My Simplest Guide to Getting Started with Minimalism

What is minimalism?  I like this definition from blogger Michael Ofei:  Minimalism is "the process of identifying what is essential in your life and having the courage to let go of the rest." It's a tool that helps you decide what's most important so you can make room and time to do more of what you care about. 

Where minimalism starts, and what it does for you

Minimalism starts where you do – at home.  After all, your home is an extension of who you are.  Your clothing, personal care items, what you cook and eat, how you entertain yourself, and your most intimate relationships are all centered in your home.  Most items in your home tell a story, particularly your books, collections, photos, artwork, and even things like your dining table and your favorite armchair.

Your home is also the place where you have your worst experiences.  It's where arguments happen, bills come due, families fall apart, or where you receive phone calls about the death of a loved one.

Nothing is hidden at home.  It's where you experience all the ups and downs of life.

So creating a home is one of life's most personal projects.  You decide what to bring in, where things go, and how it feels.  And that's where all the benefits of minimalism make the most difference.  You can hit the reset button and create a home that represents not who you were in the past, but who you are today and who you'd like to be tomorrow.

What are the benefits of minimalism?  They include:

• peace
• increased focus
• perspective on what really matters
• time for relationships
• self-determination and confidence
• more money
• resourcefulness and creativity
• more time
• clarity
• more energy
• more ability to give
• a lighter eco-footprint

If you want to start enjoying these benefits, but you live in a shared space with family or roommates who aren't minimalists, then focus your attention on your most personal spaces.  Make your bedroom or desk your clutter-free sanctuary.

Obstacles to decluttering

When we start to declutter, there's an initial burst of enthusiasm.  We dive into our kitchen, wardrobe, or home office, aggressively pulling things off surfaces, hangers, and shelves.  We seem unstoppable.

But what happens when you discover the very first iPod you received as a Christmas present so long ago?  Clearly, you don't need it now, but looking at it brings back fond memories.  Maybe there's still music on it – why not have a quick listen?

An hour later, you realize that you didn't declutter anything, and now it feels harder than ever to part with that old iPod.  Suddenly, you're not so inspired to declutter, and you stop your session for a drink and a snack.

It doesn't have to be an iPod.  It could be a photo album, a box of baby clothes, or the golf clubs you haven't touched since before the pandemic.

There are a lot of things that can keep you from decluttering, which is why you need a plan.

The plan

Your decluttering plan begins with three decisions.

1.  What do I want from my decluttered home?

Write a description of how you want your home to feel and function, and how decluttering will benefit you personally.  Think about the details and get them on paper.  When write it in your best handwriting or make a pretty poster and hang it where you can see it and refer to it often.

2.  How do I decide what to keep?

Ask four questions about each item:

• Do I need this?  (If yes, do I really need more than one?)
• Do I use it?
• Do I love it?

Sometimes, you use something even though you wouldn't say you "love" it, or you need something even though you use it only once a year.  Or maybe you love something that doesn't qualify as "useful."  That's okay.  But if you can't answer yes to any of these questions, you should probably get rid of the item.

If the item passes scrutiny, ask the final question:

• Where does it belong?

Every item needs a place to call home.  That's how you're going to find it and put it away again with ease, which is going to add so much benefit to your daily life.

3.  What will I do with the items I want to remove?

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to decluttering is not deciding whether to keep something.  It's figuring out what to do with an item you want to discard.  You don't want to fill up a bunch of boxes that wind up living in the garage, your car trunk, or (worse) rented storage.

Some things are clearly trash, and some are clearly recyclable, but you also need to decide on specific places where you can donate your surplus.  Identify an organization that accepts furniture and housewares, one that accepts clothing and accessories, a vendor who will buy or recycle your old e-devices, and a place that will take books or video discs.  A preschool or daycare center may accept gently-used toys, and a homeless shelter or women's shelter may take blankets, coats, unopened personal care items, and unopened packages of food.

With these recipients in mind, it's much easier to remove the excess from your home and into the hands of people who will use them.

I grew up in a time when we were taught "That's still in good shape" or "That could still be useful."  Remember that your neglected items have already served you.  If they're still good, they can serve someone else.  If it helps you to let go, thank your things for their service, and wish them well in their new stage of life.

Goodbye, clutter.*  Hello simplicity.

* Thank you for supporting this blog.  When you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission.

Choose a spot and begin.

Now that you have a plan, just start.  Move as quickly or as slowly as you like, but keep moving.

Some people suggest you declutter by category, others say by room.  Ultimately, it doesn't matter as long as you get started and continue to make progress.  Work in 10- to 15-minute increments if that's all you can handle at first.  Do it every day, and I promise you'll see a difference.

If you feel emotion and nostalgia about some things you're letting go of, go ahead and feel those emotions.  Just don't let them stop you from making space and freedom in your home.

What next?

You can declutter your home perfectly but still suffer from financial clutter – that is, budget worries and debt.  Now that you're on a roll applying minimalism to your home, it's time to become more intentional about your money too.

Debt is one of the worst forms of clutter, and it's often fueled by a shopping problem.  Fortunately, controlling your impulse to shop will not only help keep your home clutter-free, but will also help you stop increasing your debt so you can start minimizing it.  Your bank statement should reflect your minimalist lifestyle.

As you go deeper into your minimalist journey, you'll want to scrutinize your schedule, and consider how many things you're doing that keep you stressed, frazzled, and like a hamster on a wheel.  Just as you've made space in your drawers and closets, you need to intentionally make space on your calendar too.  Learning to say no is an essential skill.

Beyond these basics, you might undertake a challenge to Buy Nothing, practice a regular digital detox, or wear the same thing every day (aka a uniform).  The last doesn't just reduce decision-making and style angst, but also helps you shape your identity and "personal brand."  Who can forget Steve Jobs and his black turtleneck and Levis?

At some point, you might even consider downsizing to a smaller home or keeping only one car (my husband and I have done it for decades).

I want to acknowledge that it's a privilege to participate in minimalist challenges.  While it can be liberating to get out of your comfort zone and practice thinking like a minimalist, some people can only dream of having a fraction of our overabundance.

Hopefully, once we understand this, we'll realize that these challenges aren't as difficult as we assume.  We could definitely live and be happy with far less than we're accustomed to.