7 Hacks To Help You Live Minimally
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Downsizing is overwhelming, and all the advice out there can be super confusing. Over the past four and a half years I’ve learned a lot about minimizing, and these 7 hacks have really changed my life. Had I known about these steps when I started my journey, the whole process would have been much easier and more effective, so check out this tutorial to get your life of minimalism started!
Shoes for a minimalist wardrobe
Keep only essential shoes
It sounds simple, but shoes are the most important place to start! Shoes are bulky, heavy, and take up so much space, and since there are so many different kinds, it’s really easy to accumulate them. Choose a pair that works for your lifestyle and then build your outfits accordingly. My life changed when I chose my Blundstones and I was able to rid my closet of other pairs that I no longer had much use for.
Your time is valuable
If it’s not worth your time, throw it out
Consider the amount of your time different things in your house take up, and whether or not you want to keep spending that time on them. If you have a box of fancy paper and sticks, and you’ve decided that you no longer want to spend your time scrapbooking, get rid of it all!
Lighter fabrics for your wardrobe
Get rid of heavy clothing
Fabric can be super heavy and bulky, and that takes up a lot of your precious space, so I would choose fabrics that are lightweight and breathable. For summer I prefer silks and light cottons, and in winter I prioritize wools - these are much lighter and take up less space than their heavier counterparts.
How to style a minimalist wardrobe
Choose your signature style
Choosing a signature style for yourself will allow you to have one item per category (i.e. sunglasses) that fits your style, rather than many to choose from depending on what you’re wearing that day. Make sure that every item in your wardrobe speaks to you and represents who you are.
Experiment with minimalism
Test what you really need
Pack away anything that you don’t have essential and immediate use for. Think of it as an experiment. You’ll be surprised to find out how much of that stuff you’ll realize you can really go without.
How to start a minimalist wardrobe
Cut down your daily routine
Think about your daily and weekly routines, and how you might be able to simplify them. Through simplifying the processes in your life, you’ll find yourself downsizing objects to do with your routines, and living a more minimalist lifestyle.
Keep it light
Buy the lightest version
When it comes to buying new things for yourself or your home, you want to make sure you’re doing your research and buying the smallest, lightest version of any item. “Can I pack this easily?”, “Will it break easily?”, “Can it be disassembled and reassembled without tools?”, “Will it fit in my car?” are all questions you might ask yourself before purchasing an item.
I hope these tips help you in downsizing and living a minimalist lifestyle. The key is to think about what you really need and that will help you realize the things you’re willing to live without. Before you know it, you’ll see that you don’t even miss the things you got rid of. What challenges have you had in leading a minimalist lifestyle? Let me know in the comments below!
Suggested materials:
- Clothing
- Shoes
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I took all my hanging clothes and reversed the hangers on the rod. In 6-8 months whichever clothes were still "backward" on the rod, I bagged up and donated. If I hadn't worn those items in that long, I realized I didn't need them.
In Nevada we donated to State of NV child haven where kids that have been separated from their families due to abuse, being incarcerated ,and through devastating circumstances to these children. People don’t realize these kids are babies all the way up to teens. They need all sizes of clothing.
All states have these facilities and these children have to depend on the resources from all of us. Please consider checking on this for clothing and toy donations.