Now everyone is popularizing the concept of “断舍离” – “home decluttering”, “emotional decluttering”, “social media decluttering”, saying goodbye to the past, bidding farewell to people and things that have nothing to do with life, re-examining what is needed in life, recognizing the most important things in life, and not being led by material possessions.
However, everyone practices “断捨離,” but is it suitable for everyone? After getting rid of all belongings, you may feel empty and struggle to adapt to this lifestyle, or like the protagonist Sharon Lam, you may become enamored with the freedom of no longer being restricted by possessions, thus becoming a follower of minimalism.
// 斷捨離初階：控制購物慾 //
Before becoming a decluttering expert, Sharon’s consumption habits were just like yours and mine. She could always find a million reasons to shop, not only for daily necessities but also to add new outfits for special occasions, hoping to always look impressive. She used to care a lot about others’ opinions, but now, after practicing minimalism for 5 years, she only has 20 pieces of clothing, 4 pairs of shoes, and 3 handbags. Transforming from a shopaholic to a minimalist, she found a way to control her shopping desires through the process of decluttering her home. “The key to decluttering is not just getting rid of clutter, but more importantly, controlling your desires. By getting rid of waste, you can reevaluate what you have, what you truly need. After discarding a large amount of unnecessary possessions, your desires naturally decrease, and slowly you will shift from being a shopaholic shopper to a mindful buyer.”
// 為何要花時間為物件煩惱？//
Many people misunderstand that they need to purchase a large number of storage products before starting the process of decluttering, in order to organize their belongings properly. However, this is actually a misconception. “The first thing you need to prepare for decluttering is actually large garbage bags to discard all the clutter in the house before starting to categorize and organize. Just picking up items without letting go is not decluttering.” Sharon, who is addicted to decluttering, loves the liberating feeling after getting rid of clutter. “Aside from stress relief, household cleaning time is reduced, no longer worrying about how to deal with clutter, having more time and space for more important things, life becomes more free.”
// 斷捨離後的蝴蝶效應 //
Is abandoning all items not wasteful? Sharon admits that decluttering is not 100% environmentally friendly, but you can make the most of the process by considering reselling second-hand items or donating them to those in need, minimizing waste. After a thorough decluttering, understanding the effort involved in handling objects, you learn to control your desires and stop spending money recklessly on unnecessary items. Instead, you would rather invest in high-quality styles that stand the test of time, reducing unnecessary waste from the source. “Even with just 20 pieces of clothing and 4 pairs of shoes, with simple and versatile styles, you can create different looks. In addition, try to stick to the principle of one in, two out, meaning for every item you bring in, get rid of two, so that the number of items truly decreases,” Sharon shared.
// 斷捨離只是其中一種生活方式 //
As a professional organizer and minimalist, Sharon, who admits to having OCD, does not believe in forcing the KonMari method on everyone. She thinks, “Not everyone is suitable for decluttering. Some people feel happy when they see their collections neatly arranged at home, and that’s completely understandable. There are always people who enjoy being surrounded by cherished items. Being a collector is just a different lifestyle attitude from minimalism.” “Collecting” and “minimalism” are two completely different ways, both are exits that make life enjoyable. Maybe we don’t need to achieve complete minimalism like Sharon, but we shouldn’t use “collecting” to beautify the act of hoarding junk. Think rationally, life actually doesn’t need too many things. Try to let go, try to release, make more space and time to accept new opportunities. Instead of holding onto what you have now, maybe you can gain more.
Afterword:
After visiting Sharon’s home, which is even neater and more minimalist than furniture stores and hotels, I couldn’t help but wonder how her partner adapts to such an extreme minimalist lifestyle. With a face full of happiness, she explained that her husband understands that keeping the home clean and comfortable is her little obsession, so he is willing to accept and cooperate. Now, he even loves decluttering more than she does. Whether it’s for the habits of those around us or for changing ourselves, trying to take the first step in letting go, even if you end up loving or hating it, is a life practice that teaches you to let go of attachments.
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Producer: Vicky Wai
Editor: Candy Chan
Videographer: @mxkan_ , Andy Lee
Photographer: @mxkan_
Video Edit: Andy Lee
Designer: Tanna Cheng
Special Thanks: @minimalist.sharon
