The year of less

2020 has been pretty strange so far.

We are in the midst of battling an unprecedented health crisis that is COVID-19. My whole lifestyle has taken on a different shape and I am learning to deftly navigate this new semi-permanent situation.

I have been working from home since April, and finally set up a dedicated workspace at home (after six months). Truth is, I never foresaw the pandemic would outlast my determination to not have a workspace at home. (Am I the only one who does not appreciate when work is literally an arm’s length away from me?) But it has invaded my safe space and looks like it will be here for several more months, and more! 

The past few months have been tremendously arduous.

I blustered through the last two months to deliver a high-point project on time. (I say “on time” but we were actually already behind time since June.) I did a rough calculation of the extra hours I put in for this project and the number stands at an astounding 112! This comes shortly after the many more hours I put in during the General Election in July. 

There was truly no break. 

Restrictions on social gatherings meant I had little avenue to seek respite from outside the home where work has moved into. 

All my travel plans were disrupted (and I’m uncertain about planning new ones), We have had to cancel Korea and Scotland, which were major bummers. Fortunately, the airlines gave us a full refund but the pandemic also robbed us of a temporary break from the rat race.

Then again, there seemed like there was nothing else to do except work. But months and months of working tirelessly and relentless left me feeling rather disconsolate.

At a very timely moment, my colleague recommended this illustration book entitled ‘Oh, The Places You Will Go!’ 

Although this isn’t about that book, that book did affirm a very difficult decision I had to make — to leave my current role after 29 months, and take on a completely new portfolio come January. 

After I was done with Dr. Seuss, I browsed the NLB app for my next read and decided to take on ‘The Year of Less’. 

Based on the author’s own experience of decluttering her life when she reached a new turning point at 29 years old, the chapters introduced a non-religious ascetic lifestyle. As soon as I finished reading it, I laid down some rules to guide my spending till the end of the year:

• Essentials like groceries, soaps, shampoo, etc
• Doggo
• Gifts for others
• Anything that requires replacement (because it cannot be fixed)

Those on top of my monthly expenditure on insurance and handphone bill. (These alone cost me close to $900! So I got an insurance agent to help me review my existing policies.)

What I also did was unsubscribe to many of the mailing lists I was on, so I wouldn’t be tempted to shop for clothes I don’t need. I not only not need new clothes, I also don’t need many of my old clothes. So I went in to de litter my wardrobe. All in all, I donated: 

• 6 dresses
• 4 tops
• 4 bottoms
• 1 romper
• 3 jackets

I say donated because, fortunately, there is a regular collection drive every month. I also donated stationery and bags. Everything that I have not used in the last 12 months went into the donation box and off to families who would be able to use them.

I started out small, so that I could experiment and see how far I am able to take this. Apart from decluttering my wardrobe, I also decluttered a box of sentimental items I've accumulated over the years. Gifts I received from as far back as when I was 10 or 11 and letters that I received during my school-going years; I decided to throw them out they no longer have a space in my life now. They do, however, have a place in memory.

And so the challenge continues!

I have gone from decluttering to now reorganising the kitchen. The kitchen is strictly my mom's space, and I would not be able to makeover the space as I would love to. But for a start, I am moving things around so that we have dedicated spaces for our pantry and kitchenware. I've spotted a few things that would have to go but I'm taking it slow. Some things that we've kept high up in the cabinets are in an out-of-sight-out-of-mind situation but I know the space can be better utilised, and that's what I am aiming to do.

I am also making small upgrades, if you would call them, around the house. For a start, I am selling my current bedside table to replace it with a chest of four drawers for better functionality. (Also, starting to see that storing my items in bins do not necessarily eradicate the mess. It just hides the mess from public optics.) So I am removing storage bins everywhere else in the house, except in the storeroom where I use them to categorise decorations and knickknacks like extra lightbulbs. 

So yes, the challenge is to tidy the house up steadily at a pace I can manage (both financially and physically).

I know 2020 has been some kind of weird roller-coaster. But it's all good! It's all good.