Minimalism is great for freeing up time and other resources. But like anything else, it only works if you use it well. Knowing how minimalism works helps when you apply it. With that said, here are the 2 components that make minimalism work:
1. Refrain from getting things you don’t need.
2. Getting rid of things that are useless to you.
In this case, things can be both material and intangible. Also, something is useless if you won’t use it again. This still applies even if it still works. So, with this understanding of how minimalism works, here are some tips on using it:
Treat minimalism like a tool.
You should treat minimalism like a tool because that is what it is. Minimalism is a great tool for simplifying your life. A tool is a means to an end, but not the end itself. So you should use minimalism as a means and not the end result.
Have a reason for it.
Like any other tool, minimalism works best when you use it to do a task. It also helps if you have a reason for the task. An example of a good task is to simplify your life. Good reasons include having a tidier space or more time for enjoyment. But the best reason is the one that you have.
Do it on your own terms.
Minimalism looks different from one person to the next. This is because different people find different things to be useful (or useless). So, don’t worry about whether other people think you are being “minimalist enough”. Make your brand of minimalism fit your life.
Stop the inflow of unnecessary stuff.
This is the most underrated and most important part of decluttering. Getting unnecessary stuff will slow down your decluttering process. Also, it will cause clutter to build up again after you remove the clutter.
When you keep out unnecessary stuff, decluttered spaces stay decluttered. To keep out unnecessary things, you should only get something if it meets 2 criteria:
As well as keeping out physical clutter, you should also keep out intangible clutter. You do this by avoiding commitments that are a waste of time.
Remove the easiest things first.
Decluttering can be more mental than physical. So you should make it as easy and encouraging as possible at the beginning. Here are some things to get rid of to make it easier in the beginning:
Anything that brings up bad memories
Expired medicines and stale food
Junk mail, old newspapers, and old catalogs
Damaged clothes and gadgets that don’t work
Clothes that don’t fit
Unopened boxed gathering dust
Stuff you forgot about until you saw it
Empty boxes or anything else that belongs in the trash
After you get rid of the above items, then you can move on to other items like the following:
Items that are redundant beyond redemption
“Just in case” items that are not for emergencies
Decorative items that are not displayed
Equipment and appliances that you don’t use
Clothes that you haven’t worn in well over a year
Declutter living spaces first.
Living spaces include bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and closets. These areas give the greatest improvement in quality of life when decluttered. This is why you declutter them first. After these, you can move on to the attic, basement, and garage if you have them.
Notice the size of what you remove.
Whenever you remove clutter, take a good look at its size. It is roughly equal to the amount of space that you added back into your home. This is a powerful motivator, especially before you start seeing results.
Don’t overestimate what you can sell.
When you declutter, it can be tempting to try to sell most of your things. But many people will not want to buy second-hand gadgets or clothing. This is especially true when the gadgets don’t have a warranty. So, what you get back may not be worth the time, effort, and money that you spend to advertise the items. It also slows down and complicates your decluttering process.
Just in case items should be for emergencies.
When decluttering, it’s easy to keep something in case of some event. But this is only justified if the event is an emergency. Otherwise, you will get by without it. So an emergency first aid kit or emergency flashlight is okay. But there is no such thing as an emergency trinket or catalog. Also, you don’t need the item if you have many others that can do the same thing.
Don’t deprive yourself of what you need.
Minimalism is about getting rid of useless items, not useful ones. Minimalism is about simplifying your life and making it easier. Depriving yourself of useful items complicates your life and makes it more difficult. To illustrate this, imagine living without electricity or indoor plumbing. Get rid of what you don’t use, but keep what you do.
Declutter before you rearrange or decorate.
It makes sense to remove the clutter before you rearrange things. Otherwise, you would be rearranging the rubbish. Also, it makes no sense to decorate around clutter. This is because clutter clashes with everything including itself. The best improvements to a space are often made by removing instead of adding stuff.
Give everything a designated place.
After you declutter, give everything that’s left its own designated place. This will make it easy to keep the place tidy, and tidiness is the best decoration. After all, there is no such thing as a beautiful pigsty. Also, the most convenient location for something is its designated place. That way, you will never have to look for it because you know where it is.
Enjoy the results of your progress.
As you declutter, you will notice that you have more space. You will also notice that your space is easier to keep tidy and will look better. You will also notice that you have more money, more time, and less stress. Take some of that time to enjoy the tranquil haven that you have made in your home. Also, use some of the time to do things that you enjoy. It will make your journey as a minimalist enjoyable and encouraging. Consider that it might have been the reason you became a minimalist in the first place.
Don’t expect perfection.
When you start decluttering, there is a chance that you might have decluttered too much. But it’s much more likely that you didn’t declutter enough. In either case, you shouldn’t be too hard on yourself because mistakes are part of the learning curve. Also, perfectionism can be the enemy of excellence.
What’s useful today may become useless later.
As times change, life changes. So, what’s useful today may become useless later. So if you come across an item that you no longer use, remove it and move on. Change is the only constant in life.
Learn to say “No”.
Minimalism is about more than decluttering your living space. It is also about decluttering your time. As part of decluttering your time, you must learn to say “No”. This is especially true for commitments that are a waste of time. But even if they are valid, sometimes there is not enough time to devote to all of them. So, you need to decline the ones that are of lower priority.
In summary, you should treat minimalism like a tool because that’s what it is. That means that you should have a good reason for using it. The most important step in decluttering is to stop acquiring unnecessary things. When you remove things that you don’t use, start with the easiest things. Also, you should start with the living spaces. This will make the process more encouraging. But you should never deprive yourself of useful things, and you should not expect to be perfect. Also, you should make it fit your lifestyle and you should enjoy the results of your progress. Also, minimalism is about more than material things. So you should be willing to say “No” to commitments that you don’t care about.