A tip for not losing interest: give everything a season. I realize this with my clothes & shoes - we have 4 seasons here, so I get excited to wear my sandals every summer, even though they are the same sandals I have worn for the last 3 summers. I also get so excited to see my Christmas decor after 11 months, but the end of the month of seeing it everyday, I start to think about what pieces I could add the collection. With makeup-its all there all the time. If I put away my dark lipsticks for the summer, or my matte lipsticks for the winter, they are new to me all over again when the seasons change.
what a gem of a comment. there's things i like to wear year round, lip glosses/nude highlighters etc. but i've realized i have special occasions for things like wearing lots of brights and browns for black history month to make my melanin really pop, bronzy cream products in the summer or blues in the winter, there's a subtle magic to that, thanks for bringing attention to it.
I do this! I have lipsticks I only wear in certain seasons, and I love it. I love having a makeup theme for each month. January includes things like 'minimalist', 'Russian ballerina ', 'nordic wild swimmer' and 'pine forest noir on my eyes'.
What an excellent idea! I often put seasonal clothes away but I never thought of doing it with makeup items. I'll have to try that! I do find that it makes me excited to wear my seasonal things when I put them away and then bring them back when it's time.
Yes! I've been putting away makeup seasonally for decades, and it's always such a pleasure to see my "new" refreshed collection. Helps me cycle through things better too.
minimalism isn't a destination, something that can or should be rigid. the year of less stuff showed us that. mindful consumerism is a journey; so thank you for taking us with you on yours.
Yes. Thank you for addressing the decluttering issue. I am so sick of hearing the pervasive messages to endlessly declutter. It always surprises me that these messages are not paired with messages to consume in such a way that you won't need to get rid of the items shortly after getting them. I also have been exploring the ideas of mending and repair, and over the last few months I have been doing a lot of mending.
100%! Living with someone who's worked at 3 separate thrift stores while we've been together, I've learned just how many donations end up getting tossed due to the sheer volume of stuff coming in. This whole concept of buying stuff just to declutter & "donate" it later is ill advised & more of a way to pacify the guilt of over consumption. *Just want to note that unopened or very, very lightly used beauty products would not get thrown out. A lot of the time the employees (who often make just above minimum wage) get to take a couple home, so I'm not reading Hannah on this*
I loved hearing the conclusions you came to & formed a list. I also want to express my appreciation for your long ( and even not so long videos) and how they never feel rushed. Often times on social media things feel so rushed. I love just relaxing into your content & letting my thoughts unfold.
@Sarah Cormiea-- I'm sure Hannah could do a great job. Meanwhile, check out designer Justine LeConte, she has a lot of videos like that: th-cam.com/video/6a5lHAHf0Zk/w-d-xo.html
I have been noticing that I am the most excited about a thing when I place my order. Once it is on my shelf or in a box, it loses something. Now when I want to buy something, I remind myself that it will do the same. That I was once excited and “had to have” all of my current stuff.
Re: taking care of our makeup-- a couple/three times a year, I take out every single makeup item I have, check it for spoilage/breakage/changes in texture; sharpen every pencil, wipe everything down & sanitize, set aside some brushes to be washed; then group all the items of each category by color and do a mini declutter (like when I noticed I had ten baby pink lipsticks!). I might re-organize a bit afterwards. It takes more time now than it used to (collection was always large but its grown), but it really helps me to keep a lid on things and keep my makeup safe and tidy.
Yesss, I did this at the beginning of the pandemic, and once again the beginning of this year. I also will occasionally do a big clean/de clutter of all my lip or eye products since those touch my mucus membranes directly.
"You can't purge forever." I really like this sentiment right now. As someone who has moved with much frequency over many years, I have finally not had to purge many things with this past move, and it felt refreshing. This included any makeup or skincare. Suddenly I had very little to pass on to friends or family. It freaked me out a little, but in a good way. 🙂 I was very interested in hearing your feelings on your previous project. So happy to have this video to listen to while I sew🧡
I feel like counting your stuff could be like counting calories. Some people never need to, but if you’re trying to make changes it can be educational to do for a time so you can reality check your mental estimation of what you are consuming
I always make it to the end of your videos! I really enjoyed hearing you reflect in this one and I just want to highlight that I don’t interact enough on TH-cam - which is so shameful to admit because as a very small channel I know how vital that viewer interaction is to keeping the creator morale up - and it’s because I often watch your videos on my TV rather than on my phone or computer so I don’t have the same ability to comment etc watching it on that medium. It’s a strange scenario where I’ve grown to value certain content enough that I want it to be on my biggest available screen so I can sit down and consume it properly rather than having it on in the background of my daily routine or whatever but the pay off to that is less commenting or liking, but I thought it was worth letting you know because I imagine if that’s happening with me it’s happening with others so please do know that even us silent lurkers are out here enjoying your content 🙈
Rose, it's okay! You do you! I wasn't a commenter either before I started my own channel. Watching the videos is the best support, especially if you watch to the end. But I appreciate what you are saying about the silent lurkers :) Thank you!!!
Yay! Excited for you to embark on the coming year with a goal not made of numbers and limits, but of boundaries set by your own feelings and self-knowledge. I’ll be watching your career with great interest 😆
So interesting to hear you speak about the beginning of the year. I’ve been following you and watching every video for a while, and I feel like I’ve grown with you this year. So much has changed, even though sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. For me, a year ago I was finishing my education degree, living in a small bachelor apartment in another city, my stressors were finishing assignments and writing tests and planning social events. Now I’m 30, living back at home with my parents, working as a full time teacher in a virtual environment, trying to emotionally take care of and teach a group of 10 year olds. The world keeps turning. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Hannah!
I found that becoming more minimalist and having less things I have more time and energy to clean/wash/care for them and really truly appreciate what I own.
What great takeaways from this year! The one that stuck with me is fighting the urge to want new things and getting tired of the things we already have. I think that is also something I have an issue with myself. I feel like being content with what you have is not a concept that our consumerist society wants for us. I also think that doing inventory on yourself can really teach you a lot about what we value. I am looking forward to your journey this year.
I relate to the resistance to do maintenance to keep my things looking beautiful. Yesterday, I finally cleaned and polished my two pairs of leather shoes, and they look beautiful now! I’m so excited to wear them tomorrow!
One thing that really helps me with the feeling of newness (for me I struggle buying clothes far more than makeup) is to take a day to actually care for the items I own. So I will go through my closet, wash everything (including things that have been crumpled on the chair) and fold and put them away. It gets me the newness feeling without actually buying anything new and it leaves me satisfied for days on end. The other thing is actually getting dressed and using the clothes that I love every single day (or close to). I find shopping to be somewhat of a creative impulse for me, so when I can be creative with the things I already own it lessens that impulse to buy more 💖 that said, I am about 8 days into recovering from a tonsillectomy and after surgery I shop SO MUCH I think just from not being able to get dressed and flex that creative muscle. And conversely, you can redirect when you get that itch to shop to go try a brand new makeup look with what you have already or to put together a new outfit combination. Just something that struck me 💖
That is such a good way of describing it. Taking time to care for the thing to invoke a sense of newness. I do this periodically with my makeup collection (wiping everything down, swatching and comparing) and I always feel excited and inspired afterwards. But I should do this especially when I have the urge to buy something.
