A JIGSAW power tool, a metallic belt with amber-colour glass detailing from the noughties, a melon baller, and numerous cables of mysterious provenance were among the items Dublin writer Mary Conroy let go of during the writing of her book, Simplify Your Life.
The practical guidebook aims to dispel the myths that minimalism is for either hardcore environmentalists or the privileged few; rather it's a way of clearing yourself of emotional, financial and material clutter, enabling us to start living mindfully.
"There is more to minimalism than displaying your food in glass jars or having chic Scandi furniture. Minimalism is about being intentional about what you allow into your life, thinking about what should be there, and perhaps saying goodbye to certain objects (or people) that no longer belong," says Conroy, who imposed a 31-day challenge upon herself to get rid of 10 items per day from her flat.
"Environmentally, it's sinful that we consume and buy so many things that last just a little while. I've picked up so many things over the years but always put off sorting my things."
But what about really personal stuff? And it can't get much more personal than a diary, surely.
"I moved to this flat 14 years ago and yet I still found myself with old diaries from my early 20s. I was expecting tales of heartache but really it was rubbish," Conroy admits, adding with a laugh: "I did realise, though, that I haven't changed at all. I kept a few things of actual sentimental value, but the 1996 diary – I'm afraid I had to let it go."
The challenge, more than anything, taught Conroy, who studied sociology, that she "needed to stop buying stuff", and also made her realise she had to make decluttering an "ongoing process".
"You don't have to wait until you turn 40, the kids leave home or for another milestone in your life. I wish I had been ruthless a long time ago," she says.
"I had this leather jacket I kept for years. I used to love it, but I decided by the time I fitted into it again, it would be well out of fashion and people don't want to see a crazy middle-aged woman squeezed into a 1980s leather jacket," laughs Conroy, who donated most of her old things to charity shops, schools and a freecycle group.
"Minimalism seems quite unattainable to many. But you don't need to throw everything away. The hardest part about achieving a minimalist home is starting."
Conroy's advice is to create four piles: keep, donate, recycle and trash. You then lift each item and briskly ask yourself: Have I used it within the past year? Would I buy it now if I saw it in a store? And do I have a 'home' for this item in my home?
"We need to reframe how we treat material items in order to reduce the flow of consumer goods. I remember saving my money to buy a Walkman from my confirmation money in the 80s and I really treasured that item."
Conroy (44) lives alone but her advice to families who find themselves surrounded by a mass of plastic toys is "sorts bits when you can, model it for your children and get them involved".
While fans of Japanese 'organising consultant' Marie Kondo will be familiar with such a process, Conroy's book goes further in giving advice on taking control of your finances, cleaning up your relationships and evaluating how you spend time online, so you can spend more time on the things and people you love.
:: Strategies on how to shop smart
1. Rethink your consumption of TV and social media
Thanks to streaming services and cable subscription packages, it’s now possible to largely remove TV ads from your viewing experience. With social media, be selective in whose Twitter feeds and Instagram stories you follow, prioritising trusted voices in the fields you’re interested in and avoiding the reams of vacuous tweets and promoted Instagram posts.
2. Assess whether there’s a better use for your money
When you consider how long it took you to earn that sum, would buying those expensive yoga pants represent a good use of that time and labour? Or would it be better spent on a night out with friends, paying a little extra toward your pension, or in the savings account marked Galapagos?
3. Pay with cash to keep track of your spending
Frictionless spending can lead to money flowing out of our accounts without us even noticing. Tackle this mindless spending by using cash for everyday purchases. This means we have to set a budget as we anticipate how much money we’ll need to cover our purchases.
4. Be an anthropologist
In opening Selfridges in 1909, Harry Gordon Selfridge introduced such innovations as placing stock on open display, pumping cinnamon fragrance on to the trading floor and opening a restroom for women shoppers. In the 21st century, retailers and social media continue to employ such tactics to persuade us to spend our money.
When I shop, I like to think I’m summoning my inner ‘retail anthropologist’; by inspecting my surroundings I can take a step back from the situation and determine what I really need and what’s just window dressing.
5. Make a list before you shop
Drawing up an old-fashioned shopping list – or even compiling one on your smartphone – and referring back to it regularly keeps you on track in an environment that’s designed to make you spend. It means you concentrate on the task in hand, rather than allowing your attention to wander to the bargains aisle.
6. Apply the two-day rule
If you particularly desire the item, you’ll find that a two-day wait for make-up remover, a new dress, or a new pair of trainers that you particularly want is perfectly manageable. Ask yourself: Do I really need it? How would it improve my life? Am I simply hankering after the thrill of something new? If you’re still convinced that you should buy it, go ahead.
7. Borrow instead of buy
Be it a power drills, a removal van or a dress, hiring things allows you to get the job done or feel stylish without paying vast sums of money for the pleasure.
8. Ask whether you have space for the item
Before you bring home a breadmaker you found on sale, think long and hard about where it’ll fit in your kitchen. Can you justify losing the valuable counter space it’ll take up? Would it end up being squeezed into a kitchen cupboard then going unused because it’s out of sight?
9. Buy quality items
By and large, when we compromise on price, we get what we pay for. If you want to reduce the churn rate in your wardrobe, instead of buying staples, such as work wear pants or winter coats at a budget chain store, think about investing in classic, timeless looks at more upscale shops.
:: Simplify Your Life: Waste Less, Value More, Go Minimalist by Mary Conroy is published by Hay House UK and is available now. Mary is on Instagram @quietcontrary and Twitter @QuietContrary
