Health

Minimalism for Better Health

by theminimalistmom |

There is nothing minimalist about my cupboards lately.

I recently ordered 10 cans of coconut milk and just ordered another 30. Why am I stock piling? A) They are less than half price right now and B) we are making some fairly big changes to our diet (no dairy, no gluten, some of us no grains) and using 2+ cans of coconut milk a week.

On my recent return from Canada I checked a 20kg bag that was mostly coconut oil, almond butter and grain-free baking supplies.

While this may seem like I am getting away from my spare cupboards and simple living mantra, it’s actually a by-product of minimalism.

I got rid of the stuff cluttering my life, energy and time. And now, in a sometimes scary but mostly exciting way, I really do have the time and energy to focus on those things I often put off. I am bravely reclaiming my health and my family’s health and one of the ways we are doing it is by exploring what nutrition can do for us.

I’m warning you now: get rid of the stuff and you may end up fulfilling long lost dreams and goals that you’ve been putting off for years. When you’re not focused on accumulating stuff, taking care of it or filling your time with things you feel obligated, rather than excited, to do, there is so much scary room in your life for all the dreams and hopes you once shoved aside. There aren’t so many excuses to making that career change, starting that running program or getting all the sleep you really need, when you get out of debt, live in a smaller footprint and avoid the malls.

In my quest for better health I’ve been reading books on nutrition and it’s fascinating how the subject of stuff, minimalism and lifestyle plays into our overall health. In Robb Wolf’s book The Paleo Solution I read about that harsh consequences of stress and not enough sleep. Robb actually delves into the stress brought into your life from owning expensive things (even if you can afford them) and the quest for bigger and better stuff. He advocates simplifying your lifestyle – shorter commute, less work, less stress and more sleep – to improve your overall health and well being.  Even if you are not a ‘believer’ or interested in the Paleo lifestyle, the information about sleep and stress in this book is excellent. We’re now trying to get to bed before 10pm each night and building a quieter evening routine (yes, adults need evening routines and lots of sleeps too).

So when you’re wondering why you’re spending another weekend de-cluttering or why you’re preparing for Christmas and the gift giving season by paring down what you already have, think about your health.

Here are a few more posts on simplifying beauty and health routines:

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  • “I’m warning you now: get rid of the stuff and you may end up fulfilling long lost dreams and goals that you’ve been putting off for years.”
    This is so true, I am finding that gradually (not overnight) that I am doing things that I always wanted to but never really had time to (or thought I didn’t have time to – lack of head space is the more likely culprit). I never found time to run 3 times a week, now I do (I could do more). 2012 looks like a great year…as the constant decluttering and reprioritising takes a back seat, the new skills and experiences start to come to the forefront.

  • I love this, as usual. My big thing for 2011 was to get very serious about minimizing my activities (as I was always running this group, president of that, secretary of that, book clubber, supper clubber, etc.), so that I could really have time for de-cluttering and other things (ex: building my website, yoga, running, my husband, reading, getting serious about finances, etc.). I had filled my life with so much stuff on my calendar that I had no time to take care of myself or fulfill my dreams. I was worried that I was going to feel bad telling people I couldn’t do this or that anymore, or feel like I missed those activities. And sometimes I do miss them, but finally having a full weekend with my family last weekend with nothing scheduled was pure heaven. The true relaxation that the space of time allows is exquisite. I am looking forward to many more open weekends, evenings, etc. in 2012 and more time to continue to pursue my goals. BTW – very interested in Paleo. Have you read Nourishing Traditions? What made you pick Paleo over that? And congratulations on the new opportunities. Wishing you all of the best!

    • Just did a quick search on Nourishing Traditions. Interesting. We are going grain-free and dairy-free to eliminate some possible food allergies and see if it makes us feel awesome. I did 30 days of it and felt amazing: better sleep, more energy, reduced sugar cravings and more. I’m not a scientist so have trouble explaining the science behind it. The Paleo Solution gives a lot of info on that if you are interested.

      Well done with reclaiming your time! That is so nice (and refreshing) to hear.

      • I have been hearing so much about the Paleo diet and keep toying with the idea of trying it out. Right now we aren’t giving our daughter any meat, so it would probably be difficult to do for the entire family, but I will research it more and find out. You’ve certainly peaked my interest, with the feeling awesome part!

