#project 333

I wanted to listen to something "self improvement" wise, and downloaded a Mark Manson (Mason, I forget) book he did on hope and its importance some years ago (2019) and when he started the book out with a story about Auschwitz and how nothing WE deal with is THAT bad I have a visceral response, returned the audiobook to the library and downloaded another book on wardrobes because I was listening to something to chill out, not listen to some smug, overpriviledged nitwit.

I downloaded Project 333 (it's about using 33 clothing items each season as your wardrobe)

So…

About that.

This woman goes on and on an on about how she was unhappy and in debt and blah di blah di blah until she cleaned out her closet and started wearing only 33 clothing items per season.

Clearly, the lady was what we used to call a shopaholic. Which, okay… That can happen to a person.

So, as kind of a reality check, I reviewed the rules, pulled out a spreadsheet I'd written a couple of years ago to inventory my clothes, updated it, and checked the numbers based on what I wear during what season.

36 for winter, 42 for summer. (I have dresses I only wear in summer)

I would in no way call myself any sort of minimalist, so that made me crack up. I do absolutely have a capsule wardrobe. But boy howdy tell you what, I also haz an amuse.

As I am thinking about all the organization, self-improvement, and other systems and literature of this sort, I do notice a common thread, but none of 'em say it.

I had a really nice day! Late breakfast of course.

B - pear w yogurt, muesli, nuts, coconut & cardamon

L - ww crackers w pb & a banana

D - vegan chili w roasted carrots & potatoes 😍, apple sauce

Last night was nice, we went over to P&K. O&D came over, too and we played the Friends Scene It game. After that I took a really long, hot bubble bath whilst reading a new library book! 🛀🏼 📖 It's titled "Big Lies in a Small Town" by Diane Chamberlain, I'm really enjoying it.

Take inventory. I recommend the How to Make Space approach. How to Finally Clean Out Your Closet will be helpful too.

Working with your “I Love” pile of clothing, start to build your wardrobe. It will help to make a list on paper.

Consider signature items like a trench coat or pair of boots. Your signature item might be your sunglasses. You will find that having one well made version of something will be far better than 10 of the knock-off.

Capsule Wardrobes

I am currently in the middle of my Project 333! It ends at the end of October, 2019. It’s going really well, so I thought I would share some tips and tricks that I’ve learned for having a capsule wardrobe and/or trying your own Project 333:

Plan. Plan for seasonal or weather changes, vacations, cold nights and hot flashes. Don’t go overboard and live in fear, but be sure to account for a sweater or two, a rain jacket, weather suitable shoes, etc.

Laundry. I wasn’t really expecting this, but I have to stay on top of my laundry. Sometimes my closet is empty. Just...stay on top of your laundry, okay?

Pick your favorites. Wear what you plan to. There’s no use putting that sweater in your capsule wardrobe that you know you never wear anyway.

Don’t buy new clothes. I haven’t bought new clothes in over a month and I am super content. I don’t need anything. The mindset of not buying clothing can be difficult to get into, but try.

Have a color scheme. Using lots of neutrals helps. I have mostly blacks and whites, a few greens, some denim, and a yellow shirt. That’s about it.

Don’t tell anyone. Obviously, do whatever you want, but my advice is not to broadcast it. I haven’t mentioned my project 333 to anyone and nobody has said anything to me. Two reasons. A) Talking about it means you have an audience if you make a mistake. B) people have so many opinions. In the long run, I plan to tell people after I’ve finished my 3 months, but while I’m doing it, I’m seeing if anyone notices. They haven’t.

Adapt your wardrobe to your lifestyle. I work at a veterinary hospital, so 3 pairs of scrubs were included on my list. I had one dress. Don’t copy me; copy your lifestyle.

Choose versitale clothing. Button up shirts are a must have. They can be worn in at least 3 ways. Long sleeve shirts can roll the sleeves; tuck in, leave out, tie the front. So many different combinations.

Mix and match. Have fun. Minimal jewelry is key: you don’t want to look too cluttered. Decide what you want to “count” and what you don’t. There’s no capsule wardrobe police, but it is important to keep your clothes functional and minimal to achieve the capsule wardrobe “look.”

