Here are a few tips that help me to easily go through my belongings and get rid of them. Maybe some of them will be helpful for you.

- Keep things visible. Leave those closet doors open all the time. Pile things in a visible location.

- Get rid of something every day. This doesn’t replace the tasks of hauling off loads of stuff, but it’s my favourite way to keep up the momentum. Even if it’s just something small, it helps you stay on target. Anyone who has blown up a Death Star knows how important it is to stay on target.

- Make a time line. Every project should have planned bite-size milestones that make the larger project possible.

- While you’re in the moment of feeling motivated about your trip/goal, get rid of some stuff. It’s a bit tedious of a task, so relating it directly to what you’re motivated about is key.

- Come to terms with getting rid of it all while you are away from your stuff. Go sit on a park bench, or in the bus station, for awhile and imagine what a life is like where you don’t have things to go home to. They’re a big part of our lives, so try to create a positive association in your mind to being without them.

- Find the disposal solution that works for you. I personally think that finding new homes for items I like is kind of fun. And it feels much better than throwing things away. I also like to think of the friends I give things to as my victims. I pretty much make my own fun.

- Dispose of things in waves. For example, I have a hard time getting rid of t-shirts. So once a month I would go through and toss about 10% of them. Sometimes I would be more keen and do more, but each time I got closer and it became easier.

- If your preferred disposal method is becoming a hindrance, just throw the stuff out. In some places it is impossible to find a charity that will come get your stuff. And sometimes Ebay is more hassle than it’s worth. So if trying to do the right thing is becoming your excuse, then it’s trash can time. There are no excuses for not making your project milestones. Git ‘er done.

- Keep a trash bag out in the middle of your home at all times. It should be super easy for you to throw away stuff so you have no barriers or excuses.

- Don’t buy any more things, damnit. No seriously, stop it.

Well, that’s pretty much how I roll when the time comes to abandon ship. What about you? Do you have any good tips for aspiring minimalists?

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// shawn

photo credit: podolux

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Unsolicited Tips For Getting Rid Of Your Crap is a post from: Rerunaround

This sort of thing might change at any time, so check these sites for yourself:

Immigration NZ: http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migrant/stream/work/workingholiday/
Immigration AUS: http://www.immi.gov.au (use the visa wizard, it’s rad)
BUNAC: http://www.bunac.org
SWAP (Canada): http://www.swap.ca

I do appreciate that I can enter both countries for free with no Visa. However, I am rather sad about the working holiday visa cut off. I don’t really see what the point of an age cap is on that sort of visa. Both countries benefit from temporary workers (primarily agriculture), so why cap it? Are they afraid that some 36 year old will break a hip? If you happen to be the Immigration Minister for either country, or the Queen, I would be really interested to hear the logic behind the age caps.

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// shawn

ps: I’m 36. I knew I should have gone last year, damnit.

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Over 35 and Want a New Zealand Working Holiday Visa? is a post from: Rerunaround

How many souvenirs would Sue veneer if Sue Veneer could veneer souvenirs?

Yesterday I had snowglobes on my mind after reading about the TSA’s reminder that we can’t carry them on the plane. I’m not really worried about snowglobes in my carry-on bag. It did make me wonder about souvenirs in general though. Before you start a trip is really the only chance to make the not-even-remotely-important decision on how to handle souvenirs.

The true holy grail of souvenirism is the theme. Personally, I’ve never been much of a souvenir person. Sure I’ve casually flirted with the occassional t-shirt, fridge magnet, or coffee mug. Who hasn’t? The theme collectors are hardcore though. They giggle at us rookies with our mis-matched souvenir collections – 2 Cabo shot glasses, a Bellagio fanny pack, and an unidentified inflatible sperm whale. Pathetic. Theme souvenirists are the type that have a snowglobe from every place they have ever been. Or a picture of them with a ceramic gnome at every major landmark. I met a guy once whose theme was visiting every Hard Rock Cafe in the world. He had the pins and t-shirts to prove it. Definitely hardcore, and definitely dedicated to their theme. Perhaps the closest I have come to a real dedicated souvernir theme is Vegas. When I go to Vegas I gather up as many of those hooker trading cards as I can. You know the ones they hand to you as you walk up and down the strip. I have some really good rookie cards. Anyways, yea, the theme is where the souvenir ascends from harmless tacky trinket to a full blow reason why you will most likely die alone.

Taking this quandary to its logical personal level, and having a bit over a month before I embark on my trip, this is my time to make the souvenir decision. Do I either,

a) Swear off any and all souvenirs. Abstinence is the safest way.

b) Not really make a decision and end up picking up some odds and ends here and there. No theme, no use for any of it. Trinkets, chotchkies, fluff.

c) Latch on to a theme like a diabetic wolverine on Willy Wonka. Embrace a souvenir theme and let it motivate and entertain me throughout my travels.

I’m inclined to answer “a” since I don’t really want to buy, carry, or live with a bunch of snowglobes. What if I come to regret that though. Is there a cool theme out there that I would actually enjoy? What is your souvenir tactic? Do you recommend a theme? Do you perhaps want to buy my gently used ceramic turtle whistle from Nicaragua?

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// shawn

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ps: I don’t like the hard rock cafe.

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- Whether ’tis nobler to souvenir is a post from: Rerunaround

1. Get rid of everything I own (easy)
2. Quit my career/job (last day is Dec 18th) (hard)
3. Fit everything I need and want into my backpack (easy)
4. Live a little. See some places, do some stuff, experience life. (hard?)
5. Write about it here. Maybe take some pics too. (medium)
6. Win.

The only constraints that I know of are money and attention span. I have a limited small savings to milk. So I guess we’ll see how long it, and I, last.

What do you think?

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// shawn

Thanks for subscribing to my RSS feed, I appreciate it! Please be sure to stop by the site sometimes and leave a comment so I know you're still alive. I worry about you. Are you eating okay? Ok, see ya! -- What’s The Plan, Man? is a post from: Rerunaround