating a clutter-free environment and nurturing peace and focus. All very zen. But does it really mean you have to get rid of absolutely everything?
Not necessarily. A minimalist lifestyle differs for everyone and self-storage can play a huge part in your new minimalist lifestyle, taking stuff out of sight, but not out of your life. Win win!
WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT MINIMALISM THEN?
A clear space = a clear mind. Minimalism is all about less stress in life – here’s 10 good reasons how and why:
- You’ll spend less. Buying only the essentials will cut your expenses and facilitate increased savings. You’ll also require smaller living space so there’s less of an investment required for where you choose to live.
- More freedom to move. Having more space means you can really enjoy your – very visually appealing – home to the max.
- Easier to clean. What time you’ll save in tidying, dusting and polishing you’ll spend doing things you’ll really enjoy. You’ll also be able to find things a lot quicker.
- More mental freedom. Having less material possessions to take up space and tie you down will give you a new sense of independence and will also remove that mess-stress trigger in your brain that knocks relaxation on the head, and increases those all-pervasive feelings of anxiety.
- Minimalism is good for the environment. Less stuff = less damage to the planet. It’s in all our interests to live in a responsible way and cause minimal damage to our world. Minimalism is extremely environmentally responsible, especially if you reuse and recycle the possessions that you no longer need, and then work with only the ones you do. Through minimalism, we can all contribute to the circular economy that reduces waste to a minimum.
- Increased productivity. You’ll be surprised how much time and energy our possessions take up.
- Doing it for the kids. Teaching future generations to live with just what they need is a very valuable life lesson. It also ties in with our environmental advantages – environmental sustainability comes from making life choices now that will lead to an equal or better way of life for the next generation.
- More doesn’t mean better. Investing in really high-quality essentials means better bang for your buck and also that you’ll have better things.
- Comparison is the thief of joy. Set yourself free from keeping up with the Joneses … and the O’Reillys … and the Murphys … and even yourself. Letting the past go is good for the soul and will help you to move forward.
- Be Happier. Own your stuff, don’t let it own you. You’ll find you have more time for the things that matter most, value what you do have and breathe easier.
WHERE DO I BEGIN?
If all that appeals, here’s some handy tips to get started. Remember – it’s a marathon, not a race, and there could be a lot of big decisions involved so take your time and you’ll feel the benefits down the line.
Assess your Home
Take a long hard look, and have a good think about which areas need to be decluttered and organised. Start with what needs the most attention while your energy and focus is fresh.
Find your method
Room by room; categorised by item á lá Marie Kondo – whatever way you choose to declutter, make sure it works for you.
Get Sorting
Three categories are what you need – essential, non-essential and clutter. This will help you decide what to keep, what to ditch and what to store.
WHAT THEN?
Decide what you’re going to do with each of these categories:
- Keep.
Whatever you’re keeping should be put away. Have a place for everything, and put everything in its place.
- Ditch, Donate, Recycle
Some of your stuff may be beyond use and will have to go to landfill, however, it’s important to keep waste to an absolute minimum if we want our minimalism to benefit the environment so firstly, check if anyone you know could make use of your unwanted items. Charities will gladly accept or even collect unwanted items, or you can give away or sell items on an online marketplace site or at a car boot sale.
- Store
Self storage is ideal for non-essential, sentimental and items that you don’t use constantly. With long- and short-term options, at very affordable rates, your belongings will be safe, secure from theft and damage and easily accessible.
WHAT ROLE CAN SELF STORAGE PLAY IN A MINIMALIST LIFESTYLE?
More than you’d think, believe it or not. As well as being a safe haven for your belongings, self-storage can also give you time and space to decide if minimalism is for you, and, if so, how you’re going to put your personal spin on it. Here’s how:
Transition
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle isn’t just bish, bosh, bash – done in a flash. To do it well, it takes a lot of thought, consideration and reconfiguration. By using a self-storage unit, you can keep and use what you wish, when you wish and how you wish until you find the perfect arrangement for you.
Seasonal Storage
Christmas decorations, heavy coats, winter duvets, extra blankets, skis and snowboards vs camping gear, tennis rackets, hockey sticks, the lawnmower- we’ve all got stuff we don’t use all year round and where better to keep it out of sight than in your safe self-storage unit when it’s not needed?
Sentimental Items
Only the really hardcore will ditch heirlooms, photo albums and all those little things to which we’ve attached precious memories and value. When in self-storage, they’re not taking up space in your face, but they are to hand when we feel the need to connect with them.
Life Transitions
House moves, temporary guests, breakups, new arrivals. One kid has outgrown a particular buggy or bike and the next hasn’t grown into it yet. Life’s going to throw all sorts of practical considerations at us and having a place to keep what we need for those events and stages will keep our peace of mind intact while we’ve got lots on.
Dealing with Decluttering
Wading through years of possessions can be difficult both physically, mentally and emotionally. Self storage is a great way to keep things safe and out of the way while you take the time to make decisions on what to do with it all.
TOP TIPS FOR PACKING YOUR SELF STORAGE UNIT
So you can now breathe easily in your minimalist home – but what about everything that you’ve stashed away? Here are some tips on making your self storage unit as much of a zen haven as your living space:
- Invest in good quality packing boxes and clear plastic storage containers
- Label them clearly with their contents and mark boxes as FRAGILE if they contain breakables
- Pack heavy stuff at the bottom and use tissue paper and bubble wrap to prevent breakages.
- When stacking items in your unit, keep the items you think you’ll need to access at the front/top, within easy reach and leave a central aisle so you can negotiate it clearly.
By letting go of excess, we’ve got more room to breathe, think and focus and possibly discover our true potential. That’s a lot to think about! Making self-storage part of that thought process could be the solution to living life to the maximum, while keeping things to a minimum.
“Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online.”
