My Depth Year - 2020
I only heard about the concept of a "Depth Year" last summer. My sister had fallen down yet another series of rabbit holes on YouTube, and was telling me about the concept. When I tried to search for a definition of "Depth Year" the closest I got was this:
"You take a whole year in which you don’t start anything new or acquire any new possessions you don’t need. No new hobbies, equipment, games, or books are allowed during this year. Instead, you have to find the value in what you already own or what you’ve already started." - David Cain
OK, so I'm probably not going to be doing this "right." I decided last fall I wanted to do a Depth Year (or attempt to) for 2020; and after thinking it over the past couple of weeks, I decided I wanted to journal my experience. I don't really expect any readers, but I type very fast, and I decided the easiest way would be to make a little side blog where I can record my thoughts and experiences as I go.
So first, I should define what I mean when I say the phrase "Depth Year." I am going to attempt to take a whole year where I will not acquire any new possessions (that includes used/new-to-me) that I don't need. Instead of accumulating more physical items, or using "shopping" as an activity (I do love thrift shopping in particular), I will instead be refocusing my spending on experiences and activities. I still have lots of travel planned for 2020, and I think the S/O and I had decided to start taking archery lessons this winter (no, I won't be buying any archery gear, there should be rental options with the classes, I believe).
Natural exceptions will apply - if I run out of deodorant, shampoo, soap, anything hygienic like that, obviously I am going to buy a replacement. However, even if I go through every tube of red lipstick I own, I will not buy any lip cosmetics (-stick, -gloss, -stain, et al) as long as I still have one tube of any color left. I feel like I've been using the "but I don't have one -exactly- like this" as a loophole for a long time. Looking at my shoe collection is a good example of this. Definitely no more shoes, even if 4 pairs spontaneously combust, no more shoes. No new book purchases stays a standing policy, but library books don't count. Also, as a giant foodie, obviously food and beverage get a wide exception - a girl has got to eat! And I like to eat well. I will however say no new cooking paraphernalia, be they whisks, spatulas, skillets, bowls, what-have-you, and I will also try and not buy any more spices (my spice cabinet floweth over), unless I use up something basic like all the salt.
So I think that puts up some pretty good parameters. I've defined my own ground rules, now let's see if I can live by them.
"You take a whole year in which you don’t start anything new or acquire any new possessions you don’t need. No new hobbies, equipment, games, or books are allowed during this year. Instead, you have to find the value in what you already own or what you’ve already started." - David Cain
OK, so I'm probably not going to be doing this "right." I decided last fall I wanted to do a Depth Year (or attempt to) for 2020; and after thinking it over the past couple of weeks, I decided I wanted to journal my experience. I don't really expect any readers, but I type very fast, and I decided the easiest way would be to make a little side blog where I can record my thoughts and experiences as I go.
So first, I should define what I mean when I say the phrase "Depth Year." I am going to attempt to take a whole year where I will not acquire any new possessions (that includes used/new-to-me) that I don't need. Instead of accumulating more physical items, or using "shopping" as an activity (I do love thrift shopping in particular), I will instead be refocusing my spending on experiences and activities. I still have lots of travel planned for 2020, and I think the S/O and I had decided to start taking archery lessons this winter (no, I won't be buying any archery gear, there should be rental options with the classes, I believe).
Natural exceptions will apply - if I run out of deodorant, shampoo, soap, anything hygienic like that, obviously I am going to buy a replacement. However, even if I go through every tube of red lipstick I own, I will not buy any lip cosmetics (-stick, -gloss, -stain, et al) as long as I still have one tube of any color left. I feel like I've been using the "but I don't have one -exactly- like this" as a loophole for a long time. Looking at my shoe collection is a good example of this. Definitely no more shoes, even if 4 pairs spontaneously combust, no more shoes. No new book purchases stays a standing policy, but library books don't count. Also, as a giant foodie, obviously food and beverage get a wide exception - a girl has got to eat! And I like to eat well. I will however say no new cooking paraphernalia, be they whisks, spatulas, skillets, bowls, what-have-you, and I will also try and not buy any more spices (my spice cabinet floweth over), unless I use up something basic like all the salt.
So I think that puts up some pretty good parameters. I've defined my own ground rules, now let's see if I can live by them.
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