I love the idea of a brand new year, a clean slate, and a chance to start, or start over. I also love easing in. I’m not always ready on the calendar appointed day for fresh starts, but there isn’t any magic to starting on the first of the year.
Start dates may be arbitrary, but beware of over-thinking the beginning. Getting ready is often a thoughtful way of procrastinating, especially when we forget that conditions don’t have to be perfect to start. Set your own parameters. Decide what’s challenging for you, toss the excuses and jump in. When you make starting more important than getting ready, you’ll start.
Try one of these simplicity challenges, or experiments. You can practice starting, and enjoy benefits you may not have considered.
Project 333
Create a capsule wardrobe of 33 items including clothes, shoes, accessories, and jewelry. Workout clothes don’t count, as long as they are for actually working out. Underwear and sleep wear doesn’t count either.
Don’t give away the things you aren’t including in your capsule wardrobe. Instead, box them up and put them out of sight. You may feel differently about them when the challenge ends. The challenge is officially 3 months long, and you can start anytime. You’ll notice the benefits of dressing with less almost immediately.
If the idea of only 33 items in your closet sounds terrifying, here are a few ways to make this minimalist fashion project work for you.
The Busy Boycott
Trade your busy life for a full one with this free 21-day challenge.
A Simple Year
It has been such a pleasure to partner with friends and simplicity advocates to create a year-long course focused on simplifying every part of life, from clutter and debt to relationships and mindfulness.
Join anytime in January and work the material at your own pace. You can see what each month has to offer on the Simple Year course page.
I didn’t write this to guilt you into something new, but instead to:
- encourage you to break the rules
- remind you that change can be fun
- inspire you to start before you are ready
Engage in life your way, on the first of the year, or at 2:30 this afternoon. It’s not too late.
