How Can You Reduce Things?

Reduce Physical Possessions

Material items can easily accumulate and take over living spaces. As possessions grow, so too can feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed. By minimizing belongings, you can enjoy a simpler lifestyle that promotes happiness and satisfaction. Here are some tips for reducing physical possessions:

Go through items room by room and assess what you actually use or need versus what’s collecting dust. If you haven’t used something in over a year, consider donating or selling it. Be ruthless and honest about what is truly adding value to your daily life.

Before buying anything new, ask yourself if you really need it or just want it temporarily. Avoid impulse purchases and instead focus on necessities.

Set limits for categories of items like clothing, books, hobby supplies, etc. to avoid excess. When the limit is reached, use a “one in, one out” policy.

Opt for multifunctional items when possible to reduce duplication.

Organize and arrange possessions neatly so it’s clear what you actually have. Use storage containers and displays to keep items tidy and accessible.

Downsize to a smaller living space which requires fewer possessions. Opt for open, minimalist decor.

Consider if you can digitize physical media like books, movies, music, photos, and documents to reduce clutter.

Cut back on shopping as a hobby and avoid accumulating items on sale if you don’t need them. Focus on experiences over material goods for happiness. Consider if renting, borrowing or sharing items could meet your needs.

Reduce Food Waste

Food waste is a major problem, with up to 40% of food in the United States going uneaten. This waste ends up rotting in landfills and releasing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Reducing your food waste is an impactful way to help the environment.

Meal Planning

Plan your weekly meals ahead of time and make a grocery list so you only buy what you need. Check your fridge and pantry first to avoid buying duplicates. Meal planning reduces impulse purchases and makes it easier to use up ingredients you already have.

Proper Food Storage

Store fruits and veggies properly to maximize freshness. Keep berries in the refrigerator and bananas separate from other produce. Freeze breads, meats, and leftovers if you won’t use them in time. Invest in food storage containers to keep unused ingredients fresh.

Creative Leftovers Use

Get creative with leftovers – use them in omelets, sandwiches, soups or salads instead of throwing them out. Designate a leftovers night each week to use up anything in your fridge before it goes bad.

Composting

Compost food scraps like fruit and veggie peels rather than sending them to the landfill. Compost adds nutrients back to soil and avoids methane production. Consider starting a compost pile or using a countertop compost bin.

Reduce Energy Use

We can reduce our energy use by choosing appliances that offer the greatest efficiency. Look for Energy Star rated models when replacing old appliances like refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines. An Energy Star refrigerator uses at least 15% less energy than non-certified models. Replacing an old unit with a new energy efficient model can result in significant energy savings.

Installing a smart thermostat is another way to reduce energy consumption. Smart thermostats learn your schedule and preferences, automatically adjusting the temperature throughout the day for maximum efficiency. With smart scheduling and presence detection, a smart thermostat can reduce heating and cooling costs by around 15%.

Unplugging electronics and appliances when not in use eliminates phantom load, which refers to energy wasted by devices in standby mode. Televisions, phone chargers, gaming consoles and other electronics use electricity even when switched off if still plugged in. Get in the habit of unplugging devices to stop this unnecessary energy drain.

Line drying clothes, if feasible, can greatly reduce the energy required per load of laundry. Clothes dryers account for a significant portion of a household’s energy use. Air drying clothes on a rack or line prevents this energy expenditure. Plus, sunlight and fresh air have added benefits for your laundry.

Reduce Water Usage

Water is a precious resource that should be used wisely. There are several easy ways to reduce your water consumption and save money on your utility bills.

Installing low-flow fixtures like showerheads, faucets and toilets can significantly cut down on water usage. Low-flow showerheads use around 2 gallons per minute compared to 5 gallons with conventional showerheads. Replacing old inefficient toilets with low-flush models can save thousands of gallons per year.

Taking shorter showers is a simple way to use less water. Set a timer as a reminder to keep showers under 5 minutes. Turn off the water when soaping up or shampooing.

Fixing leaks is an easy way to plug up water waste. A small drip can waste hundreds of gallons over time. Replace worn washers, pipes and valves. Check for silent leaks in toilets by adding food coloring to the tank and seeing if it seeps into the bowl.

Using drought tolerant plants in landscaping design can greatly reduce outdoor water usage. Native plants that are adapted to the local climate require little to no irrigation. Group plants together based on water needs. Add mulch around plants to reduce evaporation.

Reduce Carbon Footprint

One effective way to reduce your carbon footprint is to walk, bike or use public transport instead of driving whenever possible. Driving less reduces greenhouse gas emissions from burning gasoline. Consider carpooling, using public transit, biking, or walking for your daily commute and errands.

Also, buy local in-season foods. The further food travels before you buy it, the more emissions are created in transporting it. Purchasing locally sourced food saves fuel for shipping.

Additionally, fly less often if you can. Air travel significantly contributes to an individual’s carbon footprint. Before booking flights, think about whether the trip is necessary or if you could join virtually instead.

Finally, switch to green energy sources. If available in your area, change your electricity plan to wind, solar or hydro-generated power. This will reduce the emissions of your home energy use.

With some lifestyle changes like driving less, buying local, flying less often, and switching to renewable energy, you can reduce your carbon footprint and make a positive difference against climate change.

