Minimalism: Getting started
So you are wondering how to be a minimalist? You may be asking what is minimalism? There is an entire article on this site devoted to that question, and I’m sure peoples’ definitions of minimalism can vary. But to give you a simple answer, minimalism is the decision to live a meaningful life with few material possessions. But don’t panic. This does not necessarily mean you have to fit everything you own into one suitcase. Minimalism is the idea of simplifying your life, surrounding yourself with the things you love and enjoy, and finding freedom away from consumerism.
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You can read the article on what minimalism is here. You can even read about the benefits of minimalism here. Although, if you are looking for how to be a minimalist, you probably already realize the benefits. This article is going to discuss how to be a minimalist and how to get started.
Plan Your Beginning with Minimalism
To get started on your path to minimalism, you will need to take some time to declutter. This is the most time-consuming task in the process. However, it’s not a race. You can block out an hour at a time when you know you’ll have the extra time or spend as little as 15 minutes a day working through this process. One way to easily do this is to take this 30 day declutter challenge. It has you do a different task each day for 15 minutes a day. As long as you can stay focused and minimize your distractions, the process will go reasonably smoothly.
Or maybe you want to adapt the Marie Kondo method of thanking your belongings for serving a purpose in your life and bringing you joy. There are many ways to declutter. Pick one that works well for you.
How to Declutter Your Home
One of the most common ways to declutter is to use the ‘4 box method’.
Box 1 – Trash: Throw away anything that you’ve decided not to keep and can’t be given away, sold, or recycled.
Box 2 – Recycle: This is anything you’ve decided not to keep, but you can recycle.
Box 3 – Donations/Things to Sell: This is anything you’ve decided not to keep but can be dropped off at your local thrift shop, or you can sell it online.
Box 4 – Keep: This is everything that you’re going to keep in your life.
The decluttering process could take hours, days, or even weeks! Patience is key. Work through it and process your feelings and emotions as you declutter, room by room. This can help you to get motivated to declutter. If you are overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, read this on how to start decluttering.
Once you’re happy with your new tidy home, the next step is to maintain it. Commit to doing a quick sweep through the house at least once a week to collect any clutter that has recently accumulated and deal with it immediately. The need for another whole-house declutter will never reoccur if you do this at least weekly.
Consider Your Intentions.
Which items that you own genuinely add value or bring happiness to your life? What is the reason you are considering minimalism in the first place? Is it to save money? Reduce stress? Simplify your cleaning routine? Save time? Have more freedom?
Think about this. Write it down somewhere you’ll see it often, so you don’t forget. You can even make a vision board of how you want your space to look and keep moving towards that goal. That way, you will ensure that you have a clear picture of it in your mind. It will be worth it when you put your feet up and admire your progress.
Whatever your reasons are, having them front and center by way of a vision board is an excellent way to stay on track with your minimalism journey, even when it gets tricky.
Get Rid of It!
You’d be surprised at what we don’t get rid of. Are you keeping something that needs fixing, but you haven’t got around to it yet? If you haven’t missed having this object in your life, do you really need it?
This may be very difficult for some people, so keep reading with caution. Do you have bookcases full of books you’ve already read or know in your heart that you will never read? This is causing unnecessary clutter. Get yourself a Kindle Unlimited subscription! Even diehard “real book” fans can benefit from an eReader, and Kindle Unlimited is fantastic because you can check out tons of books – for free. Kind of like a library, right on Amazon!
The key is to be honest with yourself and reflect on what you love and what you’re just holding onto for some other reason. Are you hanging onto clothes that you haven’t worn in the past six months or more? It’s time to let them go. Someone else could be enjoying them rather than them taking up space in your closet. There are suggestions for decluttering clothes here. Of course, you get to make these decisions about what to get rid of and what to keep yourself, but the idea of minimalism is to get the absolute most out of everything you own and to let someone else find joy in the things you don’t.
To get you started, here are 12 things to get rid of that you won’t even miss. This will help you gain momentum to continue getting rid of things that no longer serve you.
Find Local Charities in Your Area.
So you’ve done the decluttering, now what? There are so many local charities that would be grateful for your donations. Find them and ask what kind of donations they are looking for and if any of your things would be of use to them. This includes women’s shelters, homeless shelters, orphanages, foster facilities, and anywhere else locally you think your items would make the best impact. This can also be a highly motivating factor in decluttering and getting rid of things you no longer need. It’s always a good feeling to know you’re helping out others who need it.
Foster a Minimalist Mindset.
Minimalism is not a competition. Keep sight of the purpose that drives your decision; it’s the reason you’re reading this right now. Do you want more time and freedom away from household chores? Why are you clearing your space in the first place? Do these objects matter to you? Keep that reason in mind as you start and as you continue in your minimalist journey.
Don’t Impose Your Views on Others.
Deciding to live more minimally is your decision. It is a personal journey and does not give you the right to judge others who continue to live as they please, surrounded by many material belongings.
If you’re making these changes to become aware of what really matters to you, you don’t want to start pushing away your friends and family with your opinions on how they should be living their lives. Doing so is a recipe for conflict. You can educate and inspire, but respect what brings others joy. Hopefully, they will do the same for you!
Stop Buying New Things!
For minimalism to work, you have to stick with it. This means no impulse buys. There’s a reason stores put those giant red ‘SALE’ posters in their windows. Ask yourself if you would have gone into that shop if it wasn’t for the fact that they had advertised a sale? If the answer is no, think of the money and space you’ll be saving by resisting the temptation to buy more stuff.
One way to stop buying stuff is to take this no shopping challenge. You can set the rules for your challenge, but doing this challenge will help you get into the habit of being much more mindful of your spending habits.
Do you love online shopping? Put things into your cart, but don’t check out right away. Review them in a week or two. Do you still want them? Or have you completely forgotten about them? This action will help you to change your mindset. Doing so will benefit you on your journey towards living the minimalist lifestyle. Get other ways to stop buying stuff you don’t need here.
Another way to ensure that you do not accumulate a lot of clutter again is to get rid of something before bringing in something new. If you do buy something (like a new item of clothing), get rid of another. This tactic ensures that you’re never increasing your belongings and allows you to decide whether you want to make this purchase in the first place. It may change your mind if you know that you have to throw something out when you get home!
Be Strict About It.
When’s the last time you used that appliance or wore that pair of shoes? Look at everything in your home with an eye toward whether you need or want it or not. If you own something that still has the tags on or don’t even remember buying… don’t keep it out of guilt. If you do not use or want it, get rid of it. Be ruthless.
Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Keep in mind the clear picture of your minimized space. Give yourself as much time as you need to work through it all.
Remember your end goal and your reasons for considering minimalism in the first place. You are learning how to be a minimalist because you want to improve your life. Focus, be determined and look forward to a more simple life surrounded by the most important things to you. Make space for freedom, passion, time with family and friends, and most importantly, happiness!
Recommended Books on Minimalism
If you want to read further on minimalism, check out “The Minimalist Way” by Erica Layne or “100 Things to Get Rid of” by Jera Sky.
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