My Year of Less
I will spend less time with more of you so I can spend more time with less of you.
That's my mantra for 2019. It's not just people. It's projects. It's commitments. I will say NO to more so I can say YES to less. This is my year of less.
Cait Flanders has inspired me take on the challenge of new shopping for a year. My friend Lynn successful did it as well and it was a life changer. She lost 20 pounds and got out of debt. She was not even aware of Cait's book - so kudos to her! I'll try to interview her shortly.
Favorite Quotes
Helpful to have a list of 'go to' quotes when you need a reminder of why you are doing this.
“While choice is infinite, our lives have time spans. We can’t live every life. We can’t watch every film or read every book or visit every single place on this sweet earth. Rather than being blocked by it, we need to edit the choice in front of us. We need to find out what is good for us, and leave the rest. We don’t need another world. Everything we need is here, if we give up thinking we need everything.” – Matt Haig
“We are porous, highly susceptible creatures whose words and actions are affecting each other constantly. We’re taking cues from each other in every moment about who and how to be. The consequences of this are pretty massive. Everything is contagious. Every word, every action, every tweet, every Facebook post is a contribution to the collective. Every encounter affects us in subtle and not-so-subtle ways, and then that affects our next encounter, and our next, and so on and so on. We are wildly underestimating the impact we have on those around us. Those of us who are visible—and by that I really mean all of us—have a beautiful and holy opportunity. We can be contagiously good.” – Josh Radnor
Cait's Google Talk
Takeaways from her talk
Here's how you do it.
Make a list of approved purchases. This is basically your consumables you need to live a normal life. Food, gas, bills, toiletries, etc.. but ONLY when you run out.
Banned list: Clothes, shoes, magazines, electronics, books.
Exception list: gifts, special event expenses,
Declutter: Too much stuff! This is the year to get rid of it.
Becoming a more mindful consumer.
Take inventory: Track what you toss and what you keep (Instagram). Pictures of what you give away each day.
When you take an inventory of everything you own, you will start to become a more mindful consumer.
It will reveal your habits and your values.
Are you an emotional consumer?
Where else would you spend your money if not shopping?
She discovered she could live with a lot less money when she cut out the shopping - and it opened up new opportunities for her. She was able to save 45% of her income because she had learned to live below her means.
You'll find your local library your best friend.
The support of friends and family is key... but not easy.
You won't be in the conversations about shopping - but the conversations continue and you have to be ok with this.
She shed 70% of her belongings that year and discovered who she was.
A lot of her purchases were for a better version of herself. A lot of 'someday maybe' crap.
For her - the shopping ban helped her discover herself.
On getting published:
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Interview @ Forbes led to be contacted by 6 different literary agents.
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Libraries pay authors every time a book is checked out?? Really? If you really want something - it's a need? I don't agree with that. She doesn't shop online anymore. Shopping online is too mindless. Having to go to a store to find it will create more resistance to getting it, which is a good use of resistance! Cash budget (Dave Ramsey Envelope Method) didn't work for her. What does work for her was writing down every purchase she makes (not on the computer, but actually writing it down). She wish she would have kept track of how much of what she used so she could budget better. She is talking about creating a baseline for spending based on objective data. Great idea! She unsubscribed to all shopping emails. Have you ever made a 'blackout' purchase. How often to we justify our actions even when those actions are not justifiable! Old me vs. new me. How many of your purchases and actions are based on who you really are? How many of your purchases are for the wishful me? The potential me? The ideal me that will never exist? Q. How much did we spend @ Amazon this year? I bet it's a pretty sobering number. How much does the average Amazon account holder spend each year? Would you be willing to close your Amazon account?
Check out her interview on Break The Twitch, she gets into some deeper topics.
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When we go into a new project with an expectation of a big outcome, we put too much pressure on ourself.
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1+ hour podcast
## Achieving Less (notes from [Win at Work and Succeed at Life: 5 Principles to Free Yourself from the Cult of Overwork](https://amzn.to/3VV8fAX)) **Non-achievement can be extremely powerful in driving productivity.** Many high achievers struggle to understand this, but some of the most enriching and restorative activities in our lives are simply ends in themselves, such as hobbies, art, child rearing, friendships, music, wine, crafts, games, and more. **Non-achievement activities can help us to relax and recharge.** When we take time for these activities, we can come back to our work feeling refreshed and more productive. **For example,** the author describes a friend who was in politics and realized that he was slowly giving up his life to the cult of overwork. He decided to leave politics and pursue non-achievement activities, such as spending time with his family and playing golf. He found that these activities helped him to relax and recharge, and that he was more productive when he returned to work. **Non-achievement activities can also help us to be more creative.** When we take time to relax and let our minds wander, we can come up with new ideas and solutions to problems. **For example,** the author describes another friend who is a high-achieving national account manager. He was always on the go and never took any time for himself. One day, he decided to take a break and go for a walk in the park. While he was walking, he came up with an innovative software solution that helped him to close a major deal. **Non-achievement activities can be essential for our well-being.** When we take time for these activities, we can improve our mental and physical health, and our relationships with others. **For example,** the author describes a study that found that people who took time for non-achievement activities were less likely to experience burnout and had higher job satisfaction. They were also more likely to have healthy relationships and a good work-life balance. ## Resources -
Enough - A related writing from awhile back.
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Our Next Life: Early Retirement Strategies I also recommend checking out Break the Twitch - What if you looked at ALL your online purchases this year? Is there a chance that all that spending has become an obstacle to living the life you really want to live? Note to self - She had a pretty awesome speaking schedule:
- November 8, 2018 – Salisbury Country Club (Richmond, Virginia) – Private Event
- October 25, 2018 – Strathcona County Library (Edmonton)
- October 24, 2018 – St. Albert Public Library (St. Albert)
- October 11, 2018 – Shirlington Branch Library (Arlington)
- August 24-27, 2018 – CampFI Midwest (Minneapolis)
- May 17, 2018 – Google Author Talk (London)
- May 8, 2018 – Psychologies Magazine (London)
- April 18, 2018 – North Vancouver District Public Library (North Vancouver)
- March 24, 2018 – Chapters Indigo (Victoria)
- March 21, 2018 – Squamish Public Library (Squamish)
- March 15, 2018 – Audreys Books (Edmonton)
- March 12, 2018 – Octopus Books (Ottawa)
- March 7, 2018 – Queen Books (Toronto)