Reduce Stress

Stress is an unfortunate but common part of modern life. Finding ways to reduce stress can greatly improve overall well-being. Some effective techniques for reducing stress include:

Meditation

Taking even just a few minutes a day to meditate can help calm the mind and body. Try closing your eyes, focusing on your breath, and bringing your attention to the present moment.

Yoga

Yoga combines physical poses and stretches with deep breathing and mindfulness. Engaging in yoga helps relieve muscle tension and quiet mental chatter.

Exercise

Physical activity like walking, running, cycling or strength training causes the body to release endorphins, which counteract stress hormones. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise daily.

Better Time Management

Feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to get done can certainly induce stress. Prioritize important tasks, batch similar tasks, and say no to nonessential duties to better manage your time.

Declutter

Clutter in your home or workspace can overstimulate the mind. Take time to organize your belongings, give away unused items, and clean up your environment.

Simplify Obligations

Overbooking your schedule can heighten anxiety and make stress feel inescapable. Try to limit your commitments and obligations to only what is truly important.

Reduce Screen Time

It’s important to be mindful about screen time and find ways to limit usage. Technology offers many benefits but too much screen time can overstimulate the mind and body. Try setting limits, scheduling phone-free family times, and creating screen-free areas in your home.

You may want to designate screen-free times or zones where phones and computers are off-limits, like during meals or in the bedrooms. Set a cut-off time in the evening when all devices go off for the night. Apps like Moment can track your daily screen time and set limits.

Schedule breaks during the day to give your eyes a rest from the screen. Get outside in nature, take a walk around the block, read a book, or play a board game. Returning to the real, physical world helps provide balance and perspective.

Look for opportunities in your schedule where you could replace screen time with an analogue alternative. Instead of watching videos, play an instrument or do a hobby. Swap social media for meeting up with a friend. Go for a hike instead of gaming. Find offline activities you enjoy to moderate your tech use.

Reduce Clutter

Clutter can not only take up physical space in your home or office, but also mental space. Reducing clutter can help you feel more organized, peaceful, and productive. Here are some tips for reducing clutter:

Embrace Minimalism

Adopting a minimalist mindset can help reduce clutter. Focus on only keeping belongings that you use, need, or that bring you joy. Get rid of items that are broken, unused, or just creating clutter. Consider simplifying your possessions to just the essentials.

Organize Your Home

Go through each room and get rid of what you don’t need. Organize items into logical places so everything has a home. Use storage containers, shelves, and other organizational systems to keep spaces tidy. Regularly purge items you no longer need.

Donate Unused Items

Rather than throwing away unused clothes, furniture, electronics, and other household items, donate them. Many charities and organizations accept gently used items. This reduces waste while benefitting others.

Digital Decluttering

Clutter can also build up digitally on your computer, phone, and other devices. Sort through old files and delete what you don’t need. Unsubscribe from email lists you don’t read. Remove unused apps and media. A digital declutter can reclaim mental space.

Reduce Waste

Reducing waste is an important way to lower your environmental impact. Here are some tips for reducing waste in your daily life:

Use Reusable Products

Avoid single-use plastic items like water bottles, straws, and shopping bags. Carry a reusable water bottle, refuse straws when dining out, and bring reusable shopping bags. You can also look for food containers and other everyday items that are designed to be used repeatedly.

Recycle Properly

Check your local recycling guidelines so you know what can and cannot be recycled. Rinse containers before recycling and avoid contaminating the recycling with food or other trash. Recycle all paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum and plastic containers that are accepted.

Compost Food Scraps

Up to 30% of household waste is made up of food and yard waste. Start a compost pile or bin and add all food scraps, coffee grounds, leaves, grass clippings and more. Compost makes a nutrient-rich fertilizer for gardens.

Avoid Single-Use Plastics

Single-use plastics like straws, bags, bottles, utensils and food packaging make up a large portion of plastic pollution and waste. Make an effort to avoid single-use plastics by using reusable options whenever possible. Support bans on single-use plastic items.

Reducing your waste takes some effort but is one of the most effective ways to lower your environmental footprint. With some simple habit changes, you can make a big difference.

Reduce Spending

Reducing spending is one of the most effective ways to save money and reduce consumption. Here are some tips to spend less:

Budgeting

Create a budget to get a clear picture of where your money is going. Track all expenses for a month to see spending habits. Categorize expenses as essentials like housing, utilities, insurance, food or discretionary like dining out, entertainment, clothes. Look for areas to cut back on discretionary spending.

Meal Planning

Plan weekly meals around what’s on sale at the grocery store. Cook at home rather than eating out. Meal prepping can save time and money. Bring lunch to work instead of buying it.

Buy Used

Check thrift stores, garage sales or Facebook Marketplace when needing to purchase items. Used cars, furniture and clothing can be found at a fraction of the retail cost.

Pause Subscriptions

Audit monthly subscriptions and look for ones to cancel or pause like magazines, streaming services, gym memberships, cable TV, phone plans, boxes of goods, etc. Only keep essential subscriptions being used.

Cut Out Wants

Stick to buying just needs for a period of time. Wants like the trendy clothes, gadgets, entertainment can be cut from the budget temporarily or permanently.