Zerowaster

Every year when January rolls around I have the urge to simplify – to start the new year fresh and clean and uncluttered. This doesn’t mean getting rid of everything (I’m faaaar from being a minimalist), just getting rid of the things that weigh you down. So, here’s the unofficial guide to simplifying without going full-on Marie Kondo. 

physical clutter

What’s the area in your room that stresses you out when you see it? Start there. A few quick tips on how to clean specific areas:

closet

Take allll your clothes out of your closet, wardrobe, or dresser

Put the things you know you’re keeping back in right away – your favorite jeans, that black dress you wear all the time, etc

Once you’re left with just the ‘maybes’, try every item on.

If you wouldn’t buy it all over again, it should probably go.

Don’t just toss what you don’t want, though! Donate it to a local thrift store, charity, or church with a community closet.

desk + shelves

Again, start by completely clearing off your desk and study area.

Go through your binders and make sure everything is in it’s correct place

Migrate materials from old classes into files out of the way if they’re important, or toss them if you won’t use them again.

 Make sure everything has a home – pencils should be in a bag or mug, papers in files or trays, and notebooks neatly stacked.

Make a point to clean your desk regularly!

If you have supplies you don’t need, donate them! Let’s be real – you have way more pens than you could ever use.

Books are also a wonderful thing to donate! Your local library or thrift shop would be my top pick. 

If you still have old textbooks laying around, list them on your school’s bulletin board to sell, since most thrift shops won’t accept them. 

under your bed

Let’s be real: most all of this can go. Grab a trash bag and toss anything that’s not important.

You can get one of those rolling tupperware under-the-bed organizers, or just stick what has to stay under there in a thin  cardboard box.

Be sure not to leave things loose under there, or you may end up with some unwanted pals living under there ~

digital clutter

I don’t know about you, but I feel like I have a lot of digital clutter. It’s so easy to build it up and forget about all that you have stored on your computer!

Go through your phone and delete photos you don’t need, apps you don’t use, and old messages. 

Do a major computer overhaul! Delete old files and programs so that you have more space.

Put all your files into folders so that they’re easier to find later on.

Take a look through your friends and following lists, and delete all those people that post negative things.

mental clutter

This is the big one. Mental clutter comes from all of the above, plus just living your life. Some tips for decluttering your mind:

Do a nightly brain dump. Before you get into bed each night, open up your journal and write down everything that’s on your mind. Once it’s on paper, you can let it go until the morning. 

Find relaxing habits to practice everyday: yoga, taking a warm bath, going for a run, etc

Practice mindfulness or meditation

Keep a planner!

Practice not letting yourself harbor bad thoughts

Stay away from negative people if you can. You don’t need negative attitudes to be adding your already stressful life!

simplify your schedule

Learn to say ‘no’ more – if you don’t want to go to your friend’s-cousin’s-niece’s dance recital, don’t.

Streamline your daily routine;

Get ready faster by nixing the makeup you don’t love to put on and finding quick and easy hairstyles

Make an outfit idea board on Pinterest and fill it with outfits that you can make from pieces you already have in your closet so you spend less time finding an outfit 

Cook meals in advance when possible, or stick an easy meal in the crockpot before you leave for the day

Tidy every room just a bit before you leave it, so that you don’t have to devote an hour to cleaning it later on

Make time for you each week

See if there are any chores that you can outsource (eg, some grocery stores will shop for you for free, all you have to do is order online and go pick it up)

Don’t feel like you have to participate in something you don’t enjoy. If you don’t love the sport, don’t play it

One of the best things about  going zero waste is the way it makes you think. Before you can reduce your impact you need to understand where your waste is coming from. A good way to start is to tackle one room at a time, one week at a time. It can be overwhelming at first but be patient with yourself: this is a journey. Over the next few weeks I’m going to be documenting some of the changes I made in a series of blog posts. Today i want to talk to you about some of the things I would do differently if I was just starting my zero waste journey today.

1. Don’t buy all new ‘zero waste’ things

You’re going to find that there are a lot of trendy zero waste alternatives to your household items and you might be tempted to run to the store and replace all your old products with brand new zero waste options.

Do: switch to bamboo toothbrushes and reusable, stainless steel razors.

Don’t: throw out your perfectly good plastic toothbrush or plastics razors to make way for your new, improved items.

Wait until the product has reached the end of it’s life before you dispose of it. This goes for reusable packaging too. Instead of buying a new pack of mason jars from Walmart or the dollar store, consider purchasing items second-hand over time. You can probably find used jars on craigslist or even in your pantry as you use up peanut butter and sauces.

2. You need less than you think

One of the biggest lessons I learned on my journey was how few things I really needed. This became especially apparent as I analyzed my skin and hair care routines. The really cool thing about the human body is that it’s actually built to clean itself. The chemicals in your daily products interrupt your body’s natural cycles. It’s a slow-going journey, but challenging yourself to let go of some of the products you think you need might be one of the most rewarding things you do. More on that later in this series!

3. Don’t force your beliefs on others

When you’re excited about something, you might want to share with your friends and that’s awesome! But don’t forget that your friends are on a different path than you. It’s totally OK to remind your friends to recycle or compost or make suggestions here or there but their lifestyle is their choice and yours is yours. 

Sometimes the best way to share your passion with the world is to lead by example. Be the best version of yourself and the people around you will notice and begin to make changes at their own pace in a way that is healthy and right for them.

4. It isn’t always pretty

When I started going zero waste, I did a lot of research. It’s great to check out what other people are doing so you can figure out what might work for you. But remember: it isn’t always picture perfect and it doesn’t have to be. 

You don’t need a $100 water bottle, you don’t need stainless steel tupperware containers. Purchasing a good quality water bottle is better than replacing your cheap one every few month so you can invest in those things if they feel right. But if you can’t afford it, that’s ok! Keep using the bottle you already have until the end of its life cycle. 

Get creative! One of my favourite things about going zero waste is how resourceful I’ve had to become. When I need something my first thought isn’t to run to the store, it’s to see if I can repurpose something I already have or buy something secondhand.

5. Don’t feel guilty

When i first decided to go zero waste I beat myself up nearly every day. When I washed my hair with shampoo from my plastic bottle, when I threw out the plastic packaging from the spaghetti i had in the back of my pantry, when I went to my coffee shop and forgot to ask for a ‘for here’ cup. It’s ok! We all have to start somewhere. 

It’s important to analyze your behaviour so you know how to improve. It’s not important to punish or judge yourself for your behaviour. Note where you can improve, then continue on with your day. There’s no room for guilt here.