Like 99% of Americans, I love everything about Fixer Upper and Chip and Joanna. I am obsessed with their style – that rustic, shiplap, farmhouse feel. I recently got a sample abbreviated copy of their new magazine, Magnolia Journal, with another one of my magazines in the mail. Of course, it was beautifully designed, but it was also full of great tips and articles.
I read this article written by Joanna, and I loved every.single.word.
(Cropped the article for the sake of copyright.)
The gist of the article is that it’s a myth that you set yourself up to live a simple life and then just forget about it. Like most things in life, simplicity requires maintenance. Joanna says, “Few things in my life require more intentionality than living an edited life.”
I cannot agree with her more. I am constantly editing my closet, my clutter spots, my kitchen cabinets, my pantry, Mazen’s toys, drawers, the garage, etc. The natural tendency is for things to build up, and therefore we must continually pair down. I just sent a huuuuge box to Goodwill last week, and I have no idea where most of the things in there came from. (Most of them were probably Target purchases from five years ago.)
This concept has parallels with healthy living too – the tendency is to eat more and more and let things slide as we float through life distracted by everything we have on our proverbial plates. But we must intentionally reset every now and then and reflect on our choices to make sure we are eating and living with mindfulness. That’s why food journals are so effective – they force us to step back and reflect.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Do you agree? Disagree? Are you someone who is constantly editing or do you just go with the flow of your house until your closets are full and you need to move?
Melissa says
Agreed. I too got this article (magazine teaser). What a good topic for her to address! Loved the article!
Holly says
I completely agree! I am someone who constantly tries to edit and purge what I’m/we’re not using once or twice a year, usually each time I change out the winter clothes in late spring (it’s still cool here in Buffalo!). I really love the feeling of paring down, whether it’s the closet or the basement. I also totally hear Joanna on the need for a clean space and how it really let’s her breathe–I live in a house with a husband and three (shockingly hairy) animals, none of whom pick up after themselves! It’s hard for me to relax in my own house when the couch or floor is covered in hair…perhaps Joanna will write some words of wisdom on how to manage that problem next!
Jill says
After a massive ‘edit’ this past Christmas season, we no longer have to do constant sorting and “what is this? Do we keep it?” isn’t a phrase heard often anymore. We watched the documentary “Minimalist”, and while my husband and I agreed we didn’t want to live *quite* that simply, we pared down our belongings and household items significantly. I also saw something (probably on Pinterest) about not just replacing things we had discarded/donated, so we work hard at not bringing MORE stuff into the house. A lot of my girlfriends love their subscription boxes – make-up, clothes, fitness items, there are a gazillion from which to choose! – but I just finished a ‘no-buy quarter’ from the end of December until April 1st, and feel great about my lack of spending, and the money saved from only purchasing groceries and gas. I absolutely went through a phase when I felt like every corner of our house needed to be filled with so much STUFF, but now we enjoy how our house looks and feels with just the basics, and things we really love. We don’t have to keep on top of the simplicity quite as much, just because we don’t add to our belongings very often.
KathEats says
I want to watch that documentary – i listened to a bit of their podcast. and I love the idea of a spending freeze, although I know there would be something that I’d actually need. With my word of the year being intentional, I’m trying to be so with my purchases as well. Quality over quantity.
Kristen says
Looking for a quick recommendation for the best dinner spot in C’Ville with kids (ages 10,8, and 6) but foodie parents! Something between fancy and casual. Visiting for the first time.
KathEats says
BRAZOS!!!! Great tacos, big outdoor patio with space to make noise and run around.
Christina @ montessoriishmom.com says
I couldn’t agree more. I hate clutter, but if I don’t pay attention, it really does build up. I just brought two bags of books to half priced books yesterday and am in the process of going through my closet for what seems like the millionth time to send stuff to thredup / Goodwill. I’m also cleaning out our storage containers and just emptied out two big ones – I love the feeling of getting rid of stuff, it makes me feel lighter!
