We have been programmed to be possessive in nature. Our parents used to fill our bedrooms with all sorts of things that we may want to use. So we grew up knowing that it is the only way to live. As a result, we end up congesting our homes with too many unnecessary items, yet we are still not willing to get rid of them.
However, some people may see sense in owning less. The challenge is, how to begin and adapt to a minimalist lifestyle. The purpose of this piece is to help beginners get through that.
Minimalism is a low consumption lifestyle where people deliberately live with fewer possessions. The lifestyle is believed to offer several wellbeing benefits including, happiness, meaning, life satisfaction, and improved personal relationship, though not scientifically proven. That as it may be, not many people find it fun, particularly the beginners. It takes a massive change in life, routine and the way you think, and that requires time to adapt.
The primary process that is involved in achieving this lifestyle is gradually decluttering our homes. Getting rid of unnecessary items from our homes is rewarding. It not only leaves you with a room that is easy to operate in but also helps you feel emotionally lighter. Here are the methods that you can employ to declutter your home.
Declutter by category
This involves sorting out your items by type to make declaring easier. You may categorize them as per the ones you want to keep, the ones you can sell, those that you can recycle, those that you will donate and those that you will trash.
According to Mario Kondo, in her book tidying up by Mario, she focuses on tidying up by category rather than room by room. This category includes clothes, books, papers, miscellaneous items and sentimental items. She clarified that when decluttering, you should get rid of items that do not matter to you based on the mentioned categories. This method is known as the KonMari method, and it is sure to bring you to a clutter-free home that will bring you more joy.
Room by room decluttering
However, Becker, in his method, preferred the other way. Room by room decluttering. In his approach, he said you start with the easiest, most lived in areas first. Eventually, you will realize the benefit of your decluttering space which will motivate you to work on more difficult rooms to work on.
Becker retaliated that before you start the project, you have to inform your family members. Decluttering should be fun so everyone must be aware and you set goals together. Start with the most comfortable high traffic room then get to the room by room. Once done, revisit your goal and start again.
Clearing the entire room and rearranging only the necessary items
The Peter Walsh method requires that you remove everything from the room. Decide on what you want for the room; the number of items that you want in that particular room. That will help you know what to keep and what to get rid of. You can donate the item you are decluttering or trash them. As for the important ones, arrange them back to the room as you had planned.
Do a little every day
Decluttering is not a walk in the park. Moreover, it is a recurrent thing, so you don’t need to burn yourself. You have to do it a little day by day. Fly Lady required that you sort your items into three categories: give away, throw away and put away.
Sort out the items you love, or those you frequently use; those will be the put-away. For the duplicates, you can get rid of one and keep the other. By doing that every day, your house will be decluttered in just a couple of months.
Remove one item a day
Well, you can commit to selling or throwing just one unnecessary item a day. This is very important in two ways. First, you will be able to track your progress with a lot of ease. Secondly, your house will not go empty all over sudden.
You may organize a decluttering packing party
That will make the whole thing enjoyable. It is a philosophy created by minimalists. Packing party means you put all your belongings into boxes as though you were moving. You may invite friends over to help and prepare them pizzas for celebration.
After the party, take out your items only when you need one. The ones you accumulate after three weeks are the only items that are important to you. Those that are still in the box, you can donate trash or sell.
Reduce on the items that you purchase
Another important method of creating a minimalist home as a beginner is by reducing on the purchase. It will be pointless to get rid of your items but still draw in some at the same rate. This is common, particularly when you have kids.
Get rid of all toys that your kids are no longer using. Set a limit for the number of toys allowed in your compound. You may find a method of destructing their mind from the love of toys. For instance, the toys may be gradually replaced by some food that gives them joy when bought.
Start shopping quality, not quantity. Quality items are hard to buy in bulk because they are expensive. That will reduce the number of items that you draw into your compound.
Final thought
Starting and adopting a minimalist lifestyle is not an easy road. On the other hand however, you are able to help the environment. Thermoforming companies produces plastic bottles which we could use as containers for single-use to fill our loads of stuff in the bathroom, kitchen, garden, laundry and other places at home. But once achieved, there are three compelling benefits that you are likely to enjoy: you will have a home that is easier to clean; a home that is less stressful to design; and a more appealing home. Most importantly, you are likely to cut on your expenditure. Now you have good reasons as a beginner to love owning less.
About the writer:
Donna Lee is the operations manager and resident writer at Plastiform, a thermoforming plastics company. She developed her passion for plastics working in her uncle's plastics vacuum forming factory. She made her way to Plastiform where she's been working for 3 decades passionately serving customers. In her spare time, she writes about the wonders of plastics and the power of sustainable packaging.
