As business owners, we spend quite a bit of time on our computers. There are newsletters to write, clients to email and blog posts to develop. While we don’t recommend trying to multi-task, we often will have the tv on while we work. The types of shows that are appropriate for this circumstance are ones that do not require much attention.
One day when searching for mindless programming on my cable box, I came across an image with 3 possibly naked people and the word “Stripped”. I have to admit, I was curious. After reading the brief description, “this outlandish yet emotional social experiment aims to discover how people’s lives and values change once everything they own is stripped away”, I decided to start from the beginning, watching Season 1, Episode 1.
Stripped
According to Bravo, “This new series exposes people’s relationships with their personal belongings as they forego everything they own. Clothing, furniture, money and all coveted possessions for 21 days. Each day, they may retrieve one item that they cannot live without. Priorities will inevitably emerge. The participants are expected to go about their daily lives by showing up to work, maintaining their families and keeping up with social circles without their everyday necessities. Each person jumps into survival mode in order to determine what is most essential to them. With no shortage of outrageous and uncomfortable moments along the way, this transformative journey has a life-changing impact as they each uncover what truly matters to them most.”
At this point, I realized that Stripped was the perfect tv show for a professional organizer like myself.
Just imagine…No clothes, toothbrush, or curtains. Everything is removed from the participants’ homes and bodies. The refrigerator, stove, and microwave are even chained up. In fact, they only get freeze dried meals, water and toilet paper.
The first day (Day 0) is a test. Having to sleep naked on a hard floor is just the first challenge they will face over the course of 21 days. There were many lessons learned through this experience. Here are just a few of the important ones that I took away from the program.
We coach our home organizing clients on many of the lessons that the participants were learning on the show. Oftentimes we find that our clients are emotionally attached to their physical possessions. Above all, this turns into a conversation about priorities, being realistic, where we see ourselves in the future and what’s really important. Stripped is a straight forward look into extreme minimalism and the concepts that surround it.
Lessons in Extreme Minimalism
YOU HAVE MORE THINGS THAN YOU THINK
First, the show stripped contestants of all their worldly possessions and asked them to estimate how many individual items they owned. Patty guessed 247, while Rai guessed 700, based on the space they shared. However, both were far off—the actual number was 3,127. Yes, the producers counted every single item in their home!
We see this often with our clients. Most people have no real sense of just how much stuff they actually own
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE SIMPLE THINGS
When participants were stripped of everything, the items they found most essential often weren’t what they had expected. Comfort quickly became the priority. For some, that meant finding anything other than a hardwood floor to sleep on. Most contestants retrieved something to cover up with first—like a onesie, blanket, or robe. Next, they focused on footwear, with just one pair of shoes being enough for most.
Can you imagine owning only one pair of shoes—and being completely satisfied with it?
PHONE ADDICTION IS REAL
Most participants in the show struggled to give up their phones, citing reasons like, “This is how I get clients for my business” or “I’ll be completely cut off from the world.” However, after some time without their devices, many adjusted to the change.
Richie decided to shift his focus away from social media and prioritize personal connections. Ironically, he later changed careers and became a Social Media Consultant!
Disconnecting from your phone can bring you closer to yourself and those who mean the most to you.
WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS, EMOTIONS RISE
Everything we surround ourselves with can become a distraction. Distractions keep us from our emotions, thoughts, and meaningful connections. Silence, on the other hand, gives your mind space to think and encourages deeper conversations.
One couple from Stripped broke up shortly after filming because they were forced to confront emotions they had been avoiding. In today’s world, true silence is rare. Try turning off the TV, phone, and radio every once in a while.
You might be surprised at the discoveries you make when your brain is free from outside distractions.
WE TAKE MANY THINGS FOR GRANTED
As the old saying goes, “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.” Being on the TV show Stripped may be an extreme example. But it helped many participants gain a deeper appreciation for the comforts of modern life in America. Simple things we often take for granted suddenly felt like luxuries. I’ve learned similar lessons through my own experiences traveling overseas.
We have so much to be thankful for so learn to appreciate the things that you have.
SAVING MONEY IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK
Sisters Autianna and Jaseena made money bartending during the 21 days they participated in the show, but they couldn’t spend it at the time. The producers collected all their tips. By the end of the three-week period, the sisters were amazed at how much they had saved. It showed them that saving money becomes much easier when you’re not spending it immediately.
Find a way to delay access to your full paycheck, and you’ll save more quickly than you expect.
LOOKS AREN’T AS IMPORTANT AS HAVING GOOD HYGIENE
Some of the women on Stripped were worried about going without makeup. How could they leave the house or attend a business meeting barefaced? However, as Rai learned in Episode 5, you can go out without makeup, and people will still treat you with kindness and generosity.
Autianna and Jaseena began the experience with a bathroom counter overflowing with lotions and body sprays. By the end, they realized that all they truly needed were a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and deodorant.
What are your essential items?
YOU DON’T NEED AS MUCH AS YOU THINK YOU DO
Several contestants stopped retrieving items for themselves and began taking things out of their storage unit to give to the homeless community. This showed they needed far fewer than 21 items in their possession.
In conclusion, minimalism offers a powerful way to understand your relationship with your belongings. However, finding the right balance is key. Even just watching the show can prompt you to reflect on your possessions and the value you place on them. You might even realize that less truly is more!
For more tips on keeping up a minimal lifestyle and finding balance on how much stuff you have, watch our video: How 2 Downsize Your Closet
