Minimalism has been a popular concept for a long time. But there have recently been some comments on YouTube and articles claiming that minimalism is dead.
However, because minimalism is a way of life, it will not fade away like a passing fad. You would have benefited from minimalism if you practiced it. And certainly would not consider returning to your previous cluttered and harried life.
That being said, if you are not into minimalism but want to improve your life, there are some simple minimalist habits you can develop that will greatly benefit you. Here are a few to get you started.
One in, one out rule
Here’s a habit that will help you keep your home free from clutter.
Each time a new item enters your house, another one should get out. The items don’t have to be of the same article, like a pen for a pen, book for a book. It can be a new spatula for an old hairbrush that is not being used.
You can also amp things up a little bit by letting go of 2 or 3 items for each new item that comes in.
With this rule, you can certainly keep clutter in check.
A place for everything
Getting into the habit of designating a specific location for each item will make cleaning and organizing a breeze.
When each item has a home, you save time and energy in getting and using things because you know where to look. Additionally, having a place for everything makes tidying up easier. Because you always know where to return an item that is out of place.
With this habit in place, you will definitely keep clutter at bay. And will make you more aware of the things that you own.
Clear surfaces
Flat surfaces have a tendency to attract clutter. And once you place something on your dining table, coffee table, or any other flat surface. It will quickly multiply to the point where it can only be described as clutter.
This attraction to place something on flat surfaces is so common that it has a name. It’s called FSS which stands for the flat surface syndrome.
Whatever you call it, it’s critical that you don’t let clutter take up space on your flat surface. Because it becomes difficult to use the space for its intended purpose when things pile up.
Can you imagine having to spend some time clearing your dining table of several items before you can properly eat? It’s a hassle, right?
So, make it a habit to keep your surfaces free of clutter. When you have clear surfaces, you will feel calmer, more relaxed, and more inspired.
Declutter
This is the habit that minimalists swear by. It’s because of the sense of freedom. And calm that comes with letting go of items that only serve as clutter to your home.
Along with these positive feelings come the side benefits such as:
- Easier to clean and tidy your home.
- Having more time because it’s not wasted looking for misplaced items or deciding what to wear.
- Less decision process to be made because the items you retain are the ones that you actually prefer to use. And
- Improvement of the flow of things in your home.
Think before you buy
Most of our purchases are made on the spur of the moment. We make impulse purchases and then forget why we did so. The item then becomes another piece of clutter in our home.
Minimalists however keep and maintain a only few choice items and seldom buy more stuff.
As such, another good habit you may want to develop from minimalists is that of not buying things without mulling them over.
Be deliberate in your purchasing. Practice putting off buying anything for at least a month. This period will allow you to consider whether you truly require the item.
If you decide at the end of the month that the item is truly necessary, then you can buy it. But if you have completely forgotten about it, this habit would have saved you money and saved you from clutter.
Take care of the items you already have
To avoid having to buy more items, you should learn how to properly care for them. Of course, this is to make them last longer. To avoid buying more stuff. And, to save money.
For example, when washing clothes, follow the instructions on the label. Wash on cold to avoid shrinkage and to be gentler on the fabric.
You can also learn how to mend minor tears in clothing, remove stains, and use dust protectors, among other things.
Your belongings may not be top-of-the-line or particularly costly. Regardless, you must treat them as if they are expensive.
You will get more out of them if you do. In addition, you will also make a significant contribution to the reduction of waste generated by consumerism.
Eat through your pantry
This is the practice of eating everything in your house before replenishing it.
That is, eating everything you bought last time at the grocery store. Even if all that’s left is a food item you bought on a whim but now find unappealing.
You can cringe all you want, but you still have to eat it. So whip it up, combine it with other ingredients, and you’ve got yourself a tasty meal.
You may find it a little stringent but with this habit, you can:
- curb your impulse buying, particularly with food,
- save money,
- reduce food waste,
- learn to organize your pantry better, and
- buy only what you can consume in a given period.
Regular tidying up
This is yet another habit that can help you avoid clutter.
Take a few minutes each day to tidy up. Even a few minutes spent putting things back where they belong goes a long way.
The benefits you get from regular tidying up include:
- Stress relief,
- Mood enhancement,
- Can keep you fit,
- Improved focus,
- It encourages you to eat healthily and
- It protects against injuries.
Limit your to-do list
We frequently overestimate how much we can accomplish in a day. As a result, we overextend ourselves, leaving us exhausted, frustrated, harried, and unfulfilled.
Minimizing your to-do list is another habit you can learn from minimalists.
Limit your to-do list to no more than three items. These three items are the most important tasks you must complete. The things that will have a significant impact on your personal or professional life.
Everything else on your to-do list after those three items becomes optional.
Definitely, with this practice, you can avoid overstressing yourself. Instead, you can have better focus and concentration, a better quality of work, and a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.
Say no
We overburden ourselves unnecessarily when we don’t learn to say no. That is, to personal favors, invitations, being volunteered to do something, and the like.
These items add weight to our to-do list and can sometimes push out more important tasks. As a result, you waste your time and energy on things that do not benefit you at all.
This happens when you don’t set boundaries, which leads to people not respecting you or thinking you’re a pushover.
So it’s time to get in the habit of saying no.
As Anne Lamott emphasizes, “‘No’ is a complete sentence.” Therefore, let go of the guilt you feel for saying no.
Remember that saying no can help you avoid negative feelings of resentment. You will have more time for yourself and will be able to focus on things that are important to you.
Finally, saying no will earn you respect and improve your image.
Summary
Minimalism is a way of life that provides a lot of benefits to those who practice it. However, if you are not into minimalism, you can still develop minimalist habits that can improve your life for the better.
Here are some of the habits you can adopt from minimalists:
- One in, one out rule.
- Have a place for everything.
- Clear surfaces.
- Declutter.
- Think before you buy.
- Take care of the items you have.
- Eat through your pantry.
- Regular tidying up.
- Limit to-do list. And
- Say no
Please share your thoughts or ideas about 10 Simple Minimalist Habits You Can Develop For Improvement in the comments below. And if you liked this article, you might be interested as well in these articles:
Why Good Habits Beat Motivation
How To Define Yourself By Your Habits
9 Effective Habits For A Happy Life
Building Good Habits For Your To Be
How To Break 9 Bad Habits That Keep You Down
7 Tips On How To Develop A Persistent Habit
5 Organizing Habits You Can Learn From Organized People
7 Good Habits To Develop (Inspired By Gardening)
10 Habits For A Simple Life
Small And Easy Habits That Can Change Your Life
Habits To Overcome The Struggle Of Waking Up Early
Outside reference/s:
10 Minimalist Habits That Will Transform Your Life!
7 Health Benefits Of Tidying Up