Minimalism for Realists: Embracing an Essentialist Lifestyle

Essentialist minimalism is a way of life that involves focusing on what is most important while letting go of the unnecessary. It's about prioritizing meaningful possessions, activities, and relationships, and eliminating distractions that don't align with one's goals and values. The aim is to achieve a simpler and more purposeful life.

"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." - Hans Hofmann.

"Emily had always felt overwhelmed by the clutter and chaos in her home and life. She felt like she was constantly juggling too many things and never truly satisfied with any of them. One day, she stumbled upon the idea of essentialist minimalism and decided to give it a try. She started by letting go of possessions and obligations that didn't align with her true priorities and values. As she embraced a more minimalist lifestyle, she found that she had more time and energy to devote to the things that truly mattered to her, like spending quality time with her family and pursuing her passion for photography. Emily realized that essentialist minimalism had not only simplified her life, but had also helped her rediscover her sense of purpose and fulfillment." [Fictional scenerio]

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What caught my attention about this idea is how simple it is. I can't stand feeling weighed down by things, especially things I don't really need. Sometimes I looked at all my stuff and just felt tired, wondering why I even bought it in the first place. I looked at my possessions and felt overwhelmed by the mere thought of cleaning and moving them around just to clean the area around them.

Just to clarify, I'm still in the process of fully embracing this lifestyle. It's like growing a garden, it takes time and consistent effort to get the results you want. You can't just toss everything out and hope for the best - trust me, you don't want to regret getting rid of something important later on!

Essentialist minimalism is sometimes referred to as "practical minimalism," "purposeful minimalism," or simply "minimalism."

To aid in my own learning process, I want to share a great resource with you called Minimalism Co. This site serves as a hub for minimalist design, style, and living ideas, resources, and products, and I believe it can be a valuable tool for anyone interested in this lifestyle.

You can check out this interesting article by Minimalism Co. discussing the seven different types of minimalism. I was surprised to learn that there are so many variations, but as I read through them, they all made perfect sense. It turns out that many bloggers and YouTubers prefer Aesthetic Minimalism (my observation), but for me, I found myself aligning more with a combination of Mindful Minimalism and Frugal Minimalism. But we are just talking about minimalism overall because you can be a mixture. I also like the aesthetic part of minimalism, so we don't have to box ourself into one category.

It's like saying you can only have one favorite ice cream flavor for the rest of your life. That's just not how it works! Preferences can be fluid and varied, and the same goes for minimalism. Just because you identify with one type doesn't mean you can't appreciate and practice others as well. It's all about finding what works best for you and your lifestyle.

Now, where do we begin?

1. Define your personal values and priorities: Consider what is truly important to you and what you want to focus on in your life.

• An example of defining personal values and priorities in the context of minimalism would be identifying that spending quality time with family and friends is a top priority, while accumulating material possessions is not. This may lead to a decision to downsize one's living space and possessions in order to have more time and resources available for meaningful experiences and relationships.

2. Start with a small area or category: Begin with a small area like a drawer or a closet and gradually work your way up to larger spaces.

• Starting small can be helpful to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the idea of decluttering an entire home or space all at once. For example, you might choose to start with a single drawer in your bedroom dresser. Take out everything from the drawer and sort it into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and discard. Ask yourself if each item is something that you truly need, use, or love. If not, let it go. Once you have finished decluttering the drawer, move onto another small area like a single shelf in your bookcase. Gradually working your way up to larger spaces can help you build momentum and gain confidence in your ability to simplify your possessions.

3. Declutter systematically: Take a systematic approach to decluttering by sorting items into categories such as keep, donate, sell or discard.

4. Be mindful of new purchases: Before buying something new, ask yourself if it aligns with your values and if you really need it.

• An example of being mindful of new purchases could be when you are at the store and see a cute shirt on sale. Instead of immediately adding it to your cart, take a moment to ask yourself if the shirt aligns with your values and if you really need it. Consider if you already have similar shirts in your closet or if it will truly add value to your life. By being mindful of new purchases, you can prevent bringing unnecessary items into your home and maintain a minimalist lifestyle. Minimal clothes = less laundry!

5. Create a plan for maintaining the clutter-free space: Establish a plan for maintaining the clutter-free space by setting aside regular time for cleaning and decluttering.

I'm excited to share the first part of my cleaning and organizing series with you, which is now available. In this first part, we'll be discussing the cleaning schedule. As we move forward in the series, we'll be taking on each room of the house and discussing ways to organize them and make them more manageable. If you're interested, you can check out the first part using the link provided.

6. Don't be too hard on yourself: Remember that the process of minimalism takes time and effort, so don't be too hard on yourself if you don't see results right away.

• Embracing minimalism is a journey that requires patience and perseverance. It's important to keep in mind that you won't achieve your desired level of simplicity and clarity overnight. It's a gradual process that takes time and effort to achieve. So, if you find yourself struggling to see immediate results, don't be too hard on yourself. Keep working towards your goals, and remember that progress, no matter how small, is still progress. Every little step you take towards minimalism is a step in the right direction, and with time and persistence, you'll eventually reach your destination.

Okay, I'm gonna let you in on a little secret - I've got a few amazing creators linked up that I think you'll love! These guys are like the hidden gems. Trust me, you don't wanna miss out on their valuable insights!

If you need help with time management, check out Thomas Griffin.

If you want more minimalism tips and tricks, Mari Fuentelara has you covered.

If you need help keeping your digital and paper files organized (sign me up for that one!) J.R. Heimbigner has this one in the bucket!

Let's continue the conversation in the comments below and share which type of minimalism resonates with you the most. If you enjoyed this article and want to see more, be sure to like and subscribe. And don't forget to check out my cleaning series, which can help you on your journey to living a minimalist lifestyle.

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