57

 More on normalisation 

In the previous entry I mentioned that I wear, in the words of my friends and family, "the same thing every day". I do this because I want to contribute to normalisation of owning (a lot) less, consuming (a lot) less, focusing on other, non-material aspects of life, to show that a human being can have a meaningful and fulfilling life when living with a lot less than what is the norm in societies such as the one I am part of. When I was growing up, there was no one in my social circle who would practise an alternative mode of being. There were no role models from whom I could learn how to dwell in the world differently. I believe it is important to show that there are plural alternatives. And oftentimes it is easier to start a serious and deep discussion on societal transformation when it is something human-scale and relatable, especially when these discussions take place outside academia. 

There are many "normal" objects that I do not own. Above is a picture of a bag I use when I go out for a lunch or a walk with someone (or on my own). I do not invite normal handbags into my space. There are many other common items, objects and categories of products that I choose to forego. I have never owned a car. I do not own jewellery, physical books (despite being in academia), furniture, occasion wear, decorations, makeup, tv, and so on. It probably would be much easier to name what I invite into my life than what I don't. In practice, it is much easier to make mindful choices when there are fewer categories of products one lives with. 

56

 Wearing the same thing every day

At times, my fellow humans ask me why I wear the same thing (almost) every day. There are other sustainable options such as borrowing, accepting clothing as a gift, swapping with others, and second-hand stores. Apart from borrowing something on a rare occasion, I prefer not to participate in other sustainable practices apart from living with very few items of clothing while also celebrating their signs of wear. This is because I want to take part in normalising wearing the same thing every day. For others, say, my friends and colleagues, it would be hard to tell if I bought an item or borrowed it without asking about its story. Oftentimes, people do not ask about particular objects, they would just see change (and consumption). Some would perhaps relate change and self expression. In my case, "the self" is manifested via calming colours, comfort, and accepting the ageing process of fabrics. As for change, I try to be curious about, present with, and overall focus on change in nature instead. 

Helsinki in the end of March:

55

 "Healing crystals"

While I do not take part in consumption of semiprecious stones for any purposes, to me simple and abundant stones from some places have meaning. They allow me to connect to a place. These stones, the one in the picture above, and the one I brought with me from northern Sweden to Finland, are just pieces of granite. It is part of Nordic landscapes and is used in buildings, on the streets, in interior design and so on. Granite is incredibly beautiful in terms of its texture, how it feels, and how it reflects the light. The stone in the picture above comes from Finland, from the island where I live. I picked it up when I was walking, and I can return it back to nature any time. 

54

 Being with my clothes and textiles

Since I still have not invited a washing machine into my space, I hand-wash my clothes and other textiles. It's a humbling, meditative and relaxing process which allows me to honour the objects I live with. To wash my clothes, I prefer using bar soap. In the area where I live, the water is soft, and soap works (and also rinses) really well. In my experience, soap cleans well, and it comes without plastic packaging. Sometimes I also use an unscented, biodegradable laundry detergent. Usually I fill the sink with water, add some detergent or soap, soak my clothes in this solution for 15 or so minutes and then rinse. Large items I rinse in the shower. Spending this time with my clothes lets me appreciate their beautiful ageing process, notice the signs of wear, discolorations, and small holes appearing. 

53

 Everyday zero-waste practices 

Zero-waste practices are intimate and small-scale, but the more I think about the structure vs human agency binary, the more I believe that it doesn't have to be an either/or situation. Such practices are important, transformative, and I find plastic-free objects beautiful. My lifestyle is certainly not zero-waste, but whenever possible, I try to choose alternatives that generate less waste, are locally produced, made by small firms, are long-lasting, or I borrow objects from others. My favourite everyday zero-waste objects include locally produced soap bars, locally produced ointments, and cotton bags. The plate in the picture above was offered to me by a friend. These days I try to choose products that do not have essential oils in them because essential oils are raw material intensive. The soap bars in the picture above are made with salt and are unscented. 

52

 Gentleness and care 

In the picture above one can see what my floor office set-up looks like. 

Living simply and with noticeably fewer possessions goes far beyond material aspects of being. Perhaps living this way can even be described as just a means to an ecological-aesthetic-spiritual end, rather than an end in itself. Something my colleagues and I were contemplating together recently were gentleness and care in different academic spaces, such as responding to reviewers' comments, attending a PhD seminar, writing a review of another human's work, teaching, advising students, and so on. How do we manifest gentleness and care in these spaces where we serve? How do we learn and grow together? We mentioned how uncommon it is to manifest alternative, deeply caring attitudes and vocabularies. Intellectual offerings and gifts, being humble, gentle suggestions, reflections, contemplations, gratitude, a deeply felt desire to help, and so on. These days I am both reviewing and addressing some comments, and I have tried to be even more present than ever before with the works I am handling and be aware of my interactions with fellow humans, despite anonymity of the review process. This mode of being and various aspects thereof, due to such intense presence, contemplation and growth orientation, requires much energy for every activity. This means choosing more intentionally what and whom I invite into my space. 

