It’s easy to lose sight of your minimalist goals during the holiday season.
There’s so much pressure to buy and receive gifts and decorate your home with festive decor. These things don’t necessarily go hand in hand with the minimalist lifestyle.
Fortunately, getting back on track is easy if you set the right intentions for the year.
Whether you are a minimalist looking for inspiration after the holidays, or an aspiring minimalist looking to simplify your life this year, here are 18 minimalist goals to add to your list of New Years resolutions!
18 Minimalism Goals for 2023!
Below is a list of actionable goals that you can set for yourself this year.
Keep in mind that minimalism is all about the journey. Don’t put pressure on yourself to be the ‘perfect minimalist‘. Instead, just do your best, and have fun with it!
1. Become an Intentional Spender
There’s a common misconception that minimalists don’t spend any money. That we just save and save to no end. I have to disagree!
As a minimalist, I definitely spend money on things other than just the essentials. I’m just more intentional with what I choose to spend my money on.
As a result, I’ve been able to get to a place in my life where I can live off of very little.
I currently work about 30 hours a week and have a 3 day weekend, every weekend. Sure, this lifestyle comes with some sacrifices, (like having to say no to catching a movie or a having a drink with friends every once in a while), but it has given me more time to do what I love and that’s what makes me truly happy.
Any time you spend money, think about the time you had to give up to earn it. You can never make that time back.
Make it your goal to become an intentional spender this year and so many new opportunities will open up for you. Opportunities to travel more, work less or simply, worry less about your finances.
2. Start a New Hobby
Make this the year that you start the hobby you’ve always been curious to try! A hobby will give you something positive to do every day. The more fulfilled you are in your daily life, the less you’ll look for value in material things.
You may be thinking, can minimalists even have hobbies? Aren’t hobbies expensive to start and don’t they require a lot of gear to maintain? Yes and yes.
However, although starting a new hobby might cost you a little bit up front, it will pay itself back in no time. After you’ve bought all your gear, the hobby is free to do! Instead of going out and spending money on your days off, your hobby will be a free activity you can always lean back on.
As for accumulating gear, you can own things that aren’t just the essentials as a minimalist! Minimalism isn’t necessarily about owning as little as possible, it’s about valuing the stuff that you do own. If your hobbies add value to your life, then the gear is worth holding on to. Adopting a minimalist mindset surrounding your hobbies will ensure that you are being intentional with the gear that you buy and the hobbies you choose to keep.
3. Cook More
Cooking for yourself is such a simple (but powerful) act of self-love. You are taking the time to prepare a meal and then nourishing your body with it. It’s such an easy way to show gratitude for your body and all that it does.
The mainstream minimalist lifestyle tends to focus a lot on the physical stuff; decluttering, owning less and living frugally. As important as these things are, minimalist principles can also apply to your relationship with yourself.
If your goal is to start valuing the simple things in life, there’s nothing more simple and valuable than self-love.
4. Simplify Your Meals
Make it your goal to cook simpler meals this year!
Simplifying your meals is such an easy way to be more minimal in the kitchen. Using kitchen staples in your cooking will keep you from accumulating a bunch of ingredients that you’ll never use again. This will help you reduce food waste and clutter!
5. Reorganize Your Kitchen Pantry
Many of us hoard things in our kitchen pantry that we’ll never use again. A part of us knows that those items will sit in the back of the pantry, unused, for years and years whilst another part of us may feel guilty about throwing away perfectly good ingredients.
Let those things go this year. Start over with a fresh slate and be more intentional with the things you buy at the grocery store.
6. Clean As You Go
Instead of letting your messes build up this year, get in the habit of cleaning as you go. If you do, you’ll never have to spend hours cleaning again!
A clutter-free home is also essential to a clutter-free mind. Keeping your space tidy will do wonders for your mental health.
7. Start Budgeting
If you don’t already budget, this is the year to start!
Budgeting will transform your finances. It will help you understand exactly what you’re spending your money on so that you know where to cut back and start saving.
There are plenty of ways to approach budgeting. Find one that works for you!
You can choose to connect your bank account to a budgeting app like Mint or fill out a budgeting worksheet!
8. Become an Active Listener
Have more valuable conversations this year by becoming an active listener.
