Minimalism is the intentional promotion of the things we most value and the removal of anything that distracts us from it. It is about focus, intentionality, and making the most of the one life we have been given.
It is also a growing movement around the world.
But there are many who still misinterpret the term. They think it is about barren walls, cold environments, or empty cupboards. But they are incorrect.
Minimalism isn’t about owning less than you need, it’s about owning exactly what you need.
Correctly applied, minimalism results in more money, more time, more focus, and less stress. It also results in a life of greater joy, greater meaning, and greater significance.
If you are drawn to the benefits of minimalism, but still apprehensive, here are ten things you can do today to test out the lifestyle and live more like a minimalist.
10 Things You Can Do Today to Live More Like a Minimalist
1. Remove one box of clutter from your home.
Minimalists own fewer possessions. As a result, their homes feel more peaceful, more calm, more spacious, and less stressful. You may not be able to declutter your entire home in one day (It took us nine months), but you can make a little bit of progress.
Try to remove one entire box of clutter from one room in your home. And then, notice the difference it makes.
2. Clear one surface.
Every physical possession in our field of vision results in visual clutter. Our eyes naturally gravitate to the things around us as we subconsciously scan our surroundings on a constant basis.
Find one surface in your home that you can clear entirely (a bathroom counter, a coffee table, a shelf, or a nightstand) and remove everything from it. Notice the clear surface. Now, imagine that feeling throughout your entire home.
3. Don’t buy anything and put $49 into savings.
The average American spends almost $18,000 a year on nonessentials. If you want to take one small step toward living more like a minimalist today, don’t buy a single nonessential item. Then, put that $49 into a savings account. Tomorrow, do the same thing. You’ll be surprised how quickly your savings account will fill up when you stop buying stuff you don’t need.
4. Go for a long walk.
Walking is good for the soul and the body. It provides opportunity to think and reflect on life. If you want to live more like a minimalist, go for a nice long walk today.
Notice how wonderful it feels to have some extra time in your day to breathe and relax. And while you walk, consider the direction of your life and if you’re living to your fullest potential. Would removing some distractions allow you to focus more on things that matter?
5. Turn off the notifications on your phone.
Minimalists work to remove distractions from their day—whether it be unnecessary possessions, unnecessary appointments, or unnecessary notifications like email or social media (or even texts).
For the rest of the day, turn off all notifications on your phone except for phone calls (even text messaging). See how it changes the feel of your entire day. Tomorrow morning, turn on just the notifications you actually missed.
6. Eliminate one obligation.
Minimalism extends beyond physical possessions. It sparks intentionality in all areas—relationships, habits, and your schedule.
Today, eliminate one obligation from your life that you do not enjoy or does not further your greatest passions and pursuits. Make the phone call, send the email, cancel the reservation… whatever you need to do. Reclaim your time to live the life you desire to live.
7. Make up one game with your kids.
Studies show us over and over again that fewer toys are beneficial to our children. Advertisements may tell us the newest toy will result in a better childhood for your kids, but that’s simply not true. Fewer toys consistently provide opportunity for deeper play and imagination to develop in your family.
So grab a few toys and make up a new game (such as an obstacle course) with your kids tonight. You’ll see the value of less, and have a great time too.
8. Wear your favorite outfit.
It’s true, most minimalists own fewer clothes than other people. But not because owning fewer clothes is a sacrifice. Just the opposite in fact. Owning fewer clothes means everything hanging in my closet is my favorite. There’s nothing I’d rather wear than my favorite outfit every day.
Today, wear your favorite outfit. Notice what you like about it. And then, imagine a world where you get to wear that every day.
9. Turn off your television one hour earlier than normal.
Because minimalists have embraced a more intentional approach to life, they remove unhealthy habits. For me, removing television was one of the most important. And while I still sit down to watch sports with my son or an occasional series on Netflix, television is no longer a focal point of my life. It no longer robs me of life and potential.
Tonight, turn off the television one hour earlier than normal. Use the free time to talk with your spouse, write in a journal, go for that walk, or go to bed an hour earlier. Almost anything you choose will be more worthwhile.
10. Do one thing you love.
The greatest thing about minimalism is that it frees money, time, and energy for your greatest passions. This is the greatest benefit—a life lived focused on the pursuits that result in true happiness, joy, meaning, and fulfillment.
So today, do one thing you love. And then, imagine yourself doing more of that every single day from here on out. And you’ll get a small picture of why people continue to flock to the message of minimalism.
Minimalism isn’t about living a boring life detached from reality. It is about rejecting society’s version of reality and living a focused, intentional life on your own terms.
Try out just one or two of these small steps today—and begin experiencing what the rest of your life can look like. You’ll love minimalism and you’ll love owning less.
David @ Filled With Money says
$18 thousand dollars on nonessentials is just insane! The minimalist lifestyle hopefully doesn’t just become a minority lifestyle for people to enjoy. Hopefully it becomes the majority.
Or maybe we’ll live a consumerist lifestyle forever, who knows…
Christa says
I’m pretty sure they count alcohol & tobacco in that number, which is why it’s so high.
Jackie Skudlarski says
YEA! I cleaned half a closet out today! I am enjoying walking back and forth by the stack of shoes and clothing I cleared out. I am hoping I will clean out the other half tomorrow and make a run to my favorite charity thrift store and drop the stuff off!
Marni Harmony says
I totally loved #8. To think about only wearing my favorite clothes items will help me to release the ones that I like a lot but aren’t my favorite! Thank you for this post
Cindy says
Love the comment about “deeper play” in #7. I think it can be applied to us adults, too. We skim the surface all day long with social media, podcasts, texting, the news. Better to focus on less, go deeper, enrich our souls and not just have an “instant gratification” of our internal hunger. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Katherine Stott says
I’m so happy to see your messages hit my in box! They remind me that this goal of becoming minimalist doesn’t have to be so overwhelming. We’ve been planning a move out of the country and when we are finally able to pull up stakes and make the move a reality, I want to be able to have my shipping container not be bursting at the seams. I’m obsessed with Tiny House Nation, and while I need a bit more than a tiny house, I definitely want my next house to be very small and on one level. Becoming Minimalist will help us accomplish that. Thank you!!
Norma says
These are such great ideas! The one I will start today is to clean one surface. The problem is that one moment it is clean and a few minutes later, there is a cup, little toy, or tool that someone thinks they will clean or put away later. It always feels like work in progress.
Krys says
Wow! I have a vanity table in my room that had “a few things” on it. I took all the items and put them in a large laundry basket. It was half full! When you get used to something the visual clutter becomes normal until you read an article like this!
Judith Layton says
You continue to inspire me and help me be more united with my minimalist husband. We have built a home this last year on the principle of having just what we need. We don’t have a television. We read and play games more and go for walks. We phone family. We have a bare kitchen counter and island, quiet radiant heaters, lots of windows. It is peaceful. We don’t need a basement. Our spacious garage protects both our vehicles from snow and cold. The generous driveway goes up level with the house so we save our knees from stairs. We pay as we go and are debt free. Sweet!
joshua becker says
Awesome!
Donette Marden says
Nice!
Rebecca Occkiogrosso says
Good stuff here. ?
Thanks.
Rebecca Occkiogrosso
Peggy Veeder says
Today’s message really hit home with me. Why? Many of the 10 listed are easy! The message today is the best!