Minimize Your Life: 5 Ways You Can Live More Freely Right Now
It’s time to clean out some closets and declutter in more ways than one! Springtime is a special time of the year, where it feels natural to restart, refresh, and refocus on what you truly value. Shake off those winter blues and get started on working on the aspects of your life that need some attention!
One of the healthiest ways to reboot your system and rejuvenate your mindset is to start to adopt lifestyle minimalism. Incorporating minimalistic elements into your daily life could be one of the best decisions you make moving forward.
The following tips are some starting guidelines on how to minimize in your daily life!
Minimalism starts in the mind
Minimalism is a lifestyle that starts within. You have to mentally commit to simplify your pursuits, lifestyle choices, and belongings, and the results can be very rewarding. Minimalism is more than just getting rid of unnecessary possessions; it liberates you from superfluous burdens, unhealthy habits, and negative influences.
““ Minimalism is more than just getting rid of unnecessary possessions; it liberates you from superfluous burdens, unhealthy habits, and negative influences.””
The concept is about going back to the basics and finding freedom in simplicity. Take some time to think about how you have been devoting your time, assets, and energy, and what rewards those applications have been reaping. Try to strip away the habits, guilty pleasures, and thoughts that are highly taxing and no longer worthwhile.
Let yourself re-focus on what is important to you. It is more than likely that there are a few factors in life right now taking your time and space that simply do not belong—they are not positive influences. We all have so much going on, and we collect unnecessary baggage that is somehow hard to let go of, but you will be amazed at how freeing it is to let go of superfluous things in life and re-prioritize.
Think more in terms of black-and-white, and compartmentalize boldly.
An example would be literally cleaning out your closet. Have you worn that fuzzy sweater at any point in the past twelve months? No? Bye. Existing in the gray area of potentially wanting or needing a possession in the future is not a part of minimalism. Stop making exceptions and excuses, and get comfortable with the idea of deciding “yes” or “no,” “in” or “out,” decisively and committedly with your gut judgment. Not just about clothes in your closet, of course.
What makes me happy and what does not?
What provides positive value in my life?
What are my priorities and are they reflected in my daily habits?
There inevitably will be things you realize you can do completely without and that is where you start!
Say Goodbye to Emotional And Mental Drains
Another aspect of minimalism is removing unnecessary negativities—those emotional and mental tolls that don’t deserve a place in your life. This is obviously a process—a journey—but with some introspection, categorizing that which makes you truly happy and what does not will help you break away from what you need to.
Try making a list of aspects of your life that have been draining you emotionally and mentally. What are things on the list you would be able to cut out? There are inevitably some broad-scale burdens that are out of your power to control, but on the flip side, there are most likely trivial negativities that you do have control over, once you take a hard look at them. Start with small changes for the better and remove any elements that don’t bring any positive value.
Some examples of emotional and mental drains:
Devoting too much time to toxic friendships or relationships
Spending too much attention and energy worrying over appearances
Curating a perfect social media image
Drinking and going out too much recently controlling your social life
Make a list of things in life that need more attention and also what needs less attention. Skip the bar one night and journal at home or delete some apps from your phone. Ask yourself: Is it something that you need or something that you want? Two different things! What you want may not necessarily be the healthiest option and it is there you should start taking a hard look for a change.
Get your finances in order
Minimalism also applies to your spending habits and financial situation; applying minimalistic principles to spending could really benefit your finances.
We all have our guilty pleasures that we know we spend a little too much money on. It could be a deadly online shopping habit, one too many credit cards, or too many subscriptions to entertainment or magazines. Comb through your bank records and find the weak links. What has been draining your budget in small but consistent ways?
To help, you could download a budget app, start tracking where money seems to slip through the cracks. You will surely discover that there are a few areas where you need to be more vigilant and cautious with your spending.
““We often overspend because we are trying to fill an emotional gap in our lives. No object will ever satisfy your soul.” ”
Declutter your belongings and home
A great springtime move—time to declutter!
Remember, stuff won’t make you happy! People and experiences do. Minimalism will help you reinvest your energy towards what is important to you and that will not be your possessions (or at least it shouldn’t be).
Some ideas to get started on decluttering:
Make a home checklist
Do a deep clean starting one room at a time
Thin out your closet (If you haven’t worn it in the past few months, it probably isn’t worth keeping. Back to the basics!)
Donate items to a local charity
Organize Your Daily Schedule and Fine-Tune Your Daily Routine
An enjoyable, productive, and well-balanced daily routine will work wonders for your lifestyle, goals, and positive mentality.
Reconsider your daily routine and what little things add up to waste your precious time. Minimalism is about removing unnecessary pastimes and hobbies that don’t add any true value to your life. How do you waste your time on the daily? If you cut back in certain aspects, it will free up more time to devote towards your true passions and pursuits..
It may be worth a try to write out and track your daily routine for a few days or a week, so that you can take a look back clearly on how you both waste and best utilize your time. Too much screen time?
Hopefully these ideas will guide you on the way to minimalism, to get a better handle on your new springtime schedule and boil down your lifestyle to the essentials that keep you healthy and happy.
Live with less and you’ll feel like you’re living more fully.