Be Minimalist – 12 Lovely Tips To Create A Minimalist Life
Want to be a minimalist? Here are my 12 best tips to live a more minimalistic life (it can be super easy!)
Let’s chat about how to be a minimalist.
Now you may be wondering…When it comes to life, most people quickly discover that they can do things the simple way or the complicated way.
I myself started to yearn for the simple life the moment I had kids, even though having kids made it harder to cut back.
There was a tug between wanting to be a minimalist and also wanting to provide more for my family. A growing family by default tends to accumulate more possessions and commit to more activities (especially the more kids you have).
But this just made me want to embrace minimalism even more.
Now while minimalism can help you save money, there are also plenty of other benefits that may be even more appealing to you. For example, you’ll have fewer distractions and more time and energy to devote to your family when you live the minimalistic life.
The cool thing is there are so many different ways to embrace minimalism.
You might be doing so because it suits your financial circumstances. Or even if you are financially secure, it might be philosophy you are attracted. In the end, you get to decide what minimalism means to you.
To you it might mean growing your own food, making your own clothes, owning less possessions, getting rid of things you no longer need or just spending less money at restaurants and shopping malls.
There is no right or wrong way to live a minimalist lifestyle but you may want to consider these principles and strategies for embracing it.
General Principles for Minimalists:
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 1 – Slow down.
Part of living simply means you get to simplify all the thoughts rushing through your head.
One way to calm your mind and clarify your thinking is by resisting the urge to rush. Sit down and slow down for a moment.
You’ll be surprised to find that you feel more creative, and you’ll accomplish more with less effort when you give yourself permission to do LESS.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 2 – Appreciate boredom.
Why do moms think that their kids need to be busy, busy all the time?
It is something my parents never expected for me when I was young.
In fact, they thought it was up to us to keep ourselves occupied during the day when they were at work.
Give your children the opportunity to become bored sometimes.
I promise, boredom isn’t the enemy.
In fact, great things often come from boredom, when your imagination is forced to get creative.
Modern life makes it easy to go through the day being passively entertained.
However, when kids are forced to rely on their own resources, they will discover the power of their imagination and the benefits of unstructured play.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 3 – Connect with nature.
When you remove the things that aren’t important from your life, it usually makes more room for the things that are truly important to you.
Nature may be one of those things for you.
Here’s the thing: the beauty and peace of green spaces enhances our mental and physical health.
So, feel free to take your children for a walk through the park.
Visit forests and oceans when you vacation.
Your mind and soul will so appreciate it!
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 4 – Avoid comparisons.
I really recommend ditching the comparison game generally but when it comes to minimalism there’s even more reason to do so.
It can be hard watching celebrity couples with full time nannies or people who spoil their kids with every toy under the sun if it makes you doubt your parenting skills.
If it feels right in your heart, you ARE doing it right.
Don’t worry about what other parents are doing – DO YOU INSTEAD.
Set your own standards and work at being the best version of you.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 5 – Network with other parents.
Make friends with other like-minded parents who have embraced minimalism too. You can exchange advice and tips on how to live as simply as possible.
There are plenty of Facebook groups that focus on exactly this.
Try searching for Minimalist in the groups tab and hopefully you can find a group you love.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 6 – Manage stress.
The goal of minimalism is to live a simpler life without unnecessary stress and the cool thing is we can teach our children the same skills of stress management.
Show your children how to set aside time for reflection and relaxation by setting an example yourself.
Try meditating briefly, focusing on mindfulness or taking a few deep breaths whenever you feel your stress levels rise.
Specific Strategies for Minimalist Mothers:
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 7 – Eat as a family.
Rather than snacking and eating whenever you are hungry, see if you can create a set routine where your family eats together at night.
This may seem pretty obvious but I myself know that sometimes its easy to become slack in this area especially if your kids have after-school commitments.
You need to consciously set this intention.
Eating as a family leads to closer relationships and better nutrition so join each other at the dinner table for a homemade meal at least three times a week.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 8 – Divide up chores.
Learning to take responsibility prepares children for adulthood.
That’s why I recommend assigning age-appropriate tasks to each family member instead of trying to do everything yourself.
When it comes to minimalism, the load on your shoulders should be lighter, not heavier.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 9 – Run errands together.
Unless there is a reason to leaving your kids at home (like maybe you need the break), see if you can use your time more efficiently by bringing your children with you to the grocery store.
They can practice reading labels, practice the life skill of choosing grocery items and doing arithmetic if you are keeping to a budget.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 10 – Limit toys.
It’s difficult to keep toys from multiplying, especially around birthdays and holidays.
Create a system for keeping the total volume under control.
You might want to try rotating toys by giving your child only a few to play with each week.
I used to do the tub system where my kids got to play with one tub each day of the week.
Or if they wanted a new tub everything else had to be put away in advance.
You can also encourage regular toy donations to charities that help kids (the added benefit is that it keeps your home decluttered.)
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 11 – Reduce clutter.
Consider what other items you have around the house that you rarely use.
Seriously, you can clean your house faster when you get rid of clutter and things you don’t need or use.
Even if you think they don’t matter, that clutter is also cluttering up your mind.
Your surroundings will feel more comfortable and look more attractive when it is only filled with things you love.
BE MINIMALIST IN LIFE
TIP # 12 – Monitor technology.
The internet can be used wisely for communication and education, but too much screen time can – surprise, surprise – hinder your child’s development.
Create house rules like no phones at the dinner table and turning off all devices at least two hours before bedtime.
In the end, you get to decide how far you want to go with minimizing your consumption of things in life.
Just remember though that you’ll be teaching your children to value a more mindful and meaningful life.
Buying and owning less stuff gives you the freedom to enjoy what you already have, which for me is the greatest gift in life.
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.