Does the buzz about minimalism intrigue you? What does minimalism mean? I think of buying less and being happy with what I have. Uncluttering my life and living as simply as possible. Just writing those words calms my soul. Less stuff = less worry = less judgement = less jealousy = more fun! To me living a simple minimalist lifestyle means I can enjoy my days doing what I want because I have less to take care of and maintain.
It’s a simpler life and one I think I am ready for. With the kids out of the house and on their own, I have more time to think about what I want in my life. I can think about what the impact of what I do affects others.
Living minimally and not buying all of the latest fashion, design or technology allows me to have more life experiences. Use that money to travel and see my kids or go to more concerts or workshops. Do the things that bring meaning into my life.
However, if you looked at my lifestyle today, it is not what you would call minimalist or simple. We live on a lot of land in a big house with two sheds. I have a husband who loves his TVs and the bigger the better. This is not something that will change soon, but I want to start by bringing less stuff in and bringing more stuff out. I want to be conscious of what I am letting into my life.
Does any of this sound good to you? Are you ready to simplify your life?
Josh Becker writes a blog called “Becoming Minimalist”. In his article, What is Minimalism, he says that minimalism is intentionality.
Living with intention or doing things on purpose with a lot of thought, is one of my core values to make the most of our life. So, this is right up my alley.
He says, “minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of everything that distracts us from it. It is a life that forces intentionality. And as a result, it forces improvements in almost all aspects of your life.”
Living minimally gives us the opportunity to slow down and appreciate what is most important to us. This can be stuff, but also relationships and how we live our life.
So, how do we start living a true minimalist lifestyle?
Try these minimalist lifestyle tips.
According to Joshua, the following list of 10 things to simplify is most important.
Your possessions – Remove non-essential possessions from your life. Go through your house room by room or drawer by drawer and get rid of anything you haven’t used or don’t fulfill a need any longer. Marie Kondo everything!
Your time commitments – Learn to say no to things that don’t align with your core values. You don’t have to attend every sports practice, go to every lunch date or volunteer every time someone asks. Let yourself have some downtime; you don’t have to fill every moment.
Your goals – Cut back the number of goals you are working on. Focus on one or two, and when one is achieved, add another. By focusing on fewer goals, you are able to reach them more quickly because you are channeling your attention and energy. Makes complete sense, doesn’t it?
Related Post – How to Set Priorities for a More Focused Life
Your negative thoughts – This doesn’t mean you always have to be positive, but when negative thoughts or failures come to your mind, let them go. Learn from them, forgive yourself, and move on. Don’t let them linger for too long!
Your debt – If debt is a problem for you, start today by buying less stuff and using that money to reduce any credit card or loan balances. Most debt comes from thinking we need more and using money we don’t have to buy it.
Your words – “Keep your speech plain and honest”, says Joshua. Use kind words, argue less, and by all means avoid gossip!
Your artificial ingredients – Eat simple whole foods as much as possible. Clean out your body just like we are cleaning out our house. Eat less and only what brings the most value.
Your screen time – Be careful about how much negative news and violence you are bringing into your life by what you are watching on TV. Limit the amount of time you are letting someone else influence your thoughts and be intentional about who that is.
Your connections to the world – Social media. Limit your time. Don’t let the highlights of other people’s lives affect how you live yours. Don’t fall prey to comparison and thinking you need more.
Your multi-tasking – Just like your goals, handle one thing at a time. Multitasking increases stress and reduces productivity. You can achieve so much more by actually focusing on one thing at a time. Do one thing well instead of many things halfway.
Living a true minimalist lifestyle starts with being aware of what you are doing and how you are living your life. Taking the time to know what is important to you and not living with more than you need.
Here are a few examples –
- Set aside 2 hours a week to read, write, meditate or just relax.
- Block out time every day to do something that will help you reach the current goal you are working on.
- Make lists before you go shopping. Know what you are replacing and what brands you want to buy.
- Use cash when you go shopping.
- Send a handwritten letter to your Aunt.
- Go to the local farmer’s market and buy fresh vegetables.
- Turn off the national network evening news and find some positive news sources to start your day.
- Give yourself one hour or less a day to check your social media. Don’t get sucked in.
- Stop eating, watching TV, checking social media, and hanging out with your family all at the same time. Be present for each of those things one at a time.
- Every time you buy a new piece of clothing, get rid of two.
When you are just starting to think about the minimalist lifestyle, it can be very overwhelming, I know it is for me. But, if we just do little things every day to be more intentional about what we are adding to our life, we can get there faster.
You might be asking, “why do I want to live a true minimalist lifestyle?”
According to Brian Gardner of No Sidebar, there are a few reasons that you might think are worth it.
You will:
- Clear your mind
- Be friendlier
- Have happiness as a state of mind
- Know what you don’t need
- Have healthier habits
- Stop indulging in impulsive buys
- Develop your own personal style statement because you are not chasing the latest trends
- Reduce your stress
- Realize there is more to life than possessions
- Make an impact on the environment
- Help your family have less to deal with when you are gone
Living a more minimalist lifestyle will look different for everyone and is not something you can achieve overnight. But, just start by doing the little things. Follow Joshua Becker’s blog, Becoming Minimalist for more inspiration.
Are you inspired? What are you going to do differently? Share in the comments below!
Minimalism is not subtraction for the sake of subtraction. Minimalism is subtraction for the sake of focus.
A Simple Thought by aberMinimal
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How to Live Simply and Create Room for What is Important