Being a minimalist entails learning to be comfortable and even happy with less. However, the road to minimalist living is often easier said than done. However, if you want to start reducing the stuff in your life, you’re already on your way to being a minimalist. But what can you do further? Well, in this guide for minimalist living for beginners, we can show you how you can change your lifestyle towards simplification and, most importantly, reduce your carbon footprint. Therefore, explore our list below to learn why minimalist living is good for you and the environment and how you can make the transition to it.
What does minimalism mean?
We become accustomed to accumulating more and more items in our everyday lives. Most of us are great at it, and we often don’t realize that all the stuff we gather is, in reality, useless. We collect clothes, magazines, toys, dishes, and shoes and don’t even realize that by doing so, we are cluttering our lives. On the other hand, people that choose a minimalistic life aim to make their life simpler and cleaner. Minimalism is about getting rid of all the clutter in your life while enhancing it and contributing to environmental conservation. Therefore, let us see how reducing your clothes collection can improve your life and even help you save money.
Following this minimalist living for beginners guide, you will discover that consumerism, first and foremost, consumes us and our life.
What can beginners in minimalistic living do to improve their lifestyle?
As previously noted, it is sometimes easier to declare you wish to live a minimalistic life than to do so. However, in this guide to minimalist living for beginners, we can show you how you can make a step-by-step transition to a better life. Continue reading to find out how simple it is to become more self-aware.
Make a plan
After you decide that minimalist living is for you, it’s time to put everything on paper. It would be best if you saw what areas of your life need decluttering and what the perfect outcome would be. Set realistic goals and think of how much time you will need to reach them. Also, decide on a day when you will begin implementing your plan and see who else will be by your side in the process. For instance, if you live with your spouse or partner, see if they are willing to join you in this journey that you are determined to make. If you want to adopt a more minimalistic lifestyle in your office, see if you have colleagues or superiors that will support your plan. Having someone at your side always makes things easier. You can motivate one another to achieve your goals and make the journey more enjoyable.
All good things start with a plan. Therefore, your minimalist living should start the same.
Adopt the less is more philosophy.
We require food, clothing, shelter, and other necessities to live a comfortable life. We consume them daily, often without even realizing it, and that can still be ok. However, consumerism becomes an issue and excessive when we acquire stuff we don’t need. And, with all the advertisements and commercials we are bombarded with daily that encourage us to consume more, it can be hard to resist temptation. We feel satisfied only when we own more, even if we don’t need it. However, the contrary is true. Genuine happiness doesn’t come from material riches, but it can come from living a meaningful life. Therefore, ask yourself when enough is enough and start doing something about it. Adopt the less is more philosophy and reevaluate things on a deeper level.
Declutter your home
After you determine that you don’t need all you possess, it’s time to do something about it. First, you can begin purging your home of all the unnecessary items you gathered over time. Start with the room that bothers you the most and look in every nook and corner. Once you know what you want to get rid of, consider what you will do with those items. You can either organize a garage sale or donate what is in good condition. You may also gift them to relatives and friends who could benefit from them. When you’ve gotten rid of everything you don’t need and are down to the essentials, try to find a home for each item. For instance, if you live in a small apartment, use smart storage solutions that will allow you to keep your home clean and clutter-free. You can even rent a storage unit where you can deposit all your belongings until you decide where to place them. When you finish this step, try to stick to your choices and don’t fall into temptation again. You’ll realize that you didn’t need all that stuff and that life can be simpler without it. Furthermore, you will have a cleaner and bigger home in which you will live a happier life. Not to mention that when you have less stuff, it’s much easier to keep your home clean and tidy.
Do you really need all the clothes that you possess? If not, declutter your closets and donate what you don’t use to start your minimalistic living.
Make a budget and think before you buy
You can also apply minimalism to your money. For instance, you can make a monthly budget and learn to value each thing for what it is worth. Also, buying only the things you need can free up funds for other things that are essential to you. Instead of spending money on gas, ride your bike to work. You may then use the money you save towards a vacation. In addition, whenever you feel the need to buy something, ask yourself some questions. What is the item’s function, do I already have it, can I afford it, do I really need it, and will I use it frequently? You have your answer if you can’t afford it, will only use it once or twice, and can borrow it rather than buy it. And think of it this way: if you just buy what you need, you will finish with decluttering forever.
A guide to minimalist living for beginners conclusion
Simplifying your life might be difficult, but the benefits are well worth it. You will go through a lot of trial and error before you find what works for you, but you will be amazed to see how owning fewer things can improve your life. Furthermore, many people believe that living a minimalist lifestyle is the key to happiness. As a result, embracing minimalist living for beginners empowers you to transform your life and free up more time for the things that matter most to you.
There are no comments yet