Are you a minimalist? What minimalist steps do you recommend?

How to turn into a minimalist gradually.

Ever heard of the phrase ‘less is more’? It never rung truer than it does for minimalism.

Minimalism can be a very disturbing notion to understand. To many people, it sounds like giving up everything you own in order to live on a bare minimum. In reality, minimalism is just letting go of the things you don’t need in life and focusing on what you find more important and fulfilling.

If you are trying to, or planning to start living a minimalist life, making the change can be quite scary and difficult. Some people take weeks to adjust while others stretch it out over years before they can settle. Well, here’s sage advice. Like marriage, don’t rush into it. You don’t have to wake up tomorrow and sell all your house items in order to become minimalist. Change is best achieved gradually, as countless minimalists can testify.

Here are a few ideas on how to turn into a minimalist gradually.

• Identify the items you no longer use, and put them away in a box. Do a simple assessment – you’ll be amazed at the number of things you don’t really use in a month. Whether its old shoes or the cable that you only watch once a week, ditch it and move on.
• Separate the items you need for everyday activities, and put away those that you don’t.
• Shorten your shopping list, leaving only the essentials you need at home.

Note: Don’t mistake minimalism for frugality. Buy the items you need you can’t live without and leave the rest. Even better, take a shopping list with you.

• Do away with duplicate stuff. Stuff like similar clothes, pairs of stuff and more, can go, because they only take up more of your space.
• Start packing light……and lighter for your travels. Start small to see if you can manage. Take only the essentials and half the clothes you’ll need for the trip.
• Downsize your family meals. This can be easily done by cooking the amounts of food you need exactly and spending less on foods that you don’t really need. A good example: If you already have two sources of protein in your diet, ditch the third source and keep it that way.
• Do away with junk boxes and drawers. If you and your family no longer use some stuff, donate them or put them up for sale. This also helps with decluttering the house.
• Test yourself. Try living like a minimalist for a few weeks with the tips above and see how it turns out. The beginning may be hard or super easy, depending on your attachment to material possessions. Gradually, you’ll get the hang of it.
• Look out for other minimalists in your area. Or on the internet to learn their way of life and get some inspiration. As a starting minimalist, you need all the inspiration you can get to take the next step.

Minimalism gives you the freedom, fulfilment and happiness that material possessions can never accord you. It’s never too late to start living a purposeful life that’s devoid of waste and excesses.

Are you a minimalist? What minimalist steps do you recommend?