When consumerism reigns, it is easy to find yourself thinking, “If only I had an <instant pot/electric ice cream maker/cast iron Dutch oven/dehydrator/blah blah blah> by life would be so much easier.” I have fallen into that trap way too many times myself, and still struggle with it. Our human nature wants the easiest way out, and new gadgets for the home, particularly the kitchen, appeal to our desire for ease.
On the other hand, how many times a day do I groan in frustration when I can’t find the muffin tray AGAIN? Or throw in the towel on deep cleaning the sink because I’m not sure where the latest miracle-working scrub has run off to?
Essential learning points from this post
If my friends and acquaintances are any indication, many of us today suffer from ADD or similar brain dysfunction. Whether it’s due to genetics, or too much technology, or lack of nature time, we just don’t seem to be able to keep it all together. Guess what- there’s hope! In the last few years I’ve become much more able to find the things that I need when I need them.
- The less you have, the easier it is to find what you DO have.
- When you become skilled in using basic tools in the kitchen you won’t need the latest “time-saving” devices.
- You do not need a myriad tools, utensils, and ingredients to make a large variety of foods
- Minimalism in the kitchen leads to peace of mind and massive money savings.
My path to minimal-ish living began the year that my neighbor showed me her copy of “The Life-Changing Habit of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo. When we decided to sell our home and live in a travel trailer, the process hit hyper speed.
A year later we were back in a house and the larger kitchen (and income) encouraged me to once again stock up on all the latest.
When we bought our big house after traveling, everyone said, “Just wait, you’ll fill up all those cabinets in no time!” I claimed I’d never do that again. Guess what happened.
Me
Minimalism is a lot more than cutting it all out once and for all. It requires constant vigilance to protect against the creep that wants to take over your kitchen.
Key Takeaways
- Limit your kitchen items to what you use most.
- Less is more.
- If you need to add something to your life, may it be skills, not stuff.
That is the end of this place holder blog post on how to simplify your kitchen.
Don’t you just love it?!