Thank you Hannah for yet another magnificent video! I rarely comment, because I have so much to say. Too many thoughts and takeaways from your content to ever make them into a cohesive comment. Rest assured that your videos, every one, brings value to my life and the work I’m doing with myself in relation to my possessions and how I value them. I too am a lover of beautiful things and your videos resonate so well with things I’m pondering and wrestling with in my life. So thank you! Your videos are a treasure...
I really love this channel. I went to the mall twice for the first time in almost a year and all I got was a hoodie from Uniqlo and socks from Nike. I couldn't believe it. My in person shopping self has changed dramatically and I credit this channel
I'm only in the first 5 minutes of the video, but I just wanted to say I love listening to you speak and hearing your thoughts on your journey from your no-buy all the way to year of less stuff. You make me think more about the things I choose to buy and bring into my home, and reflect on my reasoning for things before I make those decisions. Also your videos are so calming. :)
I loved seeing Sadie as a cat salmon. It was too cute. I currently found myself window shopping online more and more with the want of getting newer clothes as a way to de-stress. I decided to try a similar technique of loving my “old” clothes. For Feb, I’m shopping my wardrobe for a few pieces of clothes each week. Style them for a week similar to clothes I wanting. I hoping this will minimize my want of “new” clothes while increasing the appreciation of my current wardrobe.
You are hands down the best influencer that I genuinely enjoy watching. I love to listen to your soothing voice while I'm working as you speak about the topics at hand in such a thorough way. I don't consider myself a girly girl but I find it fun how you view and use all the beautiful things in your life. I would love to see you do a live vlog and take us shopping with you!
I love all the take-aways! Good job - it sounds like you stuck to fewer, nicer things even when under crazy stress and, even more importantly, never broke your budget. 🙌
What a great video! I love that the project was a success. I also love hearing the insights you’ve gained - seeing someone grow and change and learn in real time is fascinating. And I love the list you made at the end, since those are all things I’m trying to live by. Even though we’re not on the exact same path or journey, your recurring videos are a great reminder for me in my everyday life to stay on track. Thank you for your content Hannah. ❤️
Per your goals, I would love to see a video where you take a single clothing item and create several unique looks with it using various other clothing items, accessories, makeup looks, and hairstyles. The inspiration from a video like that would be amazing.
I love the constant perspective on capitalism and the consumer's responsibility to themselves first, and to be mindful. It's really good to watch someone who is a wholesome Reminder to take care of our financial lives ✨💕 thank you!
I personally like that you quantify (with exact numbers) your less stuff journey! Would really love to see a video on how you go about choosing your quality pieces of clothing! Thanks for the amazing content as usual Hannah 💗
And another thing! I love what you said about decluttering - I try to find the balance because I could see myself " decluttering" perfectly good products simply because I want to buy new products that are unlikely to perform any differently, and that's just not what I'm about.
Wow! you've had over 7000 views on this video today! That's how many people are wanting to see your conclusion and take aways from your project. I think having a theme for the year really works. I think your take aways were really good things. I like that you are getting to the place that you don't feel the need to constantly purge. I think in the past that was a need because to all the stuff we accumulate in a short period of time. I made a resolution to not bring any more clothes into this house but I found that that is easier said than done. I don't buy as much makeup but do buy skincare. I find that I have about all the palettes and eye shadow that I need. After that, everything is a repeat of what I already have. You done good girl!
It's finally here 😍 i'm glad that you still did the recap, even though you kind of stopped worrying about the year of less stuff. I like that you counted everything because i do that myself in order to see what i manage to use up.. And it's also kind of satisfying 😂 Amazing that the whole process turned out so well for you ❤️
Thank you, Hannah, for creating such a beautiful space. Your channel is one of the few channels where I read the comments. I enjoy the perspectives of the majority of the commenters and learn from them. Huzzah!
I was keeping track of my makeup and skincare for a while with a (failed) attempt at a no-buy, then lock down happened, I moved twice and I stopped tracking my items. I know that I will have gained a significant amount of items due to comfort shopping but I found my old notebook so I'm going to sit down today and go through the numbers again. I'm also going to look at my clothes. I think an actual no-buy is in order for me, not just the "I can replace whatever I feel like" type I halfheartedly attempted last year. Thanks for the nudge.
Hannah, I found your channel because of your no-buy insights. Which were astounding. But here’s what I think. I’ve seen so many You Tuber’s lose their verve in the pursuit of You Tube $$$.... I can imagine how overwhelmingly tempting it is. But I lose interest when I can’t relate.......there’s no forum for viewers to express this. For what it’s worth, the world doesn’t need another makeup tutorial.... as a Boomer-- I LOVE your Millenial insights! You are leaps and bounds ahead of me at that age. Forget the freaking eyeshadow, Hannah. Share the REAL STUFF❤️❤️❤️
Your videos have been getting me through this rocky start to 2021. And I absolutely love the principles you came up with. I’ll definitely use them as guidelines for my own relationship to stuff.
Thank you for sharing your feelings, your strategies and your take away from the experience of counting stuff! It is very helpful and encouraging! I am doing a low buy and i feel I am on the right way.
I know that “bo buy” was a typo but it makes me think of my favorite Office reference “BoBoddy” and so I got a really fun little giggle out of your sweet comment that I also agree with. 🙃💜
I've been counting, or more truthfully I took an accounting of my stuff in January, then in June and again three weeks ago! It taught me how much stuff I really have, increased knowledge of my stuff and gratitude for my stuff, it made me even more mindful of stuff that I choose to bring home
Wonderful video and I love the counting! I’m doing that too and then after I do a declutter I update my numbers. So exciting to see the numbers going down. I’m also sticking to one thing in one thing out. The using up of skin care, hair care and makeup is an ongoing mountain to climb but I’m getting there. Really loved this video and I will reference it often throughout this year as I do my own mindful spending! Sadie cameos are also a highlight🥰
My "joyful abundance" category is definitely eyeshadow. I can usually mix lipstick colors and creams to get a certain look for a certain mood, but I always love being able to add more subtle nuances between my eyeshadows. 😁
Hey beautiful! Great video! I decided to repot my singles into square pans in order to make a "tiled floor." It's made me fall in love with them all over again, instead of buying all new singles in square pans. Woohoo!
I love your videos because you are so well spoken. During this video I was thinking I'd like to hear you be interviewed or in conversation with someone else for a change. Could listen to you for hours, but it might be interesting to hear you be challenged in some kind of debate.
My gran used to complain to us children that we never looked after our things like she had been taught to do, and I would like to I just feel so tired and have no time a lot. I've definitely gotten better but I do think I have more to learn in that sphere I liked this video a lot 😊
I feel this. I find myself reverting back to a lot of things my grandparents used to when it comes for maintaining items or reusing or using up items, or using more sustainable items. They had it right all along and Im just starting to clue in
Your projects are always inspiring to me, I am not going minimalist, but I do have excessive items that are taking my space and don't want to be overwhelmed with the amount of choices I have.
I feel you are very brave to count the physical number of your clothes and accessories. I'd be afraid to do that because I'm sure I have too much! Listening to you talk about this always makes me introspective about how I can change and improve.
