If you’re aspiring to become a minimalist, decluttering is just the first step. You can work hard to declutter your space, but if you don’t change your habits, the space is going to end up exactly as it was eventually. The only permanent solution is to change the mindset and behavior that created the problem in the first place. The good news is that the space you cleared will feel so liberating that you’ll be very motivated to keep it up. Below, I share 10 ideas for how you can channel that motivation and embrace a minimalist mindset to change your lifestyle for good. I want to note that none…
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I’ve written before about how it is, in fact, possible to be minimalist with a baby. When you’re preparing for a new baby, the world will tell you that you “need” hundreds of products, but as I’ve discussed before on this blog, most are not really essential. One of the benefits of embracing minimalism is traveling lighter. In the same vein, a minimalist approach can also make it much less daunting to travel with a baby. Sure, you’ll definitely be packing more than you would as a solo traveler. You’ll probably be taking a stroller and car seat with you, for example. But there are ways to make sure that…
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I’ve traveled a lot in my life. It’s a hobby I love, and I’ve visited 45 countries so far. I spent a good portion of my 20s on planes, for work and for fun. For most of that time, I had no idea how to travel light. I aimed to make my checked luggage exactly 50 lbs, maximizing what I could bring while avoiding fees. On top of that, I’d bring a heavy carry-on and a large backpack on the plane – stretching airlines’ definition of “personal item” to the limit. I mentioned in my minimalism story that when I arrived in country with the Peace Corps, with my maximum…
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Going minimalist? Planning a big declutter? If so, you’re about to create boxes and bags full of clutter. And those will need to go somewhere. I’ve written guides on how to sell and donate clutter. But some things won’t fit in either of those categories. You’re going to want to clear out clothes with holes or stains, worn out shoes, and random household items. If you feel guilty about throwing them away, you can use this guide to figure out how to recycle clothes and as much other clutter as possible. That being said, I’d like to issue a warning at the outset that you shouldn’t overthink decluttering. If you…
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I’ve written before about how I toyed with the idea of minimalism for a couple years before I really took it seriously. One January I finally dipped my toe in as a resolution. I started by decluttering, then creating a capsule wardrobe, minimizing my beauty routine, and buying less. In the process, I was shocked by the realizations I started having very quickly. Here are 10 things that took me by surprise once I became a minimalist. 1. I felt better, not worse, after letting things go. As a tidy person, I had done superficial decluttering before. It always feels nice to clear out trash and obvious junk from your…