51

 Cosiness

Cosiness looks different for everyone. I feel more at peace with very few items. I invited another cotton rug into my space and relocated my bed there to free up the yoga mat for work, meditation, yoga and fika/coffee with others. Recently some of my colleagues expressed their desire to come and see how I live, and I look forward to welcoming them in this space. 

50

 Springwinter cleaning

Vårvinter (springwinter) is a word used to describe the transition between winter and spring. It's a beautiful time of the year when there is still snow and ice around, but days are getting longer, the sun is high up in the sky, it begins to feel warm, the snow begins to melt around the trees, the birds sing. This time is magical and healing.  

In my extreme minimalist apartment there is not much spring cleaning to do, but I still contemplate what the unfolding change in seasons means for my space. Since it's getting warmer, I lower the indoor temperature and open the windows more often to invite some fresh air. I also identified some items which will benefit one of my fellow humans more than me, so I put them in an old and much re-used plastic bag and I'm going to give them to her. 

My wardrobe doesn't change much throughout the seasons, and I wear the same things all year round. This is something I was doing when I lived in England. When I moved to Northern Sweden I thought this practice would change, but it didn't. I am glad that I decided not to acquire anything based on my perception of the North and instead rely on how I personally was feeling in that climate. Of course I had to wear more layers, mittens, a hat and a scarf when it was -25, and I could no longer wear sandals in winter. But overall I don't feel the need to have different clothes for different seasons with very few exceptions such as shorts and sandals which I still wear indoors in winter. Here in Helsinki it is not as cold as it was in Northern Sweden, and I can start wearing fewer layers even in March. I start wearing shorts on sunny days in the daytime when the temperature is somewhere between +5 and +10. 

In the photo below one can see all the clothes I live with, apart from what I was wearing when I took the picture and a woollen shawl. As it's getting warmer, I intend to use the shawl less so it can last longer. Most of my clothes are made from cotton. It has always been my favourite fabric due to my skin condition. I started wearing mostly cotton clothing before I became aware of microplastic fibers released from, for example, polyester and other synthetic textiles. I do not own any special occasion clothes and don't think I ever will. For me, wearing simple, casual, imperfect but comfortable clothes made from natural materials and showing some signs of wear is an act of everyday activism: via doing so I hope to contribute to normalisation of such clothes in different spaces. 

49

 Receiving help with washing

When I moved into my (rented) apartment, I decided to give myself a gift of living without a washing machine for a while and wash clothes by hand. In response to my refusal to use a dishwasher, and a desire to experiment with washing clothes myself, I often hear that machines are more efficient. Perhaps so, but there is more to it. For example, apart from using water, they also use electricity. I also noticed that most of the people I have shared space with in my life would only wash a few items in our washing machines, simply because it was more convenient. For me it makes no sense to use a dishwasher: I live alone and I don't own enough kitchen items to ever fill the dishwasher. Using a washing machine will be helpful and likely I will get one and use it in addition to hand washing smaller items rather than rely on it completely. I also didn't want to buy a washing machine immediately to be mindful about inviting another object into my space and not do it automatically, stepping from a perceived need to a purchase without reflecting and enjoying the time without that object. This month I have also enjoyed the silence that resulted from using less technology. However, it's more difficult to wash larger items such as towels and bed sheets by hand, especially when it comes to removing water from them. I accepted a fellow human's offer to do this week's laundry at hers. In the picture above are two bags with all the clothes (apart from what I was wearing when I took the picture, my jacket and my scarf) and textiles (apart from the rug) that I live with. 

48

 Floor office and the sun

At the university which I joined in January, working from home some days is allowed. It was also normal in the Swedish university where I was before. At home, I feel much more productive and creative because I am in an empty space, in solitude, and can see some trees and the sea from my windows, or go for a walk around the island to contemplate. I usually go to the office when there are meetings and more administrative and collaborative tasks.  

Since I live without furniture, everything I need for my work is on the floor: my laptop, phone, and this time there is also a book that students were asked to read. Usually I use ebooks, but I borrowed this one from a colleague. Sometimes I sit on the yoga mat, at other times the rug. This setting might not be comfortable for everyone, but I've lived without furniture for more than 2 weeks already (and had tried it before), so it feels comfortable and I get a lot less back ache than when I use an office chair. 

