Designing a Minimalist Wardrobe For most of my life, I was pretty clueless about style. I had way too many clothes but somehow still struggled to put outfits together. When I tried to declutter, I had no idea where to start. When I started my minimalist journey, one of the first steps I took was creating a capsule wardrobe. That involved decluttering most of my clothes and creating a curated collection of pieces that could be mixed and matched. I had no idea how to approach this, so I did some internet research and learned how to design a minimalist wardrobe. Now, I’m still not a fashionista, but I’ve figured…
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Defining terms: Essentialism vs. Minimalism vs. Intentional Living This blog includes “essentialism” in the title, but you’ll notice that I often write about minimalism and intentional living. This post defines these terms and demonstrates how they intersect in a purposeful and authentic approach to life. What Is Essentialism? The most succinct definition for this term is in subheading of the 2014 book, Essentialism, by Greg McKeown. That is, simply, “The disciplined pursuit of less.” A longer explanation from the book goes like this: Essentialism is not a way to do one more thing; it is a different way of doing everything. It is a way of thinking…. There are…
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Why Pack a Minimalist Diaper Bag for a Newborn? When I imagined becoming a parent, I pictured families I’d seen around the city with their babies. They pushed babies in strollers, schlepping blankets, bottles, and toys underneath it, along with a suitcase-sized bag on their shoulders. They looked burdened and harried as they hurried along with their little ones. It’s understandable, of course – when you’re a new parent, you have more important things to think about than what to pack in a diaper bag for a newborn. Still, the sight did not make me eager to enter this phase of life. But could it be easier? I was dabbling in…
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Have you tried decluttering before and found that, despite the purge, you still have more than you need? There are some things we all have that are obviously junk – you know how to identify and declutter them. But other things survive the decluttering process over and over, continuing to take up space in your home after multiple spring clean-outs. This article describes some bad reasons that you’ve held onto these things. Once you can identify those, it will be easier to recognize which items seem worth hoarding but are, in fact, clutter. Bad Reasons You Hold Onto Clutter – and How to Shift Your Perspective to Declutter 1. It…
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Is It Possible to Be a Minimalist with a New Baby? So much is advertised as “essential” for newborns, and it seems inevitable that you’ll buy hundreds of new items in the process of “nesting.” Before you have your first child, it’s hard to know – what do I actually need? To compound the problem, lists you’ll find online are generally written by companies that want to sell you things. Yes, you’re going to have to add more “stuff” to your home when you welcome a new member of the family. But it doesn’t have to be out of control. You can be a minimalist even with a new baby! Read on…