I'm going to take the time to write out that list! I have already written down fewer nicer things a few times in different places just to remind myself of how I want to spend my money and what I want to include in my life. For the first time I bought a pair of pricier leather boots rather than the cheapy peepy ones that are worn out after a season. I realized I did start to begrudge them when they got dirty and I have to be okay with cleaning them and taking better care of my beautiful boots.
Your videos have been so comforting to me lately. I went back and watched your older videos and I’ve watched your single eyeshadow declutter relentlessly and repeatedly. I find myself annoyed at the amount of stuff and things all around me whilst spending all this time at home. Online shopping at 3 am when you can’t sleep because you’re not burning enough energy throughout the day was my coping mechanism in the beginning of quarantine but now I’m surrounded by my bad decisions and it grosses me out. Anyway, just wanted to say you’re a lifesaver and I’m done ranting now.
Hi Hannah! Just want to let you know thar you have been a great help for me in my low buy journey! I watch your vlog every night before sleeping. Thank you!
32 body care products?! Escandalo! Jajaja. Enjoying watching this! I just created spreadsheets to keep track of my lipstick, nail polish, shoes and knives inventory (I have a small knife collection). I created a Google form to input what I use every day in each of the categories so at the end of the year I will know what products I use and how often! Love your content Hannah! K gonna keep watching!
Emotional and spiritual survival taking priority over curation and perfection. These are good messages for me to have right now. Thank you for sharing.
I just wanted to say how proud I am of you that you completed this project. I really appreciate the counting as I don’t know how else you could really tell how the year ended up without it. I also was really trying to reduce and use up the products I own as well as making purchases more mindful. Given the year we all had even ending up with more stuff would have been understandable but you did a wonderful job! Thanks for inspiring and challenging us all to be mindful and purposeful ❤️❤️
Great video. I love your takeaways from what turned out to be such a successful project. It always makes me sad when people bash counting as a tool. It has been so eye opening for me. I can't be all feeling about it. People think I'm joking, but I'm completely literally serious when I say that every major realization I have had as an adult except for 1 has come through counting projects.
You're so well spoken. There's not enough that this on TH-cam. Watched till the end and subscribed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and experience. I definitely relate and went through a lot of similar thoughts about my stuff this year. It's been a journey.
My 2020 was much the same. While I was going through it, it didn't seem like it was valuable, it just seemed like wasted time but now when I look back I took away more than I thought I would from it and I learned A LOT of lessons from unexpected places. It sounds like the Year of Less Stuff was actually a success!
Love the video. The quantity of makeup items you still have is mind-boggling. I feel so much better about my 5 eye shadows, 2 mascaras, and 4 lipsticks. I was actually feeling guilty about having a few that I rarely use, lol.
Appreciate your effort reporting all of this and to share your journey of awareness. What struck me was "will I continue to love it". I find myself researching the "h" out of an item and then it goes to the wayside. Definitely lends to my knowing myself and that is part of the journey of loving beautiful things. Always Hannah, thank you for thought provoking content, and I appreciate the fabulous comments from fellow subscribers. Never turn away from a video without a pearl of wisdom. Saturday and Mimosa Hugs XO!
There is actually an actual term for items losing their novelty after a few months. It’s called ‘hedonic adaptation’. It’s a real thing. There was a Roman author called Pliny the Elder that said “An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit”. So true. I will add to your list of strategies is avoiding what I personally term as ‘apocalyptic shopping’ as in (what if they no longer stock this and I run out). We all know new stuff eventually come out anyways and we always overstock beyond what are interest sustains. We eventually get tired or outgrow something and then realize that we have back ups we need to finish before buying more.
Re: the counting: I think it's super useful. I did it at the beginning and end of the year and it helped show how much I had really acquired. Makeup and tools aren't super large so it's easy to keep acquiring it without it taking up huge amounts of space. I have hording in my family background so I'm always conscious of how those instincts kick in when I'm not paying close attention. The tallying helps keep me honest with myself.
I also have a deep love of beautiful things and wanting new items to infuse into my life. However, I see the problems this has caused both fort he environment and for my finances, which tends to trickle over into my stress and relationships. So, my focus and goal is really to work on that core desire. By working on not wanting as much stuff, I think I can be much more satisfied with what I have and make better financial and personal decisions
Thank you for these thoughts, Hannah. I feel myself growing as a human with the perspective you’ve shared since I began following in recent months. As far as loving what we own, would you share a quick tutorial for the Elf Active cheek palette? I’d love to get my full use out of that product, and I feel like you shared that you apply it by mixing shades?
Thank you for your reflections once again Hannah. I'm one of those people that buys things (particularly clothing) and keep them for years, even when they no longer serve me or when they don't reflect who I am now. Watching your journey over these 3 years has helped me realise the habits and thought processes I have had and how they have impacted my buying. Over the last year in particular I have made moves to buy for who I am now, and use up all the little samples and smaller products that I had acquired - so many 'bits' that were going to waste. I've also given myself permission to get rid of things that I have come to realise don't work for me too - the highly fragranced face cream that makes me sneeze but I paid a lot for, the 'fancy' dress that I enjoyed 2 years ago but doesn't fit my life now... While you may not be examining every little feeling about everything going forward I'm thankful you have shared this so much in the past. My quote take away from this video is "Finding the balance that works for you."
Thanks for this video! I didn't count all my stuff yet but with this video you conviced me to do a no buy year. For sure I have more stuff that I can use in a year
I'm currently separated from most of my "stuff" as well, as I've been at Partner Unit's house (on the other side of London from me) for the duration of the pandemic thus far. I booked it over here in March before the UK officially went into lockdown, so it was sort of a rush job, and I didn't think through most of my packing decisions very well. As a result, I've been swinging back and forth between buying a bunch of new stuff to make up for what I'm missing (or using the excuse of not having much with me to enable my desire to buy stuff, potayto potahto). So far, I don't think I've regretted more than a couple of the things I've acquired, and each time it's been because the thing I acquired was really a cheap stand-in for a better thing I *really* wanted but hadn't found yet. And I can say that even though I haven't really *used* most of the things I've acquired (or not very much), I'm really, really happy I have them. What's on my mind at the moment is what's going to happen when I do go back to *my* space where *my* stuff lives (which I will have done well enough without for probably at least a year, by then), and I have to sort of "reckon" with the things I left behind, and kind of pit my new stuff against my old stuff. I'm envisioning a lot of battles with myself. Maybe a lot of "use it or lose it" type challenges to set myself, to determine how much of my old stuff I actually want to keep (and/or how much of my new stuff will render my old stuff obsolete or unnecessary). So...that's going to be interesting when it happens. I don't know when that will be, because I'm not going anywhere until Partner Unit and I (along with my immunodeficient flatmate whom I do not wish to kill) are fully vaccinated. At the very least.
