21 Things I Quit to Simplify My Life | Minimalism, slow living, mum lifestyle

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares a personal list of 21 things they've quit to simplify their life, ranging from reducing recipe variety and grocery shopping to minimizing skincare routines and avoiding trends. They discuss the impact of these changes, such as saving time, reducing waste, and improving mental health. The speaker also touches on more profound topics like dealing with infertility, the pressure of social media trends, and the decision to stop using credit cards. The video is a reflection on intentional living and invites viewers to consider their own habits that could be simplified.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ Stopped seeking new recipes constantly and simplified meals with familiar ones.
• 🛒 Quit in-person grocery shopping for home delivery to save time and reduce impulse buying.
• 🛍️ Stopped using disposable plastic bags in favor of reusable ones to reduce waste.
• 🥘 Stopped storing Tupperware without lids to declutter and simplify kitchen storage.
• 🧖‍♀️ Stopped frequently testing new skincare products and stuck to a few basics that work.
• 👖 Quit following fashion trends and focused on personal style and comfort.
• 💸 Stopped buying things just because they're on sale to avoid unnecessary purchases.
• 🛍️ Quit using shopping as a coping mechanism for dealing with emotions or stress.
• 👕 Quit ironing most clothes and opted for air-drying to reduce household chores.
• 👙 Quit buying clothes that require special bras and found alternatives for comfort.
• 🩸 Quit using tampons due to health concerns and switched to a menstrual cup.
• 🏡 Quit buying excessive decor without a specific use or place in the home.
• 🧺 Stopped letting household chores pile up and implemented routines to manage them.
• 👶 Quit keeping too many hand-me-downs for children that may not get used.
• 📱 Turned off non-essential notifications on the phone to reduce distractions.
• 📺 Quit watching or listening to the news constantly to protect mental health.
• 🤗 Stopped trying to please everyone and focused on personal well-being.
• 📝 Stopped making overly long to-do lists and focused on a few key tasks each day.
• 🏖️ Quit feeling obligated to take expensive family trips every year to focus on quality time over cost.
• 💳 Quit using credit cards to avoid overspending and live within means.
• 🎁 Quit exchanging gifts with spouse to focus on the essence of the relationship beyond material things.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the video script?

The main purpose of the video script is to share personal experiences and strategies for simplifying one's life by quitting certain habits or practices that the speaker has found beneficial.

How does the speaker suggest simplifying meal planning?

The speaker suggests simplifying meal planning by creating a list of familiar recipes that can be made by heart, and selecting a few for the weekly meal plan without constantly seeking new ideas.

What is the speaker's view on grocery shopping?

The speaker prefers grocery deliveries over in-person shopping to save time and reduce impulse buying, mentioning a Tesco delivery service they use that offers unlimited deliveries for a monthly fee.

Why did the speaker quit using plastic bags?

The speaker quit using plastic bags to reduce waste and simplify their shopping routine, opting instead for reusable carrier bags.

How does the speaker organize Tupperware?

The speaker stores Tupperware with their lids to avoid the chaos of searching for matching lids and to reduce clutter in their kitchen.

What skincare routine does the speaker advocate?

The speaker advocates for a simple skincare routine, using a few basic products that work well for their skin, rather than constantly testing new products.

Why did the speaker decide to quit keeping up with trends?

The speaker decided to quit keeping up with trends to focus on their personal style and avoid the pressure to constantly update their wardrobe.

How does the speaker approach sales and bargain shopping?

The speaker avoids buying things just because they are on sale, recognizing that sales are frequent and instead opts for pre-loved items found on platforms like Vinted.

What has the speaker done to manage their feelings about their fertility struggles?

The speaker has quit using shopping as a way to cope with their feelings during their fertility struggles, realizing it led to unnecessary clutter.

How does the speaker handle ironing?

The speaker has quit most ironing by opting to hang dry their clothes and only occasionally ironing items that are wrinkle-prone.

What changes has the speaker made regarding clothing that requires special bras?

The speaker avoids buying clothes that require special bras, instead finding alternatives or modifying their wardrobe to suit their comfort.

Why did the speaker switch to a menstrual cup?

The speaker switched to a menstrual cup to reduce waste from disposable tampons and to improve their personal health, despite initial reservations.

How does the speaker approach home decor purchases?

The speaker has quit buying decor items without a specific place in mind, opting for a minimalist and functional approach to home decor.

What is the speaker's strategy for managing household chores?

The speaker tries to keep on top of household chores like laundry and dishes by implementing small routines to prevent them from piling up.

How does the speaker's approach to keeping hand-me-downs for children differ?

The speaker has quit keeping many hand-me-downs due to the age gap and gender difference between their children, instead opting to donate unused items.

Why did the speaker turn off notifications on their phone?

The speaker turned off notifications to reduce distractions and maintain focus, only checking social media when they choose to.

What is the speaker's stance on consuming news?

The speaker has quit actively seeking news to protect their mental health, recognizing that they can still stay informed without constant exposure.

How does the speaker approach people pleasing?

The speaker is working on quitting people pleasing to preserve their own energy and happiness, recognizing the importance of self-care for their family.

What changes has the speaker made to their to-do list habits?

The speaker has simplified their to-do list by focusing on only a few key tasks each day to reduce overwhelm and increase productivity.

Why did the speaker decide against taking expensive family trips?

The speaker decided against taking expensive family trips to prioritize saving for a house and recognizing that quality family time can be had without high costs.

What financial decision did the speaker make regarding credit cards?

The speaker quit using credit cards to avoid overspending and manage their finances more responsibly, opting for debit cards instead.

How has the speaker's approach to gift-giving changed?

The speaker and their husband have quit exchanging gifts for each other to avoid unnecessary purchases and focus on the quality of their relationship.