Are you Joining the Minimalism Movement

You've probably heard the word minimalism within the past few months. It's a trending lifestyle that people everywhere are trying to adopt. Many people have the idea that to be a minimalist they must rid their households of anything that isn't essential for life. Only living on essentials is not what this minimalism movement is all about. 

Many people view this lifestyle as one that has many restrictions on what you can or cannot have, but the truth is, there is no rulebook to minimalism. Minimalism is solely about finding freedom. You can access this kind of freedom by ridding yourself of the unnecessary stress that comes along with owning so much stuff. Don't get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with possessions. The problem arises when we give meaning to these items that don't contribute anything back into our lives. For instance, if you have a collection that has significant meaning to you and makes you feel proud to own them, you should keep them. But let's say you have a living room with so much furniture in it that cleaning day is dreadful, you should minimize your home.

Here are three simple ways you can apply minimalism to your everyday life:

• When going through your things, ask yourself "Does this item bring me joy?" "Are special memories attached to this item?" "Why am I keeping it?" If none of these questions provoke any reason as to why you should keep this item, then throw it into the donation pile!
• When it comes to birthdays, holidays, or any occasion that invites loved ones to give your family gifts, ask for experiences rather than items. Activities can especially be fun for children! Family members could gift them with a lasting memory of going to the zoo rather than giving them a toy that will only bring temporary happiness. 
• Go shopping with an intentional list of the items you truly need to purchase. Doing this will help you only go into the stores that you need things from rather than window shopping and leaving with way more than what you intended to buy. Intentionality will automatically help you declutter your overflowing closet and boost your bank account! 

Everyone can adopt minimalism into their everyday lives. Minimalism is not just for people who want to live in small spaces. Whether you have a large house or a small home, you can start today by reducing the things you keep and genuinely enjoying the things you have. If you need help de-cluttering your space, ask your realtor for a recommendation.