*whoops. I forgot the other end of the things I've been swinging between, which is this frenzied sort of denial tirade of "I don't need anything at all why am I buying anything when I'm literally just in the house being seen by nobody but Partner Unit and canine companion there's no point to anything I'm just wearing my PJs and binging Netflix I don't neeeeeed aaaanythiiiiing" Which, despite its slightly unhinged, unpunctuated delivery, might actually be the smarter position to hold, but hey ho. I bought the things. I'm not sorry.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I was in a very similar situation for much of the last year. Went to stay with my partner across the country thinking I would be there for a month or so (I literally only brought 8 days of clothes with me 🤦♀️) and then ended up staying there for 10 months separated from my space and my stuff. It made buying things so weird because I knew that my stuff still existed back at home so I didnt know if I should replace things or not. Not to mention when buying communal things like cookware that I was going to be leaving it with my partner when I went back home. It made buying even necessities really challenging and confusing at times. I just got back a few weeks ago and let me tell you being back with a full closet and makeup collection and a kitchen with all my cookware is WEIRD. I'd gotten so used to living off of a small amount of things and being resourceful that this very full apartment feels like I dont even live here anymore. But I've definitely noticed a positive change in my spending habits as a result of this situation. I dont really buy things that are "good enough" anymore, if they're out of the deodorant scent I want, i just dont buy any instead of getting a scent I dont want. And I'm much more decisive when it comes to things that i would have considered non-necessities before. I dont really agonize over whether I really *need* this makeup or clothing, if I'm torn between buying something or not, I just wait a while and then come back to it. I've been away from almost all my belongings for a year, I can go a week without buying this eyeshadow and see if I still want it after. It's been such a strange year being in an unexpected place. Thank you so much for sharing your experience because this has been so isolating and it was really comforting to hear you echo so much of what I've experienced this year.
Oh one last thing. In terms of reckoning with the stuff you left behind. I also stressed out about that aspect of coming back. But honestly, it was so obvious what I needed to get rid of as soon as I was back in the space. The things I wanted to keep jumped out at me as "oh my god I forgot I have this, this is awesome!" And the things that didnt hold that excitement were easy to let go of. It honestly felt a little like shopping when I got back because so much of my stuff felt "new" again after having basically forgotten what all I owned. I hope your experience goes well when you return!!
Oh my, the “taking time to take good care of my stuff” part really hit home! I desperately need to incorporate that into my life. Thank you for this list, and for sharing your projects with us ❤️
Oh lá lá that thumbnail! Excited to hear the wrap up! Edit: Anyone else have a flashback to Hannah breaking that bottle of perfume when they were rearranging their apartment last year? 😅
What an absolute success!! 👏🏻🏆💐 I could not have loved this more. I am so happy for you that you had such positive takeaways from the project. Even though 2020 was a shit show, it seems like the way things worked out wasn't the worst thing for the Year of Less Stuff. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Hannah! 💜
The feeling of new is better than old is a feeling bred in us from an early age. Using old stuff in a new way is a great feeling too. I like to focus on new ways of applying makeup rather than the acquisition of new stuff.
This was a very interesting video. I did a modified version of the year of less stuff along with you, and my major take away was more in the "getting rid of stuff" realm. I tend to want to hold onto everything, everything is sentimental to me, and that's been a problem for me for a long time. This past year I've been working a lot on letting go. I was also numerically successful with fewer objects at the end than at the beginning, but I don't think I'm done with the project yet. I've decided to do a second year of less stuff, or as long as it takes until I feel I've found my equilibrium. Thank you so much for the idea of this project, it's really helped me a lot this past year, and it's continuing to
I think the counting is great because it makes it specific and measurable. Otherwise it’s all very vague and you can’t really be sure whether you have achieved your goals or not x
I enjoy your videos so much but this one spoke to me because I am someone like many that loses interest after the purchase so I’m having to purge constantly . I will aim to follow your list of principals with determination. Thank you 😊
Loved & greatly appreciate every minute of the video...all the thought that went into it, the evolution it represents, & so much more. Thank you so so much for continuing to share your journey. This past year especially, you & your content have felt like the hug I’ve needed.♥️ ~Melissa (& pepper 🐾 & pumpkin 🐾)
Honestly I love the counting! I like it’s just cool to know the numbers. I understand obsessing over them would not be good but like you said you had always known the numbers were just a tool and not the central focus of the project
As always, fantastic analysis about consumerism, Hannah! I'm very interested in how other people live, what they value, and the types and numbers of possessions they've brought into their lives. Part of me is curious to see if I live and consume like others in my society. (I love when Sadie makes an appearance in your videos! She seems like the chillest cat.)
It's lovely to hear your conclusions and to know you have made us all privy to your journey. I feel like I've grown with you this year, even if my circumstances weren't as dramatically changed as yours. All of your musings on this topic are to me a reminder of principles that the women in my family have been trying to instill in me for years. I guess one just has to find the right teacher! Thank you for your candour and self-reflection, I admire the grace with which you have managed to stay true to yourself, even if a bit more flexibility than expected came into play last year. P.S. You have the most elegant and expressive hands!
Thank you for all these great ideas to chew on (the meat 😋)! Your discussion of fewer nicer things reminds me of some shift I've seen in my shopping recently, and you've help me reframe that shift. I crave novelty and surprise, and before most brick-and-mortar shopping was closed, I loved walking through stores and stumbling on new things. I often buy things for the sheer fact that they are new and unexplored, rather than buying them to serve a specific purpose in my life. But more online, and spending less time out in the world has meant that I've been much more deliberate with my purchases. They're serving a particular purpose beyond the purpose of stimulating my brain with novelty, and I want to focus more on those types of purchases. I think there's a place for impulse spending, but I'd like to do less of it overall. I really enjoy your thoughtful reflection on these issues.
A tip for not losing interest: give everything a season. I realize this with my clothes & shoes - we have 4 seasons here, so I get excited to wear my sandals every summer, even though they are the same sandals I have worn for the last 3 summers. I also get so excited to see my Christmas decor after 11 months, but the end of the month of seeing it everyday, I start to think about what pieces I could add the collection. With makeup-its all there all the time. If I put away my dark lipsticks for the summer, or my matte lipsticks for the winter, they are new to me all over again when the seasons change.
what a gem of a comment. there's things i like to wear year round, lip glosses/nude highlighters etc. but i've realized i have special occasions for things like wearing lots of brights and browns for black history month to make my melanin really pop, bronzy cream products in the summer or blues in the winter, there's a subtle magic to that, thanks for bringing attention to it.
I do this! I have lipsticks I only wear in certain seasons, and I love it. I love having a makeup theme for each month. January includes things like 'minimalist', 'Russian ballerina ', 'nordic wild swimmer' and 'pine forest noir on my eyes'.
That's why year round capsule wardrobes don't work for me (also, having 4 seasons, too, makes no sense imo).
What an excellent idea! I often put seasonal clothes away but I never thought of doing it with makeup items. I'll have to try that! I do find that it makes me excited to wear my seasonal things when I put them away and then bring them back when it's time.
Yes! I've been putting away makeup seasonally for decades, and it's always such a pleasure to see my "new" refreshed collection. Helps me cycle through things better too.
My favorite thing is when you hold Sadie like a fish
I tried to hold my cat like this and he was not having it 😂
@@Anna-pd6dc I hold my cat like if he was Simba in the presentation epic scene 🤣🤣
MINE TOO.
What a catch!
@@anotherlemontree My friend!!!!! 🥰💖🥰 Just noticed you in the comments (cat comments, YOU know!!) and wanted to say Hi. 😻💗😻
minimalism isn't a destination, something that can or should be rigid. the year of less stuff showed us that.
mindful consumerism is a journey; so thank you for taking us with you on yours.
Yes. Thank you for addressing the decluttering issue. I am so sick of hearing the pervasive messages to endlessly declutter. It always surprises me that these messages are not paired with messages to consume in such a way that you won't need to get rid of the items shortly after getting them. I also have been exploring the ideas of mending and repair, and over the last few months I have been doing a lot of mending.
