If you constantly feel overwhelmed with your closet and with the amount of items you own, learning how to be more minimalist can be life-changing for you.
After implementing some healthier habits learnt from Marie Kondo’s best-selling book, Spark Joy I can attest that less is more and I’ve never dressed better in my life
(plus the laundry bag seems to have shrunk 10x in size).
Hi girls, how are you today?
Let me tell you something: ever since I dove into the minimal lifestyle this year, I have been so much happier with my surroundings and with myself personally.
It’s crazy the difference it makes to live in a clutter-free surrounding and how much more efficient you become in life when you are more minimal.
Granted, you don’t need to go to the extent of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg that use the same white/black T-shirt every day.
But there are definitely ways to be more efficient when getting ready in the mornings (without abdicating being stylish).
From how I decorate my house to how I dress up (spoiler: I did an entire closet revamp), I am obsessing every day more with being more minimal.
Read this post to know the benefits of being more minimalist and how yo too can live better by having less.
Table of Contents
What is a minimalist lifestyle, per se?
For many minimalists, the philosophy that encompasses it revolves around getting rid of excess items and about living life based on experiences rather than worldly possessions.
In short: minimalist living forces you to remove all the clutter in your life which then frees up more space and time for the things you love.
You’re no longer consumed by unnecessary items or tasks, you can live the life you want
(being the perfect solution if you are a busy woman).
But minimalist living doesn’t just include de-cluttering your home.
It incorporates getting rid of the clutter in your finances, relationships, and mind.
Every day I am more and more a firm believer that less is more.
And I can attest that, as a former shopaholic, living a more minimalist lifestyle is also relieving and invigorating.
RELATED: 6 surprising types of minimalists. Which one are you?
Nowadays I see myself having had two lives:
Before minimalism and after minimalism.
Video | 25 Minimalism Hacks by Ashlynne Eaton
Personal Story: Why I Decided to Become More Minimal
1. My Boyfriend’s Influence
My boyfriend is a proud Italian from Rome.
If there is anything that you should know about Italian fashion and style is that, in general, Italians like clean cuts, neutral colors and, most importantly, good fabric.
RELATED: How to Dress Like and Italian woman and Look Elegant daily
On the other hand, as a Brazilian myself, I was all about bright colors, fun patterns, beautiful flowers, all that exciting stuff.
I still love all those types of clothes, but I don’t buy them anymore because
- They are not minimal (harder to mix and match);
- This means that my drawers and closest were always crammed, which brings me to my next point:
2. Washing Clothes
Lord oh Lord.
Laundry and folding clothes felt like climbing Mount Everest.
It was a weekly mission! Laundry day was the saddest day ever because the pile of clothes would start adding up and that would give me a slight panic attack.
Now, it is so easy and simple!
3. No family in Europe
Before I opted towards a reduced material life, I can’t tell you how crammed with clothes I was. My coat hanger was barely holding any other coats.
My shoe collecting was seemingly made for a human centipede. I had skirts, dresses, shirts, pants in all colors and patterns imaginable.
Life was fun, but life was cluttered.
If you add to that point that I am Brazilian and I don’t have a family (i.e. a fixed house) in Europe, you can imagine that every time I’ve switched countries it was a nightmare.
Honestly, girl, it was crazy.
Below, I have a quick beginner’s guide to minimalism for you to start de-cluttering TODAY:
How to be More Minimalist in 9 Easy Steps
The art of minimalism is being able to create a capsule closet which, by definition, is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that do not go out of fashion.
The idea is to easily rotate (i.e. mix-and-match) these pieces in a way where they look like a new outfit every time.
It is a lot of fun!
1. Haven’t used it in one year? Toss it!
The best way to start de-cluttering is by doing an initial cleanse.
I learned this from watching a Modern Family episode and it was my first real contact with how to de-clutter.
Claire was going psycho with cleaning and she said to toss anything her kids haven’t used in a year.
When I was moving in with Cris I put this into practice.
It felt so liberating to get rid of some things that I had never used but which I was still clinging to.
ACTION ITEM
If you haven’t used an item in over a year, then it’s probably just taking up extra space. Take a deep breath and throw it out! There are companies that offer hard rubbish removals, so this couldn’t be simpler now. They will load, clean up and take away the rubbish, making your rubbish troubles disappear!
