A minimalist lifestyle comes with a deep sense of satisfaction.
For that reason, everyone must consider how to be a one.
Some may feel that living a simple life is gaining less popularity.
The truth is, it is still undeniably beneficial.
And in reality, we all yearn to be a minimalist in one way or the other.
Wittingly or unwittingly, you might have practiced minimalist living in its raw form.
The tips below are worth considering, as they would prove helpful.
Join me as we take a ride to learn how to become a Minimalist with these five step by step guide.
The Step by Step Guide on How to Become a Minimalist
Step I: Write Down Reasons
Motivations, whether wrong or right, play a significant role in executing most goals.
Becoming a minimalist is no exception.
So, this is one of the first steps to become a minimalist.
Therefore, get the map ready by writing down all the reasons you want to practice minimalist living.
This could range from loads of debt to a disorganized home.
Making this list will help you realize how important it is for you to start this journey.
It will also serve as a booster just if you get tired along the way, which is a possibility.
Now that you understand why this first step is essential, what practical steps should you take?
- Make a list, either on a piece of paper or on your mobile device.
- Keep the directory where it will be easy for you to see daily.
- Mark out reasons each time you successfully minimize them; that way, you can measure your progress.
Also Read 10 Incredible Tips on How to be an Organized Person
Step II: Dispose of Duplicates
Many of us have extra copies of almost everything.
Of course, I am not discouraging keeping additional copies of important files and documents.
Consider, however, things like books, measuring cups, cassettes.
Do we need two or more copies of such things?
When you dispose of duplicates, you’d see that many of the clones you store and view as necessary are nothing more than space takers.
Minimalist living gives no room for unnecessary storage.
Remember, the goal is to live life to the full with as little as possible.
To dispose of duplicates, practice the step-by-step tips below:
- Get a box or other substitutes to store duplicates.
- Keep all extra copies of objects in your home in the box. (This is nearly important if you want to have a clean kitchen)
- Keep the box somewhere at home for some time.
- If you do not have to open the box for about a month, let it go.
Try this:
Do some decluttering in your wardrobe to free some space.
You will find less space in your closet and, therefore, in a sense practicing minimalist living.
The result?
Your wardrobe looks more organized.
And that gives you a sense of satisfaction.
You will also find it much easier to find what to wear.
Which helps you prepare faster for outings.
Most of us can testify to the truthfulness of this.
Step III: Declutter Areas
Statistics show that an average household has about 300,000 items.
Imagine the list of things you have at home, such as plates, papers, and wardrobe items.
What do you think?
Have you seen how truthful this statistic is?
You probably have more than this estimated number of items at home.
To become a minimalist, start with freeing up areas in your home.
This provides, amongst other things, a clean and free environment to work.
It is giving you the inner sense of satisfaction that comes with minimalist living.
Decluttering areas can be done gradually by doing the following:
- Choose a space in your home that you want to make clutter-free.
- Extend that area slowly until it covers a large part or even the whole of your house.
- Discard meaningless materials.
Step IV: Light Traveling
Light traveling is one of the easy ways to become a minimalist.
Travelling is one activity that helps one appreciate the importance of minimalist living.
Minimalists travel with only necessary material possessions and nothing extra.
While many pack lots of loads for journeys, they pack less, giving them less stress during the trip.
Traveling with less clutter helps you focus more on the knowledge and experience as you travel.
Instead of being bothered about how to cater to the loads.
A backpack or suitcase would do the work of storing stuff from one place to another.
For your first journey as a minimalist, the following tips would help:
- Buy a well-organized bag.
- Pack clothes for only half of the time you plan to spend.
- Wash the clothes with you to wear for the other half of the travel period.
- If you still have extra stuff after the prepared bag is full, drop some things instead of getting an extra bag.
Step V: Invest in High-Quality Materials
This is the final step on how to become a minimalist.
Living with less does not mean buying fewer quality items.
Successfully becoming a minimalist involves that you put in extra effort to buy more high-quality stuff.
When you invest in high-quality materials, it saves you stress, time, and money spent shopping regularly.
If you want to live with less, the little you keep must be ones worth having.
To assist you with shopping for materials that will last, practice the following tips:
- Shop only in stores known for selling high quality.
- Spend time learning about an online store before patronizing.
- But things only when you are sure to love them even after a long time.
Final Thoughts
Becoming a minimalist is not a one day job; neither is it achieved effortlessly.
It is a gradual process that requires conscious effort.
To be a true minimalist, practice what you’ve read here religiously.
What would help you achieve this?
Focus on the benefits attached. When you do, you will find this process less painful, even fun.
Think of it: you have more freedom, less stress, less anxiety, clarity of mind, even extra money, to mention a few.
Few decisions in life come with such countless blessings.
Do well to practice these easy ways to become a minimalist above.
Then, watch as you successfully become a minimalist and experience the benefits.
This article is really beneficial. I enjoyed reading.
Great post