Living a minimalist lifestyle is all about making space, making time and making yourself feel free in every way you can. It’s the belief that less is more and that too much of anything will tie you down and make you feel constrained in the way you live your life.
Being minimalist isn’t about missing out on the material things in life — it’s about focusing on what really matters in a completely free and peaceful way. By giving yourself a choice about what you own and where you base yourself, you can make your life free in a way that’s sure to make you smile. Just what you want to hear when it’s time to make the most of every minute.
Minimalist Lifestyle Benefits
The first thing to realise by having a minimalist lifestyle is that you’re going to be saving rather a lot of money for no other reason than you won’t be constantly buying, upgrading and replacing items. You’ll be someone who focuses more on experiences and moments, which is what will help you make memories and allow you to get the most from your new way of life.
Next there’s time; you’re going to have an awful lot more of it. Because your home will be quicker to clean, you won’t be repairing things all the time, and you won’t feel like you have to shop, you’ll give yourself the time and space to do more of what matters. Ideal when you want to enjoy life in your own personal way.
You also need to factor in your improved sense of worth and personal well-being. Rather than feeling like you’re defined by the price and quality of your material possessions, you’ll be able to focus on the things in life that really matter to you. There’ll be no more keeping up appearances and chasing the next model or trend — you can set yourself free to do what you want.
And before we wrap things up, you’re also going to be a lot more environmentally friendly because you’ll be breaking the cycle of consumer culture in a big way. Fast fashion and throwaway culture will become a thing of the past behind your front door, and that’s something to be proud of!
Now all we need to do is see how you get a minimalist lifestyle…
How to live a minimalist lifestyle: Your 5 Top Tips
Here we’re going to talk you through the basics, tell you what to watch out for and even share a few practical tips that you can put into action as soon as you’re done reading.
#1: Do a lifestyle audit
It’s great to have a carrier bag drawer, a spare bike and a shed full of spare parts…or is it? How often do you really need these items? Would you miss them if they were gone? How likely are you to be caught short without one of them and how easy would it be to replace them if you found you finally did need them?
These are exactly the kinds of questions you need to answer when you audit your life. Do it on a monthly basis and before you know it’ll only take a few minutes a month to get through. Ideal when you want to free yourself like never before.
#2: Plan your spaces
Adding containers in the fridge, a pouch for the remote and a dedicated shelf for your work clothes are all smart ideas here. If you give everything a home then it’ll be really obvious when it’s out of place. With the minimum of effort you can pop it right back so that it’s easy to find when you do need it. You’ll also be turning the quickest of tidy ups into a reflex action that makes sure your home is in an effortless state of order morning, noon and night.
#3: Turn your back on disposable
When it’s time to go eco-friendly, this is the way to do it. By making sure the few things you buy offer plenty of usability and quality you can make sure you spend your money the right way. It’ll also make you grow so much fonder of the things you buy and allow you to make memories with them over the years. It may not sound like much right now, but to make a house a home you really do have to have those little bits and pieces that you can rely on for years on end.
#4: Schedule your own time accordingly
Your time is the one asset you can never get more of, and we each get the same amount of it each day, no matter what else we have that others don’t. To make optimal use of your time, why not schedule natural breaks into your day where you can reflect on what matters. It could be some quiet time away from screens, a goal you want to accomplish or just a walk followed by a book. The choice is up to you, just make sure you love how you spend that window in your day.
#5: Spend your money on experiences
Lastly, focus on making memories via experiences rather than adding more objects to your home. It’s nice to have a few things of course, but you’ll find you really only need a fraction of them. The rest can be stored in a secure container storage facility, giving you the option to withdraw and deposit when you want to change things up.
The perfect example: Japan’s minimalist lifestyle
If you think all of this sounds too good to be true, just take a look at the Land of the Rising Sun and you’ll see it’s been around for years. Minimalist lifestyle is a true Japanese export that’s making a name for itself in the UK for all the right reasons.
The Japanese believe that empty space leaves opportunities for new things in life to flourish, which is rather true when you think about how a minimalist lifestyle positively impacts your life. You’ll have less on your mind and fewer things to distract you, which alone will help you make better choices and spend more time doing the things you love. It also removes the burden of having to constantly clean and tidy up because there’ll be a place for everything with the minimum of effort. If you like the way that sounds, look into container storage options near you so you can start clearing space and breaking the cycle of crowded living. You won’t regret it!
Final Thoughts
Minimalist lifestyle really does open your mind up to a new way of life, and it’s easy to see why it’s already catching on quickly. With simple solutions like planning your spaces, renting some affordable storage to save room and better time scheduling you really can open life up in a whole host of wonderful ways. Now you’ve heard what we have to say, it’s over to you to put these hints and tips into action. Enjoy and click here to learn more about our small flats removals offers!