4 steps to start a minimalist lifestyle
Living simply in a complicated, busy world can feel like a breath of fresh air if you're bogged down by all the things surrounding you. This guide and video go through four steps to help you on your minimalist journey, answering questions that many from this community have shared. It'll focus more on the aspects of decluttering and curbing your consumption, but find more info on the page called 'simplify,' which has more posts on minimalist living and ways to apply minimalism to your everyday life.
4 steps to start a minimalist lifestyle
The following outlines the above video and four steps to start a minimalist lifestyle if you don’t know where to begin. Find links to related posts and videos as well in the following summary.
Know your why
It's essential to go deep down and ask yourself why you want to start a minimalist lifestyle, what is your end goal, and what you hope to achieve
Take some intentional time to figure out your why, as a clear sense of purpose will carry you through the ups and downs when you aren't sure of what you're doing
Understand the root causes of consumption
Consumption is inevitable, but we can learn to refuse from the start to avoid excess consumption moving forward
Shopping. Take a moment to pause before purchase
Take 30 days to hold off on a purchase to determine if you truly need it, then take time to research and make sure you’re buying a product that will last the test of time
Find more info on the 30 day habit here
Gifts. How to receive or decline politely
It can be tricky to tell loved ones that you'd rather not receive the things they get you, so consider leading by action, sharing minimalist friendly gifts with them
If they don't catch on, you may need to sit them down at a certain point and explain your point of view respectfully and patiently
How to minimize, declutter, and organize
It can be overwhelming to start, but start small - focus on one room or closet at a time, taking 1-2 hours to sift through items
A bathroom or kitchen declutter can be a quick win, as there may be some obvious items that need to be tossed or recycled, which is easier than decluttering sentimental items
Taking that extra effort to properly sort your decluttered items will also give you a better sense of what to look for when you're buying new items, whether it be recyclability, repairability, etc. - for more examples on decluttering sustainably, check the posts on this page
You'll need to be honest with sentimental items, asking yourself the pros and cons of decluttering this item versus keeping it - if you have a tough time, place 'maybe' items into a box for some time and revisit later on
Staying on the minimalist path
There will be a variety of hurdles in your minimalism journey, which is why it's important to start this lifestyle change with a clear vision and why statement
Finding like-minded minimalist groups online or in-person can provide a sounding board if you run into challenges along the way.
Remember that consumption to some degree is inevitable, so it's a constant journey - do what is in your means, and don't feel intimidated to achieve a certain level of minimalism that is portrayed here, online, or any other media