It feels magical to wake up with the sun. My windows facing North-East are getting more and more sunlight now in the spring. I'm feeling gratitude and awe. Recently I messaged a friend of mine who is also in academia to ask him about the meaning of life. His response: "The sun shines, and you are feeling good. What other meaning we need?" He is right, I find much meaning in simple and ephemeral things and phenomena around me, such as sunlight and how it reflects from everyday objects. If I lived with more objects, I do not think I would have the time to honour and deeply appreciate each one of them. In the evenings, the sun (which sets behind my apartment so I cannot see it) lights up the tops of the trees that I see from my windows with a very beautiful apricot pink colour. In the picture above is a glass which a friend of mine shared with me. 

47

 Cleaning

Apart from research, walking is my most self-transformative activity. Yet another self-transformative activity is cleaning. In our society, efficiency is emphasised, and technological aids such as vacuum cleaners and dishwashers have been normalised. When I lived in England, I had to use a vacuum cleaner because the carpets were attached to the floor (this is very common), and I could not think of any other way to clean them. When I lived in Sweden, the apartment came with a vacuum cleaner. The apartment was very small, and I normally used a brush and a mop which also came with the apartment. I used the vacuum cleaner only on a few occasions. Here in Finland, the apartment was completely new, and it is up to me which cleaning supplies I live with. I decided not to have a vacuum cleaner for many reasons. It uses energy in addition to all the energy and materials that were used for it to be produced in the first place. I do not enjoy the sound vacuum cleaners make, and I don't want to speed up the process of cleaning the space where I dwell. I want to take my time and enjoy the process. Cleaning is a humbling activity and encourages movement. The apartment is very small, so it doesn't take very long to clean it. It's one of the reasons why I would not want to live in a bigger apartment: even though I enjoy cleaning, it could begin to feel like a chore or a service to material objects. Moreover, since I live without any furniture, there are no surfaces to clean apart from the floor. Unfortunately, I could not find a brush made from natural materials. The one I have is made from recycled plastic by a Finnish company. The cloths I use for the floor are made from cellulose and cotton. Some use old clothing for this, but I didn't want to retire any of my clothing to make cloths. I don't use any other special products for the floor, only water. I notice that living with very few items and without any furniture results in very little dust. 

When I was young, part of the cleaning routine at my family home was putting various items where they, apparently, belonged. Reducing the number of items was never on the agenda. I still put objects away but it only takes a few seconds. For storage I use cotton bags which I also use for many other purposes. In the photo above, there is the only cotton bag that is usually on the floor. I use it to keep all the cables from my electronics in one place, sometimes also for other items (my phone or a tin of shea butter, for example). 

46

 Daily life

The recycling system in the capital region, Helsinki, is easy to use. There is a lot of information in Finnish, Swedish and English (and here one can find some statistics). The system is different to that in England and Sweden where I lived previously. I try to practise zero waste whenever possible, but it is not always possible. Some waste inevitably is generated, and in this case it is good to understand how I can take part in recycling. Because there are so many categories of waste, sorting waste takes time even when it becomes somewhat of a habit. It's a good time for me to contemplate where most of the waste is coming from. For example, I "throw away" paper packaging more often and biowaste rarely because I try to avoid food waste. 

There is also some plastic waste which relates to my previous entry on imperfection. In the photo above one can see Finnish lettuce. It comes without a plastic pot, but it still comes in plastic. Moreover, growing produce in cold Nordic countries in winter uses much energy. The tomatoes in the photo came in cardboard packaging with some plastic. The apple was unpackaged, but it's not Finnish. Interestingly, Finnish apples in my local supermarket cost twice as much as conventional varieties. The little plastic box, the bowl and the plate in the photo were given to me by a friend. The kitchen towel I brought with me from Sweden. In the photo there is also a piece of chocolate wrapped in foil. Originally it was also wrapped in paper. Though such packaging is easily recyclable, this chocolate bar is of course not local, neither in terms of its ingredients nor in terms of where it was produced. One can find chocolate produced in Finland and Sweden, but the ingredients still come from far away. 

The plastic blinds in the photo above came with the apartment. Personally, I would not have chosen blinds for these windows facing North-East. In the temporary apartment where I stayed, the blinds were made from wood. This side of the building does not receive much light, only some gentle sunlight in the morning. I decided not to have any ceiling lights in this apartment. In the daytime, there is enough light even in March, while in the evening the light from the kitchen lights up half of this studio apartment which is enough for reading. More generally, I try to avoid using electricity and artificial light as much as possible to save some energy (which comes from a mix of sources). Using less electricity and not having curtains allows me to live more closely with nature and its rhythms, to wake up with the sun and enjoy less light in the evening. 