I’m not going to lie, things are pretty forking stressful at the moment. On top of my daily PhD project pressures, I am leaving for the US in three weeks, which means I have to get EVERYTHING sorted for that, both in terms of my work and personal life. Additionally, my housemate (and best friend) is moving out and my boyfriend is moving in within the next two months because we are all doing them adult things!! 🌟 This was a sudden decision and is going to be a huge transition for everyone involved, both in terms of material things and personal life changes. And although I am very excited about all of the above, I am also scared, stressed, and bloody overwhelmed!! 

I have previously mentioned that I am trying to be a lot more minimalist and sustainable in my life. I have been on the path towards this lifestyle for a few years now; it is definitely not an overnight process. However, to cope with all of the above, I have really kicked it up a notch lately. But before I go into that, I just wanted to share that, for me, minimalism is primarily about the following things:

Having more time (in so many contexts). ⌚

Having more clarity and being more focused. 🌱

Being a lot more sustainable and environmentally conscious. 🌍

Saving money. 💷

Making packing (especially for a 35 day trip) a lot easier! ✈

Being less stressed. 🌊

Personal freedom. 🌿

So, this weekend I had decided to brutally start re-tackling the items I own, primarily my closet, which although I have de-cluttered many times before has been/still is my biggest challenge. I started off with a total of 185 items, which may not seem like a lot to some people, but is a lot for someone who is striving towards more of a capsule wardrobe/project333 lifestyle. So, I took out all of those 185 items, cracked open a red bull, and ruthlessly started going through everything. It was tough, it always is, but I managed to get my stuff down to 139 items! That’s 46 items that I no longer needed, replaced by space and clarity; something I could really do with more of right now. ⭐ My next step will be to do the backwards hanger challenge over the course of the year, which will hopefully help pull out some of those last lingering items. Note: I have donated all of the unwanted items.

Photo: Me doing them minimalist things; took a total of 11 hours. 

Being minimalist not only MASSIVELY helps me in dealing with day to day challenges and stresses of the PhD and life in general, but it also helps me be a lot more sustainable. Here are some of the changes I have made:

Day to day:

I always carry a reusable bottle, bag, and coffee cup. ☕

I recycle as much as possible.

I use biodegradable items where possible. ♻

I have bought a mooncup (haven’t tried it yet, kinda freaking out). 

Travel:

I cycle or walk everywhere that is within a feasible distance (usually under 6 miles). 🚲

I am setting myself a challenge to stop collecting hotel toiletries just because they are free when I really don’t need them. 🚿

Food:

I am 4 days away from completing my 48 day challenge of going vegetarian for the Great Lent. It is true what was said in a recent mental resilience workshop I attended; if you repeat something consistently for 28 days it becomes a habit. Being vegetarian is definitely NOT a lifestyle I will continue pursuing, but I am going to be a lot more mindful about the quantity and source of the animal produce I eat. 🥗

I do my best to bring my own lunch to work. 

I am challenging myself to stop taking freebies of food or drink where it’s available, especially when I don’t actually want or need those items.

Consumerism:

I am making it a challenge for myself to stop accepting free samples of stuff.

Since de-cluttering my closet I am SO MUCH MORE aware of the temptation of sales, marketing, advertisements etc. and I am much more conscious of what I actually need. In fact, I am challenging myself to not buy any new clothing items until the end of the year, unless a particular item needs replacing. 👗

I am trying to purchase quality over quantity.

I no longer want to fall for “buy one get one...” schemes. 

I buy most of my clothes from charity/secondhand stores. 🛒

I watched a short video by Zanna van Dijk on sustainability recently, who mentioned that a piece of clothing/shoes needs to be worn at least 30 times for it to be a sustainable buy, and that really hit home for me. 

I know this post is very heavy on minimalism (oh the irony) and sustainability, but these two things are hugely important to me, both in how I cope with the weight of a PhD/adult life and also in terms of my values. If you’re interested on either of these topics, here are some good reads/podcasts/people I follow/listen to for knowledge and inspiration: 

Podcasts: Millenial Minimalists  and The Minimalists (both also on Spotify). Both cover minimalism in terms of physical items, social media, relationships, money, food, and emotional well-being. On the note of social media, I have been off of Facebook for almost a year now! I haven’t looked back once. 🎉

Person: Zanna van Dijk - I follow her content on her website, Youtube, and Instagram. 

Reads: Mark Manson - to be honest, all of his articles, but especially this one, and also this book. 📙

Have a wonderfully productive rest of the week!

Photo: A super relevant meme. Source: Tumblr.