Today’s post is a little more introspective as I’ve had a bit more time to reflect while traveling during some winter vacation. I figured now would be a good time to share more about who I am (and what I own!) as internet traffic dips and people are busy with their families and the holidays. The short and sweet of my thoughts here look at the measurable truth behind gaining more than just closet space by taking inventory of what you own and ditching the junk.
I’ve made a lot of changes in the last 7 months, mostly revolving around life efficiency/effectiveness, material possessions, and creating an easily managed business. These changes so far have come prominently in how I think, but cascade more and more into my everyday activities. Activities which have effected two things in my life, belongings and income. Since I’ve been focusing on creating income, I’m taking a look at what I own and how a practice to minimize what you own will buy you more time, earn you more money, and free your mind to think more clearly.
Income through Inventory
I am not a minamalist. It seems to be the latest craze these days but I haven’t joined. I think it’s because I’m in a relationship and I also love the idea of building a home base. I might be a mediumist? or perhaps a utilitarian. I don’t think it’s wrong to be a minimalist, but I don’t think it was suggested by lifestyle design either. I like the idea of having freedom that allows me to pick up and go at the drop of a dime, but living out of a book bag at all times is a no go for me.
I don’t think it has to be that way either, the distinction is having the power to travel (temporary moves, or “mini retirements”) as to capitalize on the money you are already earning, not BECAUSE you need to earn dollars more cheaply (doing this will lock you in and inherently defeat your minimalist lifestyle because you’ll end up putting down roots). I advocate you should be earning income before you travel like this, it’s a core facet of lifestyle design that people often swap. To each his own, but I’m calling it how I see it.
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH INCOME? Having less often lets you make more. I certainly don’t suggest hoarding up crap you never use and as mentioned in previous posts, I’ve taken to analyzing what I own monthly to question whether I really need it. The process has earned me both time and freedom (and a little money), the currency of any smart person. The whole point isn’t to trash stuff you don’t use, although that’s the core action, but to understand how much you gain by being aware of what is around you.
What we own ends up owning us.
Wise words. Our possessions take up a certain amount of mental RAM (always being present in our brain in some fashion) not to mention physical ROM (actual space in our lives). Our heads are overloaded as it is, it’s never a bad idea to break down what you own to free up valuable mental real estate and put some front money into your reserves for creating a freedom business. The problem is this process sucks away time we already don’t have.
The Streamlined No Time Minimizing Process
I took a cue from Colin Wright and snapped some pictures of just about everything I own one day. I don’t know if he intended it to be a practice, or merely a exemplary showing of how little he owns (72 things!) but I immediately thought how I could turn this into a quick and dirty, streamlined process for minimizing. I thought it would be interesting to see all my possessions in picture form and help my monthly ritual (stage 2: elimination) of minimizing my belongings so I wandered around my house one night taking snap shots of everything I own. The process took me about 5 minutes.
Seeing everything I own in picture form immediately set off some triggers for things I don’t use any longer and should trash or sell. I was also able to view those pictures throughout the day at work, on the train, whenever I had a few minutes.
Seeing my belongings in pictures gave me the detached view I needed of them, I was able to quickly drum up a list of things to trash.
Since I knew what to throw away, the process became almost instant. All of 15 minutes later and I had a pile to toss, or take individual snapshots of for posting on eBay or Craigslist. (hint: Use a VA to do this from stage 3: automation)
The Benefits are Many.
Sure your closet is a little cleaner but the other benefits are much more important.
Time saved from going through your clothes, scanning through your books, sitting down to work or any number of the other minutia tasks you perform throughout the day. You don’t realize that moving that empty box from the iron you bought every time you put the towels away sucks away time from your life.
Mental freedom from thinking through what you own, or what needs to be maintained or updated, or taken care of each time you travel, or take on a new job or explore a new idea or simply get dressed. This is the most elusive benefit because we simply can’t quantify the mental drain that ratty sweatshirt you refuse to get rid of has on us. Let me clearly tell you it’s weighing your down, it’s costing you seconds that count to minutes and hours each year you don’t take a long look at it, remember it’s memories and trash it.
Pocket money for a month of eJunkies online store, or for purchasing that domain name for your future business, or the next book you’re looking to buy.
Lifestyle Design effects what you own, and improves both your mental and real world income.
Who is Robert Granholm.
Below is my most recent inventory gallery, I’ve already cut the fat from several of these pictures.
What does your inventory look like? I don’t think you should jump on the minimalist train and sell everything, but start taking into account how what you own, is owning you and effecting your income.
More about Rob
I’m just a guy with a thirst for new experiences in search of a doorway that will allow me to have them. I’m just like you in many ways as we all share similarities. I have my dreams and I’ve discovered that finding them is a reality, I just have to plan and think about getting them. That’s the very first spark of lifestyle design, or bluntly said, thinking about life past the next paycheck. I don’t think my life is miserable, in fact I believe I’m blessed beyond belief, but challenged for pulling more out of my time on earth. It’s in my character to help others and persevere when met with a new challenge or skill. I think these things are common amongst lifestyle designers.
I’m 25, I know technology well as it’s my profession and have a wonderful girlfriend of almost 3 years. I’m blessed with saving grace. I grew up extroverted but find myself introverted more and more. I’ve set up a convenient work situation at a consulting firm until I can free myself financially. I’ve made it a life challenge to be in great physical shape and run triathlons yearly. I constantly find myself limited by money and time. I want to learn 100’s of new skills, I want to talk about them, I want to travel, I want to teach and I want to play. I have a hard time relaxing sometimes.