Minimalism is a trend that has seen a massive spike in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. Millennials are finding increasingly difficult to follow in the footsteps of the older generations, especially when it comes to the topic of possessions.
More and more people feel that acquiring stuff is not a healthy way to live, and learning how to cut down on our overall consumption not only helps the planet, but can also dramatically improve a person’s living situation.
Minimalism is a global response to the problem of over-consumption that we’re currently facing, and it’s much easier to ease into than most people realise.
1. Learn To Live Without
The problem that we face at the moment in regards to consumption is that we often own stuff that we simply don’t need. Extra clothing, cutlery, crockery, ornaments, and cupboard items tend to be stuff that builds up over time – often due to a sale we come across or perhaps a present from a family member.
The idea is to always try and keep the stuff you own to a bare minimum, allowing you to make use of the creature comforts that you’ve grown used to, such as enjoying Australian sports betting, while maintaining a clean and low-item zone in your household.
It’s a difficult step to take at first, it’s easy to look at the stuff you own and feel that you may need it in the future – but a general rule of thumb is to always get rid of stuff that you haven’t used in one year.
2. Get Rid of Duplicates
The first step to take is to get rid of all the duplicate items that you own. These can be anything from DVDs to extra cups and plates that you never make use of.
It’s about going through your house and finding duplicates of items that you already own, and then donating or selling the ones that you don’t want so that you have everything you need.
3. Travel Lightly
Travelling can quickly become overwhelming when we’re faced with a pile of items to pack, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Rather create a short and simple list of the things that you can’t travel without, pack those things, and then head off.
It’s also a good idea to try and get a hold of things that may reduce the amount that you need to carry, such as portable utensil tools, portable clothes washing bags, and multi-use bags.
4. Eat Simply
One of the biggest problems of our age of consumption is the amount of waste that we produce when we go shopping at the local store. Most food items are sold in plastic, and it can quickly build up, which means having to throw it all away eventually.
One option for the minimalist is to instead take reusable bags, which includes a replacement for plastic bags, and the smaller bags for buying multiple fresh items.