Here I’ll show you how you can double your time and the level of satisfaction of your life in just one week by throwing away unnecessary junk and baggage.

The 10 best reasons for the minimalist lifestyle

Imagine that tomorrow only half of all objects will be in your apartment.

Does that make you feel insecure? Many people feel the same way.

But maybe you also know the feeling when you’ve thrown things away that you’ve long wanted to get rid of,  it feels damn good to clear out the old and make way for the new.

It not only creates more space in your apartment but also gives you more air to breathe in life, and space for thinking and pondering.

The greatest advantages of living as a minimalist at a glance:

1. You will have less money worries

Why should you buy a pair of shoes when you already have 9 good pairs in your closet?

Often we acquire things just for the sake of consuming. And that reflects the bank account.

2. Less to cleanup

The less you have, the easier it is to clean and maintain and spend time looking at.

3. A simple life means a lot less stress

Those who have too much stuff, also have to continually worry about how to protect and safeguard their things. The fear of loss and theft can be stressful in the long run.

I know that I can think more clearly in a clean room than in a dirty, messy environment.

4. More time to play

Having less stuff also allows you to focus your energy on things that make are more important. I personally rather have more time to write, walk, exercise, play, and work on my passion projects.

5. Saves Time

You save more time because you don’t have to worry about looking after items (e.g. washing your car) or about cleaning up.

And, by having a smaller, more manageable wardrobe, you can easily sleep in later because you don’t have to think about what to wear.

Making decisions throughout the day requires energy and we only have a finite, limited supply. Not having to sift through a large wardrobe saves much-needed focus for other things. 

6. When you clear out your life, you are more flexible and spontaneous

Moving can be stressful. A minimalist is much more relaxed about changing locations (even moving to another city).

You have to pack and haul a fewer boxes, and with fewer belongings, people with less belongings are usually less tied to a particular environment.

They generally make themselves less dependent on external circumstances.

7. Having fewer possessions will make you happier

Minimalists define their happiness not by what they have but by what they do in the form of experiences.

Those who are at peace with themselves do not need to pile and hoard a bunch of things in order to feel complete or valuable.

The feeling of being able to let go and create more space and freedom will fill you with a sense of inner calm and balance, which will also promote a high degree of self-efficacy.

8. A simple life promotes concentration and creativity

Those who are not constantly distracted by external things tend to look for inspiration within. Sounds kinda weird?

Then think about where you learn and focus better – in a cluttered living room or at the library? A crowded basement with weights or an open park or gym to exercise? 

And where do you work more concentrated – on the couch with Fritos and the TV blaring or in a cozy workspace with some classical music?

9. You make a good impression

And striving to live a more minimalistic life doesn’t mean that you should just walk around in unwashed 2-day old clothes, or move into a 10 by 10 apartment. 

On the contrary, a minimalistic mindset relies on a form of quality that lasts spills over into every area of life. 

From the outside, minimalists seem to be well organized, decisive, and yet relaxed with a clear vision.

10. As a minimalist, you do something for the environment

Minimalists accumulate a bunch of senseless junk, because they don’t just buy random things – rather they have more conscious, well throughout purchasing decisions. 

A simple lifestyle often goes hand in hand with low energy consumption – which is not only good for your wallet, but also a stellar move for the environment as well, minimalism is much more sustainable, it will create less waste because you will consume less stuff.

How to become a true minimalist in just 7 days

Decluttering may sound like work, but its not as complicated as it sounds. 

And, it can even be alot of fun taboot. 

To start, you can tackle one room after another or space at a tim, step by step, moment by moment. If you stick to the following tips, you’ll have more time, more cash, and less stress in just a week.

Monday: What is important to you in life?

You don’t have to lift a finger to take the first step towards becoming a minimalist. 

You should only ask one question: what is most important to you in your life? Is it free time, reading travel, hobbies or your work?

Or is it a fancy car and a well-decorated apartment? 

Keep in mind that you can hang on to your shoe or jewelry collection -you don’t have to purge everything, that doesn’t rule out a minimalist lifestyle either. 

A basic mantra is “less is more”, adopt it and live by it.  I also apply this to thoughts also, which equals less thinking and more being.

Tuesday: Get rid of garbage data

The cell phone memory is full again?  Do you know every photo on your phone or on your hard drive? We carry all those old memories of data with us every day. 

So it’s great to delete and clean out phone and computer memory from time to time.

Just keep important memories (save them in a permanent place like a google drive),  and delete the rest. It feels good, trust me!

Any picture that you haven’t looked at in years or months can go away. 

The same applies to documents on your computer, piles of mail and postcards, Christmas cards, or even contacts in the phone book. 

And if you use social media – how many people would actually be friends with you in real life? 

Wednesday: What items did you have in your hand last month?

It is the easiest method to recognize which objects you really need in your life. 

What did you have in your hand in the month (and especially last year), what did you really use? 

Everything that has been in boxes or in the basement for over a year may really be unnecessary. It might be time to separate yourself from things that are just laying around (especially broken). 

They are objects from an earlier time, they no longer fit into your current life.

It’s time to turn the page and start a new chapter, starting today.

What about unfinished projects? Is the deck, kitchen or bathroom unfinished and half-built?

Consider getting it done or downsizing into a smaller house, space, tiny house, camper, or van.

Thursday: Thin the diary

In order to go through life more with less stress, you should be more choosing (and selfish) with your free time. 

Do you have appointments that you only keep to do someone else a favor? This is fine sometimes, but make sure that you’re not over-extending yourself too far.

Just like Ziggy Marley said, “I can’t love you unless I love me”.

To reduce these unnecessary appointments and create more time and space for activities and life pursuits that are good for you and truly nurture your soul.

Remember, it’s quality over quantity, and consciously choose whats most important to you.

Friday: Find a place for everything

Never straighten up again! Sounds good right? 

Make sure that everything has the correct place. Things should also have good storage locations on your desk, in your closet and in the living room. 

After each use, get into the habit of putting it back in it’s place.

This also has the added benefit of ensuring that you have a deeper connection with your possessions – this helps appreciate and respect the belongings that you do own.

Saturday: Only buy what you need

This one is super important, before you purchase something, consider whether you really need it.

When there’s something that I need (other than food and shelter), I usually meditate on it for at least a couple of days rather than just buying on impulse and experiencing buyer’s remorse.

Just ask yourself this question, does your survival or your happiness depend on it? 

Only when the soles of your shoes are actually worn thin, then go ahead and buy some new ones (just check the thrift store first) 🙂

This does not apply to food – but it’s still worth checking the kitchen shelf to see if you cannot sort out the old canned food or the opened rice crackers that have been there for many months,

Sunday: Really take your time for being organized

When you’ve sift through and sort your possessions out, only then can you see how much you actually own. 

If possible, it’s a good practice to layout everything that you own on the floor and see what you’ve actually got.

This makes you much more grateful for what you do have. It feels good when you actively see it with your eyes. 

You can be proud of yourself, you’ve put in a week for a more conscious life – and it wasn’t really that bad, was it?

In conclusion, living a more minimalistic life is not just a trend, but an attitude towards life

Just decide to what degree you want to minimize your life. You don’t have to sell your entire household to live a simpler life (although it helps).

Just think about what is important for you in life. You can safely let go of anything that hinders you or is of no use to you anymore. It’s freeing and liberating. Because letting go is not only good for you, it also shows you what is truly important to you.