Cleaning & Organizing

3 Ways to Jump on Board with the Minimalism Movement

posted on April 16, 2018 | by Chloe Gibson

There’s no arguing that we’re seeing more and more information in mainstream media about minimalism and living tiny. So many people have not only jumped on the bandwagon, but have actually changed the way they live their life. To most (myself included), it’s something that’s romanticized. I’m heavily intrigued by the concept of having less (and also subsequently spending less money). On the other hand, I have serious doubts that I’d ever actually be able to fully embrace the minimalism movement.

That said, I decided to think about moving towards minimalism in steps, instead of one giant lifestyle overhaul. Because let’s be real, when I try to do things that way, I usually fail. So, if you’re curious, here are a few simple ways you can start introducing minimalism into your life.

Learn about the movement

There are few better ways to introduce something new to your life than to educate yourself. I don’t know about you, but anytime I’m thinking about making a change, I try to learn as much about the topic as possible before I dive in head first (like when I changed careers).

So, where do you start if you want to learn about minimalism? There are a few great resources I’ve discovered so far. First, the documentary “Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things” is an easy watch and kind of sheds light on our consumer-based culture. It’ll definitely make you think the next time you go shopping.

Second, there are tons of great books on the topic. I recommend checking out The Minimalists and looking into their best-selling books about how to get started and the “why” behind it all.

Reflect on your wants/needs

Even just reading a news article or blog post on minimalism is thought-provoking, so once you learn a little bit about what it is and why people are moving towards it, take a moment to think about how would apply it to your own life. For me, I like to think about my wants versus my needs. Realistically, probably about 80% of my “needs” are actually wants.

I also want to add that part of my motivation in exploring minimalism is the idea of achieving financial freedom. When I graduated college, I was literally owned by my things (aka I had credit card debt). Seeing how money eventually affected my relationship and my ability to do things I enjoyed, the thought of consuming less suddenly seemed very appealing.

Test it out in your life

Once you’ve sorted out what minimalism is and the different ways you can apply it to your life, it’s time to experiment. Start small with physical items that are simply cluttering your closet or kitchen pantry. Take note of how donating things and clearing up space in your home feels on your mind. That’s where the real transformation will take place!

Have you been tempted to jump into minimalism?
What part of your life encouraged you the most to make a change?