Now that you’ve packed your things to move to a new place, you are probably thinking about how much stuff you own. Well, you are not alone. In fact, in the United States, research stated that one in four people have a clutter problem –be it in our desks, in our camping bags, or in our own homes. With lots of things weighing us down on a daily basis, it is no surprise that a movement called minimalism has not just been a design but also a complete lifestyle change!
However, though this lifestyle sounds new to our ears, a Japanese organizing consultant named Marie Kondo said that minimalism is nothing new with the rise of tiny homes. In fact, it was coined in the ’60s and had its roots in Buddhism. Since then, minimalism has grown into a way of life, emphasizing living with less yet appreciating more.
What is a minimalist lifestyle?
Minimalism has lots of underlying meaning and can be defined in several ways. However, philosophically, minimalism means living with less. In support of that, an author of “The Minimalist Home: A Room-by-Room Guide to a Decluttered, Refocused Life,” Joshua Becker, has stated that minimalism is basically removing things that distract us. With that, such lifestyle can be applied in several areas of our lives such as our relationships, our schedules, but most importantly, in our homes.
When thinking of a minimalist lifestyle, some of us can’t help but think of a white painted wall. However, minimalism not just revolves around such a concept since this can be practice differently. In fact, this lifestyle is very intentional, and that it mainly involves “minimizing” for you to lead a simpler yet purposeful lifestyle.
The benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle
You may be asking why you should start embracing a minimalist lifestyle and applying it to your homes. Well, below is the list you’ll be taking advantage of if you begin applying minimalism in your home space.
- Money: fewer items means more money since you’ll be buying less and taking care of less. Additionally, your money can be used for better things than buying possessions.
- Environment: Buying less means you are reducing the consumption of our planet’s resources. This also means that through this way, you’re doing your part to help the environment.
- Improve your wellbeing: Owning less stuff also means less stress on your part. In fact, the number of things you own will also be the number of possessions you should be taking care of. Plus, it also adds anxiety to our lives if you several things to handle.
How to minimalist living?
If you now decided that you certainly want to have a minimalist lifestyle, below are the tips on how you can create a more minimal living:
One room at a time
One of the problems you will encounter in practicing minimalism is the “where to start?” part. Indeed, it is overwhelming to start tackling your whole house all at once. So, what you have to do is to focus on one room at a time. Afterward, you could use that room as an inspiration to other parts or rooms in your house.
Visible area first
One of the good approaches in choosing what part of the house to tackle is to start with the visible areas first. Only then can you begin to move into areas that are not much visible, like the insides of your drawer, closet, or cabinets. If you start this way, you can visibly see your progress as you go along. Also, it can help you when you are already feeling overwhelmed with the number of items you have to go through.
Keep the essentials
In decluttering, one of the most important things is to keep items that are truly necessary and meaningful to you. As you move through your things, you should be asking yourself if “Is this something that brings value to my life?” or “Is this something that could help me create the lifestyle I am trying to achieve?”
Limit your decorations
If you are going to add decorations to your home, you must remember not to adorn it with all the things you spotted at your local store. It would be best if you constantly remind yourself that you are trying to achieve a minimalist lifestyle. Therefore, only decorate your home with one that has particular value or meaning, such as family pictures or heirlooms.
Tidy up regularly
To maintain your lifestyle, you should tidy things up regularly. As time goes by, things will inevitably start to go messy after a while. With that, one helpful tip is to give attention to spaces that needed daily, weekly, or monthly attention.