Simple Living

Get Rid of 3 Things a Day Challenge

July 21, 2014 by Camilla

I used to be quite organized. Items had a place and purpose. I would purge on a regular basis. My place and life didn’t feel cluttered. Then as I was working two to three jobs getting out of debt my life slowly got disorganized.

Instead of filing or tossing papers they ended up in a “file later” box. Instead of folding the socks I would just toss the socks in the drawer and the list goes on. Although I would try to go through, organize and purge here and there I never made it very far because of limited time, energy and the never ending “I’ll do that tomorrow.” Eventually the piles and the stuff took over.

As you can see on March 1st I had enough. I decided to start diving into the piles and boxes, drawers, kitchen cabinets, the closet and much more. Magazines, clothing, kitchen stuff, decorations, sports equipment (how many pair of ski boots does a girl need?!) and countless other things like bread baskets. Funny thing is I don’t even eat bread!

Since then I’ve been selling and donating a ton of stuff but there’s more. I’m not sure how there can be more but stuff seem to clone itself. Plus after I sold my house and moved into a condo I kept a lot of items for ‘whenever I have a house again’ such as garden tools, ladder and furniture that are overflowing in my assigned storage unit. It’s time to move those out of here too.

In the interview I did with Megan (you can read it here) she talked about that she is trying to get rid of 10 items a day in order to only keep what is essential and can fit into her car. It’s a freeing feeling to be down to only the essentials. I’ve been there many times.

Earlier this year I picked SIMPLE as my word. I missed the simpler life when I didn’t always feel stretched thin. That life also involved me being more organized. Since then I have made huge progress on the digital noise but I still have stuff that needs to leave my life.

I really loved Megan’s challenge of getting rid of x amount of items a day so I’m going to join her. However, I’m not sure I can keep the pace of ten items a day so I’m going for three. Then I know I can win each day. That means any item. A magazine, a pair of pants, a garden tool and yes, it’s time to downsize to two pair of ski boots.

If you are in the same boat as me in need of purging I would love for you to join me in this challenge. Instead of going at it in spurts I have been doing this for the last week and it’s fun but not overwhelming. Finding three items a day is very attainable.

A guideline that I’m using is that if an item hasn’t been used for a year then it’s most likely ready for the “go pile” unless of course that is something that can never be replaced like a family heirloom, certain gifts or something that holds tremendous sentimental value.

What 3 items could you donate, give away or sell today? Please share in the comments.

3 Things I Did to Reduce Digital Noise

April 28, 2014 by Camilla

Earlier this year I choose SIMPLE as my word for 2014. Another good word is “SIMPLIFY” because that’s really what I am trying to do.

You can read the original post here. It was about going back to the days when life was simpler. A life that had a slower pace, less cell phone and emails. Since we are a third into the year I decided to do an update.

I have yet to move into a cave and go off the grid (although there are many days when that sounds lovely) but I have succeeded in setting stricter boundaries when it comes to my iPhone, email and social media.

I often leave my phone at home while I go on a hike or walk. I also don’t answer my phone while in the grocery store or while talking to someone. Those are practices and etiquette rules I have always used.

However, I got into the bad habit of checking emails and Facebook first thing in the morning (and we all know we tend to get stuck on there and then a half hour will pass by) and then almost obsessively throughout the day. I realized I spent way too much time on my phone. Hence, the longing for the good ol’ days before smart phones, emails and the internet.

What changed? I implemented 3 changes.

1. I don’t check my phone in the morning. There are times when I know I’m expecting an email but once I have checked that email my phone is off limits again. I ignore it. It took some discipline at first but now I can easily ignore the phone knowing I have notifications, texts and emails. I enjoy my mornings reading, writing and exercising instead of being sucked into my phone.

We somehow survived before smart phones. We can definitely survive an hour or two without it. Ignore the phone and go exercise instead. Read. Play with your kids. Engage in human conversations. Set phone use boundaries.

