“If you don’t know what you want, you end up with a lot you don’t,” – Well, if you have read Chuck Palahniuk’s masterpiece Fight Club, you’ll be familiar with this quote. It is funny how a work of fiction can hold so much relevance in the world we live in and maybe Tyler Durden, the film’s protagonist, was right when he said, “The things you own, end up owning you.”
How many times have you browsed through an online shopping portal and thought, “Oh! I might need a new phone”, “Wow! This is on discount. I should get this,” or just bought something that you don’t really need and it just sits on a shelf till you forget about it? No one would blame you. We’re living in the peak of consumerism where everything you need and don’t need is just a finger tap away.
Does happiness really exist in a big home with perfect flooring and matching drapes? Does it exist in a fancy car, smart electronic devices, furniture, fashionable clothes, jewellery, footwear et al? What if the answer was in the opposite direction?
When it comes to living a wholesome, healthy and holistic lifestyle, anything which is in excess is bad! Be it food, exercise, thoughts and even the things we surround ourselves with. One of the best ways to achieve good mental health is to declutter and take up minimalist living.
What is Minimalism?
Minimalism, in essence, is living with less. The whole idea is to live a life based on experiences rather than worldly possessions. This includes decluttering or minimum usage of things such as furniture, clothes, accessories, etc. It is a personal change one makes to add value to their life. You can choose what is important to you and throw away things which are not.
What are the Benefits of Minimalist Living?
Minimalist Living does involve sacrificing things you think you might need. Not necessarily the best life choice for hoarders and might seem a bit unnecessary but it needs to be done! Trust me, the pros most definitely outweigh the cons!
For instance, decluttering and reducing the number of things you own helps you focus only on the important things in life. With less distractions, you can pay attention to things that require it. This does not mean you throw out things important to you. Keep the things you really need and thrown away the things you don’t.
More space and less junk will definitely help you be more productive. A clean and organized house definitely reduces a lot of stress! More so, you have a lot less financial burdens and avoid unnecessary expenses.
How Do You Do It?
Let’s get started! Observe your home and your belongings. Make a list of things which you have not used in a year or two. There are less chances you will need it again so get rid of it.
Here, I am sharing a sample list to help you out:
- Unused and worn out clothes, shoes, socks, etc.
- Excess clutter in wallet
- Unwanted receipts, bills, papers, books, manuals, etc.
- Old electronics/ wires/ chargers/ batteries
- Unused and expired beauty products and medication
- Unused stationery that doesn’t work
- Unused cleaning products
- Broken or unused furniture
- Damaged plastic containers
- Kitchen gadgets and appliances you don’t use
- Extra towel/ cushions/ scarf/ gloves
- Junk drawer
- Extra bags
- Anything that you don’t know the purpose of
Remove all of it from your home. You can donate the things you don’t need to somebody who might have use for it or just resell, recycle or repurpose it.
You’re all done! Does it feel good?
Furthermore, you can also make additional changes to keep this habit going by thinking before you buy. Don’t purchase it just because you might need it in the future or because it is on sale. Buy only when you need. Regularly keep a check and see if you’re cluttering again.
In the next article, we will explore the wonderful benefits that minimalism offers and how it can help your health and life!
Stay tuned and #BeTheForce!
‘Good health is a boon’ According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Health is “a state of mental, physical and social well-being, not merely the absence of any disease or infirmity”. What we eat, how it’s prepared, and when we consume it all play vital roles in our health. Oil, a key ingredient in Indian cuisine, greatly influences our health depending on the type and amount used. Choosing the right oil is especially important for those with busy lifestyles. As the second-largest rice producer globally, India produces around 100 MMT of rice annually. Rice bran oil, extracted from rice husk and germ, has a high smoke point of 232°C (450°F), a long shelf life, and a mild flavor, making it ideal for high-temperature cooking like stir-frying and deep-frying. According to the latest recommendations by the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the ideal oil composition is 27-33% saturated fat, 33-40% monounsaturated fat, and 27-33% polyunsaturated fat. Rice bran oil closely matches this recommendation with a composition of SFA (24%), MUFA (42%), and PUFA (34%), offering a balanced fatty acid profile.
A decade ago as a medical student, I had come across a blind man selling torches in the local trains. I asked him just out of curiosity the reason for his blindness to which he replied that he lost his sight in childhood after an accident which permanently damaged the blood supply to the retinas. He then went on to ask why I brought up the question and when I told him I was studying to be a doctor, he smiled and said, “I have a question for you”? I anticipated, he would want to know about recent advances in medicine that could probably restore his sight. But, I was wrong, instead, his question was different. His question was whether he could still donate his eyes. I was absolutely overwhelmed when he asked this. That is the day when I realized one can lose his eyesight but, still have a vision. With a sense of respect for him, I explained to him that his corneas could indeed be donated after his demise.
