The world is full of people who consume material things. People are always on the lookout for the next big thing, always following the trend but not getting the fulfillment they want. It’s no surprise that many are opting for a simpler life.
If you have a family, you probably think that minimalism would be impossible in your situation. However, it’s possible and you can start as soon as you want to. Minimalism does not imply getting rid of all of your possessions and living in a tiny house. Here are some suggestions on how you and your family may live in the simplest way possible.
What is Minimalism?
Minimalism is getting rid of unnecessary things in life so you can focus on what’s important in life, which are happiness, fulfillment, and freedom. There are countless ways where you can apply minimalism. You can use this practice in your material possessions, digital space, travel, housing, etc.
You’re the one who gets to decide how you will make it into practice. You have the liberty to choose which minimalist practices serves you well and which feel more like a burden than liberation. Read below to find out more.
- Communicate With Your Family About Minimalism
Before beginning on a minimalist lifestyle with your family, you should sit down and examine the value of this probable lifestyle shift. Meet as a family and talk about what it means to live minimally and how it can help bring your relationship closer together. That way, you can be confident that everyone understands what they can anticipate and properly participate in it.
- Decluttering Is Key
Decluttering is the key step to going minimalist. Eyes are always drawn to anything that catches the eye. Thus, clutter is a form of visual distraction. It’s easier to relax in a simple, uncluttered house. With fewer possessions, you’ll spend much less time cleaning and organizing, providing you with the opportunity to spend more time with loved ones.
Begin with going through all the stuff in your home. Separate what you need to keep and what you need to get rid of. Create a decluttering bin and display it in a prominent location in your house.
Moreover, encourage your family to place unwanted objects in the box. Sort everything in a container and categorize it for goods donated, sold, or thrown out. Consider Same-Day Rubbish Removal and other services to get help with getting rid of the things you already had sorted out.
- Choose Your Purchases Carefully
Children will outgrow their toys and clothing. Also, furniture deteriorates and will soon need a replacement. Thus, buying things in the future is unavoidable. Put more care into your purchases instead of buying impulsively.
When you decide on your purchase, focus on needs instead of wants. Needs are things you should have to survive. On the other hand, wants are things you desire to have, but you can live without. Trying to fulfill your wants will lead to overconsumption because introducing a new item will lead to spiraling consumption. It is known as the Diderot effect. Try teaching your kids about this as well.
- Everything Should Have Its Place
This rule will benefit you whether you’re an adult or a child. Your home should have a designated spot for your kid’s toys, books, etc. Put stuff back where they belong, and your children will eventually learn from your example.
Your home will be kept cleaner, and your children’s toys will be easier to locate. When you know what you have, you’ll be less prone to buy the stuff you don’t need.
- Decide How To Handle Gifts
When it comes to the holidays and birthdays, many parents who desire to live a more minimalist lifestyle find themselves in a dilemma. When it comes to giving gifts to their children, they’re unsure how many to give or manage gifts from others. Tell your loved ones about this issue in advance to avoid hurt emotions when you decide to do this.
Consider categorizing gifts in areas like clothing, books, activities, and so on. Decide how many things from each category you can keep. Additionally, create holiday customs that aren’t centered around exchanging presents. Make it a little part of the day rather than the main event.
Maintaining Your Minimalist Lifestyle
Minimalism is a lifestyle and not a one-time event. You and your family should keep an eye on the number of things you have in your house to keep living minimally. Maintain your home free of clutter and unnecessary items. Discuss what worked and what didn’t work to improve your minimalist practices.
Practicing a minimalist lifestyle as a family might be difficult, especially given the hectic pace of modern life. A successful minimalist lifestyle can only be possible if you work together to support and encourage each other. As a family, you may do simple things like reminding each other why you’ve decided to live a minimalist lifestyle.