Decluttering Is Not an Identity, It's a Means to an End
Living simply is a framework for life, not life itself
When you’re in the depths of decluttering, simplifying your diary and your habits, it can be hard to visualize what the end result is going to look like.
Indeed I — as well as many other simple living writers — will tell you that there is no such thing as the end. We’ll tell you this is a lifetime commitment to living smaller, simpler, and more sustainably.
But there does come a point when thinking about living simply becomes less of a thing. Once you’ve got your simple living frameworks in place and you’re in the “maintenance stage,” then what?
It’s this idea that I want to talk about today. Why are you pursuing a simpler life? What’s going to be your “end”?
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I’m sure none of us want to look back on our simple life and think gosh, all I did was declutter for decades.
No. We want to look back and think I’m so pleased I chose to live simply because it freed me up to do X, Y, and Z.
Simple living is a framework. It’s this framework that — once it guides your values, principles and choices — gives you a fighting chance of actually achieving that X, Y, and Z.
We’re not taught enough to think about what we are going to do once we are the proud owner of a simpler, calmer life. Our focus, we are told, should be on work and money. We’re taught that spare time is a luxury to be used only to consider how lucky we are to have that luxury.
But that’s only thinking about the framework of a life, not the life itself.
It’s why traditional retirees are often bored out of their minds. It’s why people in the FIRE movement (Financial Independence Retire Early) don’t know what to do with themselves. It’s why rich kids are restless and miserable.
You can only think about frameworks for so long before you get as bored as hell.
The simple living framework under which my life sits is incredibly important — none of my life would happen without it — but only up to a point. Beyond that point, life is the more interesting bit.
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I’ll let you in on a secret.
Since I packed my suitcase and headed off into a future filled with writing and travel, I rarely think about minimalism and simple living in my day-to-day life.
Sure, I write about it, but that’s my job. It’s only one facet of my life. For the rest of it, I don’t think about it at all.
I don’t call myself a minimalist when I meet people. I don’t tell everyone I live a simple life.
What I do talk about is travel. What it’s like to write and make money doing it. What I’m going to cook this week and what wine I’m going to pair with it. What I’ve learned through reading and lived experience.
I talk about life.
This is one of the reasons I don’t talk too much about the practical side of simple living or minimalism. Sure, I like to give out resources but it’s why I haven’t gone in the same direction as other online minimalists who like to talk about decluttering hacks all day long.
Because once you’re done with the decluttering and you’re in the maintenance stage of owning fewer possessions, you don’t need to think about it anymore. Thus much of the online minimalist chatter is no longer relevant.
The problem is, I don’t want you to get to this stage (and if you’re committed to a simple life I promise, you will hit it eventually even if it takes years) and not know what you’re going to fill all that extra time and space with.
Decluttering does not make a life.
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So. What are you going to do once you reach the “end” of your simple living pursuits? Have you considered the other side?
Dream with me here because this is the fun bit.
For me, I knew that the practical result I wanted would be travel and writing. Without a doubt, committing to a simple life made these two things possible.
But there was an emotional side to it too. I wanted more peace and headspace, and I’ve managed to (by and large) achieve both (when I’m not being a typically overambitious Millennial out for world domination).
I’ve heard of people using their simple living frameworks to do everything, including:
Buying and renovating an off-grid shack.
Traveling the world, never to return to their home country.
Making wine.
Learning how to code and make kick-ass apps.
Hiking the numerous Caminos that dot Western Europe (Camino de Santiago being the most famous).
Learning how to surf.
Starting a YouTube channel.
Becoming a photographer.
Becoming a scuba diving instructor.
Having the time to read a book a week.
Learning how to sail.
Becoming a yogi.
Hanging on the beach and chilling the F out.
And thousands more things besides.
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When you’re in the midst of decluttering like a demon, the maintenance phase of a simple life can feel like it’s never going to come.
But it does. You’ve gotta be ready for it.
Figuring out why you want to adopt a simple living framework is beyond important. Without it you might never find your way to that maintenance phase because it’s so much easier to give into societal pressure and give up.
Your why is what will push you forward in the times when decluttering and simplifying gets to the annoying, why am I doing this stage.
Because you’ll know why.