How to Be a Minimalist
Being a minimalist isn’t about getting rid of almost everything you own. It’s about living a more simple, and decluttered life. The items you decide to keep will serve a better and more meaningful purpose, and the necessity to keep buying stuff will vanish. It might also help you save money while you’re at it. We at 5-Minute Crafts will share a few tips that can help you make this a reality.
1. List your reasons for wanting minimalism.
This could be anything. You might be feeling too stressed to sleep, or perhaps you think you’re spending too much money. It could also be that you’re not using your time correctly. After you think your reasons through, it may help you see the big picture clearer.
2. Only keep things you need.
Think of it like this: if you haven’t used an item in 6 months, you can get rid of it. However, be mindful of keeping seasonal items, such as your winter coats, swimsuits, and whatnot.
3. Repeat your meals.
If thinking about what you’re going to have for lunch, dinner, or even breakfast in the morning is too consuming, eating the same meals as the week passes might be the answer. Do it as an experiment first. Start off by choosing 2 or 3 meals you can have for dinner, but try to at least eat the same lunch and breakfast throughout the week.
4. Pack less when traveling.
Try to pack for half of the time you’ll spend at your destination. If needed, you can wash your clothes on the go, or even wear the same thing more than once. Take it as an experiment and see how you feel.
5. Consider the item’s utility.
To do this, ask yourself these questions:
- Is the item useful?
- Do you have more of it?
- Does it bring you joy or love?
If so, you can keep it. It’s important to ask yourself that last question so that you won’t get rid of items that carry any emotional value to you, like, for example, a photo album.
6. Use your space well.
If you’re struggling to get rid of some stuff, you can reduce the space they take up instead. For example, you can hang a paper towel roll, mugs, and other things under cabinets. Another tip is to digitalize your photo albums so that they don’t occupy any physical space.
7. Keep your desk clean.
First, take a good look at your desk’s surface and ask yourself what doesn’t need to be there. Everything that’s not essential, get rid of it. You can use drawers to store things you still need, but not at that exact moment. A cleaner desk will help you be more focused and, generally, more efficient.