Minimalism means owning only the things you need, but it’s more than simply owning fewer things and going zero waste. Minimalism is a lifestyle that requires practice and commitment.
Living a minimalist lifestyle can be difficult for beginners, especially if they have a passion for fashion. But once they know the minimalist principles and apply these in their lives, it’ll be easier for them to get started.
Minimalism in a Nutshell
Minimalism aims to “clear the clutter” in one’s life path. This means reflecting on whether something adds or doesn’t add value to your lives. When you’re cutting down on what you have, you’re making room for other, more important aspects in life.
The end goal is finding clarity and happiness in the path you’ve paved for yourselves.
The road to minimalism isn’t a one-size-fits-all path. The journey simply needs to be practical and attainable, focusing on one’s personal assessment on what gives them satisfaction.
5 Actionable Steps to Start a Minimalist Lifestyle
Know Your Why
Finding one’s vision to attaining a minimalist lifestyle is a crucial first step when you know you why you’re motivated to continue on the journey even when the going gets tough.
To determine your vision, keep these questions in mind:
- What elements do I want minimalism to bring into my life?
- What benefits am I expecting from going, minimalist?
- What is my ideal state as I adopt minimalism?
- How long will it take me to achieve that state?
Whether you simply want to clean up a messy home or to simplify your way of living, it pays to know one’s purpose before hopping on the minimalist train.
Audit Your Stuff
It’s time to get rid of the clutter. To start your minimalist journey, you need to get to the root of all the things you own. You have reasons for buying certain items in the first place.
Do these things bring you happiness? Did you buy that cute dress because your favorite influencer has it? Do you need to own 10 red lipsticks, thinking they’re never the same shade?
When you make an audit of all the things you own—and reevaluate them on a deeper level—it helps you to be more conscious about your future purchases.
Make Money from Clutter
There are many ways to get rid of the extra things you own. Aside from donating them, giving to friends, or dropping them off at the local Goodwill, there’s also the option of selling old clothes online.
The thing about donating your old clothes to thrift shops is that they won’t likely sell. Thrift shops already have too many things to sort and process. A lot of these items eventually end up in Dumpsters, thus adding to the earth’s trash.
You can sell your old clothes on online platforms to turn clutter to cash. This gives you extra income to spend on more sustainable pieces as you journey toward a minimalist life.
Simplify Routines
When you cut down on the things that you own, you indirectly cut down on your day-to-day routines.
For example, there’s no need to own 20 different black shirts. Some of them aren’t likely used daily and haven’t seen the light of day in months. Sifting through the unnecessary items will help shorten the time you spend to dress up, giving you more time for more important tasks.
You can also start challenging yourselves by dressing less using the Project 333 approach. By wearing just 33 items for 3 months, you’re likely to maximize your time.
Invest in Experiences
Purchasing material items only provides temporary happiness. Give it a few months or years, and these items won’t likely give you any more satisfaction.
While minimalism isn’t about depriving yourselves of material desires, investing your resources, insignificant experiences is more likely to make you happier. Some experiences worth trying to include these:
- Going to yoga classes
- Learning a new language
- Hiking a new terrain
- Trying out the new restaurant in town
- Sparing time to read a good book
- Saving up for a dream vacation
There are a lot of things you can experience when you resist buying another pair of shoes or the latest smartphone.
One Step at a Time
Adopting a minimalist lifestyle doesn’t have to be a grand leap of faith. Taking baby steps is more likely to help you achieve your goal better.
Every journey is different, so it’s best to not compare your progress with those of others. Remember, the end goal is achieving happiness by owning less—and happiness is something that only you can measure for yourselves.
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