WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.000 [Sophia Boisvert] Hello, my name is Sophia Boisvert 00:00:02.000 --> 00:00:04.000 and I'm an Eco Rep with the Office of Sustainability. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.000 Recently, I've been trying to make lifestyle changes 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.000 that can make my daily life a little bit more sustainable in the long run. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:14.000 One of the favorite things that I've been implementing is Eco Minimalism. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:18.000 Now, when people hear minimalism, they can be intimidated by the idea, 00:00:18.000 --> 00:00:21.000 associating it with living with the bare essentials, 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.000 not buying anything, or living in a van and traveling the world. 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:29.000 But minimalism is simply about being intentional with your possessions. 00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:31.000 It's about riding yourself of excess 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:34.000 and focusing on what's really important. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:38.000 Minimalism is defined by the intentionality of it. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:41.000 Each item is there because it's essential to your life, 00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:45.000 and you've chosen to let it take space in your home and in your life. 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:48.000 And this idea goes hand in hand with sustainable consumption. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:51.000 American culture is very material-driven, 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:55.000 and material goods are often conflated with status and happiness. 00:00:55.000 --> 00:00:58.000 We've constantly been bombarded with ads since childhood, 00:00:58.000 --> 00:01:00.000 and this leaves a mark on our psychology. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:03.000 But this issue isn't just comfined the US. 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:08.000 In 2017, worldwide material consumption reached 92.1 billion tons. 00:01:08.000 --> 00:01:11.000 That's up from 87 billion in 2015, 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:13.000 with the extraction rate accelerating. 00:01:13.000 --> 00:01:17.000 Simply put, we buy a lot of stuff and all these products use resources, 00:01:17.000 --> 00:01:19.000 and that has a carbon cost. 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:23.000 The UN SDG12 tackles responsible consumption and production. 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:28.000 Now, minimalism is a great way to become a more sustainable consumer. 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:30.000 I'm not expecting you to go out, 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:33.000 completely get rid of all of your material possessions, 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.000 and stop buying things completely. 00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:38.000 But if you're interested in decluttering a little bit, 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.000 learning a little bit more about your possessions, 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:43.000 and how to consume more sustainably, 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:47.000 here are a few tips that I have found to become more sustainably Eco Minimalist. 00:01:47.500 --> 00:01:51.000 Firstly, when you're going through your things 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:53.000 and deciding what to get rid of, 00:01:53.000 --> 00:01:57.000 Remember that the life cycle of your products don't end 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:00.000 once it gets to the trash, it goes on in the world. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:03.000 A great video to watch to learn more about the life cycle of products 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:05.000 is "The Story of Stuff". 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:08.000 So instead of throwing things away, 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:12.000 consider donating them, upcycling them, fixing them, 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:14.000 or even selling them to others. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.000 There are so many great thrift stores nowadays for clothes and household items, 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:22.000 and if you're not comfortable giving something away for free, 00:02:22.000 --> 00:02:26.500 Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell those higher-end items. 00:02:26.500 --> 00:02:29.000 Now in the actual decluttering process, 00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:32.000 I go through and I remove anything I haven't used in a year. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:34.000 Most of us has heard this before, 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:38.000 and while it seems relatively simple, the execution can be really difficult. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:41.000 If you're hesitating throwing something away, 00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.000 just ask what that product is adding to your life. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.000 Is it providing a benefit to your happiness 00:02:46.000 --> 00:02:48.000 or is it just taking up space? 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:53.000 And it's okay to get rid of gifts that we've gotten that we don't need. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:56.000 We feel such guilt about giving away gifts that we've gotten, 00:02:56.000 --> 00:02:58.000 and it's irrational. 00:02:58.000 --> 00:03:00.000 The gifts that we get are more heavily weighted in our minds 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.000 than the gifts that we give. 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:07.000 I always ask, does the gift-giver really care about the gift they gave you? 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:11.000 And when was the last time that you thought about a gift that you gave someone? 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:14.000 I don't dwell on gifts that I've given people. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.000 And if I had a gift that I'd given someone 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:18.000 that was just taking up space in their life, 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:21.000 I'd be okay with them giving it somebody else. 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:25.000 You also have to get rid of those "just in case" possessions. 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:27.000 It's okay to let them go. 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:30.000 You haven't needed them thus far and you probably won't need it in the future. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:34.000 Now this doesn't apply to those emergency supplies or things of that nature. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.000 The next tip I have is about a cooling off period. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:42.000 "Buyer's Remorse" is something that we've all experienced. 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:45.000 We've all bought something that we didn't need 00:03:45.000 --> 00:03:47.000 and then regretted it the next day --and that's part of the problem. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:51.500 To prevent that, and to fight that instinct to buy something on site, 00:03:51.500 --> 00:03:54.000 I like to give myself a "consideration period". 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.000 If I see something that I want to buy, I add it to a list. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.000 Then in a week, if I still want to go buy that item, I go back and I buy it. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:05.000 This cooling off period has stopped me from buying 00:04:05.000 --> 00:04:07.000 so many things that I don't need. 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:09.000 This way when you purchase new things, 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:11.000 you purchase them with more intention 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:15.000 and you feel better when you do choose to bring something new into your life. 00:04:17.000 --> 00:04:20.000 I like to implement the "One In, Two Out" rule. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.000 Oftentimes we go through these cycles of decluttering 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:25.000 only to have the clutter build back up 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.000 as we bring more and more things into the house. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:31.000 So to combat this, I've implemented the "One In, Two Out" rule. 00:04:31.000 --> 00:04:34.500 You bring in a new shirt, you have to donate two old ones. 00:04:34.500 --> 00:04:37.000 This way the clutter stays down 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:40.000 and you think a lot more carefully about what you're purchasing. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.000 Is buying this worth giving up two other items? 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:46.000 To keep yourself honest with this rule, 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:49.000 it can be helpful to remove the storage of the items 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:52.000 so that you don't have the room to keep more things. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.000 If your goal is to have only, say, 6 t-shirts, 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.000 then only have 6 hangers in your closet. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:03.000 That way you can't physically keep 7 without creating a visible clutter. 00:05:03.000 --> 00:05:05.000 I hope you found this video helpful, 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:07.000 and if you're interested in learning more about minimalism, 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:11.000 there are so many great people online who post about tips and tricks 00:05:11.000 --> 00:05:14.000 to live more sustainably and more minimally. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:17.000 I've linked some of my favorites in the description below. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:20.000 Have a Happy Earth Day, everyone.