This has been a topic that I have been very interested in the past two months, minimalism. Minimalism is when you are able to declutter the materialistic things in your life that you barely use or don’t use at all and only own the necessities of what you need. When you look at something, you should ask your self, what value does it bring to my life?
Since traveling almost full time since August 2018, I have looked into this lifestyle and I am slowly becoming a part-time minimalist. This means that I do get rid of 60% of what I own but the 40% of the things I need and the very few things that mean something to me that I choose to have it bring value to my life.
This topic was requested by Becca, one of our listeners who wants to learn about minimalism and if it is possible to be minimalist and more specifically how to be one and travel. I am excited to share with you all about my experience and I hope it inspires you to question the value of things a little more.
We all wait for the first day of the year to promise our selves that we wil go to the gym four times a week, reduce the amount of sugar that we will eat/drink, save more money and various other promises. I am one that not only waits for the first year to start a new goal , however I tend to revisit my goals on a month to month basis. Now, that is just me. Not everyone can do that and I obviously can not expect that you will as well. That being said, I am on that gets motivated if I write down my goals and look at it day by day to remind myself what I promised I would achieve.
So this year what are my goals you ask? I have a few. Some personal, some career wise and others that are just ways to improve what I am doing now. So let’s have a look at a few:
Get a stable career that I love– working for years in a family business is fun and teaches you a lot that you can apply to various areas of work and in working with the business, I have recently found myself wanting to find a career that I love to wake up early to work towards every day. That hunger for a career actually starts with this blog. I love social media, being able to connect with people from everywhere and changing my environment time to time. In 2018 I will work towards my ‘entrepreneurial’ dream career.
Stay fit– I started my healthy journey seriously about 6 years ago when I noticed that my eating habits could possibly affect me in the long run. I go to the gym quite frequently ( as you can tell by my Instagram stories) and in doing so have found my love for fitness. In the new year I want to push myself out of my comfort zone and allow my body to explore its capabilities in ways that I probably could never imagine. I would like to try out a cross fit class, hot yoga ( again ), spinning class, pole dancing and bare class. I believe these are classes I always wanted to try but I was a bit intimidated to give it a go. Now time to face my fear!
Work on my mental health- this is something that is a long term goal for me. I have been focusing more on it for the past two years. As someone who does not like talking about my feeling even with my close friends and family I have over time gotten a lot better. I want to ensure that I remind myself to be in the now, that it is ok to say you are not ok and to ask for help when needed.
Grow the #shikachica fam– I started my journey last year in April and it has been a fun and exciting adventure. I meet so many people and made so many connections. with you lovelies. In the new year I want to not only grow the #shikachica fam I also want to connect with you guys more. I want to first start with the conference gathering in Toronto this Spring 2018. I will then be going to Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and many more cities along Canada. Eventually meeting you lovely chicas in Europe and the USA as well.
Spend more time with loved ones– it’s that time of year where you start to go through your friend group and clear out all the negative energies. I really do believe that the people you around yourself with is 50% of what can impact you to be the best version of yourself. As hard as it is to let go of unhealthy relationships keep telling your self how rewarding it will be if you let go of them sooner rather then later.
Travel to 10 new places– this is a big goal for my in 2018- I have a few travel destinations such as Cape Town, Bali, Amsterdam, Morocco, Germany, Colombia and more that I would love to visit in the new year. I really want to not only learn about new cultures however take my self out of my comfort zone.
Save more!- We all spend a ridiculous amount of money on buying our lunch and buying things that we really do not need. I want to save more money and be wise with my money in the new year
Find a great place to live– Weather it is a new city or new apartment, I want to start in some new environment this year in the Summer/Fall.
Live minimalist– the more I travel the more I learn I probably do not need half the things I own. In relation to a new environment I want to make sure I de-clutter all the things I do not need, donate them and stay simple with what fills my space. Clear environment clear mind right?
S o far things have been going well. I workout 4-5 times a week, I am starting to reach out to people if I need help, checking in with family/ friends more, being more active on my instagram story to connect with you guys more, I’m slowly cutting out the negative people in my life ( man is it ever hard). Things I need to work on? SAVING! I need to save more money. The amount of times that I have been buying food out is embarrassing. I am going to start looking at apps to help me budget my spending on a day to day basis. I also need to start planning my trip that I am hopping to take in February. It is slowly approaching and with saving that will allow me to have more options as far as destinations. Minimalist living is a project on its own. I will start going through my belongings on a monthly basis and donate any things I do not need or use.
There you have it! There are my resolutions for the year. I have been really trying to be focused on giving myself some self love lately especially with the new year. I think I tend to get too busy living the busy crazy life I forget about taking care of myself. This year will be a year to give myself a little bit of gratitude day by day.
Every girl has a huge bag that has countless items that we probably never use, just throw into our purse just in case or just want to smell like three different type of perfumes. I have teamed up with Carla’s Cakes, a local Ottawa bakery that does everything you need to satisfy that sweet tooth. From cupcakes to cakes to cookies to pies, with a creative spin and amazing attention to detail, there is a cake for everyone.