100%! Living with someone who's worked at 3 separate thrift stores while we've been together, I've learned just how many donations end up getting tossed due to the sheer volume of stuff coming in. This whole concept of buying stuff just to declutter & "donate" it later is ill advised & more of a way to pacify the guilt of over consumption.
*Just want to note that unopened or very, very lightly used beauty products would not get thrown out. A lot of the time the employees (who often make just above minimum wage) get to take a couple home, so I'm not reading Hannah on this*
I loved hearing the conclusions you came to & formed a list. I also want to express my appreciation for your long ( and even not so long videos) and how they never feel rushed. Often times on social media things feel so rushed. I love just relaxing into your content & letting my thoughts unfold.
Beautifully said. Thank you for putting a feeling I had into words!
I agree!
thank you! I used to worry about how long they get because I know that I lose people, but eventually I just...stopped worrying
Maybe someday you could teach a primer on how to identify high quality fabrics and well-made clothes. I feel like I have no idea about those things.
@Sarah Cormiea-- I'm sure Hannah could do a great job. Meanwhile, check out designer Justine LeConte, she has a lot of videos like that: th-cam.com/video/6a5lHAHf0Zk/w-d-xo.html
I'd love to make some content like this, and I also strongly recommend Justine!!!
@@agingophelia9812 Awesome, I’ll check her out. Thanks!
I have been noticing that I am the most excited about a thing when I place my order. Once it is on my shelf or in a box, it loses something. Now when I want to buy something, I remind myself that it will do the same. That I was once excited and “had to have” all of my current stuff.
Re: taking care of our makeup-- a couple/three times a year, I take out every single makeup item I have, check it for spoilage/breakage/changes in texture; sharpen every pencil, wipe everything down & sanitize, set aside some brushes to be washed; then group all the items of each category by color and do a mini declutter (like when I noticed I had ten baby pink lipsticks!). I might re-organize a bit afterwards. It takes more time now than it used to (collection was always large but its grown), but it really helps me to keep a lid on things and keep my makeup safe and tidy.
Yesss, I did this at the beginning of the pandemic, and once again the beginning of this year. I also will occasionally do a big clean/de clutter of all my lip or eye products since those touch my mucus membranes directly.
"You can't purge forever."
I really like this sentiment right now. As someone who has moved with much frequency over many years, I have finally not had to purge many things with this past move, and it felt refreshing. This included any makeup or skincare. Suddenly I had very little to pass on to friends or family. It freaked me out a little, but in a good way. 🙂
I was very interested in hearing your feelings on your previous project. So happy to have this video to listen to while I sew🧡
I feel like counting your stuff could be like counting calories. Some people never need to, but if you’re trying to make changes it can be educational to do for a time so you can reality check your mental estimation of what you are consuming
I always make it to the end of your videos! I really enjoyed hearing you reflect in this one and I just want to highlight that I don’t interact enough on TH-cam - which is so shameful to admit because as a very small channel I know how vital that viewer interaction is to keeping the creator morale up - and it’s because I often watch your videos on my TV rather than on my phone or computer so I don’t have the same ability to comment etc watching it on that medium. It’s a strange scenario where I’ve grown to value certain content enough that I want it to be on my biggest available screen so I can sit down and consume it properly rather than having it on in the background of my daily routine or whatever but the pay off to that is less commenting or liking, but I thought it was worth letting you know because I imagine if that’s happening with me it’s happening with others so please do know that even us silent lurkers are out here enjoying your content 🙈
Rose, it's okay! You do you! I wasn't a commenter either before I started my own channel. Watching the videos is the best support, especially if you watch to the end. But I appreciate what you are saying about the silent lurkers :) Thank you!!!
Yay! Excited for you to embark on the coming year with a goal not made of numbers and limits, but of boundaries set by your own feelings and self-knowledge. I’ll be watching your career with great interest 😆
So interesting to hear you speak about the beginning of the year. I’ve been following you and watching every video for a while, and I feel like I’ve grown with you this year. So much has changed, even though sometimes it feels like nothing is happening. For me, a year ago I was finishing my education degree, living in a small bachelor apartment in another city, my stressors were finishing assignments and writing tests and planning social events. Now I’m 30, living back at home with my parents, working as a full time teacher in a virtual environment, trying to emotionally take care of and teach a group of 10 year olds. The world keeps turning. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Hannah!
"so much has changed even though sometimes it feels like nothing is happening" YES
I found that becoming more minimalist and having less things I have more time and energy to clean/wash/care for them and really truly appreciate what I own.
Sadie leaping off the shelf behind you as you said the word "leap" was perfection.
Love the fact that at 10:50 Hannah says "that's a pretty big leap" just as Sadie leaps off the shelves 😆.
Counting is simply data collection. Very useful. Great video.
What great takeaways from this year! The one that stuck with me is fighting the urge to want new things and getting tired of the things we already have. I think that is also something I have an issue with myself. I feel like being content with what you have is not a concept that our consumerist society wants for us. I also think that doing inventory on yourself can really teach you a lot about what we value. I am looking forward to your journey this year.
I so agree!
Ok but the thud of Sadie plopping to the floor 😂😂😂
I know, I actually tried to cut it out because I was like "this is alarmingly loud" but it couldn't be done
I relate to the resistance to do maintenance to keep my things looking beautiful. Yesterday, I finally cleaned and polished my two pairs of leather shoes, and they look beautiful now! I’m so excited to wear them tomorrow!
One thing that really helps me with the feeling of newness (for me I struggle buying clothes far more than makeup) is to take a day to actually care for the items I own. So I will go through my closet, wash everything (including things that have been crumpled on the chair) and fold and put them away. It gets me the newness feeling without actually buying anything new and it leaves me satisfied for days on end. The other thing is actually getting dressed and using the clothes that I love every single day (or close to). I find shopping to be somewhat of a creative impulse for me, so when I can be creative with the things I already own it lessens that impulse to buy more 💖 that said, I am about 8 days into recovering from a tonsillectomy and after surgery I shop SO MUCH I think just from not being able to get dressed and flex that creative muscle. And conversely, you can redirect when you get that itch to shop to go try a brand new makeup look with what you have already or to put together a new outfit combination. Just something that struck me 💖
That is such a good way of describing it. Taking time to care for the thing to invoke a sense of newness. I do this periodically with my makeup collection (wiping everything down, swatching and comparing) and I always feel excited and inspired afterwards. But I should do this especially when I have the urge to buy something.
@@constancewith_a_soundtrack5339 so happy it helped you!
I love this, yes yes yes
This list is soooooo good! I love “fight the urge to devalue a thing to yourself when it’s no longer new.” Pure gold.
Thank you Hannah for yet another magnificent video! I rarely comment, because I have so much to say. Too many thoughts and takeaways from your content to ever make them into a cohesive comment. Rest assured that your videos, every one, brings value to my life and the work I’m doing with myself in relation to my possessions and how I value them. I too am a lover of beautiful things and your videos resonate so well with things I’m pondering and wrestling with in my life. So thank you! Your videos are a treasure...
thank you!!!
