Staying Sane May: Eliminating Dirty Dishes

Each month I share one thing I did to simplify my life. As you may have learned in the recent post, “The Proof Is in the Dishes: I Don’t Judge”, I have trouble finding time in my schedule to keep up with the (what should be daily) chore of washing dishes.

My process for solving problems no matter how complex is subtractive. I ask myself what needs to be taken away in order to fix an issue, not what needs to be added. One of my favorite quotes:

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — St. Exupéry


Notice the shiny, empty sink

In this case, I needed to take away my dishes. I don’t entertain often, so I’ve left only enough for one day’s use. Now I have no choice but to do the dishes each day. A sink FULL of dishes is not a possibility, which prevents overwhelm and procrastination. I keep my extras on a high shelf in the kitchen for the occasional times that I entertain. I made sure to put them in a spot that was more inconvenient than doing a few dishes.

Read more “Staying Sane” posts here.

Staying Sane April

Each month I like to share at least one thing I’ve done in my life to simplify and maintain balance. This month’s change may seem minor, but the mental weight it removed feels pretty substantial.

I got rid of my duvet, which is basically a giant pillowcase for the comforter on a bed. You can get them in any color or pattern and the concept is that they increase the longevity of your comforter by acting as a protective and easily washable layer. Maintaining the duvet involved washing, ironing and de-linting for the crisp look I wanted. Instead, this usually happened: clean sheets in a laundry basket for a week while I slept on a bare mattress, procrastinating the laborious task.


Bed sans duvet — only two minutes to make in the morning!


Favorite details

My comforter is washable and white, just like the duvet I no longer own. I’m happy to say that life is now 1% easier — and hey, that stuff adds up. A bedroom should be a sanctuary, so anything to remove stress and increase recharging vibes = good in my book.

Staying Sane February

For those of you who have been following us for awhile, you might remember our “Staying Sane” posts that we’ve taken a bit of a hiatus from recently. Well, they’re back! We like to share what we did to keep us happy at the end of each month. It’s is all about the little things, right?



Kristen — I’m always looking for ways to create more free time for myself. Aside from enjoying an aesthetically pleasing space, it’s one of the main reasons for my minimalist lifestyle. Less stuff = less maintenance. Earlier this month when we started having Spring-like weather, I decided I should clean my windows. I noticed the blinds that came with the apartment were a little dirty and attempted to clean them without much success (years of caked on grime isn’t easy to remove). They looked better, but I still thought they were pretty unappealing. I remembered a conversation I’d had a few weeks earlier with Sally over at Metro Modern. She and her husband, David, don’t have any window coverings in their Fan row house. I thought to myself, “Do I really need window treatments?” I decided to leave the blinds down for a few days and see how it felt. I LOVE it! The view is so much better and the rooms are even brighter. The outline of the windows without any blinds creates a very clean look AND I don’t have to dust or wipe down another blind as long as I live there (time savings = 4 to 6 hrs/yr). I did purchase some inexpensive curtains from IKEA for my bedroom. (A little) modesty can be a good thing.



Christie — With the recent launch of Fibre Craft’s website, I've been sewing and making like a mad woman. My stock pile of material had begun to get a bit out of control and was making it really hard to be efficient in my “studio” (read: large desk in the corner of my room). I decided to make some more space to store materials and supplies under my bed by going through some old boxes and clearing out nearly four trash bags full of stuff to give away.

I was able to fit one large wine crate box and two vintage suitcases full of material under my bed in place of the things I gave away. I also finally added tags to my smaller boxes so it’s easier to find notions and scraps when I need them. Lastly, it freed up a ton of space under my desk making the room feel a lot less cluttered. It’s really helped keep the inspiration flowing in the one place of my apartment that I need it the most.

Staying Sane June

Each month, Minimalist writers share our thoughts on “staying sane”.