Mom says
I’ve been doing lots of editing as we prepare to move, and I’ve find it quite meaningful. My goal has been to keep almost everything out of the landfill and to send everything to its best use. A recycling shed in our area has been the secret link between things too odd to give to friends, donate, or sell. I’ve brought items to the shed such as partially used rolls of wrapping paper, paint sets, tins, and some really beautiful boxes that fruit came in at Christmas.
Julie says
That recycling shed seems like a very cool idea! Would love to wander around and look through those things just for fun – not to bring home – that would just add more clutter! 😉
Lindsay says
Oh man, I’d love to be an edited person with a clean home. I blame that it’s not my personality, but I know it’s just laziness. I did finally start using a chores app mostly for myself (but also my husband to help him with his honey-does) which has been great forward progress. In the meantime, I just like vicariously through you
KathEats says
: )
Katie says
I couldn’t AGREE more with this post! Every few weeks I go through the toy bin, drawers, and random “junk places” to get rid of anything extra. Love simplicity in our home!
elle says
For me the key is to reduce what comes in to the house. Sort of like with reduce, reuse, recycle – we forget that reduce is first and recycle is last. We like to think things “pile up” but they don’t drift in to the house magically – we buy them (not counting gifts from others etc). When I feel that urge to buy something that I don’t need (totally guilty of the Target trip for one thing and I come home with an entire new decorating theme) I take that money and transfer it to a savings account by “buying” something like a night at a hotel, part of a plane ticket, a meal in a new city, etc. Kind of like a fake honeymoon fund where you buy the couple an experience, I buy them for myself by squirreling the money away.
I remember when my dad was moving out of our childhood home (there were 7 of us living there!) We’d go to his house every day to throw stuff in a dumpster (most of it was our crap, not his) and then I’d go home and purge my own house. You realize how little actual stuff matters, which I’m sure you saw when you parents moved.
Mary Beth says
In front of reduce-reuse-recycle, I like to put “refuse”. I refuse to take stuff off other people’s hands just because they want to be rid of it, I refuse to buy a bunch of cheap things when I’d rather save up for one nice thing, I refuse to fritter away money on stuff to eventually throw away. Refuse! LOL
KathEats says
Love that!!
Robin says
Ugg… I need advice on how to refuse things other people ‘gift’ that I really don’t need or have a place for!
Tonya says
I LOVE that idea of transferring money you don’t spend on impulse buys to a savings account, squirreling it away for a trip later!
Pamela says
I’m so glad you said this – things don’t pile up – we buy them!!
Tracey says
Kath, this paragraph was perfect, and something I really needed to hear right now:
This concept has parallels with healthy living too – the tendency is to eat more and more and let things slide as we float through life distracted by everything we have on our proverbial plates. But we must intentionally reset every now and then and reflect on our choices to make sure we are eating and living with mindfulness. That’s why food journals are so effective – they force us to step back and reflect.
Also, I just ordered the Magnolia Journal magazine, so I hope they aren’t too upset about you posting a page from it! It looked like something I would really love, and I hadn’t heard of it before reading your post. 🙂
KathEats says
Thank you and I’m glad!
Kelli @ Hungry Hobby says
As someone who has recently started down this path I 100% agree. For lent, I gave up being messy and my whole world changed. It took a lot of “work” at first as I discovered the reason I was messy was because a lot of things didn’t have a set place and I didn’t have good habits. One thing I’ve noticed is that my husband and I have ZERO arguments since we changed our environment. It’s been truly wonderful both from a relationship standpoint and for my own sanity. But, I will say that I realized very on this was going to be continuous. I would have to start thinking of my house as an evolving organism and stay on top of it at all times. It’s kind of weird but sooooo true!
Sarah says
Hi Kath! Since you were wondering, no, it actually is not legal to share that photo! That article is protected by copyright, so unless you received permission from the author or the publisher, it’s generally safer for you not to share an entire article. Especially considering you’ve just given your readers access to content they would otherwise have had to pay to read – publishers don’t like losing money! I’m sure Magnolia does “like you spreading the word about how great it is and why your readers should subscribe,” but they’re less likely to be happy about someone giving away their content for free. It’s always better to err on the side of caution and maybe just quote a line or two, then simply provide a link to the resource (in this case, the journal’s website). I’m sure you meant well, and this isn’t a criticism at all – just a tip from a librarian who’s had to answer a lot of questions about copyright and intellectual property rights! 🙂
KathEats says
Well since this was a promotional issue that they sent out for free rather than a paid subscription, I erred on the side of promotion. I can crop it down if you think I should be worried.
