A Life Decluttered: Conscious Consumption & the Power of Pause
I write about decluttering often. It is the first step I took (or take with my clients) in my organized approach to the art of simple, stylish living. Letting go of the excess, the never-to-be-used, the cheap & already-broken, the ill-fitting (I’m looking at you, closet), the junk (in some cases) – it wasn’t until I decluttered that I experienced first hand how serene it feels to walk into a spacious space. (Regardless of the size! Remember, I adopted much of these principles whilst living in the tiny quarters that are a New York City apartment.)
But once I decluttered, life went on. It changed, my needs changed, my style changed. And to meet these changes head on yet remain true to my desire to avoid accumulating the un-necessities, I started practicing conscious consumption.
Now, to be fair, I have to admit that my budget really helped me develop this practice. Meaning, I had a very limited budget. The phrase ‘starving artist’ didn’t come out of nowhere. And while I didn’t starve, I was a creative living in an expensive city, hell bent on living within my means. Yet here I was, acquiring better taste, desiring better quality (clothes, for starters) – and this change required a bit more cash.
So, I became satisfied with fewer – yet more quality, long-lasting – possessions by learning The Power of Pause. The power of pause is a simple technique, guys. I just stopped purchasing something when the initial desire entered my covetous soul. I waited. Sometimes I’d wait a while. And this interesting thing happened: more often than not, the initial desire would fade and I’d forget I ever wanted the item at all. But the things I couldn’t shake? The pair of boots that I spotted in the hot summer months that I still thought about when the leaves changed? Those I eventually bought.
The power of pause was nothing short of a revelation, in large part because it revealed how fleeting were my wants. Walk me through a store, pull up my favorite store on the internet, and I promise you, I’ll find plenty that I want (that I need) – or so I think in that initial moment. But walk away - or close that browser – and go on with my day, and I’ll probably forget about it. I can get distracted by stuff. After all, aren't I American?! Don't I love being surrounded by beauty?! I love to express myself through my style. It’s fun. It’s creative. It’s an outward reflection of me. But surround myself with too much, and it’s no longer beauty. It’s clutter. So I’d rather pause - make sure I really love that rug or that piece of art, that necklace or that dress - then I bring it home with me.
Of course there are exceptions to my conscious consuming, as there are exceptions to everything in life. If I am conversing with a friend whose taste I value and she gushes over the latest book she's reading, I may buy it as soon as we hang up the phone. I don't want to wait for a hold at the library. I want to read it TONIGHT. And, when done once in a while, the exceptions feel like wonderful treats.
Or, more to the point in my current situation… When my favorite store has a mega sale, and my husband and I are preparing for a wintertime baby (!!!!), I buy the baby moccasins. I don't pause. I click the button and shut my laptop. And, guys, I can assure you, I don't regret the purchase.