I really love this channel. I went to the mall twice for the first time in almost a year and all I got was a hoodie from Uniqlo and socks from Nike. I couldn't believe it. My in person shopping self has changed dramatically and I credit this channel
thank you for sharing this and congratulations! I'm so glad that my content resonates, but strength comes from WITHIN!! It's you!
@@HannahLouisePoston aaww thanks!!! The mindfulness content was definitely a HUGE help
I'm only in the first 5 minutes of the video, but I just wanted to say I love listening to you speak and hearing your thoughts on your journey from your no-buy all the way to year of less stuff. You make me think more about the things I choose to buy and bring into my home, and reflect on my reasoning for things before I make those decisions. Also your videos are so calming. :)
I loved seeing Sadie as a cat salmon. It was too cute.
I currently found myself window shopping online more and more with the want of getting newer clothes as a way to de-stress. I decided to try a similar technique of loving my “old” clothes. For Feb, I’m shopping my wardrobe for a few pieces of clothes each week. Style them for a week similar to clothes I wanting. I hoping this will minimize my want of “new” clothes while increasing the appreciation of my current wardrobe.
You are hands down the best influencer that I genuinely enjoy watching. I love to listen to your soothing voice while I'm working as you speak about the topics at hand in such a thorough way. I don't consider myself a girly girl but I find it fun how you view and use all the beautiful things in your life. I would love to see you do a live vlog and take us shopping with you!
I feel like you could write a good book on this topic.
Yesssss! I want a book from Hannah
I love all the take-aways! Good job - it sounds like you stuck to fewer, nicer things even when under crazy stress and, even more importantly, never broke your budget. 🙌
Falling in love with the things I already own or have. That’s the life motto of every good relationship, with stuff and with people 🥰
What a great video! I love that the project was a success. I also love hearing the insights you’ve gained - seeing someone grow and change and learn in real time is fascinating. And I love the list you made at the end, since those are all things I’m trying to live by. Even though we’re not on the exact same path or journey, your recurring videos are a great reminder for me in my everyday life to stay on track. Thank you for your content Hannah. ❤️
Per your goals, I would love to see a video where you take a single clothing item and create several unique looks with it using various other clothing items, accessories, makeup looks, and hairstyles. The inspiration from a video like that would be amazing.
I love the constant perspective on capitalism and the consumer's responsibility to themselves first, and to be mindful. It's really good to watch someone who is a wholesome Reminder to take care of our financial lives ✨💕 thank you!
I personally like that you quantify (with exact numbers) your less stuff journey! Would really love to see a video on how you go about choosing your quality pieces of clothing! Thanks for the amazing content as usual Hannah 💗
And another thing! I love what you said about decluttering - I try to find the balance because I could see myself " decluttering" perfectly good products simply because I want to buy new products that are unlikely to perform any differently, and that's just not what I'm about.
A year of less stress led to an intention to live a Life of Less Stuff! I’m happy for you!
Wow! you've had over 7000 views on this video today! That's how many people are wanting to see your conclusion and take aways from your project. I think having a theme for the year really works. I think your take aways were really good things. I like that you are getting to the place that you don't feel the need to constantly purge. I think in the past that was a need because to all the stuff we accumulate in a short period of time. I made a resolution to not bring any more clothes into this house but I found that that is easier said than done. I don't buy as much makeup but do buy skincare. I find that I have about all the palettes and eye shadow that I need. After that, everything is a repeat of what I already have. You done good girl!
It's finally here 😍 i'm glad that you still did the recap, even though you kind of stopped worrying about the year of less stuff.
I like that you counted everything because i do that myself in order to see what i manage to use up.. And it's also kind of satisfying 😂
Amazing that the whole process turned out so well for you ❤️
Thank you, Hannah, for creating such a beautiful space. Your channel is one of the few channels where I read the comments. I enjoy the perspectives of the majority of the commenters and learn from them. Huzzah!
i was really looking forward to this year's recap, and MORE Sadie. also this blushy&brown look really suits you, makes you look very soft and romantic
I was keeping track of my makeup and skincare for a while with a (failed) attempt at a no-buy, then lock down happened, I moved twice and I stopped tracking my items. I know that I will have gained a significant amount of items due to comfort shopping but I found my old notebook so I'm going to sit down today and go through the numbers again. I'm also going to look at my clothes. I think an actual no-buy is in order for me, not just the "I can replace whatever I feel like" type I halfheartedly attempted last year. Thanks for the nudge.
Hannah, I found your channel because of your no-buy insights. Which were astounding. But here’s what I think. I’ve seen so many You Tuber’s lose their verve in the pursuit of You Tube $$$.... I can imagine how overwhelmingly tempting it is. But I lose interest when I can’t relate.......there’s no forum for viewers to express this. For what it’s worth, the world doesn’t need another makeup tutorial.... as a Boomer-- I LOVE your Millenial insights! You are leaps and bounds ahead of me at that age. Forget the freaking eyeshadow, Hannah. Share the REAL STUFF❤️❤️❤️
Your videos have been getting me through this rocky start to 2021. And I absolutely love the principles you came up with. I’ll definitely use them as guidelines for my own relationship to stuff.
Thank you for sharing your feelings, your strategies and your take away from the experience of counting stuff! It is very helpful and encouraging! I am doing a low buy and i feel I am on the right way.
I appreciate you and am grateful to see glimpses of your journey. You give me so much to use to look in the mirror. 🪞
Thanks for posting this. I’ve enjoyed the evolution of your channel since the bo buy year 🥰
I know that “bo buy” was a typo but it makes me think of my favorite Office reference “BoBoddy” and so I got a really fun little giggle out of your sweet comment that I also agree with. 🙃💜
I love listening to you talk, Hannah! It’s so relaxing and informational yet poetic. You’re the best! Sending you hugs 🤗💛
I've been counting, or more truthfully I took an accounting of my stuff in January, then in June and again three weeks ago! It taught me how much stuff I really have, increased knowledge of my stuff and gratitude for my stuff, it made me even more mindful of stuff that I choose to bring home
Wonderful video and I love the counting! I’m doing that too and then after I do a declutter I update my numbers. So exciting to see the numbers going down. I’m also sticking to one thing in one thing out. The using up of skin care, hair care and makeup is an ongoing mountain to climb but I’m getting there. Really loved this video and I will reference it often throughout this year as I do my own mindful spending! Sadie cameos are also a highlight🥰
My "joyful abundance" category is definitely eyeshadow. I can usually mix lipstick colors and creams to get a certain look for a certain mood, but I always love being able to add more subtle nuances between my eyeshadows. 😁
Same
I love at 10:51 when you say “a pretty big leap,” right as Sadie jumps down from the top shelf to the floor. 🐈⬛
Hey beautiful! Great video! I decided to repot my singles into square pans in order to make a "tiled floor." It's made me fall in love with them all over again, instead of buying all new singles in square pans. Woohoo!
I love your videos because you are so well spoken. During this video I was thinking I'd like to hear you be interviewed or in conversation with someone else for a change. Could listen to you for hours, but it might be interesting to hear you be challenged in some kind of debate.
You can google Half Cousins and Hannah Louise Poston. I truly enjoyed these interactions.
