6 Easy Minimalism Tips for Beginners
Minimalism might feel intimidating, but it’s easier than you think! In the past few months, I've begun dabbling in minimalism and today I’m sharing my best minimalism tips to help you get started.
What Does Minimalism Mean?
I think it’s easy to get caught up in minimalism stereotypes. You might picture someone who lives in a perfectly clean, practically empty house. Or someone who wears the same thing every day or who avoids making any material purchases whatsoever. You might think minimalism is rigid and boring… and just not you.
But that’s far from the truth! And if that’s the case, what does minimalism mean?
Minimalism is…
- Quality over quantity
- Focusing on the best things instead of everything
- Doing (and having) more of what you love and less of what you don’t
3 Benefits of Minimalism
Before we get caught up in how to apply minimalism for beginners, I want to touch on some of the key benefits of minimalism:
1. Your Money Goes Where It Matters
No, minimalism might not make you rich… but it can make you feel that’s life is richer. Minimalism makes you think more before you spend. It’s not that you don’t spend money – it’s that you ask yourself, “Is this purchase really going to make my life better?”
One of the benefits of minimalism is that you start thinking about whether something really adds to your life before buying it. You start being intentional about where your money goes and plan to use it and give it away in ways that bring you & others joy.
2. Life is Cleaner and More Organized
Sometimes we think we have an organizing problem… but what we really have is a stuff problem. There are only so many ways to organize all the toys, kitchen utensils, shoes, clothes, and workout gear. Eventually, stuff ends up everywhere and you have to organize it all over again.
When you think hard about what really adds value to your life, you realize how much all of that stuff is holding you back. Donate or sell what no longer serves you and it’s so much easier to take care of the rest. It’s almost effortless to clean up, find what you need, and keep things in order.
3. You Get Your Time Back
Time is an extremely valuable asset. One of the best benefits of minimalism is that you start to get your time back. You spend less time buying stuff and taking care of stuff. You spend more time doing what you love, because you think twice before adding something to your schedule. This gives life a sense of meaning and joy that you may have been missing.
6 Easy Minimalism Tips for Beginners
I’m all about baby steps! You don’t have to overhaul your life in one week to make minimalism work for you. Instead, try out these minimalism tips to get started:
1. Prioritize Experiences Over Stuff
The first step to becoming minimalist is to stop the flow of stuff into your life. One way to do this is to spend money on experiences rather than stuff. Before buying more stuff, consider whether this money can go toward a night out at your favorite restaurant with friends, those singing lessons you always wanted, or a fun weekend getaway.
2. Start with the Easy Stuff
Pick the least cluttered room, cabinet, or closet to start with. The reason most people give up on minimalism is because they start too big and get overwhelmed. Create quick wins for yourself by starting with the easiest places to go minimalist. This will help you develop the mindset of minimalism – then the big stuff won’t seem so big later on.
3. Try a Minimalist Wardrobe
If you’re not ready to donate your whole closet, why not just try a month of minimalist clothing? Choose a few staples out of your wardrobe and put everything else to the side. For one month, use only the staples you chose and see how creative you can get with styling outfits. You might be surprised how well you can dress with so little!
4. Practice Minimalism While Traveling
Whenever you travel, take that opportunity to enjoy the benefits of minimalism. Try to pack light and use the fewest number of clothing items and toiletries (within reason, of course!). Sometimes a trip can really put into perspective what you can do without.
5. Go for the Multiples
Do you have tons of mugs but only use 2-3 of them? Do you have a linen closet full of extra sheets and towels? Anywhere you have multiples of the same type of stuff is a good place to start going minimalist.
6. Use What You Have
If your kitchen pantry or bathroom cabinet are overflowing, take stock of what you have and find a way to use it. Challenge yourself to shop less until you’ve used what you already have. If you realize you absolutely don’t want to use it (or if it’s expired), it’s time to get rid of it.
Have you tried minimalism? What has worked and what hasn’t? Share your thoughts in the comments below!