I first found minimalism almost 20 years ago.
Trying to declutter the possessions for a family of four was no easy task. The entire process took us about nine months.
But since then, I’ve learned that the challenge doesn’t end with the last box of donations out the door. It requires consistent intentionality to maintain simplicity and freedom in the long run—especially with a growing family.
The benefits of owning less are amazing. But it’s still easy to fall back into old habits of mindless consumption if we don’t make conscious efforts to sustain minimalism and keep it from being just a phase.
To that end, no matter where you find yourself on the minimalist journey, here are ten practical tips to help keep your life clutter-free and focused on what truly matters:
1. Set clear, physical boundaries for your stuff.
Decide which items are necessary for your lifestyle and purposes, and then set boundaries for what you allow to accumulate in your space. If you are content to live with less now, there is no need to live with ever-expanding boundaries. That was the old you.
Decide that you won’t outgrow the current limits you are using. This can be accomplished numerically (33 articles of clothing, for example), but I’ve found physical boundaries to be the most helpful (all of my food containers must fit on this shelf).
2. Appreciate empty spaces.
Don’t feel the need to fill empty spaces in your home. Let the empty space serve as a reminder of the calm and peace that minimalism brings. Nature abhors a vacuum (as they like to say), so there is often a tendency to fill empty spaces. But fall in love with them instead.
3. Embrace the journey to overcome consumerism.
It is one thing to minimize our possessions, it is something different to stop accumulating them in the future. So study up on how to overcome consumerism. And learn to embrace the journey and ideas to do that.
For example, implement a 24-hour rule for non-essential purchases, include your spouse in large purchases, or simply remove the credit card numbers from your computer memory so you have to pull out the actual card to use it each time.
4. Declutter as you go.
To live is to consume, and almost certainly things will continue to collect in your home regardless of how vigilant you are. Stay ahead of the clutter and keep your home minimalist by decluttering as you go. Whenever a space starts to feel full, remove the unnecessary—before it feels normal.
5. Buy experiences, not things.
Becoming minimalist doesn’t mean you’ll never spend money again. Prioritize spending on experiences rather than material goods. They bring more happiness than physical possessions anyway.
According to studies, there are things we can spend our money on to increase happiness. Experiences are on the list.
6. Start a gratitude journal.
Appreciate what you already have by jotting down three things you’re grateful for each day or listing them during times of meditation or prayer.
Keeping focused on the good things we already have takes our mind off all the things we don’t have.
7. Experiment with time-limited challenges.
Even if you feel good about the progress you’ve made, continue to test out living with less experiments in your home. As Maya Angelou said, “We need much less than we think we need.” It helps to remind ourselves of that every so often.
Try living without a certain item or category of items for a set period, like 30 days. Television, for example. You might be surprised what you learn. Even if you aren’t, challenging your assumptions will help keep your home and life minimalist in other areas.
8. Reflect regularly.
Take time to remind yourself why you chose minimalism. What benefits has it brought to your life?
Reflecting on these questions can help you stay motivated and committed. The more often you think and talk about minimalism, the easier it will be to move from “phase” to “lifestyle.”
9. Clutterfree habits.
Implement small, daily routines to keep your environment clean and orderly. Our homes still get used every day so take full advantage of your less cluttered space by keeping it clean and tidy as often as possible.
10. Find consistent minimalist inspiration.
Like-minded people provide motivation and encouragement. If you don’t have friends or family inspiring you in this pursuit, look for inspiration online. In fact, I email out two articles every week focused on intentionality, simplicity, and owning less. Sign up here to receive them for free.
Just like it’s a choice to not let physical possessions overtake your life, it’s a choice to not let old habits pull you back into a cycle of accumulation. You began your journey into minimalism with a desire to live a life less burdened by physical possessions and more focused on experiences and relationships. That’s amazing! Keep it up!
Minimalism, to reach its fullest potential in our lives, isn’t just a phase.
It’s a brand new way to live for the rest of our lives—helping us make the most of it.
