If you love minimalism as a design theme, then perhaps you are ready to embrace minimalism as a lifestyle choice as well. With a minimalist mindset and approach to life comes the ability to practice non-attachment to both material goods or possessions, as well as to feelings and emotions. For when you are able to be non-attached to concepts in life, you open yourself up to pure happiness. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of living a minimalist life, it really can be an effortless process by following some simple steps.
Be more purposeful with your time
You already know the importance of decluttering your home space, which brings a host of benefits beyond the refined and modern esthetic quality. So now you can borrow the process of removing unnecessary items from your physical space, and use this method to relieve yourself of any responsibilities, demands or activities that don’t serve you in your desire to live a minimalist life. For instance, do you find yourself committed to something that you don’t have the time — or the interest — for? If yes, you must politely remove yourself from this, freeing up your time to put into an activity that truly benefits you in some way — this doesn’t have to mean filling that time with another event, it may be that you need more time to relax. Of every activity in your week, ask ‘What purpose does this have?’, if you struggle to answer that question, then it’s time to let it go.
Reduce your wardrobe
One of the more repeated behaviors in the common week is getting dressed; it’s impossible to move towards a minimalist way of life if you’re still swamped with options for clothing every morning. Take time to sort through your closet and dispose of anything that doesn’t fit, you don’t like, or you haven’t worn for over two months. By all means, keep seasonal clothing somewhere else in the house until you have a need for it again, but simplify your daily selection.
Slim-lining your closet collection doesn’t just make your morning routine easier, but it can raise your environmental and social consciousness too. Owning fewer clothes reduces your carbon footprint and saves you from funding potentially dangerous fast fashion supply chains.
Take a long trip
Nothing prepares you better for a minimalist lifestyle than taking a step back from the everyday stresses to take a long trip. Find a realtor who you believe has the best practices in property management and rent out your house for a few months. Taking the time to look after yourself above anyone else can leave you refreshed and ready for the next chapter of your life.
It doesn’t matter where you go, but ensure that you pack light. Ascertain which are the most useful items in your possession; pack only these. You may insist that one or two ‘luxury’ items, such as an e-reader or smartphone, have importance, in which case pack them too. This packing exercise will illustrate how little you actually need to get by in life.
Once you return home, avoid re-flooding your life with unneeded possessions.
Maggie Hammond is a retired nurse and freelance writer, exploring and writing in the U.S. in retirement. An advocate for public health and nursing qualifications, she feels passionate about raising awareness of the current strain on public health organisations.
