挑一款喜欢的笔记本

Notebook - I’m not a Moleskine fan. Their price keeps me from using them effectively. I handle them with too much care, almost afraid to put pen to such high-quality paper. Instead, I use a cheap-o notebook (usually stolen from the work supply closet). I scribble ideas, driving directions, topics to google, grocery lists, restaurants found on yelp.com. Once upon a complicated time, I always carried my notebook with me. Now I keep it at home, ripping out lists/directions, if needed.

1. 笔记本：我并不是一个Moleskine的忠实粉丝。因为那个笔记本的高昂价钱让我很难有效的利用它们。我需要小心翼翼的用那种本子，有时候甚至不敢将笔放在那高质量的纸张上。因此一般我都用廉价的笔记本（经常是从办公室的储物柜里顺的）。我在上面随便写些我的想法、驾驶路径、需要检索的话题、买菜单子、在yelp.com上找到的饭店。曾经一段时间，我时刻随身携带我的小本子。现在我将它放在家里，必要时，从中寻找我当时写下的单子呀，方向什么的。

选择一款好的笔

Pen - I’m loyal to the PILOT Precise V5 RT Extra-Fine pen. It’s like the golden sword of writing instruments. It’s also refillable (and refills take up less space than extra pens). This pen is more important than my trusty notebook. I can always find a napkin or receipt to write on, but locating an operational writing instrument is trickier.
Email account / Online Docs - I use my email for every aspect of my life. Bill notifications, notes from friends, and even emails I send to myself as reminders. I also store and access my documents online. I’ve converted all of my paper documents to digital, with the exception of my birth certificate.

2. 笔：我非常忠实于PILOT牌子的Prcise V5 RTExtra-Fine款的笔。它像是我的写作利器。它是可以更换笔芯的（这种笔的笔芯会比其他笔的笔芯少占地方）。这种笔要远远比我信任的笔记本重要。我经常可以找到一张餐巾或一张收据来写东西，可是要找到一支好用的笔却没那么容易。

利用邮箱帐户和在线文档

Inbox for Home – I stash mail, receipts, coupons, and various stuff that I need for a short period of time. I just dump everything in and sift through it regularly. This may not sound minimalist, but it keeps my pockets/wallet/purse empty.

3. 邮箱账户和在线文档：我生活的各个方面都离不开Email。账单通知、朋友的留言、甚至为了备忘给我自己发的邮件。我还会通过网络在线存储和获取我的文件。除了我的出生证明，我已经将我所有的纸质文件都转成了数字格式。

使用家里的邮箱

Favorite Pair of Ballet Flats - I love my sneakers, but even I’m aware that there’s a time and place for them.

4. 家里的邮箱：我会将信件、收据、优惠券以及各种我短期内需要的东西收集起来。而我收集的方式就是将它们扔到我的邮箱里，再定期的检查一遍。这也许听起来不像是一个极简主义者的做法，不过这种方法使我的口袋、钱包、手袋都保持空荡。

买一双板鞋

My favorite pair of ballet flats match everything I own, are capable of carrying me for miles, and are appropriate for (almost) every occasion. One less thing to think about. What could be simpler?

5. 心爱的芭蕾平底鞋：我喜欢我的板鞋，但是我发现它们只是在特定的时间和场合才能穿着。可是我心爱的芭蕾平底鞋却可以和我所有的衣服搭配，适合所有的场合，而且穿着它走多远都不会累。还有什么比少了一个需要思考的事情更简单的呢？

配一个数码相机

Digital Camera – Since I’ve fallen in love with photography, I’ve found many ways to use my camera to minimize. I take pictures of birthday and Christmas cards, to forever remember what was written inside of them, but not having to forever store them. Instead of buying souvenirs while traveling, I snap pictures to remember each trip. I’ve yet to find a souvenir lighter/smaller than a digital photograph.

6. 数码相机：自从我爱上了摄影，我找到很多用我的相机来简化生活的方法。我拍下我的生日和圣诞卡，来永远的记下那上面写了什么，而不需要一直保存这些卡片。在旅途中，我不需要再买纪念品，我只需要找下照片来记录我的旅程。我还没有发现比数码照片更小更轻的纪念品呢。

买个购物袋

Reusable Shopping Bag – As of January 2010, I decided to always use a reusable shopping bag. Since I bring only 1 bag with me during a shopping trip, I’m limited to how much I can buy. This is clutter prevention at its best. (I did cheat by purchasing the absolute largest reusable bag I could find on planet Earth ).

7. 可重复利用的购物袋：从2010年1月开始，我决定一直使用一个可重复使用的购物袋。正因为我每次只带一个袋子去购物，我就可以限制我买多少东西。这是最好的防止杂乱的方式。（不过我却买了一个能够在地球上可以找到的最大的购物袋hoho）。

半个图书证

Library Card - Perhaps the books are stained with Cheetos fingerprints, but they’re FREE! And when I’m done, they’re returned to a shelf that doesn’t belong to me.

8. 图书证：可能那些书上布满了吃零食留下的手印，但是它们真的是免费的！而且在我读完之后，它们就被放回了图书馆的架子上了。

找到真爱

Mr. Wonderful – Technically, he’s not a tool, but he’s great motivation for keeping my life minimal. I’ve never been more anxious to keep space and time open…for Sunday morning Mimosas or a last-minute adventure. And, actually, he does serve a tool-like purpose, since he stores most of the wine we drink (gotta love his wine racks) and the food we eat (grilling season is upon us, gotta love his grill).

9. 我的那位：技术上说，他不是个工具，但他却是我保持我简洁生活的动力。我从不会如此渴望的空出时间和空间……为周日早上的含羞草酒或者为了最后一分钟冒险旅程。实际上，他的确起到了工具的作用，因为他将我们喝的酒都储存起来（他的宝贝酒柜），还有我们爱吃的东西（烧烤的时节就要来了，宝贝的烤肉架）。