45

 Imperfections

Above is a picture of cotton bags which I use as handbags, for grocery shopping, storage, as folders for some documents, and so on. Such bags have almost become a symbol of the zero waste movement. However, behind those bags is built-in storage which I barely use. Imperfection is a very prominent characteristic of a more sustainable mode of being. This is something I try to highlight more than ever in my writing and in conversations with fellow humans. In the same picture one can see a fridge which is almost empty, more unused storage in the kitchen space, and a dishwasher which I will never use. All of those objects required materials and energy to come into being. In a rented apartment my agency is restricted: I have no say in how these aspects of my space are organised. These apartments are created with a more materially heavy lifestyle in mind. 

44

Transformative practices (borrowing and reusing)

When I was preparing to leave Sweden, there were several items such as glasses and bowls that were essential. I used them on daily basis but could not take with me simply because they were too heavy to carry. Some of them did not belong to me, I borrowed them from the university. The items which belonged to the university I of course returned. The ones I bought but could not take with me to Finland I gave away to friends and colleagues. Getting rid of things and buying similar ones again every time one moves is not an ecological practice. It is wasteful. Here in Finland I asked my friends if I could borrow some items from them. Interestingly, there were quite a few offers. Many people have spare plates, glasses and so on. Another option would be to buy all the necessary items from a second hand store, and hence to participate in consumption of the objects that already exist within alternative spaces. Yet another option are social media platforms: many people use them to give away and sell items they do not need, though I try to avoid social media in general as much as possible. Somehow my personal preference is towards borrowing from my friends (as well as sharing with them), even though I have donated items to charities before and would be happy to know that someone uses them. Perhaps one explanation is that I prefer not to go shopping even if it's alternative spaces and organisations. 

It is still rather cold in Finland, and cold air affects my skin negatively at times. In winter I use natural, locally made (either in Sweden or Finland) ointments. It is easy to find them packaged in glass, aluminium or even paper. I also like to carry one in my bag. Not long ago I ran out of the ointment I would usually have in my backpack. Its packaging was made from recycled aluminium. Instead of recycling it again, I kept the packaging and refilled it with some organic shea butter. 

43

 Movement

Recently I did a health survey via my employer. When I was filling out the questionnaire, I realised that every day I spent many hours sitting. Having no furniture at home encourages me to move more: sitting on the floor in one position for a very long time is uncomfortable. 

Morning is my favourite time of the day. I spend some minutes simply sitting in front of my window, working a little bit, enjoying tea or coffee, but mainly feeling gratitude, joy, awe, and oneness with the trees and the sea. 

42

 Dwelling in a new place

When I was leaving my previous accommodation, a fellow human asked me if I was going to take a taxi. I said no. Since I had almost nothing to relocate to my new apartment I could easily walk and simply carry the objects I was going to live with. 

The new apartment faces North-East, so it's rather cold and only gets some morning sunlight. However, it also faces the edge of the island which is beautiful. I can see the sea, the trees and plenty of sky from my windows. This island is part of Helsinki, but here it's hard to tell that one lives in a large city. The apartment is 29 square metres and feels very large considering my extreme minimalist lifestyle. 

Stepping into this space to live here long-term felt magical. It is not often that we get an opportunity to re-evaluate what we share our space with. For many years, when I was young, I shared my space with my family and the objects they chose, then with my partner where I had to compromise, and then with the objects which came with rented accommodations. This is the very first time I can be almost fully intentional, free and authentic in my mode of being. Of course there are limits to intentionality and freedom, including for example electricity which comes from a mix of sources. In this case, my intention is to minimise my use of electricity as much as possible. 

It's interesting to observe my own relationships with objects, each of which is an embodiment of nature and human labour and creativity. The first objects I welcomed into this space are towels, a tea cup (not mine) and soap. Since the apartment is rather cold, and I want to avoid using too much electricity, I realised it would be too cold to sleep on the floor without a duvet and a pillow. I had to obtain those. They are made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton. I didn't want to get a kettle to boil water for my tea so I got a stockpot. I had one when I lived in Sweden but then I gifted it to a friend because it would be too heavy to carry. Some other kitchen items I will borrow from a friend. 

A rug would certainly make this place look more cosy. My friends who are curious to visit this space could sit on it too. Inviting fellow humans into this space feels somewhat vulnerable. Practising this kind of minimalism or extreme material simplicity is perhaps rather uncommon in wealthy countries. Fellow humans often ask me why, and I always offer my reasons: ecological, aesthetic, spiritual/philosophical. My hope is always that this mode of living will become more acceptable, while I also recognise that the choice should be subjective and this mode of living does not change much in terms of ecological degradation.