5 Tips for Minimalism
The idea of minimalistic lifestyle might conjure up a picture of a brave soul living with ten worldly possessions in a tiny home of 500 square ft. However, the minimalist mindset can serve anyone well in their day to day life no matter how you want to go about it. These tactics used for a simplistic lifestyle do not require a complete overhaul of your possessions but rather a slow and thoughtful integration into thinking about your belongings.
Tip 01: Make it Personal
Having a minimalist mindset does not necessarily mean getting rid of half your home. The best way to implement a more simplistic lifestyle is to just start! Pinpoint the area of your life that needs less whether its your clothes, pantry, keepsakes, or the whole house. Set up rules for de-cluttering to make that process easy. A good rule for a cleanout is if you haven’t used it in six months get rid of it, then after six months change it to three and so on.
Tip 02: Start With Spare Items
This tip is the simplest way to get started. Go through your items and toss the duplicates. Unless you are really wearing the five different colors of that great sweatshirt all the time, get rid of the extras. People are creatures of habit and will reach for the same five items over and over. Figure out what you really don’t need and say goodbye.
Tip 03: Invest in Well-Made Products
One great secret to the minimalist lifestyle is purposefully investing in high quality products. While your initial goal should be to get rid of things you don’t need, strategically purchasing long lasting items will help you buy less in the long run.
Tip 04: Take Care of Your Things
Just like the last tip, a large part of minimalism is sustaining the use of less. When you purchase higher quality, items make sure to show them extra care. If something is broken, try to fix it. If something is damaged look into how much it would cost to repair. Something brand new might end up costing way more than if you took a bit of time to understand your options.
Tip 05: Don’t be Hard on Yourself
A lifestyle shift is a long process. Decluttering your home might take years to accomplish. However, being kind to yourself on this journey will help you continue down the path. No project is ever perfect so give yourself the space to fail so you’ll get back up again.
I hope these tips helped you craft a better understanding of how minimalism can fit into your life. It is not a scary process and the steps can be helpful for any reorganizing in the home. This is not a one size fits all so don’t be afraid to bring yourself into the process.
