RETHINK YOUR SURPLUS: USE IT AND MOVE FORWARD MINDFULLY
Think about the items you tend to overstock in your home. Maybe it’s hotel toiletries collected in a drawer, an array of salad dressings in your refrigerator door, or more t-shirts in your closet than you care to count. We ALL have stashes tucked away that we can evaluate and rethink.
Have you heard of Project Pan? It’s a movement rooted in the beauty world where people commit to using up what they already have before buying more (think using all of an eyeshadow to reach the pan underneath).
The idea applies well beyond your makeup drawer!
I encourage you to hit pause on any further accumulation, take stock of what you own, and make intentional choices going forward. When you do, you gain awareness of habits, patterns, and needs. You notice what you’ve been buying on autopilot or realize where you’re living from a place of ‘just in case’. You may realize how happy it makes you to have 12 of an item on the shelf.
The idea here is to arrive at a mindful place when it comes to the surplus in your home. Don’t judge where you’re at. Get clear on where you want to be.
For the items you no longer want to maintain a surplus, use or donate them. For those you do, decide how many feels right, and create an inventory list. Then you know how many you have and when you want to restock.
From this place of awareness, you can shift future purchases. Rather than buying mindlessly, choose to buy your very favorite version of the highest quality you can afford. You get more joy when you use the item, and it may work better or last longer than a lower-quality choice!
Some of the benefits of rethinking your surplus:
Money saved
Fewer toss-outs due to expired shelf-life
Reduced waste
Less clutter fosters more calm
More glimmers of joy in your day
In midlife and beyond, it can be freeing to rethink your surplus and reset your buying habits. Your money and your mindset will thank you!
I LOVE to create tools that help you shift your mindset and habits! CLICK HERE for the May 2025 surplus inventory list I created. It will help you identify your surplus items and mindfully purchase going forward.
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The purpose of this post is to provide information and education (& hopefully some entertainment!). I am not a financial, medical, or mental health professional, so please do not interpret my words as the direction of a financial planner, doctor, or therapist.
I know you're smart and will ALWAYS consult with your physician or another appropriate, accredited professional before implementing any changes to your investments, diet, medication, lifestyle, exercise regimen, supplement regimen, or health practices. After all, you're here to live well, right??
Seriously - consult with your financial or healthcare team and assess your own risk. Verify what you find on the internet. I care about you!