Kristen’s back porch nap zone

Kristen — In many summers past, I’ve chosen productivity over enjoying the awesome weather. In reality, the to do list will never end, so I’ve decided to take summer back this year and relax as much as business will allow. I’ve been hitting Texas Beach about once a week and enjoying late night events with friends. It helps that I love my job, but I’ve also been drinking a Carnation Breakfast Essentials drink every morning that I have to work. Even if I was out until two the night before, the drink wakes me right up and I’m on my game.

Emily Smith — I’ve been struggling to come up with my “Staying Sane” post this month but finally realized that what has kept me sane this month are a few good friends. I’ve had a month with a lot of highs but a few significant lows and on a couple of occasions called up said friends and just, basically, said I needed help. I hate asking for help but those few friends were totally the right people at the right time to distract, help and comfort me till I got through the slump. Cheers to them, they know who they are.

Emily Jones — When I think back to the happenings of the last month, the last word that comes to mind is “sane”. Between the awesome Richmond events and festivals, weekends full of traveling and visitors, recharged side projects, seemingly endless birthday celebrations for all my Gemini friends, and a rigorous training schedule, I’m not even entirely sure where the last month went. Much like Emily Smith, I too was struggling with what to write for “Staying Sane” this month until my family came to visit last weekend. It’s very rare for my mom, dad, brother and myself to find ourselves in the same room, and even more rare for us to have the time to really catch up and enjoy ourselves. Having them all here with me was therapeutic and grounding, which was absolutely the perfect ending to a chaotic, but stellar month. Thank you, family, for keeping me sane.

Staying Sane May

Each month, Minimalist writers share how we “stay sane” in an increasingly fast-paced world. Read our May reflections below.

Kristen — This month I’ve started designating one day a week for reading (usually Sunday). Whether it be my copy of Real Simple or Inc. (small business ’zine), a novel or an organizing book, I feel refreshed, relaxed and more knowledgeable afterward. With the warmer weather, my reading has been taking place on my back porch with a glass of Simply Lemonade (or, as many of you know — straight from the jug). As a result of a recent Real Simple reading day, my diet improved! I prefer to have five or so snacks a day rather than three big meals, which is apparently healthier. Check out this article — “24 Nutritious (and Tasty) Snacks”. So far I have tried the cucumber with Swiss cheese as well as the Melba toast with cream cheese and dried cranberries. Food for me has to be quick and simple (I don’t enjoy cooking, or the mess it makes) and these combos are right on the mark.

Emily Smith — I’m experiencing a lovely transition at the moment between a hectic school semester and a summer break in the letterpress studio. Recently, as I finished school projects, final exams and several community events in which I was involved, I found myself wanting to start new projects that over the past six months I’d put aside. Then I realized I was creating a hectic summer schedule with, again, little time for leisure. I scrapped the list and went hiking in the mountains instead and since then haven’t thought about any new projects but instead have spent several fantastic days cooking, eating with friends, reading fiction, hiking, laying out at the River and Byrd Park, watching movies and ok, well, I have purged my closet. That was only because I couldn’t find my Nalgene bottle and swore it was buried in a box beneath my summer sandals that needed to be unearthed anyway! So, my staying sane tip this month is to give yourself time to do the little things that are calming, relaxing and fun. They’re usually the inexpensive things that get pushed aside when our schedules are packed so enjoy them for what they are, when you can.

Emily Jones — As Minimalist readers are well aware by now, I’ve been a chronic list maker nearly my entire life, or at least since I could write! This is something that Miss Kristen and I both have in common, and not all too long ago she made the transition to digital planning, organization, and list making. I remember one particular conversation we had where she tried to sell me the benefits of switching to digital list-making, and I just couldn’t fathom finding the same satisfaction and success as I do when I cross items off a hand written list.

Well, dear readers, I have been proven wrong. This month I discovered a handy (and free!) website called TEUXDEUX which is a very simply and beautifully designed list-maker’s dream. Its interface is ultra-easy to use, and it’s accessible not only via computer, but also on the go with your smart phone. The iPhone app is very elegant, and is available in the app store for just $2.99.

