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4 Pieces of Advice I Actually Follow: My 2017 Takeaways

4 Pieces of Advice I Actually Follow: My 2017 Takeaways

The best pieces of advice I've received in my first year of blogging and podcasting.

This year – without having a clue what I was getting into – I embarked upon my blogging adventure. I’ve always loved to write, and I wanted to share my passions for both minimalism and sustainability with anyone willing to read. I also desperately needed an outlet as I juggled parenting, my family’s household and all things related to adulthood.

They say ignorance is bliss and it’s completely true: On a total whim, I bought a domain name at the tail end of April 2017.


8 months and many late nights later, I can honestly say my only regret is I didn’t take the plunge sooner.


Indeed, this little blog:

  • has helped simplify my hectic life.
  • has forced Ani and me to get more creative with less.
  • has educated me on best practices for the environment.

 

Even better, this blog born out of ignorance is growing; exponentially, in fact. I have new subscribers daily (to all of you: thank you!) and I’ve just started a podcast to be rolled out in 2018. It’s getting real!

A little-known fact: I’m not just a face behind a computer screen. I’ve actually implemented (or at least attempted!) nearly everything I’ve endorsed here at MamaMinimalist.com.

As I reflect on the year, here are the four pieces of advice I’ve given – and personally enacted – that have actually improved my life.

 

WITH REGARD TO SIMPLICITY:

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1. Tackle school lunches

This post was my most successful this year and – every Sunday evening – I follow the step-by-step process I outlined To. The. Tee. I own the items I recommend in the post; I cook the recipes, too.

By doing a week’s-worth of lunch-related work up front, I feel as though I’ve actually reduced the stresses associated with filling Ani’s lunch box.

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2. Do all the laundry at once

I interviewed a fellow mom with a super-streamlined laundry routine and I adapted it to fit my household. My biggest takeaway? Reserving just one day per week for laundry drastically shifts the way I view the chore.

Laundry as a whole (the washing, drying, hanging, folding, and putting away) feels significantly less daunting when I dedicate a single day to doing it all. It also frees up the other 6 days of the week so that I (hardly) think about laundry at all.

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WITH REGARD TO MINIMALISM:

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3. Rotate toys

In hopes of keeping my kids stimulated with “newish” toys, I suggested rotating them with mom friends. These days, I rotate regularly. You can read about my strategy or you can listen to it on my new (and very choppy) podcast.

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WITH REGARD TO SUSTAINABILITY:

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4. Bid adieu to items that are individually wrapped

No granola bars. No cheese sticks. No yogurt pods. Now I buy everything in bulk; when I get home, I separate items into individual portions myself.

This small step has saved serious money; even better, because we no longer “buy in” to excessive plastic packaging, I’ve seen a significant reduction in the amount of trash my household produces. These days my family of four produces one trash bag of garbage per week.

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AREAS WHERE I CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE:

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Well, I’m still stressed, and parenting continues to be really, really hard. The declining health of our planet keeps me up at night, and I’m forever depressed about the Earth we’re leaving our children.

There’s much more work to be done. 

Onto 2018!

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How Many Jeans Do You Own?

Denim jeans were once the preferred trouser for cowboys in the American west; some decades later, they became a symbol of rebellion for non-conformist teens. These days jeans are all about comfort and casual style, and the average American woman owns 7 pairs. And yet blue jeans also happen to have one of fashion's biggest environmental footprints. On today's show Sarene Alsharif reveals the harsh realities associated with jeans production; she also shares practical strategies for transforming this wardrobe staple into a sustainable solution.   Here's a preview: [7:00]  Stone-washed with actual stones? Dyed with carcinogenic dyes? Uncovering your favorite pair's dirty little enviro-secrets  [13:00] Want some stretch? Revisiting our desire for synthetic fibers in our denim  [23:00] The trend cycle = smoke and mirrors [27:00] It's a marriage not a fling (and other tried-and-true sustainable fashion tips) [31:00] Stephanie's nihilist thoughts: What happens when collective action matters, and yet the collective isn't doing its part?   Resources mentioned: How To Save The World With A Pair Of Jeans (via YouTube) Tad More Tailoring Atomic Habits (by James Clear) The Comfort Crisis Embrace Discomfort To Reclaim Your Wild, Happy, Healthy Self (February's Book Club pick!)   This show is listener-supported. Thank you for supporting! **If you're a financial supporter over on Apple Podcasts and want to join Book Club, please email me and let me know! For privacy reasons, Apple won't share your contact info with me. Just email me and I'll happily add you!** Join our (free!) Facebook community here. Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on Facebook, Instagram + Youtube @sustainableminimalists Say hello! MamaMinimalistBoston@gmail.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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My Story

Hello there, I’m Stephanie. I live a crazy, beautiful life as a full-time wife, blogger + mother to two spirited daughters. I’m on a mission to simplify eco-friendly living so as to greater enjoy life’s sweeter moments.

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