  • Totally agree with yoy regarding changes. January saw our whole family adopt a simpler way of life. Well, here i am, pursuing a career i have always wanted, and i am feeling really confident. Once all the crap was removed form my life, it was like i was almost able to breathe, think, and have a direction in life. I joined a Gym, we are eating better and lifes good 🙂
    Fab Post Rachel
    Sharron x

  • I realised this year that the de-cluttering and debt pay off (which took 5 years), is only the start of my journey to living the life that I want for myself – an injury to my leg and my general lack of fitness has bought home to me that simplifying your home/life etc can only go so far if you are not healthy.
    Sleep is a big one for me – it can make such a difference to your day, good or bad.

    Thank you so much for the shout out 🙂

  • I am SO looking forward to more Paleo writings on your blog Rachel! 🙂
    This diet very much inspires me.

    • Will definitely give some updates here on our progress and results. Henry has been grain and dairy free for two weeks now with two slips. Interesting: as soon as he ate grains his face broke out in bumps.
      PS. So far, favourite recipe site is health-bent.com. We’ve made a half dozen things from the site and all of them have been excellent.

      • Thanks, C. I am trying to get to a dozen recipes that we all love. So far on the list: a great butternut squash and sausage lasagna, fried cauliflower rice and curry and just made a great chicken pot pie (light topping of almond flour and egg whites). I found when I tried to go no-grains, no-dairy before I got very bored with grilled meat + steamed veggies. Good recipes really help with staying motivated.

        Will do a good look through Mark’s Daily Apple. Thanks!

  • Congrats on the changes you’re making in your family’s diet! You’ll be amazed at how these changes can affect your weight, energy and mood.

    While we try to stick with mostly organic foods, with the cost of organic meats going through the roof we’re looking at shifting to a primarily vegetarian and raw diet. I have had friends who followed the program outlined in The Swiss Secret to Optimal Health by Thomoas Rau MD and felt fabulous. Our family will be starting next week.

    Looks like you’ve got the gumption to stick with your new program. Our country would be a lot healthier and happier if there were more people like you! Thank you for sharing your experiences and being an inspiration!!

    • Thanks, Paige. It has been a lot of small steps towards this moment. I was reading about the benefits of no-dairy and no-grains two years ago. I’ve made some short attempts at it a few times since but this is the first foray into making some permanent habits.

  • Again, sheer perfection! I too have come to the same conclusion. Since I’ve never been one to fill my life with physical stuff, I did allow in a lot of mental and time clutter. Since trying to pare all that down, I’m only now trying to repair the damage of a life time of stress! If only more doctors would take diet and mental health into consideration, people could achieve amazing health much, much faster!

  • Hi Rachel!
    This minimalism phase I’m going through (that I’m determined to make a lifestyle change) is my first one that doesn’t involve buying things. I know the rewards will be less visible than adding one more thing to my collection, or decorating a room in a new style, but it’s still a little scary. After I’m done purging, then what? My perfectionism often gets in the way and makes decision making difficult. Did you have any areas that were harder to deal with than others? If so, how did you get through it? I’ve always been bad with paperwork, and I just can’t seem to get my clothes out the door. Furniture and decorative items are easiest because I grow tired of looking at them. In the past I wanted to replace them with new things, but I now I just want less things.

    Thanks for writing my favorite blog.
    LInda

    • Linda,

      From my experience, after purging you have that time to spend on things that make your heart sing! You also have to be diligent about not letting new things in that replace the clutter you just cleaned out.

      Having a friend to join you on the journey who can support your decisions is key. That friend could also get your clothes out the door for you.

      • Thanks for the encouragement, Paige. After I read your post, I took some of my clothes, purses, and shoes to a used clothing store and was paid almost $100 for them! I’ve wasted a lot of money buying things I don’t need, so I want to sell as much of it as I can to get some of that money back. Whether I give it away or sell it, I can feel the load lifting.

        • Love this! Thanks Paige and thanks Linda. So neat to see a community here and people helping each other.
          Linda: well done on the sales! I did a mix of selling and donating too. Near the end of the big purge it was mostly donating as I was burned out on Craigslist and eBay.

  • Thank you. As you know (very well) when you empty your life of the unnecessary it leaves a whole lot of room for clarity about what you want and what fulfills you. Had a few scary moments this week as I put my hat in the ring for some new opportunities. Here’s to more scary beautiful moments in 2012 for both of us 🙂

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