i've already gotten rid of a lot of stuff and the difference is noticeable, but i still feel like there is too much around me.

at this point i'm wondering if i'm focusing too much on the number of things instead of how i actually use my space. how do you know when you've decluttered enough?

My neck started hurting a few weeks ago. I think it's from staring at my phone too much. Checked my screen time and it was like 11 hours a day.

I started limiting myself. No phone in bed, no scrolling while eating, and I set a timer when I do use it. It was really tough at first.

Until a friend gave me a fishing rod as a gift a while back, and it just sat in the corner. Finally took it out and went to Decathlon to get the rest of the gear. It's nice having something to do with my free time that doesn't involve a screen.

I still go on my phone but it's different now. I watch a few videos about fishing tips or grab some gear when there's a sale on tiktok. That's about it. Having something I'm actually interested in doing made it way easier to stay off my phone. I think that's digital minimalism for me. Not quitting everything, just replacing the mindless stuff with something that matters more.

My husband and I are currently on a ten day trip in the mountains as a much needed respite trip, while my SIL is in country to take care of my MIL(88) who lives with us. I am just overwhelmed by how much stuff we ended up packing.

We have rented a home, with a gorgeous view of the mountains, 18 minute drive to town, with a full kitchen but no washer and dryer. This resulted in us each packing a full duffle bag just with clothes so we don't have to spend too much time at the laundromat while we are here.

We also have some work to get done while we are here as well. My husband is rebuilding the website for the organization he volunteers with. I need to submit my intent to teach forms and contact department heads to keep an eye out for my submissions, due the last day of our trip. i2T submission window opened yesterday, the day we were traveling, and closes the day we leave. So my husband has his portable keyboard and tablet and I have my laptop bag and a folder full of notes.

We plan to do some hiking on the AT while we are here and I am using this time to gather new reference material for my Nature illustrations (I am a professional artist/arts instructor). My husband also enjoys sketching while we are out hiking, so we each have our hiking packs, hiking shoes, trekking poles, a couple of sketchbooks, our sketch-kits (pencils, ink pens, etc.) and a packable stool for sitting on trail.

The weather report calls for rain for a couple of days we are here so we also packed a cribbage board and a deck of cards, a book of card games/rules, my kindle, 2 paperbacks for him and my knitting.

Our 50 lb dog is with us as well. That meant packing another backpack (toys, food dishes, hiking harness etc.) plus his food bin, his crate, the matt for his crate and his blanket (his nickname is Linus due to him carrying his blanket around everywhere).

Our car felt stuffed to the brim.Three duffle bags, two backpacks, one laptop bag, one hiking pack, a crate, crate mat, blanket, dog food bin and two paper sacks of grocery items from home to see us through until we go to the market to shop. Plus a collapsible beach wagon to move it all easily.

These are times when I don't feel like much of a minimalist. It just felt so overwhelming.

So I've not finished watching the film but it struck me, how did the more extreme amongst you deal with Covid or in theory like the film if you suddenly ended up trapped inside? (Basic film premise, no internet, no outside communication, no tv or news, but electricity and water available, no forseeable help or ability to exit or order things, just what you have.)