When it comes to choosing what and when to buy, mastering the art of pickiness means regaining control of our space by investing in exactly what we know is right for us and ours. How to mindfully approach the concept ? Simple. Value your possessions to cherish only a select handful of curated items that will lift your spirits and lifestyle rather than burden it.

The Upside of a Blank Canvas.

Anyone going through renovations or having to move has had the opportunity to fully appreciate how things tend to take over our daily lives. And that’s without us even realizing their impact until we have to tackle the daunting task of totally emptying a room, that is, and pack the mountain of items in boxes. Haul them to storage and carry them back when the makeover or the move is complete.

That very task is usually is a great indicator of what is actually meaningful to you. A remarkably efficient strategy to see what you use on a regular basis or what is completely futile and, frankly, forgotten. A productive way to acknowledge and value your possessions.

More than often, when time comes to reintegrate those things into our living quarters, many of them will take another path once we acknowledge we did not really miss them after all during all those weeks—unless we find an emotional attachment to hang on to them. But that is until we slowly bring back into our life more items that we judge necessary to fulfill our happiness.

Busy Realities.

Truth is, life, in general, is cluttered. We accumulate things because we are constantly enticed to get them. We are convinced that we need them. That life will be better with them and there is some truth to it to a certain extend. Depending on our lifestyle, most of us do need items to serve their purpose in order for us to function properly day after day.

Taking yoga classes? You will probably have a mat laying around, with its own bag or slings, proper exercise apparel in the wardrobe. And you may also want to use the accessory blankets or blocs to further your technique. Having kids in Baseball this summer? You will definitely see gloves, bats, baseball balls, caps, cups and helmets decorating your interior. You like to entertain? Music equipment, serving sets, barbecue essentials, cutlery, table linen and other barware probably serve as a backdrop in your domain.

To be realistic, we do need “stuff” to operate within our society on a daily basis. But to what extend, this is where we each have to find our own balance. Because when it comes to possessions, less truly is more.

Exploring the Validity of Minimalism.

Now, after being vastly popularized in the recent years—not that it is a recent concept by any means, but it simply was not as trending in the past—minimalism has grown to fan out in a wide array of uncluttered styles. From Spartan monochrome clean lines to colorful bohemian simple interiors to bright white and soft wooden Scandinavian bare spaces. The potential of living with less within the reach of everyone’s taste.

But why shall we embrace minimalism ? Why going naked when life is, well, a flamboyant wardrobe overflowing with tantalizing attires ? Well, there are many benefits to scaling down your belongings. And to value your possessions.

Simplifying the Logistics.

On one side, having less belongings in our home means that what we do use regularly is easier to get to. And having readily access to our staples—literally and conceptually—is a huge stress reliever. Imagine never having to look for your wallet ? Your locker keys or your hockey sticks (oh yes, you CAN lose that too…) ?

Furthermore, tidying up is a breeze when there is less to take care of and enough space to fit it all. After all, having to rearrange one set of cushions instead of three when tidying up the sofa every morning clearly will take less time and energy overall, giving yourself a chance to complete those trivial tasks in a breeze and inspiring them to be done more frequently or at least more easily.

Owning less also means having less to maintain. And yes, less to replace overtime. All in all, a snowball effect.

The Mindful Aspect.

Then, there is the matter of the dynamics inside your home. The life flowing from one room to the other. Objects have the tendency to break that flow. Holding onto the perpetual exchange of energy, chopping it up.

Visual, sensory, auditory, our senses are naturally enthralled by all that surrounds us. An environment that is too busy becomes over-stimulating and distracts us from the essential : peace, music, silence, connect with each other, communicate, share and listen, be there, just be.

The Sentimental Component.

Finally, having less things around you will make you like them more. Value your possessions even more. It may sound contradictory as we are aiming to an emptier space, with less to fill it in, but the reality is that we do build attachment to objects throughout our lifetime. Some things mean something.

They may represent a moment shared. An experience that a mere memory cannot solely replicate. They may represent a feeling we experienced and want to keep coming back over and over again. We are sensorial beings, after all, deeply stimulated by the touch. And being able to physically connect with an item is both soothing and meaningful.

Also some articles may be useful to help us get the job done. We need them to accomplish, make, create, have fun, give it a try and try again. They may represent a desire, a prospect, or just purely beauty. Appreciating beauty makes our days brighter. So having special pieces in our interiors does bring positive energy and happiness around us. And having less insignificant items to showcase only the important ones will bring that sense of comfort, joy. That sense of home.

Value your possessions. They are not counterproductive, they are necessary and beneficial. The only catch is to do your best to exercise sound judgment and visualize your own interaction with those items in order to determine if they are worth becoming yours in the first place.

Assessing a Necessity.

When we want to invest in something new—new to us that is, as it encompasses used items by all means—, we should assess the piece we are about to acquire outside of its display environment. We might feel that having this dazzling lamp will bring our interior to replicate the lush ambiance purposefully set in this particular showroom. But, if our living room’s style has an entirely distinct inspiration, the result will likely be awkward and disappointing. Very different than it is right here, right now.

So momentarily stepping back before committing to buy, making that little step to assess the situation, will help us decide if whatever we want to bring home will actually make our life better, easier or more beautiful. If we can’t justify one of those reasons then the item is probably not worth purchasing. And will not last in our household, undoubtedly out the door by New Year when time calls for a refresh.

We should invest in quality too. Craftsmanship really means something and holds more than a dollar value. If an item is out of our range, we should wait rather than buy the cheaper counterpart. We will save in the long run. Think about the piece you would like to have and start saving little by little. May it be 5$ every paycheck or 50$, whatever you can afford. You will be amazed to see how quickly humble savings can grow. And it might even induce you to apply this strategy to a greater scope in your life. Just saying…

No matter how we approach it, taking some time before buying will ultimately help us decide in the end if the article is actually worth waiting for. A great buy shall be used for a long while. Be meaningful all along its useful life and it should bring us satisfaction.

Following Your Instinct.

That being said, not all purchases must be well planned and thoroughly thought. Some impulse buys are absolutely worth it and especially apply during seasonal events or when artisans expose for a short period of time. When you explore local venues and discover artists from near you. When you could miss your chance to introduce a special piece that you truly fell in love with.

If it is out of your reach at the time and place, talk to the artist. Share your feelings, your thoughts, your interest. They will likely be very attached to their work as heart and soul were put into it. And they will be more open to make an arrangement knowing that their creation will be valued, respected and meaningful to someone else who can appreciate it. Some solutions can be worked out to satisfy both parties. And the intent is to emphasize the fact that the piece is worth your investment. So it does not end up discarded within a matter of months, and therefore does not enter the long chain of rejected things suffocating our daily reality.

Trust your instincts and go with what you love. Choose wisely, make your purchases count and value your possessions. Time to get started ! Take an honest look around, and start packing to make your everyday better.