I have many friends that only download free apps, but for the price this is a super useful tool that I’ve been happy to incorporate into my daily activities. In fact, it’s kept my left hand free of scribbled-ink lists, although it won’t be replacing my hand written post-it lists entirely.

Staying Sane April

Spring is here — finally! Hopefully the warmer weather and lovely colors outside are helping to melt away your everyday stresses. Read Minimalist insights below to see what our writers are doing to “stay sane” this month.

Kristen — I often put pressure on myself to be “perfect”, which is not only unreasonable, but literally unattainable. I’ve recently discovered that I can trick my brain out of these negative habits and thought patterns. If I’m feeling overwhelmed by a task because I want it done perfectly, I simply tell myself, “Just do 80% perfect now and you can get to 100% perfect later on.” This little mental trick works every time! I’m able to check off my to do list with much less anxiety. And do I ever actually revisit the tasks to increase the level of perfection? Umm, no.

Emily Smith — With spring finally here I’ve definitely been walking and running outside more. This is nothing new but the funny thing is that lately I have the uncontrollable urge to lay down, outside in the grass, after my runs. Sometimes I keep my iPod going and other times I just like some quiet or city sounds. So, here are my top two favorite places to lay in the grass after a run. #1 — Reedy Creek after a Buttermilk run, next to the parking lot, you cross over the train tracks and there’s a good field next to the river where the kayaks drop in. #2 — The fields next to the toll booth at the Nickel Bridge near the Pump House. Just don’t lay near the top of a hill because sometimes mountain bikers fly over the tops.

Emily Jones — My friends and family always ask me how I manage to tackle multiple creative projects on top of running day-to-day errands and working a full time job. The answer is so simple you’re going to groan — I am a chronic list maker. I should also explain that in addition to perpetual multi-tasking, I also have the memory of a goldfish (this is no exaggeration). If there’s more than one thing on my mind, I write it all down on anything I can get my hands on. For me, nothing beats the satisfaction of crossing one item off at a time and tracking the progress that’s been made. It’s a reminder that, even if it feels like you’re aimlessly running circles and getting nothing done, you’re really following through with your tasks. Fun tip — write down fun tasks, or silly things. Sometimes I’ll write the obvious down, like “sleep eight hours” or “go to happy hour”. It’s good to remind yourself to have fun and rest a little.

Staying Sane March

Each month, Minimalist writers share our thoughts on “staying sane” with the world. Read below for our March reflections.

Kristen — Over the past few months I have been learning to take things one day at a time. I’m a worrier by nature. Last October, as many of you know, I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Update — I’m cancer free and life is pretty much back to normal post-surgery and post-chemo. In any case, having cancer was one thing that showed me that worrying is a complete waste of time and energy. Did I ever worry about getting cancer at age 27? Nope. I worried about things like: boys, job stuff, being in a fire, etc. See? None of that did any good or made me better prepared for the major life event I just tackled. Staying calm and taking things one day at a time is helping me keep my stress at bay. The fact is, I can’t control what tomorrow brings. I can only do my best with today. I may have to remind myself of that fact daily, but it’s true.

Emily Smith — The schedule of a grad student is far from regular and over the past eight months I’ve developed this awful hybrid eating habit where (due to my crazy schedule) I use thirty minutes to grab a bite to eat, take a break from studio, run errands and catch up with friends. Needless to say, I end up eating cheap crap that’s convenient to the nexus of the universe (also known as the intersection of Franklin and Harrison Streets). Over the past few weeks however, I’ve re-discovered the simple pleasure of cooking at home and even when it happens at one in the morning it leaves me relaxed and with meals I enjoy for several days. I stress less about spending money unwisely and eat healthier. Three of my favorite recipes of late that are great as left-overs:

1. West African Vegetable Stew

2. Oven Baked Ratatouille

3. Green Risotto with Spinach, Peas, Herbs and Runner Beans

Anne Marie — What a timely post, since my sanity has been tougher to access this week. Two things are helping keep me positive during a recent job loss and resulting job search: saying no when necessary and instead focusing on a few top priorities, and getting outside on a regular basis.

