Modern minimalism originated as an aspect of interior design and environmentalism. However, since it’s inception, the minimalist movement has developed to include a variety of applications in other areas of life as well.

While thoughtful decor and sustainable living are still foundational elements for a minimalist, here are a few other ways that minimalism can be integrated into your home and lifestyle.

Destress

Mental health has never been more important than in the information-filled 21st-century. That’s why unplugging and delaying starting your day are regularly championed as ways to help disconnect and decompress.

Fortunately, minimalism is an excellent tool to help with this. Decluttering and organizing your spaces are some of the central activities for a minimalist. As you sort through your belongings and weed out the excess, aim to keep only the items that provide you joy in one way or another. This activity can naturally help you destress and decompress, as it can:

Provide a sense of control and organization.
Decrease the cluttered feeling of your living spaces.
Give a sense of appreciation for the things that you have.
Help you focus and live in the moment.

Food Prep

Minimalism is often associated with spaces such as living rooms and home offices. However, it can also have a large impact on the way you function in the kitchen.

For instance, you can apply minimalist principles to the way you purchase and prepare your food. When you go shopping, use minimalism to make healthy, thoughtful purchases. Avoid overstocking on junk food and try not to hoard items if you can help it. The latter is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic as food supplies dwindle and everyone is trying to get what they need.

Along with shopping, you can utilize meal prep as a way to organize an efficient shopping list. It can also save you time throughout the week that would have been spent sifting through the cupboard trying to figure out what you can cook up for dinner.

Use the Underused Spaces

It’s easy to focus on the high traffic areas, but if you truly want to apply a minimalist mindset to your entire living space, it’s important to incorporate the less-used spaces, too. For instance, you can use an out of the way closet as a pantry or a little-used bedroom as a minimalist office space.

The point is, don’t just use a minimalist mindset on your belongings, use it on your spaces as well in order to realize the greatest value from everything that you have.

Functional Decor

Minimalism isn’t just about looks, it’s also about function. Tiny houses are an excellent example of this.

These miniature living spaces naturally require simplistic decorating taste. However, they also strive to only decorate with items that have a distinct purpose, like multifunctional chairs and sofas, ottomans, platform storage beds, and daybeds with drawers, all of which serve as functional yet attractive minimalist decor.

Thoughtful Purchasing

Finally, once you’ve applied minimalism throughout your life, it’s important to cultivate a minimalist attitude going forward as well. This can be done by limiting new items coming into your home, valuing quality over quantity, and consistently decluttering your spaces.

If you can manage to maintain your minimalist mindset into the future, you’ll be able to reap the rewards for years to come.

Truly Embracing Minimalism

Truly embracing minimalism doesn’t consist of a temporary shift in decor or a weekend-long dash to streamline your home in an eco-friendly manner. It requires a genuine commitment to a thoughtfully lived life.

Real minimalism should trickle down into every nook and cranny of your living spaces. It should infiltrate all of your shopping behavior as well. When properly applied in these ways, you can tap into a destressed, organized, and rewarding lifestyle that can enable you to appreciate what you have, regardless of your past, current, or future circumstances.

Author Bio: Noah Rue is a freelance writer.