Laura Occasionally Blogs

Internet minimalism enthusiasts, of which I am apparently becoming one, like to come up with numeric goals for themselves, like "only 200 possessions!" or "only 100 possessions!" I'm not sure these are especially helpful for everyone. For example, Joe Techgoblin whose favorite activity is playing video games (on his steam account, natch) might be happy with 100 things in his apartment (computer; bed; fridge; replica Buster sword; 96 cans Mr. Pibb), but what about Jane Hobbyhorse whose main passions are cooking, art, and lifting various weights in her home gym? She has 200 items in her mosasic tile box alone.

But a goal like that DOES undeniably help you prioritize. Your priorities suddenly change when you're told to pick your 10 favorites from your bookshelf instead of being asked to remove the books you don't need.

( Applied to clothing )

I appear to have gotten on another one of my minimizing/decluttering kicks (see Stuff Giveaway, previous post). Here is tried and true advice on simplifying that I know is sound because I routinely ignore it and suffer the consequences.

( Minimizing Tips from Me to Me )