Looking for a way around the materialistic way of life? Wish you could live with less stuff and more mindfulness? Trimming your budget and donating or giving away the items you don’t use is just the start of living the minimalist lifestyle.
In addition to minimizing what you “own”, have you considered minimalizing your bills? Sometimes we get into a rut and just continue paying the same bills over and over, without thinking there might be a better, cheaper way. Take TV services, for example. Many people have cut their entertainment-at-home bills in half by choosing to stream. You also have choices when it comes to items like home and car insurance. Shopping around and comparing car insurance quotes can save you quite a bit of money.
The whole reason behind living a life of minimalism is to eliminate the unnecessary items, relationships, and behaviors that cause you stress. Unfortunately, society works against us by continually building on the idea that the more you have, the closer you are to have achieved success. But, have you ever noticed that the more you clear away and unclutter your environment, the better you feel?
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People lead busier lives than they ever have in the past. Adults may be caring for not only their kids but parents as well (the sandwich generation), which leads to burnout. Keeping your workspace – at home and at work – organized and clean will help you keep your priorities in order. When you have a dozen projects in the works and they’re strewn all over your desk, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Keep all of those projects neatly in their own space, tucked away in a computer or a filing cabinet, and pull them out when you are ready to work on them.
What can be said about your workspace can be said about your entire home, too. While it may take some time to go from basement to attic (and yes, it’s important that you go through every space), after you’ve donated or sold everything you aren’t using, don’t want, or don’t need, you’ll walk through your home feeling lighter and less weighed down.
Focus on surrounding yourself with the people who bring you joy and add value to your life. Uphold boundaries when dealing with folks who bring toxicity. Your time and attention is just as important as the space in your home, and deserve to be clutter-free and spent on people you appreciate and who appreciate you.
Keeping up with the Joneses is a real phenomenon, and if left unchecked can leave you with maxed-out credit cards and a lifestyle you simply can’t afford. When payday comes, put aside even more for savings than you do now, and learn to live with less. Cut up the credit cards you absolutely don’t need and peruse the second-hand shops and garage sales for perfectly fine pieces when you need them.
There are items in everyone’s life that hold sentimental value and are difficult to let go of. A crib or bassinette, a wedding dress, or even objects like old video games that don’t work anymore or a watch that belonged to your grandfather.
If an item truly stands out, determine how best to display it in your home instead of tucking it away in a corner of the garage or basement. If you don’t want to display it, take a few moments to reminisce and maybe even take a picture. Then, let it go. You will be honoring the item, the memory, and your space by giving the item another opportunity to serve someone else.
