Posted by Debbie Rodrigues | Mar 26, 2018 | Challenge, Planning |
In times when we talk about being more with less, let’s have a look at how conscious shopping can also help us become more efficient.
During college years, I was pretty much broke.
I had worked for over six years to afford to study abroad. I didn’t have any extra cash.
After graduating and finding a job, I finally had money again. The time came where I could go into a store, and instead of wishfully browsing, I could get what I wanted.
In the mornings before work, I headed to the mall or my favorite big box store to get cute outfits and colorful workout gear. When I look back, I was probably buying one new outfit each week.
But it didn’t stop there.
I loved loading up on craft supplies to make what was trending. And I made sure to outfit my home in the latest décor.
It was as if my years of no-spending had created this need to buy everything my heart desired. Because I’ve always been good at managing my expenses, I was never at risk running out of money.
I didn’t need these purchases. But I had the money, so I thought, “Why not?”
The impact of my mindless shopping
Despite the fact I had the means, I was contributing to a very real problem.
As I went out and bought mindlessly, I was in denial about the environmental and ethical impact my purchases made. Behind those great sale prices were underpaid workers, pollution and more.
Since my purchases weren’t made to last, I ended up disposing of them quicker than I’d like to admit.
How to shop consciously the easy way with Mindful Planning. #coach #mentor #MindfulPlanning @nomado_store Click To Tweet
Conscious shopping
One day, when trying to organize my copious amount of stuff, I realized I had enough.
I didn’t want to waste my precious time cleaning and putting away items that I rarely used and had no function anymore.
I had to declutter and be more minimalistic if I wanted to save time and money to achieve meaningful goals.
How the wishlist works
I started by reflecting on the issues that were bothering me the most.
Some of the questions I asked myself were:
- What do I really need?
- Where can I save time?
- How can I carry less?
- How much am I willing to spend?
- What’s the cost-benefit?
Once my questionnaire was ready, it was time to search for products that met my expectations.
The shop
I found Nomado Store when surfing the Internet for Traveler’s Notebooks.
They’re an online shop based in Belgium that ships worldwide.
Their assortment of handmade products from Japan caught my attention because of their price and quality.
Also, they helped me simplify what I was doing.
How to be more efficient and effective with conscious shopping. #coaching #mentorship #MindfulPlanning @nomado_store Click To Tweet
The products
One of my purchases was The Superior Labor engineer shoulder bag.
It fits everything I need for a session with clients or a weekend trip. It’s so practical I ended up making it my every-day-carry.
Another item I fell in love with was the LOADSTAR key hook also from The Superior Labor.
It’s true that I’ve bought my collection of teddy keychains for a good cause, but they were in the way.
Not only they didn’t fit any pocket; I got sick and tired of standing in the rain trying to find the door key in my bag.
How to save time and money
In times when everything seems to be expendable, I decided to live mindfully.
Instead of acquiring stuff just for the sake of getting something new, I opted for conscious living.
I don’t want to spend hours of my days with the endless cleaning of drawers and shelves full of items without a purpose.
Becoming a conscious consumer is a choice in favor of freeing time and money for truly important things and people.
And it’s an exercise easier than you imagine.
If you want to learn more about conscious shopping and how to be intentional in other areas of your life to boost your efficiency and effectiveness, come to the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You.
Get all the support, motivation, and accountability you need to overcome not-so-obvious productivity killers one day at a time.
Before you go
Can you answer the following question in the comments below, please?
Have you ever done conscious shopping?
*Disclaimer: I purchased the products mentioned in this blog post. This isn’t a paid review or a sponsored article.
