As most wives know, the best way to get your husband to do something is to make him think it was his idea in the first place. Many of you know that I am big fan of de-cluttering, but Mr. Handsome has always been reluctant to get on board with the idea. He just has a hard time letting go of stuff.
A few weeks ago, Mr. Handsome stayed up late with the baby while I got some much needed rest (he does this quite a bit, which is lovely). Right before heading to bed, I programmed Netflix to a show called “Minimalists: Less is Now.”
The next morning, I awoke to Mr. Handsome rummaging through the closet. “What are you doing, Honey?” I asked. “Oh nothing,” he replied. “I just watched this show last night on minimalism and am trying out the 30-day challenge. I am going to get rid of at least one item every day for the next month, and this sweater is looking like a great candidate to be removed.”
My plan had worked! I was shocked to see my husband showing excitement about de-cluttering.
What exactly is a minimalist? A minimalist is someone who doesn’t derive their self-worth from their material possessions. They try to live simply and only keep the possessions they either truly need or derive joy from. (I personally don’t get any joy from my toilet plunger, but it’s certainly a needed item.)
Minimalism is a response to the over-consumerism that is rampant in our society. We are constantly being pushed to spend more money to buy things we can’t afford to impress people we don’t like.
One rule of thumb when deciding whether to keep or get rid of something is “Have you used it in the past 90 days, or do you plan to use it in the next 90 days?” If the answer is no, then you can probably get rid of it. Of course, seasonal items and emergency supplies are an exception to this rule.
What are your views on minimalism?
Mr. Handsome and I are by no means true minimalists. One look at our toy collection or our garage will tell you that. But like most people, we could use to de-clutter, especially after the holidays. So for the next thirty days, Mr. Handsome and I will try to get rid of at least one item every day and see what happens. Would any of you like to join in the challenge with us?