Become a Curator, Not a Consumer
by Rakela
Did you know that we make an average of 35,000 decisions a day? Decision fatigue is something we all experience in our daily lives. I will take you inside my brain to show you what it was like for me every time I wanted to purchase (or even browse) an item online. My mind was flooded with questions that required my attention. Will it look good on me? Will it compliment my face and figure? What size should I get? Is this my style? What is the return policy? Should I be spending this much? Can I find it cheaper elsewhere? You get the gist. A tedious way of spending my time, wouldn’t you agree? You see, I was the girl who would buy a sweater just because it was on sale. I was the girl who would constantly swipe up and get the next item I didn't need. I was the girl who would get anxious on black Friday for fear of missing out on a good deal. This turned into an exhausting cycle of feeling overwhelmed by the volume of clothes I wasn’t wearing. I felt guilty about the amount of money I was wasting needlessly. Choice overload and decision fatigue were wearing me down.
The day I realized that my closet was overflowing with clothes I never wore and that my spending had gotten out of control is when my journey towards minimalism began. In search of ways to stop the mental gymnastics that were happening in my brain, I came across the concept of minimalism. It is this simple idea of owning fewer items of better quality that has added value to my life. “Think of yourself as a curator rather than a consumer” is a quote from Christine Koh. She describes herself as a music and brain scientist turned multimedia creative. Christine Koh really inspired me to re-think my shopping patterns and re-wire my brain to become a more intentional consumer.
What if we thought of ourselves as curators of our lives, our homes, and our closets? When we hear the word curator, we often think of a museum or a gallery where art is showcased and preserved. If I think of myself as the curator of my closet, then it is easy to focus only on well-made clothes that get a checkmark on longevity and purpose. What if I concentrate only on purposeful items that serve my lifestyle? What if I pick only sustainable pieces that add value to my gallery while minimizing my environmental footprint? Just like art, I can tell stories through my selections.
The day I realized that my closet was overflowing with clothes I never wore and that my spending had gotten out of control is when my journey towards minimalism began. In search of ways to stop the mental gymnastics that were happening in my brain, I came across the concept of minimalism. It is this simple idea of owning fewer items of better quality that has added value to my life. “Think of yourself as a curator rather than a consumer” is a quote from Christine Koh. She describes herself as a music and brain scientist turned multimedia creative. Christine Koh really inspired me to re-think my shopping patterns and re-wire my brain to become a more intentional consumer.
What if we thought of ourselves as curators of our lives, our homes, and our closets? When we hear the word curator, we often think of a museum or a gallery where art is showcased and preserved. If I think of myself as the curator of my closet, then it is easy to focus only on well-made clothes that get a checkmark on longevity and purpose. What if I concentrate only on purposeful items that serve my lifestyle? What if I pick only sustainable pieces that add value to my gallery while minimizing my environmental footprint? Just like art, I can tell stories through my selections.
|
|
|
I edited my wardrobe and downsized to include only items that I truly enjoy because they serve my current lifestyle and make me feel my best. The end result is out-of-this world amazing. My mornings are less chaotic. I get dressed with so much ease. More importantly, I have more time to do more of the things I love like spending time with my kids. By re-imaging new ways to wear the clothes I already owned and loved, I started saving more money and more precious time.
Two things helped me transform not only my closet but also my life. First, the mental shift of embracing minimalism and investing in fewer items of better quality. This helped me become more selective of my wardrobe without sacrificing style. Secondly, I reduced volume by editing and organizing my closet so that I could see all of the things that I loved without needing to weed through the clutter. I’m telling you this to help you achieve the same results.
If you’re new to minimalism, don’t get discouraged by all the pre-existing misconceptions out there. Minimalism doesn’t have to be scary or unattainable. It’s not about stripping you from all the things you love. It’s not about having a house where everything is stark white. It’s not about living with the bare necessities. All those things are okay, too. But for me minimalism is about what I gained: time, space, and freedom. I did it by letting go of items that did not bring value to my life. Minimalism is about finding the right amount of stuff that works for YOU. I love fashion and I can still be a minimalist. You too can create the version of minimalism that aligns with your values and not someone else’s aesthetic. Start small and share your experience.
Join Rakela on her instagram & share your stories with us here.
Two things helped me transform not only my closet but also my life. First, the mental shift of embracing minimalism and investing in fewer items of better quality. This helped me become more selective of my wardrobe without sacrificing style. Secondly, I reduced volume by editing and organizing my closet so that I could see all of the things that I loved without needing to weed through the clutter. I’m telling you this to help you achieve the same results.
If you’re new to minimalism, don’t get discouraged by all the pre-existing misconceptions out there. Minimalism doesn’t have to be scary or unattainable. It’s not about stripping you from all the things you love. It’s not about having a house where everything is stark white. It’s not about living with the bare necessities. All those things are okay, too. But for me minimalism is about what I gained: time, space, and freedom. I did it by letting go of items that did not bring value to my life. Minimalism is about finding the right amount of stuff that works for YOU. I love fashion and I can still be a minimalist. You too can create the version of minimalism that aligns with your values and not someone else’s aesthetic. Start small and share your experience.
Join Rakela on her instagram & share your stories with us here.
