10 Tips on Being a Minimalist
No matter whether we call it minimalism, renunciation of consumption, downshifting, or simple living: at its core, minimalism fans always want to surround themselves with less rubbish, throw away useless stuff, and concentrate on what is really important in life.
Why do people live as minimalists?
You can understand minimalism is a counter-movement to the consumer world in which we live in today to a large extent. Minimalists are about living with little and possessing only what they really love and need. By concentrating on the essentials, they promise themselves more simplicity and more joy in life. This is based on the idea that consumption and things do not make us happy, but that we can find happiness in the little things of everyday life.
How do I become a minimalist?
The first step is simple – but not necessarily easy. It starts with the realization that things don’t make us happy and that we need fewer things that we have. But how are we supposed to notice that when we’ve been lucky all our lives with shopping trips and a new handbag?
The trick is: the knowledge comes when we act. One who separates first from unnecessary stuff, notices, how much more easily life can be.
10 simple tips for a minimalist life in an instant
1. Only buy things that you need
Before each purchase, ask yourself the following questions:
Do not I own it yet?
Would my life be improved by the purchase?
Would I incur disadvantages?
If in doubt, postpone the purchase to see if you really need the object of desire.
2. Avoid the accumulation of unnecessary items
How does it work? Quite simply: for every object that comes into your home, another must give way. And don’t buy anything without meaning.
3. Stick a “no advertisement” sticker to your mailbox
So you can avoid unnecessary paper consumption.
4. Give your things fixed places
If you regularly clean things up and give things a permanent place, you find things faster. Secondly, this helps to keep track of your possessions and prevents unnecessary double and triple purchases.
5. Limit your use of energy and electricity
Get up without an alarm clock, go outside – move on by bike or on foot, and dry your clothes outside.
6. Quality before quantity
Buy less, but better things. For example, find items you use on a daily or consistent basis and purchase the high-quality version of that. It will last you longer through the years, versus buying a cheaper version and having to buy it over and over again because it rips or breaks easily.
7. Live under your circumstances, but for your dreams
This is especially true among the Japanese people that live in small houses and apartments. They choose to be minimalistic in square footage because they can focus on the bigger things in life; their families, travel, and careers.
8. Less is more
I’m not saying throw everything away and live in an empty house. The point is to live with the most useful items in your home. This way, you live in a stress-free environment without the thought of cleaning constantly.
9. Put the contents of your purse on a table and halve it
The contents, not the purse and certainly not the table. Maybe this is also a good opportunity to get rid of a few items that seem to live in your purse but find no use to you. It may be the old library card, empty gift cards, or lip gloss that you never use.
10. Discover the simplicity of cooking
There are many dishes that taste good and require more than a handful of ingredients. I know I speak from experience when trying to follow a recipe, there seems to be a long list of ingredients I don’t have on hand and need to purchase. Guess what happens next, the unused ingredients get tossed into the trash. Plus they take up space in my fridge if I don’t use them up.
To really sum up minimalism is to say that simplicity is that way to go. We don’t actually need a lot of things in our lives. The focus should be on more important things because that’s what brings us joy, not stuff.
