Making Minimalism Work For You
Find Your Fit
Now that you have some understanding of the meaning of minimalism, it is time to consider how it might work in your unique circumstances. Creating a minimalist mindset and strategy can take time and experimentation. It helps to set the foundation by examining your priorities around and reducing the clutter in your life. Today’s post provides some suggestions for finding the right fit. Keep in mind that it will probably take some tweaking to get a system that is right for you and anyone who shares your home. Your priorities and expectations are likely to change as you develop new habits and interests. Don’t expect everything to be perfect immediately. Go easy on yourself and focus on determining what you want to get from the minimalist approach and how you can incorporate this idea into your day-to-day life.
Consider Options
Now that you have some understanding of the meaning of minimalism, it is time to consider how it might work in your unique circumstances. Creating a minimalist mindset and strategy can take time and experimentation. It helps to set the foundation by examining your priorities around and reducing the clutter in your life. Today’s post provides some suggestions for finding the right fit. Keep in mind that it will probably take some tweaking to get a system that is right for you and anyone who shares your home. Your priorities and expectations are likely to change as you develop new habits and interests. Don’t expect everything to be perfect immediately. Go easy on yourself and focus on determining what you want to get from the minimalist approach and how you can incorporate this idea into your day-to-day life.
There are more things to gain from eliminating excess than you might imagine: time, space, freedom, and energy, for example.
Fumio Sasaki
Go At Your Own Pace
When you have an idea of both your priorities and motivation for an approach of minimalism, it’s time to take action. You might decide that you are ready to go all-in and want to start big. If you are comfortable, go for it. But you don’t need to go all-in right away. You can take your time. If you prefer, you can begin slowly with small steps towards a more intentional life and minimalist life. Start with things you can reduce without much stress. For example, you can begin to get rid of duplicates of similar items. That can be as simple as doing a walkthrough of your home – or even one room – and collecting any doubles to donate. Or maybe you can start with reducing clothing by clearing one drawer or closet. Keep only the pieces that fit you well and suit who you are now. Maybe letting go of some of your overloaded time commitments is a good starting place for you. It doesn’t matter where you start. The important thing is to take the first – or next – step and just start. It gets easier, and often faster, as you get more into the new way of thinking.
Be Realistic
Finally, keep your current lifestyle in mind when deciding when and how to go minimal. If you have a family, some members might be eager to reduce and declutter; others might need to ease in more slowly. That’s okay. There might be small children who need some help to make choices. You or your spouse might have a hobby or business that takes up a lot of space, money, or time. Simplify where it makes the most sense. You can add to your routine later but changes need to work with your unique situation.
Finding your own version of minimalism will take time and practice, but implementing some of the approach will have big impact on your life. Soon, you’ll start to see things start to come together and it will get easier to live your life with intention.
Take Action
Challenge Questions for Day 3
What is one area where you can start to apply minimalist strategies right away? Why do you think it is a good place for you to start? What will you gain?
What is the first step you will take? Start today.
Declutter Challenge for Day 3
Organize your pots, pans and baking sheets. Donate at least 1 thing you don’t use.
Banner photo by DS stories from Pexels
We finally and recently got a garden shed (not a minimizing thing, I know) but needed it so we can organize things better and my hope is to declutter and dispose of things we have not used/will not use in the process.. thanks for your tips
I think a garden shed is a great minimizing thing if it is a fit with your goals. Gardening and growing more of our own food is one of the ways that I have actually been simplifying my life. Good luck with the decluttering and disposing of unwanted stuff. Thanks for your comment.
Mary Elizabeth, I’m glad you’re on this theme of minimalism. I would love for my home to look like the “After” of an HGTV project– clean and clear. My late husband liked to collect, and he stored things across the floor as though it was a shelf. In the aftermath, I am peeling away the layers of more- and less-obvious extras, donations and shredding. Very exciting! My goal will be achieved!
Kebba – it would be great to live in the HGTV environment. I have not quite achieved that look, in part because of similar ‘collections’. It is an ongoing journey and an aspirational goal for sure. Good luck with achieving your long term goal – and all the steps along the way.
My ‘minimalism journey’ is like a roller coaster! I get excited to get rid of things that I don’t use/need. But then, I find it difficult to let go fo things. and I do not purge as much as I wanted to…. so I wait. and wait. and wait. Until something spurs me on to get back and minimalize. And the cycle continues.
Thanks for the suggestions!
I’m familiar with that particular type of ride — feeling really good about making the move and then hitting an emotional drop. I have been learning tricks and affirmations to help the process but still do sometimes slip back a little to those patterns. I have to remind myself that, like trying to blog every day, a slip is not a reason to stop the journey, just a chance to pick up in a new spot. Best of luck with your purging efforts.