Minimalism. The word itself breathes tranquillity and simplicity. But what’s the appeal in a minimalist lifestyle? One of the biggest advantages of living minimally is the reduced burden on the environment. Consumerism is probably the number one cause of climate change, so changing this habit can only be good for the world. However, a minimalist lifestyle also comes with personal benefits like peace of mind and increased happiness. What are you waiting for? Find out how to achieve the minimal lifestyle!
- Aim for a multipurpose wardrobe
Buying clothing is often a matter of liking a single piece of clothing and buying for entirely that reason. However, a minimalist considers their clothing as part of the bigger picture. Does it fit other pieces you already own? On what occasions can you wear this particular piece? Make sure to only buy clothing that is not limited to a few occasions to then forever disappear in your closet. Preferably buy second hand stuff to limit your footprint even more!
- Always choose quality
Choosing quality not only applies to clothing, furniture, food or cosmetics too are bound to be better when you choose quality. Quality over quantity is the way to go for any minimalist. Spending a bit more on particular things is just a reassurance of your conscious consumer behaviour.
- Cut down on things you don’t need
Be critical of what you own. Through the years, you collect a lot of stuff that inevitably clutters your home and mind. Throwing or giving things away will liberate you from anything you don’t need and creates room for a purposeful and simplistic lifestyle.
- Invest in experiences
Instead of investing in materiality, invest in experiences and thus memories. The true minimalist will value any experience over material things and in doing so live a simple yet meaningful life. However, while planning experiences, you’re also encouraged to make the most of it. So whether you want to make a road trip or visit Las Vegas and enjoy the glamour of live casinos for just a few nights, make sure you enjoy the experience consciously and live in the moment.
- Buy reusables
Naturally, some material stuff you just can’t live without. However, oftentimes there’s a perfectly fine reusable alternative to any day-to-day item. Think of water bottles, storage jars, straws, cloth tote bags and much more! Most of these items replace single use plastic, the number one material posing a problem to waste reduction.
- Plan periodic clean-ups
Most people aren’t even aware of the stuff they keep over the years. Unconsciously, the number of material belongings increases until one day you realize you simply own too much. To prevent this from happening, plan periodic clean-ups to declutter your house. Donate clothes you don’t wear anymore, recycle old electronics and throw away anything invaluable to living your minimalist life.
- Appreciate the little things
Any minimalist would agree: it’s the simple things in life that make it worth living. Actively seeking moments of happiness can significantly increase your mood on a day to day basis. Watch sunsets, take care of your plants, step outside to breathe in the morning air – whatever little things make you happy, seek them actively.
- Repurpose your stuff
It’s not only fun to repurpose clothing, furniture or anything else, it’s also a great way to live a minimalist lifestyle. Minimalism is about conscious ownership – so repurposing stuff fits this philosophy to the teeth. Get creative!
- Reduce your waste
The amount of waste a regular household produces on a yearly basis is staggering. From plastic packaging to food scraps – it builds up without us even knowing. Fortunately, reducing waste isn’t all that hard. Small steps make a big difference. Bring your own fruit bags to the supermarket to prevent having to use one of the plastic ones, make sure to purchase vegetables that aren’t sealed and choose durable alternatives to single use plastic packaging.
- Organize
The last tip for living a minimalist lifestyle is to be organized. When you lose sight of what material stuff you own, you won’t be able to make conscious and purposeful choices. So first of all, make sure you know exactly where to find stuff! Moreover, organizing your space will create a calm and peaceful environment. The perfect circumstances to declutter your life even more.