Taking a minimalist approach both at home and at work helps eliminates the clutter and chaos that exists in our daily lives. Much like Marie Kondo has been promoting the Japanese art of decluttering and urging everyone to release what doesn’t “spark joy”, minimalism is a tool that can help you rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important. It will ultimately help you find fulfillment, happiness, and freedom. Now let’s look at how we can apply this concept to organizing certain aspects of your life like your home, finances and even your health.
Organize Your Finances
When it comes to your finances minimalism allows you to prioritize the most important things. The Balance explains that by spending less on buying items you don’t really need it can help you cut back on spending and in-turn help increase your savings. If you’re in debt it can help you get out of debt by teaching you to budget. As you discover what’s most important and valuable to you, it becomes easier to decide when and on what you spend your money on.
In article by Marcus they detail the value of minimalism in establishing a healthier relationship with money, particularly when it comes to values-based spending. This approach to spending helps you get rid of excess and hold on to what’s essential in your life. It will help keep your expenses to a minimum, reduce your financial stress and keep your finances organized by helping you save for your future.
Living healthy
Since minimalism is about getting rid of the things that make us unhappy, if your diet or exercise pan is making you miserable, try looking at it differently. For instance, rather than forcing yourself to go to the gym and focusing on your appearance, instead try focusing on your health.
A post on ‘A Minimalist Approach to Fitness’ recommends that you find a type of exercise that you truly enjoy, eat healthy food that you love and focus on improving your overall well-being. Don’t run for the sake of running if you hate it. A walk at a brisk pace in your neighborhood or the park will help lower your risk of diabetes, and high blood pressure in the same way that running does. Simplifying your diet means eating a little less yet healthier. Eat more fruit, vegetables and reduce processed food. Once your body feels better so will your mind, which will help you stay focused and organized.
Declutter Your Space
Once your mind is decluttered and organized, you’ll be able to think more clearly about what’s important for you to keep and what you can live without. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that organizing without decluttering is a waste of time and energy. First, declutter then organize. For instance, clothes and other stuff you haven’t worn or touched in six months to a year, donate. We all tend to have an attachment to our things and decluttering can really put that attachment into perspective vis-à-vis our lives.
Musician and minimalist Jon Schneck admits that letting go of stuff is an emotional and spiritual process. But once you come to terms with that you realize they’re just things. So, take it slow. It’s a process. You need time to realize what you need and what you can let go of. Declutter and get rid of a few things, wait a few days and see how it makes you feel. With less stuff to worry about and keep track of you’ll be better organized and much happier for it.
Ultimately, the point of minimalism is that we don’t need stuff to make us happy, rather we need to concentrate on the aspects in our lives that bring us joy such as family, relationships and our passions. Minimalism is not necessarily about owning the least stuff possible or not spending any money. It’s about aligning our time and possessions with our values to be able to live a happier, more fulfilled and organized life.
Exclusively submitted to solutionsforyou.com
Submitted by: JBeam