It is plain and simple: less stuff equals less stress, which equals less pain. If you have chronic pain or chronic fatigue, you want to spend quality time with people and on meaningful experiences. You do not want to spend your precious energy cleaning up stuff you have accumulated!
It is easy to spend money when you have chronic pain because subconsciously we are looking for comfort. Comfort is a valid need. However, in the long run, stuff will actually bring you more stress and less comfort. Look for comfort that is more long lasting: coffee with a friend, sitting by the beach, playing with your children or your nieces and nephews, finding ways to contribute to your community. These activities bring long lasting joy and meaning.
So what are some specific ways to minimalize? That depends on your individual needs and the needs of your family. Here are some suggestions:
1. Imagine if each person in your home only had ten outfits! That is only ten outfits per person that can go in the laundry! I guarantee you are only wearing about 20% of what you own anyways.
2. I predominantly cook from scratch, and I use the same four pots/pans all the time, one of which is my crock pot. Get rid of the stuff in your kitchen you do not need. Less stuff equals more space, which means you do not have to go digging for something. It also means you are not climbing or bending for something you use regularly. Save that precious energy! Two plates per person is plenty. Really, how often do you have guests come where you are serving off of your plates and need more than your eight? Look at your kitchen gadgets. Do you really use all of them. Last night, I used my hand mixer for the first time in years! Years! My stand mixer would have worked just fine, and that is one I use regularly. I just did not want to drag it out. Now my mind is thinking about what I could do with the space in the drawer where the hand mixer is kept.
3. Get rid of unused furniture, books, magazines, office supplies you are not using.
4. Downsize your living space! Find the smallest home you need! Imagine cleaning one floor or 1000 square feet instead of 2500! Also, what if less square feet meant you could afford a pet? Now that is a daily experience that brings most people lasting comfort!
5. I know the kids' old toys can be sentimental, but think of it this way, if you divide your mortgage by the square feet in your house or your rent by the square feet, that is what it is costing you per square foot. Do you really want to spend that money on storage? Take a picture of sentimental items, put them online where you have access, and get rid of them.
6. Throw away junk mail before you even enter your home. Have the recycling bin nearby your door or your garage so that stuff does not even come into the house.
Yes, I know we all have our gadgets that help us with our disability. I am not getting rid of my cane even though I only need it about ten times a year. Look through your living space and get rid of the things you do not need, and do not rationalize about it. Accommodations, yes, comfort items, that is a different story. Make sure they add significant value to your life if you are going to pay to have them in your home. Remember, you are not just paying for the initial purchase; you are paying for the storage of that item in the rent or mortgage you pay for the space to store the item. You are also paying with the energy it costs your body to take care of the item (dusting, picking up, washing, etc.). I want to spend that energy with my family, friends, and meaningful experiences that bring me joy.
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