Don’t be fooled by the title of this post. There isn’t just one way to be a minimalist. It’s important to make minimalism suit your lifestyle and situation. For instance, if you have kids, you can’t expect to have the same amount of things as someone who doesn’t. If you work an office job, you’ll need some clothing pieces that someone who works from home, wouldn’t. With that being said, a lot of people do minimalism backwards. They prioritize the wrong things when they are starting their minimalist journey which can cause major set backs. Knowing what these common minimalist mistakes are from the get go will save you a lot of time.
Learn what mistakes to avoid so that you can start benefiting from the minimalist lifestyle ASAP!
The Right Way to Start Your Minimalist Journey
When starting your minimalist journey, figuring out your ‘why’ is just as important as the ‘how’. Why do you want to become a minimalist? Is it because you’re feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you own? Maybe you want to take control of your financial situation? Whatever your reason is, setting your intentions will keep you on track throughout your journey.
As for the how, start by changing your habits. This is where a lot of people do minimalism backwards. They start with decluttering, instead of fixing their spending and collecting habits. As inspired as you may be to start decluttering, it’s important to change the habits that led you to the place of needing to declutter in the first place. You’ll need to change your habits so that after you get rid of your things, you don’t find yourself back where you started.
Why People Accumulate Stuff
There are many reasons why people accumulate things. It can be because they are shopping impulsively or spending money as a form of entertainment. Figuring out why you are accumulating things is super important to sustaining your minimalist lifestyle long term.
I’ve found that the easiest way to stop accumulating stuff is to appreciate what I already have. Appreciating the things that you already have will keep you from feeling like you need to buy more stuff. A lot of people think that minimalists don’t care about the things that they own. On the contrary, minimalists tend to care way more about their possessions. Think about it. If you only have one pair of shoes, you’ll value that pair so much more than if you had ten pairs.
By having less, you are placing more value on the few things that you do own. By seeing the value in what you have, you won’t feel the need to buy more stuff.
Failing to change your spending habits isn’t the only minimalist mistake you can make. Below are 5 more common mistakes to avoid when starting your minimalist journey.
6 Common Minimalist Mistakes
Below are 6 common mistakes to avoid as a minimalist.
1. Decluttering Too Quickly
As tempting as it may be to get rid of everything during your first declutter, it’s not a good idea. The last thing you want to do is get rid of something that you actually need and have to repurchase it.
Instead of getting rid of things impulsively, find a spot in your home that you can store the things that you’ve decided to part with for at least a few weeks. Try your best not to reach for those items. Most likely you’ll forget all about them, but if for some reason you find yourself reaching for one of them, you’ll be happy you didn’t get rid of it.
2. Filling Your Newfound Empty Space With More Stuff
I’ve seen so many videos of people decluttering their closets and homes just to immediately fill that empty space with new things. That is the opposite of minimalism. Getting rid of perfectly good stuff to make space for something new is incredibly unsustainable. Avoid the urge to shop after you’ve decluttered.
3. Trying to Obtain a Certain Aesthetic
There is a certain aesthetic that a lot of minimalists go for. Think neutral colors and natural fabrics. As satisfying as it may be for everything you own to match, avoid trying to conform to a certain aesthetic when choosing which things you want to keep or get rid of. Instead, think about the things that you regularly use. If your favorite t-shirt isn’t white, don’t get rid of it just because it doesn’t fit the ‘minimalist aesthetic’. There is no reason to get rid of the things you love to fit a certain theme.
Not only is it important not to get rid of things if they don’t fit the ‘minimalist aesthetic‘, it’s also important not to replace items that you find ‘unaesthetic’ with things that are.
4. Not Considering Your Lifestyle
When decluttering, think about what you actually use day to day. If you work out a lot, don’t get rid of all of your workout clothes. Similarly, if you don’t go out very often, you may not need to own as many fancy dresses. Consider your lifestyle when decluttering. Don’t use a generic ‘minimalist essentials’ guide when decluttering your closet and home. Instead, choose to keep or get rid of things based off of your lifestyle, job and the climate you live in.
5. Going Too Far
It’s easy to get carried away when you start decluttering your space. Letting go of things will feel so freeing and it may be tempting to get rid of everything right then and there. Resist the urge to become an extreme minimalist right off the bat. Instead, ease into the minimalist lifestyle.
6. Feeling Guilty Getting Rid of Sentimental Things
It’s easy to feel guilty about getting rid of something sentimental. Whether it’s a gift from a loved one or an item that you associate with a fond memory, items often hold value to us even if they aren’t functional. Try and remember that an item is merely a material object. The item wouldn’t be valuable if it wasn’t for you. The value comes from your mind and you can hold on to that memory without holding on to the object itself.
To Wrap it Up
Although minimalism isn’t a one size fits all lifestyle, there are certain things you should avoid doing when you begin your journey. The most important thing to watch out for is doing minimalism backwards. It’s crucial that you change your spending and collecting habits before you start decluttering. If you don’t change your habits, you’ll find yourself decluttering to no end.
When you are ready to declutter, avoid decluttering too quickly, filling your newfound empty space with more stuff, not considering your lifestyle during the declutter and feeling guilty about getting rid of sentimental things. Avoid these common minimalist mistakes so that you can start reaping the many benefits of the minimalist lifestyle!
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