Unlock hidden time
This fabulous post is authored by guest blogger Kara Underwood.
What if? In December of 2017, Ann Patchett (one of my favorite authors!) wrote a NYT essay “My Year of No Shopping.” Inspired by a friend, Ann writes of what she learned during her year-long pledge to give up buying clothes, shoes, jewelry and purses. I marveled at her willpower thinking, “I could NEVER do that!” And then, the quote on Jennie’s notebook came to mind: “Do what they think you can’t do.” What if I gave up something that had snuck up on me to become an emotional and social crutch?
Game on! This retail athlete decided to go on a “shopping fast” for 2018. The first two months were hard… very hard. I didn’t realize how much time I invested (ok, wasted) on this habit, and how it was woven into several of my daily practices. So how did I break up with shopping?
Detox. First, I developed strategies to avoid temptation. I unsubscribed to the retail sites that were pinging me with daily “news”—my inbox was lighter! Catalogues went directly into the recycle bin and the mail pile in our kitchen was radically reduced. I stopped mindlessly wandering through stores and websites—just browsing. Since I couldn’t buy a new dress/ pair of shoes for that big presentation or meeting, I learned how to “shop in my closet.” A little ingenuity yielded plenty of creative options for work and play attire, while still looking “current.”
Accountability. I also told family, friends and my colleagues about my commitment. I needed accountability partners, particularly during the summer shopping season (swimsuit cover-ups are a weakness!!) and Lilly Pulitzer’s After Party Sale! My mom, a savvy bargain hunter, turned out to be my biggest cheerleader, and I noticed that her recreational shopping ebbed over the year as well.
Intention. Through this practice, I gave myself the gift of time, and the opportunity to explore and try out new things. I spent more time at home—enjoying my kids, taking long walks with my husband Mark, reading books, and connecting with friends. I even worked out (a few times - ha!).
Exploring. One weekend, my daughter Caroline and I were setting up her craft nook in our basement, and I found my Grandma’s knitting bag. It was filled with yarn, needles, patterns and a pink baby sweater that I started knitting when I was pregnant with Caroline years ago.
Play. Here I was encouraging my daughter to tap into her creativity, and I realized that I hadn’t fed my own “maker” need in over a decade. The next weekend, I went into my LYS (local yarn store—love you Westport Yarns!) and walked out with all the makings of a scarf. As I cast-on and knit away, I re-kindled my love for the craft that my Grandma taught me at age 6. And I got a rush from producing scarves, cowls and shawls—they came together fairly quickly and there was so much color, texture and pattern to play with! There was joy in creating as well as a calming meditative impact from the activity.
Lasting change. Throughout the year, people asked me if I was planning a big shopping spree on Jan 1, 2019 and honestly, I wasn’t sure what I would do. The new year rolled around, and my desire to shop just wasn’t there. I truly appreciated the things I had, and took better care of them. I saw that my past shopping behavior was fueled by want, rather than need—and I was feeling pretty blessed. I relished my time at home, nestled in with my family, puttering about and working on my creative projects.
Hidden capacity. In today’s busy world, we often pressure ourselves to do more, and to be more. I discovered the power that comes from choosing to give something up. I created the capacity to explore, experiment and discover. I deepened my relationships, tried out new hobbies, and built my financial confidence with my news savings habits! So what is the application to work? Think about these questions:
Are you creating the space in your professional life to discover, to learn and to experiment?
What can you give up to create room for something new?
It may create new opportunities and avenues that serve you better. Once you start the journey, set yourself up for success. Remove temptations and break out of old habits. Tell your friends, family & colleagues to hold you accountable. Give yourself room to explore and play as you think about how you want to put this precious time to use. Anyone need a scarf? Happy exploring!
