It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the stuff and activities that fill our time these days. However, I think minimalism offers a way to find peace and simplicity by focusing on what truly matters and letting go of the rest. In this blog post, we’ll explore 10 minimalist habits and routines to help you embrace minimalism and create a more peaceful, organised and meaningful life.
WHY HABITS AND ROUTINES MATTER
I love habits and routines because they help my schedule and home run more easily that way. If I try an activity and I get used to doing it and it makes a positive difference in some way, then I like to repeat it.
Over time, these activities become habits and routines that become ingrained into the flow of my day. I keep them flexible and can adjust them in whatever way I need for how I’m feeling and the time I have available. I can get on with other things if I have habits and routines which help me get things done in the most efficient way possible.
“In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently.” (Tony Robbins)
If you want to shape your life and find direction and meaning, maybe some simple, minimalist habits and routines could be a good place to begin?
SIMPLE MINIMALIST HABITS AND ROUTINES
To help explain more about what I mean and how they fit into my simpler life, here are some ideas for 10 minimalist habits and routines for a calmer life.
1. Declutter Regularly
Firstly, one of the core principles of minimalism is having less stuff. Regular decluttering encourages you to only keep what you need, love and appreciate in some way. Set aside a specific time each month to go through your belongings. Start with one area, like a drawer or a closet. Sort items into 5 categories: keep, donate, sell, recycle and throw away.
Why It Works: Regular decluttering prevents clutter from building up and makes your space more organised and manageable. It helps you appreciate the things you have and ensures that everything in your home is there for a reason and supports you in your current life.
How You Can Get Started: Can you begin with a small, manageable area, like a single drawer or shelf and gradually work your way through larger spaces? Make it a habit to declutter a little bit each week to maintain a tidy home. Put a reminder in your diary so you don’t miss your decluttering date with yourself!
2. Embrace the One-In, One-Out Rule
Secondly, to prevent new clutter from building and to stop the cycle of clutter in its tracks, adopt the one-in, one-out rule. Whenever you buy something new, get rid of an old item. For example, if you buy a new top or dress, donate or recycle an old one.
Why It Works: This rule helps you be more mindful about what you bring into your home and keeps your space organised. It also encourages you to think carefully before making new purchases. Is what you want to buy better or more useful than what you have already?
How You Can Get Started: Can you can apply this rule to different areas of your life? Your wardrobe, kitchen, and even digital files? Make it a habit to assess what you already have before bringing in something new. Over time, this way of thinking about the value of your stuff will become a natural part of your decision-making.
3. Simplify Your Wardrobe
A minimalist wardrobe can save you time and reduce decision fatigue where our decision-making skills becoming increasingly worn out as the day goes on! Can you create a capsule wardrobe with versatile pieces that you love to wear and choose items that can be mixed and matched to create different outfits? You’ll probably find that you have more outfit choices even with less actual clothes!
Why It Works: Having fewer clothes means less time spent deciding what to wear and less clutter in your closet. A simplified wardrobe makes it easier to get dressed in the morning and ensures you always feel good in what you’re wearing. There won’t be anything in your wardrobe that you don’t like to wear or wear regularly.
How You Can Get Started: Start by decluttering your wardrobe. Remove clothes that make you feel uncomfortable or you don’t like to wear. Your aim is to keep only the items that you wear regularly and love. You could choose neutral colours and classic styles that can be easily mixed and matched or go for colour if that makes you happy. Create a wardrobe that makes you feel happy about yourself and your body. Gradually build your capsule wardrobe with quality pieces as and when your budget allows.
4. Practice Mindful Shopping
Another of my favourite minimalist habits and routines is before making a purchase, ask yourself if you truly need the item and if it will add value to your life. Avoid impulse buys and buying clothes you won’t wear or don’t really need by giving yourself time to think about a purchase before committing. Focus on buying quality over quantity if this is an important consideration for you.
Why It Works: Mindful shopping reduces clutter and helps you save money. It encourages you to make intentional choices and avoid unnecessary purchases which makes us a more conscious consumer and is better for the planet too.
