All posts filed under: Minimalism

Stop Living Perfectly, And Start Living Authentically

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It’s too easy to fall into the trappings of living a ‘perfect’ life, a ‘busy’ life. Ensuring you are ticking off all the widely accepted milestones of success we aspire towards as a society. The perfect home that looks like it could feature in an interiors glossy magazine. The job title and promotion you’ve worked towards for years. Pristine clean housekeeping skills, a fantastic and full social life. No time for anything because you’re so ‘busy’. The list goes on. I know when I have been falling into the trap of trying to live perfectly instead of authentically when I start to feel detached from doing the things I really love. The things that enrich my life and make me truly happy. Not the material things which bring status, a short-lived burst of happiness and can easily be one-upped by the next person living more perfectly than you. When I actually start to feel too busy, too stressed or too overwhelmed. If you take five minutes to reflect over the last week, do you feel …

How Successful Are You?

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Take a minute to think about three people in your immediate life who you view as successful. People you interact with and hear from on a regular basis. What would you say defines their success? If you had asked me this question four years ago I would have said the below: Doing well in their respective careers, climbing that job ladder to the very top. Financially successful with a beautiful big home, new executive car, flash gadgets and designer clothes. Those who looked ‘perfect’ Regular exotic holidays. Popular, influential and inspiring. Looking back now, I feel a little ashamed that I used this kind of criteria to judge a person’s success in life. However it’s hardly surprising that I had this view when I lived in a society where media, publications and entertainment have subscribed and represented these values as the ideal standard. Today I did a quick internet search for tips on how to be successful. The number of female magazine websites which appeared telling me how to buy this, wear that, say this, …

Stop Being Defined By Your Things

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If I asked you to think of two to three material items on your wish list right now, which you think would make your life a little bit better for one reason or another, could you? A luxury watch, a designer handbag, a new television. Now think how or why you think they’d enrich your life. That new designer watch. Thinking honestly, what makes it different from a well-crafted non-luxury timepiece? It’s the branding. The lifestyle associations which come alongside it. A bigger television. Is it to enjoy your films in better quality, or just because when it comes to TV’s, we’ve been repeatedly told bigger is better? It becomes a home status symbol, a ‘keeping up with the Jones’ mentality. A luxury branded handbag. Probably as well-made as a hand stitched leather bag you could find for a third of the price. However they come without the logo. So how would people know that you’ve got THE coveted bag of the season if it’s non-recognizable? How do people know you’re doing well in life without …

Minimalist Insider: 4 Personal Questions About Appreciating Life’s Moments

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Too often we let the day rush by without taking a moment to stop, think, unwind and appreciate the wonderful little things that it has contained. At the end of 2016, I took part in this fantastic yearly review exercise published by one of my favourite bloggers, Anuschka Rees. It is a really valuable collection of 50 questions to inspire you to appreciate all the big and little things that occur in twelve short months. Though, by early Spring, I have found that I have slowly started slipping into a routine of letting Monday become Friday without much thought for the in between. It was time to readdress, re-evaluate and remind myself of the discoveries, excitements and adventures of the first quarter of 2017. However rather than sitting down and bullet pointing it all like I did as a year-end project, I have decided to do a weekly series of four questions and answers. I will post some of them online, if you enjoy reading them, in the hope that it inspires you to slow …

Minimalist Mothers’ Day Present & Gift Ideas

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Too often we gift because we think we should, because there’s that obligatory expectation to deliver a hand-wrapped token of love for whatever occasion is marked on the calendar that day. I used to gift without thinking. Sometimes, I hadn’t even considered what use the recipient would get from my present, or the meaning behind it. With Mother’s Day just around the corner, there comes another time where we will want to treat those we love to show our appreciation. However we shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that an expensive material item is a fair exchange and demonstration of our love for one another. Take this Mother’s Day as an opportunity to spend time and make memories that will last a lifetime. Much longer than a set of luxury bath bombs or overpriced flowers that won’t outlast the week. If you are looking for minimalist gift-giving ideas but are unsure where to start, this list might give you some inspiration… Go on an adventure Does your mum love to walk, explore and get lost in …