Discover the benefits of living simply
生活新哲學：少即是多 發掘簡單生活的種種好處
Chinese New Year is right around the corner! This is the time of year when we "sweep away the dust". We give our homes a good, thorough cleaning. We do this in order to make a clean, fresh start in the New Year.
Another great way to start fresh is to get rid of all the clutter. Over a year ago, I did just that. In preparation for a move, I gave away around 75 percent of my clothes. I then got rid of over 60 percent of my furnishings. At first, I was afraid I would miss those things. However, I soon realized what a burden on my life that excess had become. I found that caring for fewer things means more time to spend with friends and family.
These days it seems that many people are trying to live with less. They're discovering the joy of spending their time and resources on the things that matter most.
Info Cloud
spring cleaning 春季大掃除
Welcome to Info Cloud, everyone. Today we want to talk about cleaning the house to get ready for the new year.
You know, in America and in Canada, we wait until the springtime before we do our yearly deep cleaning.
That's right. Spring cleaning. So, Andrea, can you tell us a little bit more about what it means to do a spring cleaning?
Well, it is very much like doing a deep cleaning to get ready for the new year. But in North America, it's too cold to open up the windows at the beginning of the year to let the fresh air in.
In the beginning of spring, the weather warms up. And it's a great time to open up the windows in your house and clean all that dust out.
Exactly. And there's another benefit to waiting for early spring. It's warm enough to open up the windows but too cold for bugs. So you don't have to worry about letting a lot of bugs in.
I've also heard of people using the expression doing some or doing a little spring cleaning and not just to refer to cleaning your home.
Right. Spring cleaning also involves organizing the things that you have and getting rid of the things that you don't use.
So if you are spending time re-organizing your office files, you can say that you are doing a little spring cleaning.
Yes. You know, that reminds me, my desk is still filled with some old things from previous employees. I think it's time for me to do a little spring cleaning.
每年春節來臨的時候，很多華人家庭都會做年度大掃除，其實西方人也有這種習慣。他們稱之為 spring cleaning 春季大掃除，在美國和加拿大，人們通常不會在冬季做大掃除，因為天氣太冷，不適合打開門窗打掃，讓屋子透透氣，只有等到春天來臨，陽光普照又不會太熱，再進行房子的年度清潔工作。
除了打掃房子之外，spring cleaning 還包含了除舊佈新，把舊的、不要的東西丟掉，只保留真正需要用到的物品，也把房子裡所有的東西排整齊，如果是在公司大掃除，也要把文件整理歸檔。西方人的 spring cleaning 文化，是不是跟我們的過年大掃除很像呢?
Language Lab
thorough adj. 完全的、徹底的
/ˈθɚroʊ/
complete or absolute
- After a thorough search at the crime scene, police were able to find a clue.
經過警察在犯罪現場徹底搜尋之後，找到了一個線索。
thorough adj. 很小心的、很仔細的
including every possible part or detail
- The investigator was very thorough when he looked through all the files.
調查員在看所有的檔案的時候，非常仔細。
- Airport security was very thorough when they checked Patrick’s backpack.
機場安檢很仔細地檢查Patrick的背包。
preparation n. 預備、準備
the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something
- The food on the table might not look fancy, but the preparation took a long time.
桌上的食物也許看起來很普通，但是要準備它花了不少時間。
- Andrew decided to take a trip without any preparation.
Andrew 沒有做任何準備就出去旅行了。
- Henry was in charge of the final preparation of the event, but he messed everything up.
Henry 負責活動的最後一部分的預備工作，但是他把所有的事情搞砸了。
furnishings n. 家具配備
pieces of furniture, curtains, rugs, and decorations for a room or building
- Tyler is looking for an empty apartment to rent. He doesn’t want one with furnishings.
Tyler 要租空的公寓，不要有附家具的。
- Paula has decided that since she’s moving into a new place, she wants to get new furnishings.
Paula 決定既然要搬進新的地方，她打算要買新的家具配備。
furnish v. 用家具配備來布置裝潢一個地方
to provide (a room or building) with furniture
- Mrs. Anderson has finished furnishing her guestroom because her grandson is going to stay with her.
Anderson 太太把她的客房布置好，因為她的孫子要搬去跟她住。
burden n. 重擔、負擔
someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with
- Your friend's job situation is not your burden to carry.
你朋友的工作狀況不是你應該承擔的重擔。
burden n. 重的東西
something heavy that is carried : load
- A long time ago, people relied on animals to carry heavy burdens.
很久以前，人們靠動物來幫忙扛很重的東西。
burden v. 給人家添加麻煩、給人加壓力
to make (someone) hold or carry something heavy or accept or deal with something difficult : to put a heavy burden on (someone)
- Noah has a problem but he’s not saying anything because she doesn’t want to burden us.
Noah 碰到了問題，但是她什麼都沒說，因為她不想給我們添加麻煩。
clutter n.
/ˈklʌtɚ/
a large amount of things that are not arranged in a neat or orderly way : a crowded or disordered collection of things
- There's a lot of unnecessary clutter in the house.
