Have you been thinking about taking a getting started with minimalism? Maybe the simplicity of minimalism is something you need with the craziness of life right now. Perhaps you’re just intrigued with the aesthetics of it all. If you’re like me, you might be intrigued with the mental clarity and peace that comes with minimalism.
Minimalism has a lot of benefits, but honestly, where are you even supposed to start? Hopefully this will help you determine the best next step for your journey with minimalism. But first, let’s go over a few things:
What Minimalism isn’t:
There might be a few misconceptions about minimalism floating around out there. Whenever I talk to friends about minimalism, the most common response is: “Oh, I could never do that!” But do you really know what minimalism is? Here are a few things minimalism is not:
- A restrictive lifestyle
- A competition to own as few items as possible.
- Having a boring wardrobe
- Purely aesthetic
- Cold and unwelcoming
- Against shopping for fun
If this are what you think of when you think of minimalism, you’ve got it all wrong! I’m not saying there aren’t people who call themselves minimalist that embrace these things, but this isn’t what minimalism was developed for. Try replacing those thoughts with these things about minimalism
- Freedom from materialism
- Only owning items that you love, use often, and cherish
- Feeling comfortable in everything you own
- Embracing your personal aesthetic
- Having a comforting and familiar surrounding
- Investing in lasting possessions that you love
So how can we moving our thinking to these items instead? Here’s what I recommend for getting started with minimalism!
Related content: Why Twenty-Somethings Need Minimalism
Learn About Other Minimalism Experiences
If you haven’t watched the Minimalism documentary on Netflix, I would recommend starting there. It will really give you a feel for the lifestyle that some minimalist embrace. I love this documentary because you can really see the love and authenticity that Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus are trying to promote.
Now, just because some of these minimalist are a little more, well… extreme, doesn’t mean that you have to go that far! Like we said before, minimalism isn’t a competition to own as few items as possible.
However, learning about the experiences of other minimalist will give you a clearer idea of the mental peace you are working towards. It can give you a clear idea of the clutter you have in your life and mind and inspire you to change your habits.
As for my minimalism experience, I’ve found that it’s so much easier for me to let go of items that are from a time I was a different person. I am now able to let go of things much easier, and I’m not just talking about possessions! It’s so much easier for me to close chapters that I’m through with and not hold any resentment.
Willingness to Let Things Go
I wouldn’t say so much a willingness to let go of things, but an excitement to! You know that feeling when you look at your freshly cleaned home? That’s kind of the feeling that we’re going for. If letting go of things is hard for you, then you may need to change your thoughts from thinking about what you’re losing, to thinking about closing chapters.
People might feel like they need to force themselves to get rid of things, but minimalism shouldn’t feel forced, at least not the way I see it. Minimalism is meant to give you more of a sense of freedom, it shouldn’t feel like you’re ripping beloved possessions out of your life. It should feel like the weight is coming off of your shoulders the less things you have.
Don’t Worry About Appearances
If someone walked into my living space, they might not immediately think “minimalist.” I have more than 1 pillow on my bed. I have more than 1 pair of work shoes, and if I’m being honest, there are probably things in my closet I could clean out. However, if they watched my day-to-day routine, they would see how few things I actually use. I only have 1 of each face product that I use. I wear pretty much the same clothes to work on a weekly basis. My go-to makeup routine is only a few products I use every single day. I’m not constantly shopping around for new things when I already have something that works just as well.
Minimalism as a lifestyle isn’t meant to impress other people with aesthetics. If that’s what you love, then go for it by all means! However, I know that “looking like a minimalist” isn’t going to give me the same fulfillment that actually implementing the pricipals will.
I’m definitely an aesthetics oriented person! So my approach to minimalism allows me to highlight pieces and items that I love. It’s given me the confidence to really own what I like rather than to hop on fleeting trends.
Implement the 1 in, 1 out Rule
This is definitely the easiest way to get started with minimalism. Every time you buy something, whether it be a throw pillow, t-shirt, or kitchen appliance, get rid of 1 that you no longer use. It can force you to really look at your things and evaluate which one is the least utilized in your life. You are then free to close that chapter.
This can also work for things like subscription services. Do you really need a Netlfix, Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max all at the same time? When you sign up for the new service, you can close out the old one. Unlike clothing or possessions, you can essentially pick up right where you left off if you choose to open that chapter again later.
Why stop there? You could use this with meal delivery services, magazine subscriptions, newsletters, or fitness memberships. What loyalty do you owe them if you can’t give them your full attention?
Take It Slow
There is nothing about minimalism that says “this needs to be rushed!” If you take it at your own pace, you’ll feel like minimalism is simply the next step that you are taking in life. Like we said earlier, minimalism is not a competition to own the least amount of items. It’s not a competition in any sense!
I started with minimalism by clearing out some things that I didn’t use. That evolved into no longer buying things I couldn’t use regularly. Pretty soon I was unsubscribing to services, beliefs, and trends that I didn’t like. It then taught me to close chapters on habits or relationships I didn’t want to take with me into my future.
And you know? There is no rule that says you can’t go back and forth on these steps as many times as you like! If it takes you 3 years to finally through out some of the clothes you wore in high school, so be it!
Important tip: don’t be legalistic about minimalism!
Minimalism is ultimately about increasing joy and meaning in your life. So don’t take it too seriously! If you ever find yourself thinking “I can’t have that, I’m a minimalist” you’re doing it wrong! If you want to get started with minimalism, it doesn’t mean robbing yourself of things that make you happy.
You can take a 12 month approach by focusing on 1 thing every month to become more of a minimalist about. One month will be about the food you eat, the next about the giant box from your parents house you’ve been avoiding, the next could be about larger things like transportation or appliances.
So if these things sound like a plausible way for you to get started with minimalism, here are some great things you will start to benefit from!
Perks of Being A minimalist
I’m not saying these are the core reasons why you should be a minimalist, but these are some great perks!
- Less time deliberating what you will wear each day
- Traveling is super easy because you’ll pack light
- Moving is easier with fewer things
- Finding stuff in your home is simpler and faster
- You’re things won’t get in other’s way in public or shared spaces
- Mental clarity and freedom from materialism
So are you ready to get started? Let me know how you started being a minimalist, or how you’re planning on starting!
Don’t forget to check out this post: Why Twenty-Somethings Need Minimalism
