Lessons from Living in a Hotel - You Don't Need Much

Lessons from Living in a Hotel - Day 1 & 2

Minimalism according to Merriam-Webster is a style or technique (as in music, literature, or design) that is characterized by extreme spareness and simplicity. For a few years after college, I lived as a somewhat minimalist. While I was never and will never be 100% a minimalist, but I only owned items that I used. This was particularly out of necessity because I was living in the upper east side of Manhattan in a tiny studio with my husband, so due to space and student loans, I had to curb my spending on all else but good food, books and hanging out with friends.

Well, when we moved into a one bedroom a year later, I missed the little fun and unique extras in my life, got myself a new sewing machine and started to accumulate clothing bought from stores and trims for my DIY projects. I often buy items from regular stores and add lace trims, corset lacing, and hardware to them.

The lesson I learned is to that when you restrict yourself too much, you often go in the other extreme when given a chance. This is one of the reasons, for instance, that dieting doesn't work. For that reason, I have been thinking lately that I need to get rid of a lot of my clothing and shoes, and even handbags. However, it is hard making decisions on what to discard and donate as I am on a budget as I took time off from work to take post-graduate classes last year, then recently to study for the LSAT, and well, we are not wealthy.

Recently, my husband got a temporary work assignment, so we are staying at the Hilton for 3 months (although we will be going back home periodically to check on things). Despite the lovely amenities here, this is going to be more of an LSAT training camp for me because I have not been studying for it consistently. In reality, I have actually been barely studying for it because I get so distracted at home. I have been quite distracted these first two days, but it is because we barely slept Sunday night and I was settling in yesterday.

Although we will not be at the hotel 100% of the time, I was so anxious to leave all my stuff behind as I don't have a car to go around with if I need stuff. However, so far, I only miss my precious sewing machine, and my kitchen for cooking. It is only the second day only, and what really surprises me is how free I feel being away from all my stuff. I was having trouble deciding what to donate because I have many items that I liked. However, it makes no sense to have so much that I can barely store them or have enough time to wear them.

For a week's clothing, at my husband's instance, I packed very lightly, which is unlike my usual self. I packed 2 skirts, 2 leggings, a sports bra, a regular bra, 2 tank tops, a bikini, 10 undergarments and 2 open cardigans/shawls. Everything was black except for a workout tank top and a cream/black lace skirt.

The room is larger than our living room, and although there is housekeeping in the hotel, we still keep the hotel room very neat, and there is not much cleaning to do as we have so little stuff. It has felt so great to see a clean organized place that I have made a concrete decision to actually act on my thought of minimizing again. I certainly can never be a minimalist in the true sense of the word because I enjoy my bat and cameo necklaces, corsets and other things that are not basic needs or used all the time.  However, I intend on keeping items that can be laundered often and retain their color and quality, and things that are flexible to wear for work and casual.

99% of my clothing is red, black, a few antique white (silk & lace tops) worn under suits and dark charcoal grey (bottoms & silk tops), so I  already have the minimalist rule of only having neutral colored (besides red) clothing down. However, my problem is excess. I plan on getting rid of my 100% cotton tops as since they are black or red, they fade quickly. I have been keeping them to wear casually or to work out, but I really just need 5 work out tops, and can wear my more formal lace tops with jeans casually. I like dressing up anyway, but sometimes if I go to the park or the beach, a more casual item is needed, but I don't go to those places that often. I am going to make a list of the items that I really love that meet the criteria before. I know that making a list is a little OCD, but it will help my purge go faster when I return home because if I try to make a decision amidst all the stuff, I often can't make one and think of DIY possibilities for them.

I know that the main reason why I have collected so much is because I have mild OCD perfectionism (medication not required), and I have used shopping to procrastinate due to fear of failure in not meeting my goals to the highest standard. I enjoy nice things, but am aware that they are not necessary, and was not as much as a pack rat or a materialistic person growing up. I much more value a few beautiful things that are unique, than just having lots of things that are mediocre. However, I often think of how I can make mediocre things beautiful, and do a lot of DIY. The "mediocre" things are actually very classy items, but a little boring and not goth, so I have been saving them to "gothify" them, if you will. However, I have just accumulated too many things than what I can make projects with. I also waste too much time thinking about my things, taking care of them and not enough time pursuing my goals that are more important to me than my DIY projects- the LSATs, literature, music, and poetry. I really enjoy the fun of dressing goth, and feel strange in other outfits, but dark beauty and aesthetics is fun, but if it becomes a DIY obsession that prevents one from accomplishing other goals, it is not healthy. Having just the items I love will make my getting dressed effortless and save me a lot of time getting ready and from not having to clean so much. I enjoy DIY as a hobby, but I have to remind myself that my career is not in fashion or as a seamstress or a designer, but in the field of law. It is just not possible to do it all, especially when I start working again. So, I will keep my DIY to minimal projects that can be done in less than half an hour each, save for linens and decor items as I don't make or need them as frequently.

I will be chronicling my progress as a reminder to myself, and perhaps may even help others in the process.