Prepping and minimalism may seem like conflicting lifestyles, but they don’t have to be! I discovered this when we added a third child to our 2-bedroom, 800-ish square foot house. Once she started moving around, it felt like our space shrank dramatically.
Around the same time, my parents downsized. As a result, I inherited several pieces of family heirloom furniture. At heart, I’m a minimalist, and between these factors, my minimalist side rebelled.
I wanted to get rid of everything we owned!
Have you ever felt that way?
Minimalist Mentality vs. Prepper Mindset
Among other minimalist advice, I familiarized myself with Marie Kondo’s book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying. She mainly touts de-cluttering or sorting by category, rather than the traditional advice of doing a room or a closet.
For example, do all your books at once. I know it’s easy to get distracted while going through things, so focusing on only one thing at a time seems a good way to stay on task.
She’s also known for getting people to ask if any given item “sparks joy” or makes you happy, or if it detracts from your life because you’re constantly tripping over it (my paraphrase).
NOTE: Get Survival Mom’s free ebook, “Declutter & Organize Your Living Space.”
This may all be very good advice, but along with being a minimalist, I’m also a prepper. I’m determined to be prepared for everyday emergencies and worst-case scenarios, using this handbook as a guide.
With the addition of a child and furniture to my household, my prepper self was thinking about the future–both the bigger political and economic picture and our own family’s financial security. There was a good deal of “stuff” that I felt we needed to keep if we were to be prepared for any number of crises.
But how could I both prep AND continue with my commitment to minimalism?
Continue reading, “How Prepping and Minimalism Can Live Happily Ever After Together” from The Survival Mom here.
The Women's Outdoor News, aka The WON, features news, reviews and stories about women who are shooting, hunting, fishing and actively engaging in outdoor adventure. This publication is for women, by women. View all posts by The WON
