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Minimalist, Zero Waste Lifestyle

Simplify your lifestyle

Section titled “Simplify your lifestyle”

Source: Rob Greenfield on How To Simplify Your Life, Downsize

  • What was your “ah ha moment”? Rob learned from people and reading that lifestyle was destroying the planet. Focus on solutions that are:
    • Just
    • Equitable
    • Sustainable
    • Simple living

Simply living benefits

Section titled “Simply living benefits”
  • Save money
    • Less to insure, maintain, buy
  • Better usage of space
  • Clearing your mind
    • Find purpose in experiences and relationships
  • Save time
    • Less to clean, maintain, store things
  • More time to do what you want
  • Enjoy items you have more
  • Better for environment
  • Break free of social standards and corporate control

Approach - minimizing and simplifying your life

Section titled “Approach - minimizing and simplifying your life”
  • Make a list, make positive change, one at a time (1 per week, for 2 years)
  • Make things you don’t want to do a burden, make things you want to do easy

Examples of changes:

  • Start biking small distances to longer distances
  • Food in bulk
  • Examples of unnecessary items: some toiletries; deodorant, toner

Ask questions with products and possessions

Section titled “Ask questions with products and possessions”
  • Do I need/want it?
    • If not used in 6-12 months, probably not required
  • Does this bring value to my life? Does this help to improve my quality of life? or opposite, does it harm my quality of life?
  • Does it give value to others, the earth?
  • Can a possession have multiple purposes?
  • Can it be rented?

Process:

  • Purge regularly (once per year)
  • Start with easiest things to get rid of, build momentum on small things
  • Buy used items if you’re not sure you want it long term
  • Buy new quality items
  • Be ok with socially not having items (e.g. cars)

  1. Downsizing options

    • Exchanges
    • Donations
    • Sharing
    • Selling, auctions
    • Collections - libraries, shared used
    • Garage sale, free sale/giveaway party
    • Garbage

    Toilet paper plant: Plectranthus barbatus (common name: Blue Spur Flower)

    No shoes?

    • We have to move slower. Move the way your body is designed to move.
    • Avoid places like restaurants and malls
    • Avoid moving too quickly and having high shocks to our feet because of shoes

    Uncomfortable to be comfortable later examples

    • No phone - force presence
    • Car to bike - know limitations
    • No eating utensils - appreciate tools
    • Carrying your trash - awareness of waste

    Maintenance?

    • It will be hard to maintain the lifestyle due to being against society

See Also

Section titled “See Also”