2. Get rid of any duplicate items.
Think about it:
- How many pairs of basic jeans do you really need?
- Do you really wear all those three colors of the same skirt?
- Why do you keep your scratched sunglasses inside the drawer? Etc.
ACTION ITEM
Take notice of items in your home that you own more than one of, and evaluate its necessity. What is important is for you to be open to getting rid of duplicates of things you do not use.
Be strong, girl, you can do this!
3. Put a stop to paperwork.
Most companies offer paperless billing now, and apart from the hard copies of important items like birth certificates, be mindful regarding when to stash and trash your papers.
Action IteM
- Think 5x before printing anything.
- Pay your bills online and throw away flyers and catalogs.
- Throw away those old receipts inside your wallet and purse.
Remember: Paper might be thin and almost weightless, but it quickly adds up and takes up space. Be aware of the paper you bring into your home and into your life.
4. Keep your home clutter-free.
I learned this from Cris, my boyfriend. He has OCD with cleaning and organization
(we even joke that whenever he goes into a psycho-cleaning mode that he has contracted Cristitis).
Just so you have an idea of the level of crazy, every time we hire a cleaning lady to clean up, he still DEEP CLEANS the flat the moment she leaves.
While you don’t need to contract Crististis or be as extreme as Cris in order to be more minimalist, aim to adopt a method of cleaning that prevents the buildup of clutter in your house, and apply/maintain the clutter-free mentality in all rooms.
I found a great article on this topic, which teaches the 4-container method to conquer de-cluttering.
5. Simplify your mealtime
Yes, you can, and should, be more minimalist with your food and food storage.
Be conscious not to over-buy food, and be sure to eat your perishables before they are ruined.
Immediately dispose of what has gone bad (time to throw away that suspicious-looking Tupper that has been sitting inside the fridge since Christmas).
Lastly, make the most of the leftovers by utilizing them whenever you cook or eat next.
6. Pack lightly.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of reasons why you should aim to pack lightly whenever you travel.
From not paying excess weight and not having to carry a heavy suitcase to remaining organized throughout your trip with your items and accessories.
Again, if you practice the capsule closet technique aforementioned, you can have a variety of different outfits, (even with a small suitcase).
7. Minimize your wardrobe.
Continuing my previous point, being a minimalist doesn’t mean lacking fashion or style, but stick to basic colors and pieces that will go with everything for a classic (and easy) outfit.
A minimalist look never goes out of style. It is timeless, elegant, and chic by adopting the philosophy of ‘’less is more’’ and ‘’quality over quantity’’.
Think neutral colors and a variety of (good quality) fabrics.
Embracing this type of wardrobe will make getting ready in the mornings efficient and help you maintain a clutter-free closet full of clothes you actually wear.
I am looooooving wearing neutral colors with all my heart!!!
And my Italian boyfriend certainly appreciates the efforts as well.
8. Embrace the “one in, one out” rule.
Simply put: If you get something new, something old has to go.
This will help keep clutter and excess to a minimum and will encourage you to really evaluate what you need and ultimately what you don’t.
9. Unsubscribe from unnecessary mail lists
Lord o Lord, it feels good to open my inbox and not be welcomed with 20+ NEW unread emails on a daily basis.
If you are like me, you’ve probably subscribed to hundreds of bloggers’ email lists and now they are competing in unison for your attention in your inbox.
Evaluate which ones are valuable to you, and which ones are just taking up space in your inbox.
- What are your priorities?
- Is there a particular blogger whom you never open their email?
- Are there online stores that bombard you for years on end?
Action item
From now on, vow to call and remove yourself from the mailing list each time you receive a piece of mail you don’t need or want.
RELATED POST: 6 TYPES OF MINIMALIST. WHICH ONE ARE YOU?
Conclusion
Life is better when we have a clean surroundings.
And being minimalist is honestly addicting, I kid you not!!!
Give it a go, but don’t overwhelm.
The whole reason we are doing this is to have a lighter, more relaxed life and surroundings.
Take it one day at a time and you will soon see that you will be obsessing trying to get rid of unnecessary things.
All you need to do is be more conscious about it and practice it daily.
we love hearing from our readers!
- Are you trying to become a more minimalist woman?
- What do you struggle with the most?
- Do you have any tips to share with me?
Let me know in the comments below!
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