Goodbye, Things
by Fumio Sasaki
– Get rid of things you haven’t used for one year.
– Differentiate between the things that you want and the things that you need.
– Take pictures of things and then throw them away. It’s easier to look through things when they’re digital. – Organizing is not minimizing.
– Leave unused space empty instead of putting other things in its place.
– Discard things you’ve already forgotten about.
– Let go of the idea that you need to get your money out of something… if you don’t use it, you don’t need it.
– No need to stock up.
– If you lost it, would you buy it again? If you wouldn’t buy it again at full price, you probably don’t need it.
– You do not need to hold on to the objects of a deceased loved one just because they gave it to you. Memories without the objects are the real memories.
– Our homes are not museums, we don’t need to collect a little of everything.
– Put things in a bag or box and put it up for a month… if you don’t notice it after a month then you really don’t need it.
– One in, one out — don’t buy something unless you are ready to get rid of something else.
– Think of buying as renting — use what you buy for a while and then sell it.
– Don’t buy because it’s cheap or take it because it’s free. Sometimes free and cheap just clutters and isn’t needed.
– Part with items that were gifts if you don’t really use them. Send a thank-you note and get rid of it. No need to feel guilty if it’s just taking up space.
– Throwing away things does not mean you’re throwing away memories.
– The number of things you have doesn’t equal the satisfaction you receive.
– You don’t have to have a lot of clothes, just find what works for you and keep it limited so you can focus on other things.
– A little inconvenience can make you happier.
– Minimalism is freedom, you don’t need all the things you think you need.
– Don’t think, just discard. The more you think about it, the more reasons your brain will give you for why you can’t get rid of it.
– Getting rid of things will help you focus on more important things.
– Perks of being a minimalist:
1. Fewer material possessions means we don’t need as much room.
2. More cautious of buying things, meaning we spend less on frivolous things.
3. Satisfied with what we have, which means we need less moving forward.
4. Reduces stress because we have less material things to worry about
5. We are more efficient with time and income