Your videos are always so calming to listen too :)
My gran used to complain to us children that we never looked after our things like she had been taught to do, and I would like to I just feel so tired and have no time a lot. I've definitely gotten better but I do think I have more to learn in that sphere
I liked this video a lot 😊
I feel this. I find myself reverting back to a lot of things my grandparents used to when it comes for maintaining items or reusing or using up items, or using more sustainable items. They had it right all along and Im just starting to clue in
Your projects are always inspiring to me, I am not going minimalist, but I do have excessive items that are taking my space and don't want to be overwhelmed with the amount of choices I have.
Highly recommend you to declutter and sell a whole bunch of stuff! 😁 i did that the last few months and i made a really nice sum
I feel you are very brave to count the physical number of your clothes and accessories. I'd be afraid to do that because I'm sure I have too much! Listening to you talk about this always makes me introspective about how I can change and improve.
I truly appreciate and love that you are so creative and giving with your content. Thank you for all you do, HLP 💜
Thank you so much!
I'm going to take the time to write out that list! I have already written down fewer nicer things a few times in different places just to remind myself of how I want to spend my money and what I want to include in my life. For the first time I bought a pair of pricier leather boots rather than the cheapy peepy ones that are worn out after a season. I realized I did start to begrudge them when they got dirty and I have to be okay with cleaning them and taking better care of my beautiful boots.
Your videos have been so comforting to me lately. I went back and watched your older videos and I’ve watched your single eyeshadow declutter relentlessly and repeatedly. I find myself annoyed at the amount of stuff and things all around me whilst spending all this time at home. Online shopping at 3 am when you can’t sleep because you’re not burning enough energy throughout the day was my coping mechanism in the beginning of quarantine but now I’m surrounded by my bad decisions and it grosses me out. Anyway, just wanted to say you’re a lifesaver and I’m done ranting now.
Hi Hannah! Just want to let you know thar you have been a great help for me in my low buy journey! I watch your vlog every night before sleeping. Thank you!
That was a great introduction of your channel! To make sure that your love of beauty is nourishing you. Well said.
32 body care products?! Escandalo! Jajaja. Enjoying watching this! I just created spreadsheets to keep track of my lipstick, nail polish, shoes and knives inventory (I have a small knife collection). I created a Google form to input what I use every day in each of the categories so at the end of the year I will know what products I use and how often! Love your content Hannah! K gonna keep watching!
Emotional and spiritual survival taking priority over curation and perfection. These are good messages for me to have right now. Thank you for sharing.
I just wanted to say how proud I am of you that you completed this project. I really appreciate the counting as I don’t know how else you could really tell how the year ended up without it. I also was really trying to reduce and use up the products I own as well as making purchases more mindful. Given the year we all had even ending up with more stuff would have been understandable but you did a wonderful job! Thanks for inspiring and challenging us all to be mindful and purposeful ❤️❤️
Great video. I love your takeaways from what turned out to be such a successful project. It always makes me sad when people bash counting as a tool. It has been so eye opening for me. I can't be all feeling about it. People think I'm joking, but I'm completely literally serious when I say that every major realization I have had as an adult except for 1 has come through counting projects.
You're so well spoken. There's not enough that this on TH-cam. Watched till the end and subscribed. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and experience. I definitely relate and went through a lot of similar thoughts about my stuff this year. It's been a journey.
My 2020 was much the same. While I was going through it, it didn't seem like it was valuable, it just seemed like wasted time but now when I look back I took away more than I thought I would from it and I learned A LOT of lessons from unexpected places. It sounds like the Year of Less Stuff was actually a success!
Love the video. The quantity of makeup items you still have is mind-boggling. I feel so much better about my 5 eye shadows, 2 mascaras, and 4 lipsticks. I was actually feeling guilty about having a few that I rarely use, lol.
Appreciate your effort reporting all of this and to share your journey of awareness. What struck me was "will I continue to love it". I find myself researching the "h" out of an item and then it goes to the wayside. Definitely lends to my knowing myself and that is part of the journey of loving beautiful things. Always Hannah, thank you for thought provoking content, and I appreciate the fabulous comments from fellow subscribers. Never turn away from a video without a pearl of wisdom. Saturday and Mimosa Hugs XO!
I just found your channel recently, but, I’m here for all this content. Thank you so much for this. It’s so needed in the Beauty Community. ❤️❤️❤️
There is actually an actual term for items losing their novelty after a few months. It’s called ‘hedonic adaptation’. It’s a real thing.
There was a Roman author called Pliny the Elder that said “An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit”. So true.
I will add to your list of strategies is avoiding what I personally term as ‘apocalyptic shopping’ as in (what if they no longer stock this and I run out). We all know new stuff eventually come out anyways and we always overstock beyond what are interest sustains. We eventually get tired or outgrow something and then realize that we have back ups we need to finish before buying more.
Re: the counting: I think it's super useful. I did it at the beginning and end of the year and it helped show how much I had really acquired. Makeup and tools aren't super large so it's easy to keep acquiring it without it taking up huge amounts of space. I have hording in my family background so I'm always conscious of how those instincts kick in when I'm not paying close attention. The tallying helps keep me honest with myself.
Always enjoy your content. Thank you for sharing so much with us 🤗
I also have a deep love of beautiful things and wanting new items to infuse into my life. However, I see the problems this has caused both fort he environment and for my finances, which tends to trickle over into my stress and relationships. So, my focus and goal is really to work on that core desire. By working on not wanting as much stuff, I think I can be much more satisfied with what I have and make better financial and personal decisions
Thank you for these thoughts, Hannah. I feel myself growing as a human with the perspective you’ve shared since I began following in recent months.
As far as loving what we own, would you share a quick tutorial for the Elf Active cheek palette? I’d love to get my full use out of that product, and I feel like you shared that you apply it by mixing shades?
Thank you for your reflections once again Hannah. I'm one of those people that buys things (particularly clothing) and keep them for years, even when they no longer serve me or when they don't reflect who I am now. Watching your journey over these 3 years has helped me realise the habits and thought processes I have had and how they have impacted my buying. Over the last year in particular I have made moves to buy for who I am now, and use up all the little samples and smaller products that I had acquired - so many 'bits' that were going to waste. I've also given myself permission to get rid of things that I have come to realise don't work for me too - the highly fragranced face cream that makes me sneeze but I paid a lot for, the 'fancy' dress that I enjoyed 2 years ago but doesn't fit my life now...
While you may not be examining every little feeling about everything going forward I'm thankful you have shared this so much in the past.
My quote take away from this video is "Finding the balance that works for you."
Thanks for this video! I didn't count all my stuff yet but with this video you conviced me to do a no buy year. For sure I have more stuff that I can use in a year
I'm currently separated from most of my "stuff" as well, as I've been at Partner Unit's house (on the other side of London from me) for the duration of the pandemic thus far. I booked it over here in March before the UK officially went into lockdown, so it was sort of a rush job, and I didn't think through most of my packing decisions very well.
As a result, I've been swinging back and forth between buying a bunch of new stuff to make up for what I'm missing (or using the excuse of not having much with me to enable my desire to buy stuff, potayto potahto). So far, I don't think I've regretted more than a couple of the things I've acquired, and each time it's been because the thing I acquired was really a cheap stand-in for a better thing I *really* wanted but hadn't found yet. And I can say that even though I haven't really *used* most of the things I've acquired (or not very much), I'm really, really happy I have them.
