There's nothing wrong with having stuff.
It's that the stuff is mostly no longer made well. And therefore, we buy it, maybe use it a few times, and then we toss it. Or we donate it thinking that someone else now has the chance to use it. And that's great. And SOMETIMES that happens.
However, there's a DARK side to the "buy it and then donate it" mindset.
If we keep buying cheap things, that's what THEY'RE going to keep selling us...
And these things that are not good for the planet, or for us. The VAST majority of this stuff is going to continue to land in our landfills, beaches and oceans, polluting our planet...and making us SICK.
The cheap stuff is not good.
It and its by-products are poisoning our air, water and food.
WE'RE DROWNING IN OUR OWN CLUTTER
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People spend 1 year of their lives SEARCHING for misplaced items (NAPO)
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23% of adults admit to paying bills LATE because they lose them (Harris Interactive)
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80% of the items people keep are NEVER used (NAPO)
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There are 300,000 ITEMS in the average American home (LA Times)
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The U.S. now has more self-storage facilities than McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger Kings, Starbucks and Walmarts combined. (Axios)
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British research found that the average 10-year-old OWNS 238 toys but plays with just 12 daily (The Telegraph)
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The average American throws away about 81 POUNDS of clothing every year (The Saturday Evening Post)
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Getting rid of clutter ELIMINATES 40% of housework in the average home (National Soap & Detergent Association)
We can do better.
We can GO LIGHTER.
We deserve better.
No more plastics and trash in our oceans. No more pesticides on our food. No more chemicals in our air.
Whether it is physical clutter that is creating personal and planet dis-ease, or mental or emotional clutter that is stalling us from living into our best lives, we don't have to go heavy, any longer.
That's what this movement is all about.
The intentional decision to...
GO LIGHTER.
OUR SCHOOL OF LIVING LIGHTER (SOLL) MISSION
We believe that life is meant to be lighter, freer, and more intentional.
At School of Living Lighter, our mission is to help you release the clutter—both physical and mental—that holds you back from living their fullest potential.
By embracing simplicity, we create space for clarity, creativity, and meaningful connections. We guide our community to cultivate harmony in their homes and lives, empowering them to live with purpose and joy. Through mindful practices and sustainable strategies, we inspire people to let go of the excess and make room for adventure, so they can embrace each day with possibility.
OUR SOLL VALUES
SIMPLICITY ⁛ HARMONY ⁛ ADVENTURE
SHARING THE LIGHTER MESSAGE
Through her work via School of Living Lighter, Heather Aardema has helped thousands LIGHTEN their lives and feel good in their homes and skin again. Her "lighter" philosophy has been featured on wellness platforms like Minimalism Life, Becoming Minimalist, Simplify Magazine, No Sidebar, Optimal Living Daily, and many online health summits, podcasts and more.
Publications, Books + Podcasts
Online Summits
MIND CLUTTER
BODY CLUTTER
HOME CLUTTER
PLANET CLUTTER
Minimalism is good for the earth, good for your bank account, good for humanity and good for the soul.
True change comes from a place of LIGHTNESS.
It's TIME TO CREATE A BETTER WORLD for all.
What you can do?
TAKE ACTION NOW.
Start by DECLUTTERING anything...
That doesn't feel LIGHT & RIGHT to you.
That stuff is distracting you from living your MOST AUTHENTIC life. And when you choose to BUY, buy things that are worthy of you and worthy of taking up space on our planet. Quality things. Intentional things. Things that make you feel LIGHT. Buy LESS things, but BETTER things.
JOIN THE LIGHTER MOVEMENT TODAY
The best way to feel a part of our community is by subscribing to my newsletter—over 43 thousand who are as committed as you are to doing life… in a lighter way.
When you subscribe, you’ll also receive a FREE COPY of my 12 Questions Editable Workbook which includes the SOLL Compass and exactly how to use it.
12 Questions That'll Change Your Life!
