If you are a newcomer to minimalism or have recently been interested in this movement, you probably saw photos of rooms with snow-white walls and laconic furniture depicting a minimalist style. With such viral pictures, many people think that minimalism is too strict and frightening, but in fact, it’s not true, and in this article, you will find out why.
Using all my experience, I will help you understand how to make minimalism an integral and enjoyable part of your life.
Don’t Waste Money to Become a “True” Minimalist
Minimalism does not need financial support. For example, when we come across pictures of stylish apartments in Scandinavian interior design, we suddenly have a wild desire to turn our home into a similar cozy little nest, but it is, alas, an opposite phenomenon to minimalism.
You should not start by repairing and throwing out all the stuff that does not express a minimalist style. Instead, it’s better to think about earning money to renovate your apartment or save money for the future.
If you bring minimalism into your life, it does not mean you have to get new household items. On the contrary, start with cleaning and get rid of unnecessary things that you no longer use.
Minimalism Is Dynamic, Not Static
You will never become a minimalist overnight – it’s a gradual process that always starts with small and insignificant changes. However, visible results and benefits will be evident in a while.
Firstly, We Declutter, Then We Clean Up and Organize the Space We Live In
That’s what Joshua Becker talks about in his books about minimalism. Instead of wasting time organizing things, save your energy and closet space by simply getting rid of what you don’t need. Having only the important things left over makes the cleaning up process much more manageable.
Don’t Let Material Things Stand In the Way of Change
One of the main principles of minimalism is never to let unnecessary things distract you from something meaningful. So get rid of what you don’t use and try to avoid impulse purchases to have time and energy for important things.
Don’t Look for Magic Life Hacks That Work for Everyone
No one can tell you how many household items you need to throw away to become a minimalist. Constantly thinking that there is still too much stuff in your apartment is just as bad as making impulse purchases. Don’t obsess over material things. You don’t need to worry about their quantity. Just slowly remove the items you are ready to part with.
Don’t Try to Compensate the Lack of Things With an Overabundance of Emotions
Quite a few studies are suggesting that emotions bring people more joy than material things. However, other scientific works are stating that in both cases, people experience the same rush of happiness. Thus, minimalism is not about replacing one impulsive behavior with another – it’s about consciously choosing a different lifestyle.
Accept That Your Self-Perception Should Not Depend on Material Things
Minimalism has an unexpected but very beneficial impact on people’s self-esteem. When you are ready to get rid of things quickly or refuse another purchase, you realize that self-esteem does not depend on the brand of clothes, the model of the car, and the cost of furniture because all this does not define you as a person. This change will help you dispose of even more complexities and unnecessary things in life.
Learn to Make Decisions
Always start with small, especially if you’re just getting acquainted with minimalism. First, get rid of the unnecessary things that you can easily let go of: such decluttering will help you learn to make decisions, you will begin to understand what you need and what you can peacefully do without. The ability to make decisions will help you make minimalism a part of your lifestyle.
Minimalism Is No Guarantee of a Good Life
Minimalism helps you get rid of unnecessary things in your life, but it doesn’t make it easier. The purpose of minimalism is to free up space and give you time and energy to do new things and solve important problems. It’s a process of eliminating distractions, allowing you to do more meaningful activities.
Don’t Be Distracted by Little Things
We can be distracted by anything, and all of us are familiar with the situation when there are so many tasks that we don’t know where to start. Minimalism helps deal not only with material things but also work projects and things that need to be finished. By getting rid of distractions, you cross off less important things from your list, thereby leaving yourself time and energy to work on what is really a priority and needs to be finished. Getting rid of the “junk” in your planner eliminates the distractions that keep you from getting your mind organized.
I really hope this article and my tips will help you bring minimalism into your life. And remember, there is no “right” or “wrong” way to be a minimalist; just try not to be squandered on little things and devote yourself only to the most important and exciting events in your life.
