Embracing Minimalism

Must Try

Flip the Script on the Sunday Night Blues and Set the Tone for your Week with these 6 Pro Tips

Written By: Julie Paiva, CHHC   Does anxiety creep in when you think about the upcoming week?  Do those thoughts get you to feeling a little...

Don’t Sweat It: A Guide to Choosing the Right Deodorant

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC   During these warmer summer months, you likely are sure to apply deodorant before leaving the house. Most people use deodorant...

Healthy Grocery Shopping Tips

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC Grocery shopping can be daunting and confusing especially if you are new to a healthy living lifestyle.  Here are some...

Friendships Increase Our Health

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC If any of you were ever a Girl Scout, you might remember that friendship song that has a line something...
Julie Paiva
Julie is a nutritional counselor with a degree in Holistic Health Coaching from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She also has a Bachelor’s Degree from Central Connecticut State University in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Science from Southern Connecticut State University. She has been giving one-on-one coaching sessions ever since earning her degree in 2013 and is passionate about helping others implement a holistic lifestyle!

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC

 

What is minimalism?  It is intentionally living with only the things you need.  The thought of this might sound good to you, or it might feel scary.  Know that it doesn’t mean that you need to throw away all your stuff, sell your house, and move into a tiny home.  You can still embrace living a minimalistic lifestyle without living in a 300 square foot home.  It is possible to take some of the main ideas of minimalism and incorporate them into your life.  Living with less things can aid in less stress and more joy.

 

Becoming a minimalist isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. What one person defines as “quality over quantity,” or “less is more,” may not be the same for another person. Perhaps you don’t have any intention of being a minimalist, but just want to declutter some of your living space.  Take a good look at how much your life is currently cluttered – from your bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and office. How many of your drawers, cabinets, closets and counter tops are packed with items.  You’re bombarded by so much, and extra stuff doesn’t have to be one of them.  Take the time to decide what’s most important, and it will help you stress less and spend more energy actually doing what you love.

 

Here are some simple steps to help you achieve a minimalist lifestyle:

 

Use it or lose it


How many times have you looked through a closet or drawer and seen something you haven’t used in weeks or even months? We’ve all been there before, which is why it can be helpful to implement this “use it or lose it” rule. Try tossing (or donating!) items you haven’t used in the past three months.  Try the hanger method.  Turn you hangers backwards on the bar.  If you wear something when it goes back on the hanger turn the hanger facing the regular way.  After 3 months anything that is hanging on a backwards hanger gets donated.  If it is a seasonal item you can think about if you used it at all last season or wait till that season arises and do the hanger method then.

 

Take Inventory

 

There is no reason to have 6 new shampoo bottles in your linen closet.  Go through one room in your house over the next several weeks.  Take inventory of what supplies you have so that you’re not purchasing more of the same thing each time you’re at the store because you are not sure if you have extra at home.  Create an inventory list on your phone of everything that you are stocked up on so that you can reference it when needed at the store.

 

Bring in less

 

One in, one out! Limit what you bring into your home by removing one item for every new item you bring in. If you’re really feeling inspired, you could set a dollar amount each month that can be spent on new items. This rule may be harder for the kitchen or living room, but you can definitely apply it to your closet!

 

Discard the duplicates

 

Walk through your home with a box and fill it with duplicates of non-consumables. If you have two sets of measuring cups, put them in the box. Copies of the same book or DVD? Put one in the box.  Once you fill the box, label it “Duplicates” and put it out of sight for 30 days. If you don’t need anything or don’t remember what was in the box, donate it.

 

Declare a clutter-free zone

 

This area could be a kitchen table, your nightstand, a countertop, or a drawer in your kitchen. Use that clutter-free zone as inspiration to live with less. If you enjoy that clean, clear environment, expand the zone a little bit each day.  A clutter-free countertop can become a clutter-free room and a clutter free room can become the clutter-free, minimalist home you’ve been thinking about.  Clutter can be very stressful.  Remove clutter, remove stress!

 

If you find yourself struggling with deciding if an item should stay or go ask yourself; Is it useful? Is it the only one I have?  Does it bring me joy?  If you can answer yes to any of these questions, then keep it.  There are no hard rules here.  You are the final judge.

 

Enjoy implementing some of these strategies in your life. Remember, what works for someone else may not work for you, so explore what resonates most with your unique lifestyle. Start small on your path to becoming a minimalist, and figure out what’s truly important to you!  When things in your home are simplified you will have more time to focus on doing what creates happiness in your life.

- Advertisement -

58 COMMENTS

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisement -

Latest Recipes

Reduce Your Food Waste

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC How may times have you done your weekly grocery shopping with the intention to make a bunch of healthy meals;...

Flip the Script on the Sunday Night Blues and Set the Tone for your Week with these 6 Pro Tips

Written By: Julie Paiva, CHHC   Does anxiety creep in when you think about the upcoming week?  Do those thoughts get you to feeling a little...

Don’t Sweat It: A Guide to Choosing the Right Deodorant

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC   During these warmer summer months, you likely are sure to apply deodorant before leaving the house. Most people use deodorant...

Healthy Grocery Shopping Tips

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC Grocery shopping can be daunting and confusing especially if you are new to a healthy living lifestyle.  Here are some...

Friendships Increase Our Health

Written By Julie Paiva, CHHC If any of you were ever a Girl Scout, you might remember that friendship song that has a line something...
- Advertisement -

More Recipes Like This

- Advertisement -
>