Fear not; minimalists aren't just guys who paint the walls white and always wear the same pair of jeans. Minimalist thinking means getting rid of all the unnecessary things in your life.
Let go of old beliefs about material success
"We are successful when we are rich." This is a truth that has developed in our consumer society as we accumulate wealth in the hope that it will one day bring us happiness. However, many of the "successful" people end up not finding that very happiness at all. After acquiring wealth, many find that they have lost their connection to family, their health, and their desire to live. To move toward minimalism in your lifestyle, you need to ask yourself — what do I truly value in life, and what is only a distraction?
Set your priorities and stick to them
Wearing sneakers or sandals today, going to law school or becoming a doctor, choosing one financial strategy or another for your company — our lives are made up of choices. Our priorities define our personality, making us who we are. You must realize that you can't have everything. In order to excel at one thing, you must sacrifice another. Take a look at our Essentialism book summary to dive deeper into this idea. A minimalistic perspective can help you not to scatter between what is of prime importance and what is not.
Start small by throwing out one object at a time
We often attach ourselves to some things because we just don't know how to do it any other way. We all have our equivalent of an old set of cups that is just taking up space in the cupboard. Why not throw it away? Ask yourself if you really need a particular item. Then, throw out a few unnecessary things. This will be a time-consuming process but fear not: the process of purging your home can be transformational. It will help you achieve a minimalist lifestyle as a result. If you need guidance on how to do it, try reading our summary of Marie Kondo's Kurashi at Home.
Take the three boxes and clean up the balcony
Use the STREAMLINE strategy by dividing all the items into three categories: Trash, Treasure, or Transfer. For instance, go to your cluttered balcony and separate all of your belongings into three boxes. Old empty boxes, broken children's toys, and unwanted documents can go into the Trash category. However, empty jars can be sent to Grandma for her jam, so they go in Transfer. Sentimental things like children's drawings or letters from your first love can be kept because they are your Treasure. You’ll see that when you live a minimalist life, you surround yourself with meaningful and useful things.
Teach your child to rejoice in the truly important things, not material possessions
When it comes to your family life, you don't have to abandon minimalism here too. It is possible to instill the basics of minimalism in your children. Explain to them that they shouldn't be attached to material things. Make sure they know that their memories, emotions, and thoughts are much more valuable. You can accomplish this by setting boundaries. For example, make a rule that your child has one shelf for toys. If the toys stop fitting on the shelf, then that means buying new toys is optional. Also, don't present buying a toy as the only way to encourage your child. Teach your children to get joy from quality time with the family, not new Barbies.
Try starting with information minimalism by reducing social media use
Many people around the world suffer from Internet addiction. A dose of social media scrolling becomes as precious to them as food or sleep. If you are one of them, it may be time to turn to digital minimalism. Starting with your phone, optimize your time by disabling notifications. Consider trying a digital detox — a period where you spend a few days reconnecting with the real world by opting out of technology. You can take up painting or start doing yoga — the options are limitless! The thing is that every time you feel the need to check your social media, devote yourself to a new hobby. Become free from information noise!
Treat food as energy
We often view dieting as a way to lose weight and that's all it is. However, a minimalist approach to eating goes beyond conventional diets by carrying even more benefits. If you treat food as fuel that helps your body function, you won't put bad fuel in your car. Here’s one way how to become minimalist at home: cut down on packaged convenience foods or junk food. After all, the short-term joy of a burger will quickly fade, leaving behind only harm to your body. Think of all the money you’ll save!
As you can see, a minimalist lifestyle does not have to be ascetic and joyless—it’s all about prioritizing the valuable things. When you get rid of all the useless and redundant things, you feel a new sense of freedom. If you are looking for more inspiration on this topic, take a look at an insightful Goodbye, Things summary to begin changing your life for the better.
