Like every other person, I have a strong desire to travel. I want to go to south korea because I love K-dramas. I want to go to Medellin, Colombia, because it's called the city of eternal spring. I want to go to Bali, Vietnam and Indonesia. I want to travel far and wide.
But being a 20 year old with hardly any money and high parental expectations, my options are close to none, at least at present. I may not have the means to travel now, but doesn't mean I can't do something about it. So in the spirit of being proactive, I went out and bought "Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts. It is one of the two books Tim Ferris took along with him when he went travelling. The other is "Walden", which is one of my favourites. In "Vagabonding", Potts inspires the reader to take up simplicity by saying " Vagabonding is about using the prosperity and possibility of the information age to increase your personal options instead of your personal possessions."
The idea of simplicity attracts me. There is freedom in simplicity. There is desire to eliminate all that distracts you and stare life right in the face. No one says it better than Henry David Thoreau in Walden :
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms."
Potts suggests three general methods of simplifying one's life :
a. Stopping Expansion - Not add any new possession to my life, no matter how tempting they might be.
b. Reining in my routine - Wherever you see a chance of eliminating an expensive habit, take it.
c. Reducing clutter- Downsizing what I already own.
Being young means that I don't really own a lot, but being a city girl means that I do have expensive habits. Buying clothes when I really don't need them, buying expensive make-up and the next-big cream, serum,mask, etc. Eating at expensive restaurants to fit in with friends and going to movies, which basically are thieves with popcorns. Even when I don't do a lot, it still is a drain on my funds. I want to try my best to follow this advice and hence, have drafted the following list of guidelines I have set for myself for the challenge. I will continue this experiment for the next 6 months and give you updates on this blog.
b. Reining in my routine - Wherever you see a chance of eliminating an expensive habit, take it.
c. Reducing clutter- Downsizing what I already own.
Being young means that I don't really own a lot, but being a city girl means that I do have expensive habits. Buying clothes when I really don't need them, buying expensive make-up and the next-big cream, serum,mask, etc. Eating at expensive restaurants to fit in with friends and going to movies, which basically are thieves with popcorns. Even when I don't do a lot, it still is a drain on my funds. I want to try my best to follow this advice and hence, have drafted the following list of guidelines I have set for myself for the challenge. I will continue this experiment for the next 6 months and give you updates on this blog.
1. Technology -
Restrict time spent on the computer to 2 hours per day and restrict the number of tech I have and resist the desire to upgrade unless absolutely necessary. Usage allowed for study, work or music.
2. Clothing-
Give away what I don't wear or is falling apart. Not buy any new piece of clothing, jewellery, bag, shoes or makeup in the next 6 months, unless absolutely necessary like for a job interview, etc.
3. Books -
Throw out useless notebooks, books, stationery and take good care of the ones I will keep
4. Food -
Eat simple home-cooked meals, eat only as much required to make you feel satisfied . No eating at restaurants, try to pack lunches.
5. Sleep - 7-8 hours at night and 30 minutes in the afternoon
6. Exercise -
Yoga every morning for 15 minutes so that I can also get rid of all the unwanted fat I have in my body and can also keep away diseases.
7. Cleanliness - Keep whatever possessions I have in their proper places and keep my working environment clean and clutter free. Do a clean-up every Sunday afternoon.
8. Work on improving my relationship with my friends, family and myself.
9. Always try to restrict the number of obligations I take on at the same time, spend more time creating things, learning and taking chances.
10. If possible DIY the things you want
11. Every month on the last sunday-
Do a check on whether you have unnecessary things and give away what you don't need.