Posts tagged Simple Living

MINIMALISM: The Joy of ONE

Minimalism & Sustainability

To live with less possessions has been my ultimate goal for a few years now. Unlike what others propose, I actually dream of sleeping in a bedroom with only a mattress, natural lighting and a nightstand; quintessential Minimalism – cliched but practical.

I’ve not only contemplated but also experienced the simplicity and the joy of owning only 1 of many things including life’s necessities. While to some this may sound extreme, owning one of each item has turned my life around; easy decisions, quick actions and quality pieces to name a few advantages.

I’ve been able to save up on time, energy and money for things that matter the most. During my journey, I realized that we possess ‘duplicates’ of almost everything in our homes, offices and lives. This wasn’t always an opportunity of joy. Owning 1 of each possession mean’t I’d be surrounded by things I loved the most, I was more intentional with the usage and it would mean I’d be making use of everything I own. “Love people and use things because the opposite never works” is the most shared quote from the Minimalism Film, and I completely agree.

So, here I am sharing with you, 25 things, I own only 1 of:

  1. Wristwatch – its sleek, its minimalist and I wear it everyday.
  2. Scrunchie – its a mauve satin, its soft, it does not leave kinks in my hair and is a cute wrist accessory.
  3. Hair Tool – a small hair dryer that my father got me years ago, and since I don’t heat-style my hair ever (may be once a year), it is more than enough for me.
  4. Skincare – I have 1 of each, a day cream, night cream, mask and an eye cream. I prefer simple skincare as opposed to a whole lot of products on my face.
  5. Beauty – I own 1 of each beauty product that I could possibly use including 1 BB cream, 1 bronzer, 1 eye-shadow quad, 1 eyeliner, 1 mascara, and most importantly 1 sunscreen.
  6. Bookmark – I own 1 bookmark which I absolutely love (and we will not be talking about the 1000 books lined up on my bookshelves).
  7. Phone Case – As opposed to my delinquent teenage years, I no longer own matching phone cases to my outfits, 1 clear, simple one suits me all year long.
  8. Handbag – Remember the days with 46 bags, well no more sweetheart, I technically own 4 but one is a day bag, the second is a crossbody, third is a backpack and the fourth is an evening clutch, one from each category serves me well.
  9. Traditional Festive Wear – Believe it or not, I own only 1 traditional, festive outfit that I use until the point, it is literally falling apart.
  10. Active Wear – I own a very good quality pair of leggings and sports bra from Lulu Lemon and it is more than what I need. It is expensive but the investment is completely worth it.
  11. Yoga Mat – 2 years ago, I purchased a good quality yoga mat, it has served me well and I do not plan to buy a new one anytime soon.
  12. Coffee Tumbler – I used to have 3 on-the-go tumblers but I ended up giving 1 to my brother and one to my bestie and now I am completely content with 1 that is my absolute favorite – no touchy!
  13. Stationery – I used to be a stationery monster and a religious diarist with everything you can imagine right from Disneyland to WarnerBros Studios to Paperchase and now I own 1 single, blue pointer that lives in my everyday handbag.
  14. Sunglasses – In one point of my life, I did have a sunglasses fetish but now I feel blessed owing only one but super quality, investment piece from Gucci.
  15. Strapless Bra – Why would you need more than 1 strapless bra?
  16. Wallet – Well thats nothing impressive is it? Everyone owns 1 wallet but I also have 1 credit card, 1 bank account, 1 key-chain and about 10 coffee reward cards from all over the city.
  17. Sneakers – I own 1 pair of sneakers and although I have had my eye on another style, who needs shoes now, walking is a thing of the past!
  18. Earphones – 1 pair and that is more than enough, I take care of them and cherish them.
  19. Brush and Comb – I own 1 of each, and it is like my personal and affordable hair salon which is accessible at all times.
  20. Anklet – Hell yeah just one baby! My entire jewelry collection now fits inside a Pandora Bracelet box and it makes me very proud.
  21. Laptop – Well this is a definitely cheat because I own 1 Windows (HP) laptop and 1 iOS (MacBook) but hey I earn my living off of them so I don’t mind.
  22. Hat – I own 1 straw-esque hat for those good, old days at the beach and I cannot wait to use it next Summer, fingers-crossed.
  23. Knick-knacks/Decor – I decluttered all of my decor items around 3 years ago and now adorning my bookcase is 1, little faux, potted Aloe Vera plant.
  24. Cleaner – Trust me all you need is 1 all-propose cleaner and the rest are just a marketing scam.
  25. Swimsuit – When you live in my part of the world, you will probably use some kind of swim-wear once or twice in your lifetime but for a water-baby like me this is definitely a good change.

There is a very good chance that I might be forgetting a few more things but for now this looks good. Someday, I’d also like to talk to about the things I own 2 of but now the ball is in your court. Tell me what things you only own 1 of? Or may be parts of your home, you’d like to delcutter? I’d love to hear. Ciao!

 

Welcome to Plastic Free July and Zero Waste Lifestyle 101

Minimalism & Sustainability

Two of my closest relations claim that I am not a Minimalist. And that is true because I’ve just begun and there is a long way to go.

