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If you are like most people, you’ve got a lot of “stuff”. Minimalist living is not about getting rid of the things and possessions that mean the most to you. It is more focused on the things that you’ve acquired over the years that clutter your life. Most often, these are things that you can live without – and they are everywhere.
Here’s how this happens….
You get something, either you bought it or it was a gift or it came to your inbox. It appears useful. As time goes on you find you don’t have a use for it now, but you figure you might in the future and you hand on to it. Then you replace it with something new, but you decide to hang onto the old one as a backup.
Sound familiar?
Believe it or not, this can become a source of stress in your life. When you really need something, you have to wade through piles of this junk (literally and figuratively) to get what you want. Somewhere in all that “stuff”, the things that haven’t seen the light of day for years, is that very important piece of paper you really need RIGHT NOW!
Do Yourself a Favor
Make yourself two promises:
One: Get rid of things you haven’t used in a while. For instance, there’s no point in hanging on to your old laptop now you’ve got a new one.
Two: Stop “stuff” from mounting up in the first place by having a systematic “clear out” every couple of months. If you haven’t used it in ages, chances are you won’t use it again. Sell things you don’t need any more on eBay, Facebook, or Craigslist and free up some extra cash.
Quick Minimalist Lifestyle Tips
Don’t get bogged down is extreme minimalism. While the minimalist lifestyle is a big topic these days, you don’t need to overboard to simplify your life.
By implementing these simple steps, you can reduce physical, emotional, and mental stress.
Simplifying will loosen up
- more family time
- more personal time
- more time for your health and fitness
- more productivity time
Get Into Your Ideal Mindset
While you can make definite headway in a weekend, simplifying your life is going to be a process and that’s fine. Get your mind in the right frame. it’s alright to take one step every day toward your objective. A plan to streamline something a big as your life should be simple, right?
Just Invest 15 Minutes
In just 15 minutes a day, you can reduce a lot of clutter in your office, on your desk, or in your house. Put filters on your email, set up auto-payments with your bank, unsubscribe from newsletters that block your e-mail, or cancel a credit card you don’t use.
If you are thinking you just do not have time to simplify, it’s a sure sign you need to!
Choose one little task to complete each day. Set a timer for 15 minutes and see what you can achieve.
Choose One Location To Start
What room in your house makes you the craziest when you stroll into it? What have you been wanting to clear out and declutter the longest? Start there.
It’s taking up mental energy you can utilize for more important things.
Get Your Family Or Roommates Included
The typical areas of your house are not going to stay decluttered if you are the only one concerned with them. Sit your household down and have a chat about why simplifying is so essential to you and how it will benefit everyone.
Keep A Donations Box
Once you’ve made that first (or second) attempt to the declutter and simplify, you will still come across stuff that you didn’t notice on the very first go-round.
Keep a donation box in an out-of-the-way place so that you can toss things in as you find them. When you’ve filled your box, take it to your contribution center.
Purchase One, Toss One
Make a new guideline for the household: when you acquire a non-consumable product and bring it into the house, you must get rid of something else.
For example, if you buy a brand-new set of shoes, either toss out your old, disgusting running shoes or toss a pair that is still excellent, but that you don’t care about keeping, in the contribute box.
This rule helps you on two levels– it assists you preserving the more simplified life you are creating, and it minimizes impulse shopping.
You’ll probably be shocked to find that there’s very little you presently own that will part with in order to have the new, shiny one. Issue fixed.
HELPFUL RESOURCES
SIMPLIFY BY JOSH BECKER >>