I want to be involved in everything that sounds cool. I’ll make promises to myself and others, and soon feel overwhelmed and find that I’m spending a lot of time on lesser priorities. I’ve had to say no recently to some cool and interesting projects. I remind myself that eventually, when other more pressing needs are sorted, I can get involved with these creative projects.

With our recent time change, there’s more sunlight for us to enjoy now. For sanity’s sake, I’m getting a bit of sun on my shoulders everyday. I pull myself away from the computer (force quit?), and get outside for a dog walk, jog, or walk to the grocery store. And while I’m outside, I am gently focusing and refocusing on the lovely weather, and away from that computer screen!

Emily Jones — I couldn’t agree with Anne Marie more! My “sanity” has been buried deep the last few weeks and I’ve got to consciously dig it up every couple days amidst the chaotic schedule that comes with spring. To stay on the top of my game, I’ve been taking just five to ten minutes each night to “reset” my bedroom. This simply means: put away scattered items, fluff the pillows a bit, light a candle and freshen it up. It’s incredible how such a simple little habit can calm you through and through. I go to bed feeling safe in my sanctuary, and when I wake in the morning I’m not hurried trying to find the items I need for the day. Also, Apartment Therapy just posted a great DIY tutorial on how to use clementines and olive oil to make great smelling and environmentally friendly candles. These little guys smell so fresh!

Minimalist readers — share your thoughts on staying sane with us in the comments section!

Staying Sane February

Most of us encounter more than our desired share of stress in any given day/week/month. It’s important to find ways to unwind in order to maintain a healthy and balanced life. The Minimalist team has decided to share one thing we are each doing every month to recenter. Maybe this is something we do routinely, or perhaps it’s a positive change we are just now making. Feel free to share your tips for “staying sane” with us!

Kristen — Lately I’ve been feeling so excited about so many things that I find it hard to stay focused and be productive. This is an issue I can’t complain too much about. In order to work off some of the extra energy, I will blast my favorite music and have my own little private dance party. Sometimes these rockstar sessions last for up to 20 minutes — a free workout! I also use this time to imagine the things I want to happen becoming a reality.

Emily Smith — Being in graduate school means my days are pretty heavily scheduled. Breaks between classes are filled with homework, meetings, errands, appointments, library searches, JRGBC work, studio time and the like. A few weeks ago I started walking (again) to and from campus which is around 1.5 miles from my apartment. Living in Seattle for many years without a car, it’s familiar to have my iPod bumpin’ and my feet on the sidewalks and lately I find it a great way to have some time to myself and get some fresh air! Plus, it’s free and on the days when I’m too busy and a little stressed about not having time to work out — I’ve gotten a good three mile walk in.

Anne Marie — Much of the time, my insanity comes from living in the past or future and not paying attention to whatever it is I’m doing currently. I’m thinking about the work meeting yesterday, and what I need at Kroger tomorrow, and who I’m meeting up with on Saturday. My mind is racing and I start to feel overwhelmed. At this point, I can sometimes manage to “catch” myself doing the past/future worry cycle. The simple act of catching myself, of saying, “Oh, look, you’re doing that thing again,” usually improves my mood and stops the insanity. Next thing I know, I can “catch” myself being present, concentrating on my current activity. For further reading, get your hands on any Jon Kabat-Zinn book and add it to your permanent collection to refer to whenever you feel some insanity bubbling up. As my good friend once told me after I recommended one of Zinn’s books to her, “This (book) is a game-changer.”

Emily Jones — This past fall and winter were completely chaotic, and left me searching for a way to unwind. My solution? I started doing yoga for the first time in my life. When I have an especially stressful day at work, I’ll clear my plans before eating dinner, play some tunes, and have an hour long yoga session in my living room. The stretching definitely isn’t for sissies, but nothing beats letting go of your stress while taking deep breaths. It’s the epitome of re-centering yourself.