10 Tips to Begin a Minimalist Life

It’s not easy being a minimalist in a society that encourages consumerism. Luckily, many are waking up to the idea that less is more.

Embracing this lifestyle can be challenging. Trying to figure out where and how to get started can feel overwhelming.

If you’ve wanted to go against the grain and become a minimalist, you’re in luck. Today, we’re sharing ten tips to help you get started.

Let’s roll!

Two cute little sisters donate their clothes and toys at home - try the one in, one out minimalism rule

What Is Minimalism?

Minimalism is a lifestyle that eliminates excess. You’ll find it in various areas, including interior design, fashion, and consumerism. This principle isn’t new, as it’s been in the art and design community since the mid-20th century. Artists and designers focus on clean lines, a limited color palette, and only essential elements.

Additionally, it’s become a trendy choice in recent years. You’ll find varying levels of minimalism. Some embrace it in specific areas, and others dive in completely. It’s an intentional way of living that avoids being wasteful without sacrificing satisfaction.

It’s common for these folks to value experiences rather than things. The less you own, the more freedom you have to spend on creating memories. You can feel lighter without possessions and financial obligations weighing you down.

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10 Tips to Begin a Minimalist Life

When it comes to embracing a minimalist lifestyle, knowing where to start is hard. However, we have ten tips to help you take your first steps. Pick one or two and get started today!

#1 Try the One-In, One-Out Philosophy

One of the first steps you can take is to adopt the “one-in, one-out” philosophy. This simple concept challenges you to eliminate an object anytime you bring something new into a space. When you do, you’ll start evaluating how much you value the items you already own.

The one-in, one-out philosophy can be helpful for parents. Toys and stuffed animals can quickly pile up. Do kids need 47 stuffed animals occupying a corner of their room? Probably not. You can even give kids the power to decide what to keep or eliminate.

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#2 Stay on Top of Expiration Dates

You’ve likely made the mistake of buying something without using it before the expiration date. Not only are you wasting the materials, but also your hard-earned money. To avoid this blunder, examine the contents of your cabinets. Look at the expiration dates and use them before they go bad.

While food is the first thing we think of in this category, it’s easy to overlook others. Check your makeup, medication, and batteries. These products have best-by dates that you’ll want to follow. If not, they may lose quality.

#3 Decide What’s Essential

We all value different things. What you emphasize may not be what we hold in high regard. A critical step in becoming a minimalist is deciding what’s essential. This includes possessions, work obligations, relationships, and extracurricular activities.

Things can take up space physically and mentally. Eliminating non-essentials can give you the time and space to focus on your most important priorities.

For example, you may say your physical health is critical, but you need more time to prioritize it. By eliminating time wasters, you can finally go for a walk, take a hike, or prepare healthy meals. You might be surprised by how much spare time you actually have.

Man organizing his tools - keep what's essential in a minimalist lifestyle

#4 Keep it Clean

Having clutter in a space can be distracting and overwhelming. Evaluate your office, bedroom, or living room, and keep these areas clean.

An easy way to keep a space tidy is to assign a home to every item. When you finish using it, put it back in its designated place. Before leaving a room, look around and ensure everything is back where it should be. Eventually, it’ll become a habit, and you won’t have to think about returning things to where you found them.

#5 Adopt a Capsule Wardrobe

The term capsule wardrobe is a minimalist principle that involves reducing the amount of clothing you own. Instead of countless outfits, you have individual pieces that you can mix and match. Thinning out your closet can allow you to own less while creating a variety of combinations that work well together.

Typically, a capsule wardrobe contains between 30 and 40 pieces. These include clothes, shoes, and even accessories. Limiting your options forces you to evaluate each object and helps you avoid impulse buying.

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#6 Start Budgeting

Closely monitoring your finances is a great way to become a minimalist. Seeing how you’re spending your money can be very revealing. You can start creating a budget once you see where your money goes.

The first part of your budget should factor in the essential categories, like housing, food, transportation, and utilities.

From there, consider non-essential categories like entertainment, clothing, and eating out. Just because you can afford it, it doesn’t mean it’s worth it. A budget can help you eliminate extras in your finances that distract you from funding your next epic adventure.

A woman working on a computer with a receipt in one hand - having a budget helps with minimalism

#7 Choose Paperless Options

Many of us have that spot where the junk mail sits until it gets tossed in the trash. If left unaddressed, these papers can pile up quickly. Thankfully, businesses often provide an alternative.

Why receive a paper bill when you can get the same information electronically? Companies are embracing minimalism by offering paperless statements to customers. Instead of your physical mailbox, the invoice gets sent to your email every month. It’s worth logging into online accounts for any bills you receive to see if this is an option for you.

If paperless isn’t an option, process junk mail as quickly as possible. Storing a recycling bin between the mailbox and your kitchen counter can prevent junk mail from entering your clutter-free home.

#8 Resist the Temptation to Spend

One temptation that can be hard to break is spending. Marketing agencies have conditioned us to believe we need the latest items. Many of us always want the newest model, whether it’s cars or cell phones. We can’t help ourselves.

Sadly, this is a never-ending cycle. You can burn through stacks of cash trying to keep up with the constant innovations of technology. Being content with what you have is an important lesson to learn.

We’re not saying you can’t or shouldn’t have nice stuff. Resisting the urge to spend can help you evaluate each purchase. Is the item you want to buy a want or a need? If it’s a need, research and ensure it’s the device for you.

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#9 Focus on Your Favorite Belongings

Whether it’s your mental or physical space, embracing minimalism requires you to focus on your favorite things. Emphasize quality over quantity in every area of your life. Instead of filling your head, calendar, or finances with many obligations, focus on just a few. These are the priorities that are most important to you.

No matter how hard you try, you don’t have time, space, or energy for everything. If you’re not careful, less important obligations will take you away from your priorities.

#10 Don’t Be Afraid to Start Small

Another mistake is starting too big. Some folks dive in without testing the waters and quickly find themselves over their heads. The key to embracing change is to start small.

Success is taking one tiny step after another over and over again. Eventually, these choices become a part of your natural lifestyle. Before you know it, you’re making minimalist decisions without much effort. Once you get the ball rolling, it’s hard to stop it.

Embrace the Minimalist Lifestyle

Becoming a minimalist in a consumer-driven culture can be hard. Billion-dollar companies with massive advertising budgets are vying for your attention.

However, if you follow the types we’ve shared, you can take steps toward conquering them. You can enjoy a life of minimalism, which is full of freedom and happiness!