When you’re having a conversation, instead of responding to what the other person is saying with something relevant to your own life, ask them engaging questions! By asking questions you are giving them a support response instead of a shift response. Having this sort of response will give the other person the space to open up more.
You’ll be surprised by how much deeper your relationships will become when you hold space for people to share what’s on their mind!
If you’d like more resources on active listening I recommend watching this Youtube video about the #1 way people ruin conversations and reading You’re Not Listening by Kate Murphy.
9. Declutter Your Closet
Are you really a minimalist if you don’t declutter your closet for the new year? I don’t think so.
Get rid of some pieces that you didn’t wear last year or, commit to a full on minimalist wardrobe. It will make getting ready in the morning so much easier!
10. Save For Something Specific
Is there something you’ve always wanted but could never afford? Maybe it’s a trip, a car or a new couch. Whatever that thing is, save up for it this year.
My partner and I have a ‘travel fund’ where we set money aside every month for future trips. When we’ve saved enough, we reward ourselves by planning a vacation.
Having something specific to save up for has really helped us stick to our goals!
11. Host Your Friends and Family
Instead of going out every time you want to see your friends and family, consider inviting them over to your place more! You’ll save so much money by swapping your regular outings with an occasional game night at home.
12. Commit to Phone Free Mornings
Instead of reaching for your phone the moment you wake up, avoid using it for the first hour of the day. This will help you be fully present as you go through your morning routine.
This little habit will make a huge difference in your mindset going into the day. Being present in the morning will set you up to be just as present the rest of the day.
13. Stop Scrolling Before Bed
The way you end your day is just as important as the way you start it. You can have the most incredible day ever, but if you end it by scrolling on your phone for hours, that’s how you’ll remember it.
So, avoid playing on your phone before bed! I like to charge my phone in an outlet on the other side of my bedroom because you know what they say, out of site, out of mind.
14. Exercise Daily
Regular exercise is the best thing you can do for your mental and physical health.
Make it your goal to be active in some way, every single day this year. No, I don’t mean you should try and go to the gym every day. A short walk, bike to work or at home workout should do the trick!
15. Swap Out Single Use Items
Want to easily cut your belongings in half this year?! Just replace your single use items with multipurpose items!
Below are just a few easy swaps you can make:
- Swap our your single use cleaning supplies with an all natural, multipurpose cleaner. My all time favorite is Thieves Household Cleaner. This product is great for cleaning kitchen counters, walls, hard floors, carpets, mirrors, appliances, and so much more! Plus, it smells like the holidays! What’s better than that?!
- Switch to a multipurpose soap like Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soap. By diluting this soap you can use it for just about any cleaning task. From washing your face, body and hair to doing dishes, laundry and mopping your home. Check out Dr. Bronner’s website for a dilutions cheat sheet!
- Get rid of your single use kitchen appliances and replace them with items that have many uses! Swap out your rice cooker and electric kettle for a simple pot. You can easily cook rice and boil water on your stovetop.
16. Go on More Walks
Going on walks is a great way to reconnect with yourself. It’s an opportunity to be fully present and disconnect from technology.
If you’re having a bad day, going on a walk will feel like a reset. It’s such a simple way to get yourself back on track if you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
Finding simple ways to bounce back from a bad day will keep you from relying on things like shopping or eating out to make yourself feel better.
17. Switch Up Your Commute
If your goal is to live a simple and minimal life, it’s important to do things outside of your normal routine every once in a while. It’ll keep you from ever feeling bored or uninspired by the lifestyle.
If you drive to work every day, try biking or using public transportation instead! It’s an easy way to shake up your routine and keep things feeling fresh. Plus, it’s better for the planet!
18. Spend Money On Experiences, Not Things
Let this be the year that you stop spending money on material things and invest in experiences instead. Travel, go to festivals, have movie theatre dates, share a meal out with friends. Whatever makes you truly happy, do more of that!
In Conclusion
There’s something about the new year that feels like a fresh start.
If you’re feeling inspired to start your minimalist journey, or become a better minimalist, setting some actionable goals can help get you started!
These 18 minimalism goals will help you simplify your life and embrace a minimalist mindset.
Keep in mind that whether you are reading this post on January 1st or halfway through the year, it’s a great time to set new goals for yourself. Don’t feel like you need to wait until the beginning of the year to make a positive change in your life!
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