I decided to choose five items that I always have in my bag. These are my die hard items that I have regardless of the occasion:
1. Lotion
One of my pet peeves is having dry hands. No one liked having dry hands especially when you live in a country like Canada where the climate continuously changes and you love to travel to various destinations with various climates. I decided to choose Body Shops Grapefruit Body Butter. It’s a bright smell and it is lasting both in moisture and scent.
2. Liquid Lip Stick
I am sure everyone went through the stages of loving the Smackers lip glosses as a child (#90’s kid’s problems), though they can get sticky. Hence, I decided to choose a mate alternative that is still more hydrating than most, NYX Lingerie Liquid lipstick in the color Teddy. This is a great nude for all skin tones especially dark to olive skin tones. This literally makes me look amazing even when I got to the gym and I want to look maybe a bit more extra, I slide this bad boy on and I’m ready to go hard on cardio.
3. Perfume
From going t the bus and maybe encountering an unpleasant scent to touching up a bit in the bathroom during a dinner gathering with friends, I always have a small travel size perfume in my bag. I am one of those people that love having a scent. I think someone’s perfume is like a clue to someone’s character. Plus who doesn’t like smelling amazing? Here is one of my go-to staple faves, Candy Prada edition.
4. Saje Pharmacy Kit
Being a part-time team member at Saje, this is my die hard item I always have. I grew up using aromatherapy from my grandma and have seen it first hand how it has cured many people in my life including myself. The pharmacy kit has stress release to help my feel relaxed, immune so I am germ-free just in case I feel a cold coming along, pain release to rub myself down after going to the gym, peppermint halo for headaches and to keep me cool and eaters digest for tummy aches. I use this package daily as I have made it a staple to my lifestyle routine.
5. Face powder
The weather is getting warmer which means makeup can get a bit sticky. I like to throw my face powder in my bag to touch up and to avoid a greasy face. I am currently using the NYX Mate Powder.
So those are my staple items in my bag. I have a few extras if I want to be a bit extra (pun intended lol):
We all do it and if you are reading this say you don’t you are most likely lying. It is natural for us to doubt ourselves especially in situations that we are not used too, however it is better to be aware of it and push through the inner fears that we may have towards limitation in our life ( whether they are mental or/and physical).
So here are some tips on how you can work towards the best version of yourself while overcoming those limitations:
1. Balance
One of the hardest and sometimes neglected ingredients to ensuring you do not limit yourself isbalance. Ever felt like everything is falling apart in your life and you are continuously rolling down a hill hoping for it to stop? Yes? Well, it’s normal. Why it happens you ask? Lack of balance. Without the mental balance of ensuring that you allow your brain to have 30minutes to an hour a day to clear your mind (ex: meditation, listening to your favorite tunes, coloring in those cute adult coloring books) you allow external stresses and thought to continuously occupy your mind. Also making sure you have physical balance in your life such as going for a walk, hitting the gym, yoga or doing an activity you have never done before like paint night. Sometimes the reason why you are rolling down that hill is simply because you are letting yourself get lost in what is around rather then focusing on what is within you.
2. Change
No one likes change. Humans love being in a routine. Though without change you can not grow. It is uncomfortable, sometimes seems impossible and sometimes can be a risk. Though when you do decide to change for the best, it is the most self-fulfilling and liberating experience anyone can do. Find something in your life that you feel you are not benefiting from or is stagnant and change it. Usually making a change can be the best decision you have ever made. Remember, to FAIL means the first attempt in learning and during change you must be prepared to learn alot of things before coming to a solution.
3. Risk
Life is a continuous game of poker. Sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose. Funny enough you win more than you lose when you decide to go with your gut and put everything on the line. In other words, take a risk. By everything being on the line, I don’t mean quit your job and decide to join the circus. By everything being on the line I mean use the tools you have currently, regardless if you are in a bad or good situation ( no bad situations just better ones), and take a risk that will let you grow. A great example is going into a profession such as singing which is a ‘make it or break’ it industry. Use the tools you have and make your play by play plan and do it. The last step is the most important, JUST DO IT (great line Nike). It is one thing to plan and it’s another thing to actually put those plans into action. Again, remember, to fail means first attempt in learning and while taking a risk get prepared to fall a few times and get back up again.
4. Motivation
The first 20 minutes of your morning determines your mood, energy, optimism and efficiency for the day. An individual’s most impressional time is the first minutes in the morning that you wake up. Instead of looking at your Instagram why not switch it to a 5-minute journal, motivational TedTalk or 10-minute meditation session. Use the first minutes of your day to prepare yourself for any limitations that can come your way (then you can check that Instagram feed). Down bellow is one of the most inspirational individuals that has motivated me to take steps forward in my life, Tony Robbins. Why not start your day with some uplifting words of wisdom and watch this amazing Ted Talk.
Those are my main pointers to limiting yourself. What are yours? Let me know I would love to learn and try your tactics too.
