The road to less - part 2: the bathroom

It's funny; I'm so careful about what we put into our mouths, making conscious decisions about chemicals, additives, preservatives and processing, yet I haven't made that transition to the products we slather all over our skin.

I cleaned out my bathroom cabinet last week. It was a motley collection of old tubes - half squeezed, makeup well past its best, baby potions and lotions no longer needed, old medications and plasters, and enough hair products to fill a salon. Can I point out how hilarious this last point is, given I have had neither the time nor inclination to visit a hairdresser in nearly eight months.

Perhaps even more fascinatingly, for someone who's nails are brittle and short, and who has absolutely no skills in applying varnish, I have a dizzying array of nailpolish. I wonder where they all came from? I've kept some of course; I secretly dream of being the kind of girl who changes her nail colour as regularly as her outfits.

Before, I had a cupboard under the sink that was full to bursting, with products I neither needed, used nor even knew were there. I had also purchased a three tier drawer set to house the other ESSENTIALS that didn't fit beneath the sink.

See?

Appalling. The rest was so embarrassing I couldn't bear to share.

Now, my beneath-the-sink is enough. More than enough. There is even room for a fully kitted out travel bag of toiletries that is ready to pack at a moment's notice (for all those glamourous last minuteweekend getaways, of course....).

Edited.

I tossed an appalling amount. And carefully edited the rest. My flimsy three basket drawers are no longer needed in here and have been relegated to serve the rest of their days as garage storage.

My decision now is to be far more conscious of what I purchase when the current items reach their end. To think carefully about ingredients and purpose. To whittle my basics down to a few, fabulous, products that provide only what I need.

How I'm feeling

I know I'm only two rooms in to a large house and garage, but I'm feeling really good about getting rid of excess. I feel immediately lighter. Things stand out more when there is space around them. More space, means more calm. Less stuff means more room. And more room means more of the things that really make us happy; family, fun, friends, and time.

I have absolutely no desire whatsoever to fill the spaces up again. In fact, the opposite is true. I can not wait to get rid of more. Last night, I sorted my bedside table drawers - all that's in them now is what i'm currently reading, an eye mask, and some hand cream.

And, just now, in the time it took to boil the kettle for a soothing cup of tea on this dreary morning, I tackled my shoe collection and halved it. At least halved it, actually. It feels fabulous.

On the other hand, I suppose I can't help but feel appalled, ashamed and even a little bit angry.

How did I end up with so much stuff? Why did I ever think I needed it? I feel rather alarmed at amount of money spent on things we don't need, the wasted time shopping for it, cleaning it, and finding it when it's adrift in a sea of stuff, and more than a bit conscious-stricken about the lack of thoughtful purchasing.

I feel like I'm seeing things entirely differently. The balance has shifted. I'm enjoying the journey.