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Four Ways to (Slowly) Simplify Your Life

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August 14, 2017

Minimalism is a hot topic these days. Many people are recommending minimalism as a way to banish clutter, streamline appointments, lighten up our beauty routines, and reduce stress.

Adopting a minimalist approach sounds good, but what’s the best way to get started? Slowly. We aren’t all ready or able to start over with an empty house and an appointment- free calendar. Here are a few ways to gradually introduce minimalism into your life.

Spending Freeze

Commit to not buying anything that isn’t a consumable or a necessity for at least six months. This means that you can buy food and essentials like laundry detergent and shampoo, but don’t purchase extras like candles, books, magazines, or clothing. Spend a few hours each week getting rid of items you don’t need or/and never use. Clear the clutter without replacing old items with something new.

Eliminate Duplicates

It may not be easy for you to eliminate all the kitchen gadgets you don’t use, but you can easily get rid of the duplicates. For a long time I had ten large wooden spoons, for example. Over time I just let them pile up. While I like to have more than one on hand,  I don’t need ten. My first step was to get rid of five spoons, and I’ll probably get rid of a few more, too.

Clear Surfaces

Clutter is sneaky. It has a way of piling up when we’re not looking. While it’s easy to ignore clutter when it’s inside a drawer or behind a closed door, it’s harder to ignore when it’s in plain sight. Work on slowly decluttering your surfaces. Tackle one area a week. Once a surface is empty, don’t allow yourself to put anything else there. Eventually, your tables, plant stands, entertainment centers, and bureau surfaces will free of clutter.

Commit to Saving

Most of us love having choices, but this creates clutter.  Do we need to have six boxes of crackers in different flavors? How many plain T-shirts do we need? Can we cut down our five magazine subscriptions to just one or two? Take a look at the extras you’re spending your money on and commit to cutting back. Use your savings for a family activity, not another item to clutter your home.

If you want to adopt a minimalist approach, start with one of these simple steps.

Do you have minimalist tips you’d like to share?

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