Tips from Shira Gill: 5 simple habit shifts
Vivian Johnson Photography for Shira Gill
Lots of people want home to be a sustainable sanctuary, but something gets in the way: life! There’s a lot going on, all the time, and all of it seems to come with stuff, so much so that both sustainability and the concept of a calm sanctuary to live in can feel out of reach.
Living in an organized and sustainable way is tricky! Just getting started can be overwhelming.
That’s why we’re so excited to share these simple tips from Shira Gill, an organizing expert and bestselling author on a mission to help people streamline and simplify every part of their lives. She’s a Ridwell member, too!
Shira believes that through environmental design and simple habit shifts, we can make it easier to live a more organized and sustainable life. These five little habit shifts will make a positive impact on our planet and they’ll even save you money in the long run. File that under #winwin.
Habit Shift #1 Curate An On-the-Go Kit
Most of us want to get into the practice of swapping single-use plastics for reusable alternatives, but sometimes life gets in the way and we find ourselves without a metal straw/cloth bag/coffee thermos.
Shira says: To make it easier to live sustainably on the go, try curating your own “on-the-go kit” stocked with your favorite sustainable essentials. Think: reusable utensils, straws, water bottles, coffee cups, shopping and produce bags. Beyond these things that most people will use, customize according to your lifestyle. Love to eat out? Put a container for leftovers in your kit. Furry friend often tag along? Remember a travel water bowl. Putting everything together will help you remember to take your kit with you.
Habit Shift #2: Put It Where You Use It
Obvious as it may sound, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy simply by storing things where you tend to come into contact with them naturally. Take your on-the-go kit, for example. Should it stay in your car? Near your entryway? On a hook in the garage?
Shira says: Store a laundry hamper where you tend to toss dirty clothes. Set up an “inbox” by the front door to corral incoming mail and magazines. Hang your Ridwell textile recycling bag in your closet so it’s convenient to toss in clothes you’re done with. Likewise, store your bags for plastic recycling in the kitchen where plastic packaging tends to gather.
Habit Shift #3: Deactivate Single Click Purchasing
Reminder: the most sustainable thing we can do for the planet is consume less and use what we already have.
Shira says: It’s become far too easy to mindlessly and impulsively click-and-buy, but it’s just as easy to deactivate one-click ordering (sorry, Amazon!). If you have a tendency to shop online via social media, Amazon, or other retailers, you can create friction by deleting your credit card information so you are forced to pause and think before you buy.
Habit Shift #4: Stop Over-Organizing
Organization really boils down to two foundational principles.
One: Group similar items together in categories (like with like).
Two: Store each category in ONE specific designated home.
Shira says: The biggest problem I see again and again is that people try to overcomplicate their organizing efforts with complex systems that are not realistic to maintain. Feel free to ditch the color coding, micro-organizing, and alphabetizing (unless you enjoy it) in favor of simple, intuitive systems that make sense to you.
Habit Shift #5: Shop Your Home First
As much as many of us love the dopamine hit of buying something new and cute, one of the most useful ways to reduce the amount of stuff coming into your life is to consider what you have (and why you love it) to save yourself from doubling up on things that don’t actually serve you.
Shira says: I’ve been shocked at how often I feel the urge to buy something that I already own a perfectly good version of, including, but not limited to: cozy sweaters, pretty ceramic mugs—even toiletries like shampoo or face wash.
I’ve been getting in the practice of noting the desire for the item in question, and then looking in my own home to see if I own something that could serve the exact same purpose. This simple habit shift has prevented me from buying more than a handful of items I truly had no need for. Money saved, lessons learned.
By incorporating these simple habit shifts into your daily life, you’ll create a more organized living space and contribute to a more sustainable world. Small changes can make a big difference, leading to a healthier, more balanced lifestyle for you and the planet.
About Shira
Shira Gill is a globally recognized home organizing expert and bestselling author with a minimalist philosophy. She has inspired thousands of people to clear clutter from their homes and lives, and developed a process and toolkit that applies to anyone, regardless of budget, space, or lifestyle.
Shira is the author of Minimalista and Organized Living, and has been featured in 100+ print and media outlets including Good Morning America, Architectural Digest, Vogue, Real Simple, and The New York Times.
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