Shining Daylight on the Less is More

Hello daylight! It is that time of year again, and as my thoughts turn from winter and lean into the hope of the coming spring I am reminded that less is more. Less is more! Less stuff is more time to love. I have been saying this phrase long before it was on everyone’s lips; in fact I just might have coined the darn thing. It finally became a full mantra of mine sometime in 2002, when I took a long look around at the stuff in our home, and garage I then realized that we were choking from all the stuff that surrounded us. Stuff is not love!

You would think that since we moved just a year ago, that the stuff factor in our lives was all under control. We moved from a 1,400 square foot home with a one car garage that had a small shop area up front, to an 800 square foot two bedroom condo with a one car garage parking space and an 8 foot by 6 foot storage area. So why would I be thinking that we had too much stuff? We certainly slimmed down when we moved and we were successful at only bringing the appropriate amount of furniture for the new smaller home. Well I am here to tell you that in just one year of not being diligent and on the less is more patrol, that the stuff has taken hold. It’s almost like we own a rabbit farm.

So another good long look around our home sent me searching for a little assistance and low and behold, seek and you shall find.

***

Check out Be More with Less and her article on ‘The Greatest Secret to Productivity’

“What these productivity hacks forget to mention is that by becoming über-productive, you compromise your health and relationships, are in constant demand, and still never get it all done. Most productivity experts try to teach you how to get things done, but what they are really delivering are techniques to get things done faster so you have time to do more things. Insert vicious cycle here.”

Also check out Becoming Minimalist and their article on  'The 10 Most Important Things to Simplify in Your Life’

My favorites:

“4. Your Negative Thoughts – Most negative emotions are completely useless. Resentment, bitterness, hate, and jealousy have never improved the quality of life for a single human being. Take responsibility for your mind. Forgive past hurts and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

10. Your Multi-Tasking - Research indicates that multi-tasking increases stress and lowers productivity. while single-tasking is becoming a lost art, learn it. Handle one task at a time. Do it well. And when it is complete, move to the next.”

***

Hello daylight and sun shining in on a clean tidy house and room in our lives for more adventures!