So you’ve heard about this thing called minimalism and you think it’s right for you. But you don’t know where or how to start. There’s a lot of different advice out there. Here’s my simple guide.
Before we get into the 6 steps, I’d like to suggest a couple things you probably don’t want to do.
Lots of minimalists will tell you to dive right in, get rid of truckloads of stuff, downsize your home, and keep less than three sets of clothes. For some that might be an end goal, but it doesn’t happen overnight. For others, that might be too much. So don’t dive in too fast.
Minimalism can be like a fad diet for many. People dive in too fast. They get rid of more than the bargain for and wind up rebuying stuff and going right back to living with more than they need.
Hip Diggs’ Simple Guide: 6 Steps To Minimalism
- Start on paper: Don’t jump into minimalism. Outline a plan. Include your reasoning for wanting to live more minimally. Include where you’d like to see yourself in five years. Minimalism is a longterm goal. Include a timetable for specific tasks that will help you to undo what you’ve spent years accumulating. Make your own simple guide.
- Declutter your most personal space first: I suggest starting in your bedroom. Why? Because this is your most personal space. It’s also often the least cluttered. If you minimize your most personal space first, you’ll see immediate results. This may inspire you to move on to the larger spaces.
- Live with it for awhile: So you got rid of the clutter and unneeded clothing in your bedroom. You’re excited to continue the process. Wait! Make sure this is right for you. If you still feel more comfortable in your new bedroom after a few weeks, that’s a good sign. You’re ready to move on. I suggest the bathroom next.
- Declutter larger spaces: After you’ve successfully completed a few of your personal spaces, it’s time to do the big work. Get rid of excess furniture and clutter in your living areas. Get rid of unneeded kitchen stuff. Deal with your garage or basement. This all takes time, anywhere from weeks to months.
- Take on the tiny places: This might be the hardest part. It’s the tiny things that make up 90% of our excess. Spend a few hours each week going through drawers, cupboards, and closets. Again, this is a long process. It’s also a process you can repeat a few times each year.
- Downsize your living space: Now that you’ve eliminated many of your physical possessions, you can consider moving to a smaller place. Moving will actually help you to minimize even more. Be critical of what you pack and what you take. Only include absolute necessities and things that add value.
This Simple Guide Is Just An Outline
The Hip Diggs’ simple guide for beginners is just an outline. If you want more details, click on the highlighted links throughout this post. Or go to the All Posts page and read more articles about minimalism.
Remember, minimalism is not a quick process. It’s something we do over a period of time. It’s also different for each of us. A young single person might be able to live more simply than a couple with three kids and a dog. Decide what works best for you and work toward your goals.
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