New to, or curious about, the minimalist lifestyle? Excellent! When it comes to being a minimalist, some believe it to be a life with very little. However, minimalism differs from simply limiting possessions. A minimalist intentionally removes distractive items and focuses on things that add value — this “intentionality” transfers to all aspects of your life. Minimalism gains abundance through quality, not quantity.
Quick and Easy Minimalist Life Hacks
With minimalism, you take back control of your life. Consequently, you gain freedom and individuality. When you give less value to possessions, relationships, experiences, and self-care step forward as priorities.
Minimalist Mentality
- Live with gratitude for what you do have
- Let go of guilt – eliminate emotional attachment to items – dissociate from personal belongings/materialism
- Determine and understand what is valuable to you – Likely not what you expect
- Know your whats and whys for decluttering then write them down as goals then work toward them
- Work toward minimalism on your schedule Consider your family/living situation – sustainable, slow progress over the long run becomes habitual compared to a dramatic change which can abruptly stop and revert
Declutter
- Start with clutter-free zones
- Eliminate duplicate items
- Dump “just in case” items
- Evaluate and prioritize what you keep
- Set a time period (90 days, 120 days, 6 months) for how long you can go without using an item before throwing it out – store it away with a date on it – if you do not use it by that date – if not, it gets thrown away, donated, or otherwise removed from your possession
- Digitize paperwork/documents/photos
- Utilize digital media – replace magazines, newspapers, and junk mail (but also unsubscribe from junk mail)
- Purge regularly both physically and digitally
Purchases and Money
- When purchasing, choose high-quality products – Always seek quality over quantity.
- Think before you buy:
- Is this a want or a need? Do I need this item?
- Does the value gain exceed the cost? Does this purchase satisfy my specific needs?
- Is this the most cost- and time- efficient purchase? Will a better buy soon become available?
- Can I afford this? Is it in my budget? Have I considered the full cost (time, energy, and money)? What additional expenses could result from purchasing or not purchasing this product?
- For what purpose am I making this purchase? Will I need this item again? Will I use this item regularly?
- What negatives could result from this purchase? Will this purchase add or detract from my life?
- Avoid sales and discounts! Sale prices inspire wasteful purchases. Retailers set up in-store marketing to compel these purchases.
- Spend money on/ buy experiences, not things
- One in/one out rule – when buying a new item discard another – easy when it is an improved version of another old product – cameras/phones, etc.
Time and Energy
- Borrow/rent instead of buying items that will not often be used especially outside of your trade/skills
- Or better yet, outsource one-off duties and work where you do not excel and do not need to – use friends, acquaintances, references, or small local businesses whenever possible – a little encouragement goes a long way
- Simplify meals by making similar meals – we love variety, but it leads to waste – if you consume the same foods all of the time it is easier to purchase just the amount you need for any given period
- Minimize TV time
Freedom From Materialism – Benefits of a Minimalist Lifestyle
From the looks of things, many people believe having possessions equates to a good life. Some go as far as thinking the more you own, the happier you will be. This belief acts as a virtual treadmill. The track continues until you decide to give up and get off. No matter how much you attain, you will find that more exists. Happiness is not for sale. However, you will see that great experiences tend to keep you happy.
As a minimalist, you are free to disengage from the overly fast-paced lives most live. With this freedom comes the opportunity to live a truly honest life being the same person around family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, and strangers. In effect, that need to impress or be a particular character disappears. The minimalist simplifies life, consumes less, enjoys more, and experiences gratitude abundantly. As a result, the mind clears allowing the space to overcome even the most profound personal issues.
As you live the minimalist lifestyle, you will find that you reclaim your time. With fewer items and distractions, you have less cleaning, time-wasting, stress, and baggage. Although many benefits are long-term and can take years, you feel different, almost lighter, immediately. Since you buy higher quality, more durable, or serviceable products you, ultimately, save money over buying cheap, more disposable items. Moreover, m
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