Why Defining Your Values Should Be Step 1 of Going Tiny

So, what is your life about? 

A tiny house lifestyle had me trading Cheetos for home-cooked meals!

This is one of my favorite questions to ask strangers at parties. And inevitably, I get one of two reactions: uncomfortable confusion or refreshed exuberance. It’s a bold question so that I can understand the discomfort, but I ask it because I know it will help me understand someone better than inquiring about what they do for a living.

But while I understand the discomfort, it’s the people who express refreshed exuberance that I tend to connect with because those are the people who know what they value. Those are the people who are living life on purpose.

What does this all have to do with a tiny house? Let me tell you.

When you go tiny, you set powerful energy in motion. This burst occurs because a tiny house is a concentration capsule that will turbo-charge whatever you put into it. So if you fill your life with clutter and low-frequency activities- watch out! But if you fill it with things and activities that bring you joy, be prepared for your life to get extra sparkly. 

Prior to going tiny, I would have never guessed how much influence reduced square footage could have over me, but it turns out it’s a lot. If I buy things, waste things, or develop bad habits, my tiny house points out my faults quickly. However, if I keep my life simple and focused on what I love, my house rewards me with cozy serenity and a saturated life filled with my very favorite things.

This is why it’s so important to be clear on what you value before you move into a small space; you’re about to experience everything tenfold.

If you know me, you know I love tiny house experiments. So here is one to help you discover what is most important to you.

Are you ready? Excellent.

First, you’ll need to write down everything you value. This list should encapsulate how you want to spend your time, money, and energy.

When you’re done, set the list aside and pull out your calendar and bank statements. Now that you’ve defined what you value in theory, it’s time to find out if you value those things in actuality. Warning: this one can hurt. 

When I did this exercise for the first time, I wrote that I valued financial security, health, and adventure. But as it turned out, I was spending my time at a job that didn’t pay well, causing me to burn out and live off Red Bull and hot Cheetos. So what one values in theory and actuality can be seriously misaligned!

When you follow the teachings of the tiny house, life really can be simple.

If you find out (as I did) that your values and actions are out of alignment, please don’t beat yourself up. Being contradictory is part of being human, but you will want to sort this one out before you go tiny.

Remember that you are about to turbo-charge whatever you fill your life with!

Defining what you value is an important first step because it will set the stage for all that’s yet to come. It will also serve as your ‘why’ to help pull you through the difficult parts of transitioning into this lifestyle. It’s not always easy to define what you value, but I promise it’s worth it. And the reward is a richer life than most will ever know. 

So tell me, what is your life about? 

I’d start there.

Always,

- Alaska

Alaska is a writer, realtor, and tiny homeowner living in the great state of Colorado. She is the founder of The Tiny House Concierge, a company that offers consultation and copywriting services for people looking to rethink their housing and rewrite their lives. In addition to her website, she can be found on Instagram and YouTube.