I’ve written before about my journey from compulsive over-packer to a carry-on only international traveler. If you often end up with an overweight suitcase, frantically transferring things from one bag to another at the airport, this post is for you. First, I’ll explain how to approach packing for carry-on only travel and then I’ll provide a full one-week packing list for vacation. I changed my whole approach toward packing almost a decade ago (read this post for guidance on how to do that). Instead of trying to maximize how much an airline will allow me to bring onboard, I travel internationally with just a carry-on suitcase and a light backpack.…
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If you found your way here, it’s because you’re interested in a minimalist lifestyle, or at the very least tips for how to declutter your home. A lot of people are attracted to this philosophy, but we all have different motivations when it comes to adopting a minimalist lifestyle. Searching for decluttering tips online will come up with a variety of recommendations from various bloggers and authors, but you’ll find that what works for one person will not necessarily work for another. You may have even tried decluttering tips you found online and discovered that they just did not apply to you. So how do you know what will…
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I’ve traveled a lot in my life. It’s a hobby I love, and I’ve visited 45 countries so far. I spent a good portion of my 20s on planes, for work and for fun. For most of that time, I had no idea how to travel light. I aimed to make my checked luggage exactly 50 lbs, maximizing what I could bring while avoiding fees. On top of that, I’d bring a heavy carry-on and a large backpack on the plane – stretching airlines’ definition of “personal item” to the limit. I mentioned in my minimalism story that when I arrived in country with the Peace Corps, with my maximum…
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Designing a Minimalist Wardrobe For most of my life, I was pretty clueless about style. I had way too many clothes but somehow still struggled to put outfits together. When I tried to declutter, I had no idea where to start. When I started my minimalist journey, one of the first steps I took was creating a capsule wardrobe. That involved decluttering most of my clothes and creating a curated collection of pieces that could be mixed and matched. I had no idea how to approach this, so I did some internet research and learned how to design a minimalist wardrobe. Now, I’m still not a fashionista, but I’ve figured…
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Have you tried decluttering before and found that, despite the purge, you still have more than you need? There are some things we all have that are obviously junk – you know how to identify and declutter them. But other things survive the decluttering process over and over, continuing to take up space in your home after multiple spring clean-outs. This article describes some bad reasons that you’ve held onto these things. Once you can identify those, it will be easier to recognize which items seem worth hoarding but are, in fact, clutter. Bad Reasons You Hold Onto Clutter – and How to Shift Your Perspective to Declutter 1. It…