What's on my mind at the moment is what's going to happen when I do go back to *my* space where *my* stuff lives (which I will have done well enough without for probably at least a year, by then), and I have to sort of "reckon" with the things I left behind, and kind of pit my new stuff against my old stuff. I'm envisioning a lot of battles with myself. Maybe a lot of "use it or lose it" type challenges to set myself, to determine how much of my old stuff I actually want to keep (and/or how much of my new stuff will render my old stuff obsolete or unnecessary).
So...that's going to be interesting when it happens. I don't know when that will be, because I'm not going anywhere until Partner Unit and I (along with my immunodeficient flatmate whom I do not wish to kill) are fully vaccinated. At the very least.
*whoops. I forgot the other end of the things I've been swinging between, which is this frenzied sort of denial tirade of "I don't need anything at all why am I buying anything when I'm literally just in the house being seen by nobody but Partner Unit and canine companion there's no point to anything I'm just wearing my PJs and binging Netflix I don't neeeeeed aaaanythiiiiing"
Which, despite its slightly unhinged, unpunctuated delivery, might actually be the smarter position to hold, but hey ho. I bought the things. I'm not sorry.
Thank you so much for sharing this! I was in a very similar situation for much of the last year. Went to stay with my partner across the country thinking I would be there for a month or so (I literally only brought 8 days of clothes with me 🤦♀️) and then ended up staying there for 10 months separated from my space and my stuff. It made buying things so weird because I knew that my stuff still existed back at home so I didnt know if I should replace things or not. Not to mention when buying communal things like cookware that I was going to be leaving it with my partner when I went back home. It made buying even necessities really challenging and confusing at times. I just got back a few weeks ago and let me tell you being back with a full closet and makeup collection and a kitchen with all my cookware is WEIRD. I'd gotten so used to living off of a small amount of things and being resourceful that this very full apartment feels like I dont even live here anymore. But I've definitely noticed a positive change in my spending habits as a result of this situation. I dont really buy things that are "good enough" anymore, if they're out of the deodorant scent I want, i just dont buy any instead of getting a scent I dont want. And I'm much more decisive when it comes to things that i would have considered non-necessities before. I dont really agonize over whether I really *need* this makeup or clothing, if I'm torn between buying something or not, I just wait a while and then come back to it. I've been away from almost all my belongings for a year, I can go a week without buying this eyeshadow and see if I still want it after. It's been such a strange year being in an unexpected place. Thank you so much for sharing your experience because this has been so isolating and it was really comforting to hear you echo so much of what I've experienced this year.
Oh one last thing. In terms of reckoning with the stuff you left behind. I also stressed out about that aspect of coming back. But honestly, it was so obvious what I needed to get rid of as soon as I was back in the space. The things I wanted to keep jumped out at me as "oh my god I forgot I have this, this is awesome!" And the things that didnt hold that excitement were easy to let go of. It honestly felt a little like shopping when I got back because so much of my stuff felt "new" again after having basically forgotten what all I owned. I hope your experience goes well when you return!!
Congrats on a successful project despite all of the challenges of 2020! I really enjoy your reflections on everything!
Oh my, the “taking time to take good care of my stuff” part really hit home! I desperately need to incorporate that into my life. Thank you for this list, and for sharing your projects with us ❤️
Thanks for your honesty. Counting and knowing the current inventory are very helpful.
Oh lá lá that thumbnail! Excited to hear the wrap up!
Edit: Anyone else have a flashback to Hannah breaking that bottle of perfume when they were rearranging their apartment last year? 😅
omg, me when I read this comment!
Having been forced into a sudden move at the start of the year I appreciate the project and your feelings around it so much more.
I count and have spreadsheets for my beauty and makeup as I want to use things up and appreciate them. Count away if it helps! Great video
What an absolute success!! 👏🏻🏆💐 I could not have loved this more. I am so happy for you that you had such positive takeaways from the project. Even though 2020 was a shit show, it seems like the way things worked out wasn't the worst thing for the Year of Less Stuff. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Hannah! 💜
You did it! You did the damn thing and made it your servant and not the other way! Good Job Dear HLP!!
The feeling of new is better than old is a feeling bred in us from an early age. Using old stuff in a new way is a great feeling too. I like to focus on new ways of applying makeup rather than the acquisition of new stuff.
This was a very interesting video. I did a modified version of the year of less stuff along with you, and my major take away was more in the "getting rid of stuff" realm. I tend to want to hold onto everything, everything is sentimental to me, and that's been a problem for me for a long time. This past year I've been working a lot on letting go. I was also numerically successful with fewer objects at the end than at the beginning, but I don't think I'm done with the project yet. I've decided to do a second year of less stuff, or as long as it takes until I feel I've found my equilibrium.
Thank you so much for the idea of this project, it's really helped me a lot this past year, and it's continuing to
I could listen to you talk forever n ever. You’re such a doll
I think the counting is great because it makes it specific and measurable. Otherwise it’s all very vague and you can’t really be sure whether you have achieved your goals or not x
I enjoy your videos so much but this one spoke to me because I am someone like many that loses interest after the purchase so I’m having to purge constantly . I will aim to follow your list of principals with determination. Thank you 😊
Loved & greatly appreciate every minute of the video...all the thought that went into it, the evolution it represents, & so much more. Thank you so so much for continuing to share your journey. This past year especially, you & your content have felt like the hug I’ve needed.♥️
~Melissa (& pepper 🐾 & pumpkin 🐾)
Honestly I love the counting! I like it’s just cool to know the numbers. I understand obsessing over them would not be good but like you said you had always known the numbers were just a tool and not the central focus of the project
I need to do this complete inventory myself. I only have , like most people, make up, but, you have inspired me, thank you. 💖🤗
As always, fantastic analysis about consumerism, Hannah! I'm very interested in how other people live, what they value, and the types and numbers of possessions they've brought into their lives. Part of me is curious to see if I live and consume like others in my society. (I love when Sadie makes an appearance in your videos! She seems like the chillest cat.)
Listening to this whilst writing out an inventory of my skincare to stop myself buying more just because of another great sale. I have enough stuff!
I looove the blouse! Also the recap and takeaways, as always ✨ have a great weekend Hannah!
Your videos are so inspiring to me. Thank you for making such thoughtful and detailed content!
It's lovely to hear your conclusions and to know you have made us all privy to your journey. I feel like I've grown with you this year, even if my circumstances weren't as dramatically changed as yours. All of your musings on this topic are to me a reminder of principles that the women in my family have been trying to instill in me for years. I guess one just has to find the right teacher! Thank you for your candour and self-reflection, I admire the grace with which you have managed to stay true to yourself, even if a bit more flexibility than expected came into play last year.
P.S. You have the most elegant and expressive hands!
Thank you for all these great ideas to chew on (the meat 😋)! Your discussion of fewer nicer things reminds me of some shift I've seen in my shopping recently, and you've help me reframe that shift. I crave novelty and surprise, and before most brick-and-mortar shopping was closed, I loved walking through stores and stumbling on new things. I often buy things for the sheer fact that they are new and unexplored, rather than buying them to serve a specific purpose in my life. But more online, and spending less time out in the world has meant that I've been much more deliberate with my purchases. They're serving a particular purpose beyond the purpose of stimulating my brain with novelty, and I want to focus more on those types of purchases. I think there's a place for impulse spending, but I'd like to do less of it overall. I really enjoy your thoughtful reflection on these issues.