2. I unsubscribed to all emails that I would immediately delete. Instead of being lazy and just delete the email I took the thirty seconds it took to unsubscribe. I don’t have kids but somewhere along the way I signed up for Toys r’ Us. I had too many of those kind of emails.

What emails do you receive that you no longer even open? Reduce your inbox by unsubscribing and not getting those emails in the first place.

3. I set time limits for social media when I’m on a computer. Now this one is hard when it comes to your smart phone because it’s so easy to check. When I’m trying to focus on something I turn my phone to Airplane mode.

The Airplane mode is a great way to block emails, text, phone calls and not have access to social media. The great thing about Airplane mode is that you still have access to the camera, calendar and notes.

For now that’s all I have changed and my life already feels so much simpler. I’m being more productive too. Next I’m working on becoming a ‘zero inbox’ person, implementing computer free days and planning for a digital detox to reduce the digital noise and simplify my life even more.

What tips do you use (or think of trying) for reducing digital noise in your life?

Interview with B.A. Norrgard “A Bed Over My Head”

March 23, 2014 by Camilla

A while back I had the intent to start a series of interviews with people that had left the hamster wheel and the traditional path that society wants us to take. I only did one interview with Michael, a Danish World Traveler. Well, it’s time to get this series back on track. I belong to a group on Facebook called “30 Days of Hustle” created by Jon Acuff. It was in this group I got to know B.A. Norrgard.

B.A. Norrgard, who blogs and runs a website called A Bed Over My Head is in the process of building a tiny house and joining the minimalist lifestyle. Now you may think she is some kind of hippie but what intrigued me about her story is that she had a very successful career practicing law. B.A. Norrgard is a paralegal turned minimalist that decided to leave the rat race and create a new life for herself. I love her story because it shows us that no matter where you are and what career path you originally took it’s never too late to rewrite your story.

Q: What one thing or event made you decide to leave the rat race now vs. later? If no such particular event, how did the decision evolve?

A: I could see change coming at work. My boss is retirement age, and I am not. Although he has no plans to retire, realistically I could see change coming and I needed a plan. I had worked for the same attorney for 20 years and I did not want to start over with a new attorney. I started looking for what would make me happy for the second half of my life and this is where I ended up.

Q: What is your #1 advice for people that don’t know where to start but would like to do what you are doing?

A: Change is really scary. But do you know what is worse? Regret. Think about what you did as a child that made you happy: why did you stop doing those things? Get back to basics. If your life in 10 years is the same as it is today, would that make you happy? Probably not.

Q: Do you follow other blogs or websites that are doing what you are doing? If so, any you would recommend?

A: I do not…I am so slammed with construction right now that I don’t have much time for reading. I do enjoy Joseph Campbell’s words of wisdom.

Q: How do you finance your dream? Working along the way or are you living solely on savings? Or a combination of both?

A: I owned a traditional home and I sold it. Prior to that I had worked really hard to become debt free. Last month I negotiated a severance package from my law firm and that is carrying me to the Fall of 2014. I need to have my new plan in place by then.

Q: Do you meet a lot of other people downsizing or do you feel as if you’re still breaking new ground wherever you go? And the people you meet that are downsizing are they mostly single or families?

A: I am meeting tons of people who are downsizing! I get emails from people almost every day. It’s so fantastic – so empowering and so fun to talk to like minded folks. Mostly they are single people but most of the single people do not plan to STAY single. I do know a couple of couples, a couple of families with children who are transitioning to tiny living.

Q: How would you want your eulogy to be read? And do you feel that you are living your life in a way that fits that?

A: Wow, my eulogy? I’ve never thought about that. I hope that I am remembered as a generous person who wasn’t afraid to follow her heart and not follow the crowd.

I loved learning more about tiny housing and B.A. has lots of great information on her website and blog A Bed Over My Head.

And if you happen to be in Dallas, Texas on April 26-27 you can meet B.A. and check out her tiny house at Earth Day Texas 2014.

Let me know what you think in the comments. Could you live in a tiny house?

SIMPLE

January 5, 2014 by Camilla

SIMPLE. My word for 2014.

