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)
Downsizing options
Section titled “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