It’s said that money can’t buy happiness. I believe that to be true. Don’t worry, just because I’m living out of a van doesn’t mean I’m going to go all hippity-dippity on you and tell you all you don’t need any material belongings in order to be happy. Because I think you do. Money can buy you little things that make your life a little better. Money can buy you the things that make you feel safer, more comfortable, or the clothes that make you feel so much like yourself you skip every couple of steps. That being said, I do think it’s important to not get carried away. We live in a material world where it’s easy to get sucked in and manipulated, surrounding ourselves and taking up our spaces with belongings we don’t really need. Now, I’ve spent the past few years of my life in smaller spaces with most of my belongings, where I’ve had to be realistic with myself and sacrifice a lot of things I wish I could keep but I just didn’t have the room. Yet no matter how small the space, I’ve come to learn that there is one thing you always need to keep: an open mind.
I began to practice non-attachment to the material world when I was 15. Not because I was wise and I wanted to. We had a house fire and I lost almost everything I had ever owned. My wardrobe, my keepsakes, and most of my memories from my childhood all turned to ashes, never to be seen again. Now as tragic as this was for my angsty teenage self, even at the time I wasn’t overly distraught at the fact that all of these things I once had were gone forever. Because I still had my family, my dog, and everyone I loved was safe, so no matter what space we were moving to next I knew I could make it work. The next house we moved into was unfurnished, the one after that was dirty, and the one after that was also empty, yet I still found a way to make returning home every day quite comfortable. That was how I taught myself a few tricks to keeping an open mind in a space that may not always be the most ideal.
Living in the van has been a new and exciting challenge. There is very limited space for the two of us in here, so we have had to compromise, sacrifice, and figure out how to organize all the little things along the way. It may sound a bit difficult, and I’ve been asked how it’s possible for us.
1. Make the bed. Every single morning. This is number 1 for a reason. No matter how small your space is, it always feels bigger when the bed is made. Make it the first and most productive thing you do every single morning, and you’re already killing it. When your bed is done and neat, you immediately give yourself more space physically and mentally, and that is one of the best ways to start the day.
2. Be realistic with your needs and wants. We’re all hoarders to some extent. It’s easy to look at a sweater you haven’t worn since 2017 and think about the hypothetical scenario where you maybe see yourself wearing it but you also know that you most likely won’t. Nope. Donate it. It’s taking up space in your closet and in your mind. You don’t need it. Living in the van I have five small containers. In those I fit either a few or just a pair of each: pants, leggings, t-shirts, long sleeves, sweatshirts, socks, underwear, bras, and three jackets. I probably have about 30 items with me. Some I wear more than once before washing, some I haven’t even worn yet. I will say it’s been quite refreshing knowing I do not need so many clothes. Plus, it makes it easier to avoid a mess, when you don’t have a pile of clothes on the floor all the time.
3. Take a moment to put things away. This is still my biggest struggle, and I know my boyfriend can agree. I’ll take out a shirt thinking I’m going to wear it, change my mind, and not want to fold it up again and put it back. Which doesn’t even take that long! When I take the time to put things back immediately after I take them out, it’s not on my conscious, I don’t feel guilty, and I don’t have to think about it anymore.
4. Make it feel like home. I know how possible it is to make little spaces feel comfortable. I’ve lived in a few of them. Hang up a picture or two on the wall that will make you smile. Have some fun decorating. Maybe get a plant, even if it’s a fake one. Definitely get a blanket that will make your body and your heart warm (we have lots of these in the van, and wow it is comfy.) Get a candle that reminds you of the holidays. Whatever home feels like to you, there is always a way to keep it close.
5. Find a way to keep your hobbies consistent. I’ve always loved to journal. No matter where I’ve called home, journaling is one things I have kept consistent, which is nice to look back on to see how I’ve grown and outgrown all the spaces I once occupied. So I make space for the journal, the pens, and the books. Whatever that is for you, keep it.
6. Stretch. A space is never too small to stretch in. We can’t stand all the way tall in our van, but we can still stretch. Good for the body, good for the mind.
7. Bring awareness to your gratitude. It can be easy to go through days where you take what you have for granted. I like to find the moments in the in-between, where I can just sit in silence, look around my space, take a deep breath, and feel thankful for it. It’s nice to have a space to come back to. Remember that.
8. Make memories in your space. It’s yours! Have fun! Be silly! Laugh when you spill something. Make a good meal and eat it on your bed. Get a little messy. Don’t take yourself too seriously. That’s what the outside world is for. This space is yours. Be creative. An open mind makes for endless opportunities.
9. Invite people in. The more the merrier, right? Or as many as can fit, comfortably, I guess. Either way, it’s still nice to share your space with your people.
10. Fill it with love. The most important thing to keep in your space, aside from an open mind, is love. Love is home, love is safe, love is comfort. No matter what you’re living in, if it fosters love, you’ll sleep better at night and wake up with brighter eyes. I promise you that.
Just because you’re physically living in a small space does not mean you need to have limits. An open mind, an open heart, and an open door are all you really need.
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