KathEats says
OK, ok, I cropped it so it’s just a snippet. I don’t need to create any drama over this. Hopefully everyone still gets the idea 🙂
Sarah says
No drama intended! How you handle it is up to you – I just thought you’d want to know. 🙂
KathEats says
Appreciate your input
Emily says
Ahhh – YES! This completely sums up how I go about each day, especially with kids! I prefer to keep memories on my blog and in my heart rather that stuffed into a box – therefore the majority of what they bring home gets recycled. It’s also what keeps me from buying extras without intentional thoughts behind it. I love these types of posts!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I think I do a bit of both, which is a great balance… though I do tend to lean towards the lazy side. My mother is OBSESSED with constantly editing and editing though. She’s always moving things around and throwing out things. It’s fine with me, but I don’t like it when she oversteps and cleans my things!
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Judith Scott says
Excellent posts! Something I totally subscribe to.
I try to live by the rule of getting rid of something for each new item I buy , mainly clothing.I keep a large bag in my office closet and am constantly putting things in it, so when I get 1 of those notices from a charity wanting donations,I’m good to go.
Definitely at the stage in my life where I need to be getting rid of stuff, rather than bringing more into it.
And quality over quantity is another rule to live by..in such a commercial world, there’s no need for us to have all this stuff!
Amy says
Hi Kath, I’m a loonngggg time reader, first time commenter. I couldn’t agree with you and Joanna more! Life is simply more enjoyable when edited.
Melissa says
This is an excellent article and I couldn’t agree with it more. I’m constantly thinking about how to simplify my life and the older I get, the more I realize the need to simplify, especially when life feels too hectic and cluttered.
Linda @ The Fitty says
Sometimes minimalism is best! I get a lot of decision paralysis so the best decision is to decide NOT to decide sometimes.
K says
I completely agree with this. This is something I have had to bring a lot more intention and attention to. It’s so easy to fall back into the habit of letting things, whether it’s clutter, email, clothes, accumulate. I notice I become more anxious when I edit less.
K says
The less I needed, the better I felt.
Jo says
I admit that I’ve had it in my mind for a long time to start purging “stuff” from the house. My husband died in September, and after I retire in Aug. 2018, my plan is to move to the Outer Banks, NC. What has stopped me from the purge in the past is that it has been SO overwhelming to know where to start. I’m taking one room or even one piece of furniture at a time. I have a friend who has a booth at an antique mall that I’ve giving boxes to, and I’ve had success in the past taking things to an auction house, and plan to take more things there – and of course lots of boxes will be going to Goodwill. Now that I have a definite timeline for moving, it has given me more incentive to get rid of “stuff.” I have several collections that I have loved over the years, but I find myself tired of having all this “stuff” in the house, most of which needs to be dusted, which I detest. And my tastes in furniture and decorating has definitely changed. I plan to only take the necessities when I move, so the big purge is on!!
KathEats says
I’m so sorry for your loss
Molly says
I loved this article too. After I read it I went to tackle our apartment – wouldn’t it be great if I could get rid of enough that there would be less to “put away” each night? It was a big fail. I wasn’t able to get rid of anything. Kath, you’re so good at organizing, purging and keeping things clean. Can you do another post on our purging techniques?
KathEats says
Haha!! You need to just walk around and just edit, edit, edit. What is holding you back from donating things?
Molly says
I like the things we have. We got married last year so we got a lot of wonderful wedding gifts. And my friends give me hand me downs for clothes so I have a lot of wonderful things
KathEats says
That’s great! Maybe you just need to reorganize and rearrange how things are displayed and stored?
Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) says
I am constantly reevaluating what I have, however I think I accumulate a lot less than most people. My husband and I don’t like to buy “stuff” and pretty much only buy clothes if there is something we need or something I reallllllly love (he only buys if he needs), and other than that we just buy consumables (food, drink, toiletries, makeup etc.).