I would say, I discovered this very approach to life probably in late 2014 but I continue to struggle with it till date. And my recent haul from Mango and Khaadi isn’t helping either. But I am opting to talk about my Minimalism journey for another day. Today, I am coming to you with a sense of realization that dawned on me just over a year ago.

My carbon footprint on planet Earth – a simple, straightforward thought but with consequences that transcend generations. I exert day and night to build a future for myself and my family but with my planet under threat – there wouldn’t be much of a future to work for.

As time passed, I learned more and more about the Zero Waste Lifestyle and with #PlasticFreeJuly here, I thought it would be best to indulge in this further.

What is a Zero Waste Lifestyle?

Above all, a zero waste lifestyle is simple living whereby an individual continues to reduce respective eco-footprint in the long run. The basic philosophy is designed around the practice of sending less and less trash to the landfills and the ocean.

Explore the “WHY” Behind it All

Before you even attempt to feel accountable for the trash you produce, you need to establish a “why” thus strengthening your zero or even less waste lifestyle passage.

This “why” has to be black and white because it in turn becomes your motive, it is exactly what keeps you going back to your commitment. Because trust me committing to such a lifestyle is like a crash diet, one weekend is all it takes and the rest is a blur.

For instance: Did you watch the sea turtle struggling with the plastic straw and it horrified you?

Did you notice all the single-use cutlery piled in the corner at the local food court?

For me it was my toothbrush, one humid morning, I stood there brushing my teeth and all of a sudden, I had an epiphany. It terrified me estimating the number of toothbrushes I threw in the garbage in my lifetime. And I knew I was onto something big.

Discovering the Zero Waste Lifestyle & the Obstacles

There I was hardly a Minimalist; just learning about the horrors of the oceans and now I find myself in a country where locating a compostable toothbrush was equal to finding an honest business partner – impossible.

Resourcing cleaner alternatives wasn’t even the hardest part!

If I had a dollar for every time, I politely asked the waiter to not add a plastic straw to my drink, well then let’s just say, I would have had enough for the vacation I just lost (another story, another day).

Producing awareness and relevant collateral is one thing and expecting people to understand and/or act on it is other. Drinks continued to pour in with plastic straws and a sweet, forgetful waitress helped me dispatch more plastic to the Indian Ocean.

I knew from day one, I wasn’t going to find a stainless steel straw or a package-free shampoo bar but what I didn’t realize is that I will have to protest my rights in favor of bringing in an empty, reusable cloth tote to the local supermarket. And I am not even exaggerating.

Asses, Prioritize & Replace – At a Turtle’s Pace

Instead of giving up entirely, I realized a basic mistake. Just because there is a hole in the ozone layer, it does not mean, everyone around me is suddenly going to help me save Mother Earth.

So, I went back to the drawing board and decided to start small. I read online that doing a ‘Trash Audit’ helps assess areas in need of improvement and I did just that. My trash mostly consisted of takeout packaging, leftovers, freebies and plastic water bottles. It was time for me to prioritize and focus on perhaps just a couple of areas and I took the most logical first step – refused freebies, marketing collateral and promotional merchandise. And made sure, I was carrying a reusable water bottle at all times.

I have contemplated creating my own toothpaste and mouthwash but I’ve been back and forth on the idea. If only ‘Package Free’ decides to open up in Pakistan. I did however convince my family to buy in bulk and avoid packaging as much as possible.

Minimalism & Being Zero Waste

I think the one step that benefited me the most in adapting to this new lifestyle is making sure to add or replace only when necessary. Something that is also fundamental to Minimalism. This automatically produces less trash and de-clutters life in general. But in doing so I also made a point of up-cycling as much as possible and not start throwing away like a crazy lady. The goal of zero waste living is to keep matter out of landfills. Just ask one of my best friends, I forced her to accept many of knick-knacks and even a part of my library.

Above all, I told myself that this is all a process, one step at a time and change will happen but not overnight. One must understand that everyone’s zero waste journey is different. Instead of weighing out triumphs, it is best to acquire inspiration and draw up your very own blueprint.

I learned to focus on one area at one time and take it from thereon. You just need a standpoint to pledge and soon a commitment turns into a habit and you will be saving Mother Earth in no time. For most of us, it is simply switching out bottled water with a reusable water bottle.

And if you are looking to start on your zero/less waste lifestyle or were taken back by the “Planet or Plastic” Cover of the National Geographic Magazine, here’s the ideal opportunity to start making a positive difference.

Welcome to PLASTIC FREE JULY

In the year 2011, a group of Australians came together to establish #PlasticFreeJuly and today it is a worldwide movement with participants from more than 150 countries worldwide. This year’s theme for the International Plastic-Free July campaign is “Beat Plastic Pollution” and you too can become a part of this revolutionary movement. After all a habit takes 21 days to form and after an entire month of saying no to plastic, you just might help clean up the oceans.

And this is precisely the starting point; you might be looking for and with the “International Plastic Bag Free Day” falling on Tuesday, July 03, 2018, you have every opportunity to promote more sustainable alternatives. I myself signed up, and received much literature and artwork to help me embark on my mission with clearer motives. Take the pledge today on plasticfreejuly.org and reduce the number of single-use plastics from your homes, office, and community.

Be part of this incredible transformation and contribute towards a safe tomorrow for our future generations.

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