Everything You Need To Know About The Minimalist Movement

Many of us live with much more stuff than we will ever truly need. Recently, however, there has been a trend to get rid of much of what surrounds us in our everyday lives and in our homes. It’s called the Minimalist Movement and it’s becoming increasingly popular.

All About Finding Balance

When you turn your brain off of being constantly bombarded by the media, telling you that you simply must have this or that product, and you come to realize that you really don’t, you’re on your way to living a minimalist lifestyle. Essentially, minimalism is having just the perfect amount of something. So, get out your garbage containers and your recycling bins, because once you’ve had a taste of what it’s like to live with much less stuff, it will become addictive. When you realize that what you have does not equal who you are, you’re on the right track.

Think Before Buying

Many people buy impulsively. They see something that they desire, and they immediately purchase it. Instead, make yourself a promise to wait a few days before buying anything you see online or in a store. Ask yourself if you truly need it. If you decide that you do, you can then go back and get it.

Clean Regularly

Cleaning is essential when adopting a minimalist way of life. Try to get rid of a few things you don’t need every day. Get out some garbage containers and have a relatively big clearout every month, and do a massive purging twice a year, once before winter and once before summer.

Brings You Joy or Brings You Down

Everything you have either imparts value to your life or brings you down. Pick something up and ask yourself if it brings any value to your life. You will be surprised at the answers. Those items that don’t impart value are prime candidates for garbage containers or recycling bins.

The 80 Percent Rule

By getting rid of 80 percent of your belongings, you will start to lead a minimalist life. It can be a scary thing for many people, since you may feel guilty about getting rid of many things. But the trick is to start small. Get rid of just one or two things at first. Experiment with it a little. Put something with monetary value on eBay. Turn it into cash. Donate some clothes you never wear. Think about how all these tiny steps can not only be fun, but can eventually leave you less bogged down by unnecessary things in your life.