Remember how our days felt longer when we were younger?

The days were filled with all kind of things but they felt simple and easy. Then as the world advanced the days started to get more busy, more complicated and exhausting. The days started to blend together. Days turned into weeks, months and years. For many of us our schedules has gotten so busy we even have to schedule in seeing friends.

Everyone I talk to say the same thing. Where does the time go? It’s not like we’re lazy and not doing anything. We are. Constantly.

I don’t know about you but I miss that simple life. When life didn’t have that element of feeling constantly stretched thin. I think a big part of why we now feel like this is because of something called smartphone, social media and endless amount of emails.

I only used to be on the computer during work, hardly ever in the evenings and never on the weekends. Back then I did not have a smartphone. There was no Facebook, Twitter or other social media in my life. I still used a land-line in addition to my flip cellphone. I hardly ever sent a text and email was still new enough it didn’t jam up your inbox.

Now is different, my life revolves around my smartphone and social media. I suddenly have hundreds and hundreds of daily emails all needing attention, notifications to check, status updates to make, tweets to create and it’s expected to respond quickly and to respond 24/7, not the next hour or next day, but right there and then.

So in order to gain some balance towards simple I’m making some changes. I’m going to start scheduling in quiet time and social media time. I’m going to once again have computer free days. I do those things but not often enough and not frequently enough. I’m going to train work not to expect an email response in seconds but it’s okay to wait an hour. And, I’m going to get better at scheduling my time, edit things out and create boundaries.

I don’t know if doing those simple changes is the answer to slowing down my days and once again remember what day it is, but I do know that being more intentional with my time and creating a better balance can’t be a bad thing. I hope you join me.

How do you try to keep your life balanced? How do you stay intentional about your time? Did you pick a word for 2014?

Packing Light – book review

September 13, 2013 by Camilla

When I volunteered to write an honest review of Packing Light by Allison Vesterfelt in exchange for a free book I thought to myself, “I’ve never written a book review!” I’m not sure what the proper way is so I decided to just write it in a way that felt natural to me. Here goes my first book review.

What would you do with your life if you didn’t have to worry about money? That’s the question that starts the journey behind this book. Allison’s response was that she would travel to all fifty states and write a book about it but that is not what people do. They don’t just quit their job, their responsible life and go do something like that. Which prompts her adventurous friend Sharaya to ask “So when are we going on this road trip?” And with that, the journey towards leaving the comfort zone for the unknown, that hopefully holds some answers to life, begins…

You take the chance on changing your life forever by leaving the comfort zone and going for your dream. This book is so much more than just about traveling through 50 states. The book Packing Light: Thoughts on Living Life with Less Baggage describes their journey, the ups and downs, the expectations, people and places they meet and see along the way, the changes within them and the lessons learned along the way. They all hit you in the gut. You start asking yourself what you would do, what you would keep or not keep and how something like this may change you. The book makes you ask questions that you don’t have all the answers to.

I get a similar restless energy reading Allison’s book as I get with writing. It’s like that slightly uncomfortable alley that I can’t make myself turn around in as I have to see what’s on the other side. You have to keep reading and get to the end of the book to see what awaits. You’re not sure what to expect. You just know you have to find out. Does she have all the answers she was hoping for? What will happen to the guy she met right before she left for her trip? What will she do when she comes back to town? Did she figure it all out? How has she changed as a person? What about her friends? Will any of the experiences she gained help you and the questions that you now have?

My only answer to that is…you have to read the book and see for yourself. But I can say this. If you have a feeling that something is missing from your life, this book is for you. If you wish you dared to go for your dream, this book is for you. If you wonder if you could live a simple life and sell all your possessions, this book is for you. Packing Light is an easy, fun, yet heartfelt read. I highly recommend it.

Available at Amazon: Packing Light: Thoughts on Living Life with Less Baggage

Happy Reading!

ps. for more info about Allison, her books and blog go to http://www.allisonvesterfelt.com/about/

*There are affiliate links in this post.