Try Giving These Up
To follow that article from Tim Ferriss about habits to quit, here are 10 ‘odd’ things to give up from Leo’s ZenHabits.
No wallet. This isn’t an original idea, of course, but about a year ago I put my wallet in my car’s glove compartment. Now I only carry a few bills in cash, my driver’s license and my debit card, binded with a clip. My membership cards, discount cards, etc. are stored in my wallet in my glove compartment, and you know what? I never need them. I think I’ve only gone in the wallet once to get out a card in the last year.
What Leo’s attempting to do is provide a minimilist alternative to what you carry around and do during your day. All we’re really doing is asking, “Do you need this stuff?” If you don’t you probably shouldn’t bother carrying it around.
Some of the other suggestions appeal to those of us who just want to change a few habits or force ourselves to work in a different way. For instance, the No Desktop Storage suggestion will force you to put away and organize your stuff.
10 Odd Little Minimalist Things I Do – [ZenHabits]
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Comments
Ian says on August 22nd, 2007 at 8:41 am
I’ve been doing something similar to that for the past few months and I haven’t needed anything in my wallet that i thought I needed. It is pretty amazing, especially seeing my Dad’s wallet again this past weekend and thinking he didn’t need most things in the 3inch thick monstrosity.
Reginald Adkins says on August 22nd, 2007 at 9:04 am
I worked with a behavior specialist some years ago who had a minimalist approach for eliminating routine paper. He used an empty laundry detergent box as a 3 month filing system.He rotated 3 accordian file folders for each of three months. At the end of 90 days, if he hadn’t retrieved the document and used it, he emptied that file into the recycle bin.
Adam says on August 22nd, 2007 at 9:33 am
We found that swapping out day care, bunk beds, and toys, with nice stackable pet carriers provides a wonderfully minimalistic approach to child care….. j/k ;)
devil's advocate says on August 22nd, 2007 at 10:11 am
to the suggestion of leaving your wallet in your glove compartment: that’s kind of stupid… unless you live in mayberry.
that’s the first place someone looks when they break into your car. don’t think it couldn’t happen to you. just leave the wallet at home if you don’t need it.
Wil says on August 22nd, 2007 at 10:29 am
So this guy hasn’t gotten rid of anything, he just leaves it in his car (that he takes everywhere with him). Maybe he should stop driving so much and just carry his keys in a pocket?
kureshii says on August 22nd, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Sure, you can stop carrying a wallet around, but what would be the point of that? My wallet also has a few bills and small change (always handy for coin-starved strangers ^_~) and holds important receipts. My debit card, cashcard and other oft-used cards are in a card-holder – it keeps things more organised.
I’d like to give up keys as well – sourcing wireless security solutions at the moment.
I’d give up the watch if checking the time on the cell wasn’t so troublesome. And I’m not giving up the cell.
My desktop is empty except for a few files – it’s more like a KIV folder now, which is what I always thought a desktop (physical or digital) should be. Having a nice wallpaper helps ;-)
I don’t have an iPod, blackberry etc either – my tablet PC serves all those functions for me.
Eugene says on August 22nd, 2007 at 2:53 pm
I gave up the watch a lonng time ago, still have a couple nice ones put away someplace that my wife has bought me over the years but I bump and scratch them too much. I use the clock on my cell phone but those times where were in an area with no service the time and date reset then all my reminders kick off again. Just ordered a smart phone, hoping it will still maaintain its clock and be able to replace my personal laptop that I carry with me to work.
Lyle says on August 22nd, 2007 at 3:02 pm
If it’s in his glove box then he is carrying it around. I am far more minimalist, because I leave my car at home most days and keeping my credit card on my bike is not an option. If he want to be really minimalist dump the car then we can talk.
Natasha says on September 9th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
Some of these minimalist suggestions seem impractical, and are actually creating more work and effort than less. He’s still got to take his car keys and wallet to and from the car, only now he’s added the step of having two sets of keys (car keys and key set to leave in the glove compartment), he’s to remember to take the second set of keys out of the glove compartment when he gets home, he’s still carrying keys into the store (car keys), he’s got to take the appropriate cards out of his wallet each time, each store (what’s minimalist about not taking your discount and rewards cards into the store with you?) and remember to put them back into the wallet when he gets back to the car, plus remembering to bring it into the house again. How is this making life easier?! Also, I’m pretty sure I’ve heard experts say not to let your children sleep in bed with you. I’m guessing his intimate life is minimalist as well…( ;
EB says on September 25th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
I did the exact same thing with my wallet. Also, I wrote about giving up my wallet in No More Wallet for Me and later I found out that You Wallet is Hurting You
Currently I carry three cards with me at all times. Drivers Liscense, Debit Card, and my Word ID Badge.