How You Can Get Started: Create a shopping list and stick to it. Avoid shopping as a hobby or stress reliever. Can you keep a list of things you could do instead of shopping for when you need a boost? Before buying something, ask yourself if it’s something you truly need or if it’s just a temporary whim which might pass in time!
5. Create a Simple Daily Routine
Having a simple daily routine can bring structure and calm to your life. Start by identifying your most important tasks and activities. Make them a priority and build a routine around them that includes a mixture of time for work, rest, and hobbies. Your life is made up of a series of individual days so how you spend those days is actually how you spend your life. Food for thought when you’re wishing the day away!
Why It Works: A consistent routine helps you stay organised, more in control and reduces stress. It ensures that you have time for all the important activities that you both NEED and WANT to do and helps you manage your time more effectively. Being busy is NOT the same as being productive.
How You Can Get Started: Make a list of your daily tasks and arrange them in some kind of logical order. Remember to include time for breaks and relaxation as these are important too! Stick to your routine as much as possible. Just be flexible and adjust it as needed when something happens that requires your time and attention.
6. Limit Digital Clutter
Digital clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical clutter. Regularly clean up your digital devices by deleting unnecessary files, apps, and emails. Organise your digital life by creating folders for important documents and unsubscribing from emails you no longer read.
Why It Works: Keeping your digital space tidy improves productivity and reduces stress. It makes it easier to find important information and reduces the time spent managing your digital life. Digital clutter, even though it’s hidden out of sight for most of the time, is still clutter and gets in our way.
How You Can Get Started: Set aside time each week to clean up your digital devices. Delete old files and apps, organise your email inbox, and create a filing system for your documents. Use digital tools to help you stay organised. Or try a digital detox challenge to see how long you can go without your phone or screen!
7. Prioritise Experiences Over Things
Instead of accumulating material possessions, focus on creating memorable experiences. Spend your time and money on activities that bring you joy and fulfilment, like traveling, spending time with loved ones, or learning a new skill. A minimalist life can help you save money by not buying things you don’t really need. But, minimalism can also be about spending money on experiences, memories and activities that you enjoy and mean something to you for years to come.
Why It Works: Experiences often bring more lasting happiness than things. They create memories and connections that enrich your life rather than just more stuff stored in your cupboards.
How You Can Get Started: Think about what sort of activities you enjoy. Make time for them in your schedule – every day, week or month. Set a budget for experiences and prioritise them over material purchases. Memories can last a lifetime, stuff not so much.
8. Set Clear Goals
Minimalism is about focusing on what’s important to you. To help you put this into practice in your every day life, it can be helpful to set clear, achievable goals to work towards. Whether it’s decluttering your home, simplifying your schedule, or saving more money, having specific goals for all these different areas can help you stay focused and motivated.
Why It Works: Clear goals provide direction and purpose so you know what you’re doing and how you’re going to get it done. They help you prioritise your time and efforts and track your progress so you can see just how far you’ve come.
How You Can Get Started: Write down your goals and break them into smaller, manageable steps. Review your goals regularly and adjust them as needed and don’t forget to celebrate your progress along the way! We all need a bit of reward and incentive every now and then to spur us on.
9. Practice Gratitude
Take time each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for. Practicing gratitude can shift your focus from what you lack to what you have and helps us feel more content and happier.
Why It Works: Gratitude helps you appreciate the present moment and the positive aspects of your life. It reduces negative thinking, envy and comparison which helps improve our mood, positivity and overall well-being.
How You Can Get Started: Keep a gratitude journal and write down three things you’re grateful for each day. Take a moment each morning or evening to reflect on the positive aspects of your life and what you can do to build on them tomorrow.
10. Simplify Your Finances
Streamlining your finances can reduce stress and give you more control over your money. Start by automating bill payments and savings so these run on auto-pilot. Track your spending to identify areas where you can cut back and be more intentional with where your money goes each month. You might find it helpful to create a simple budget that aligns with your financial goals and which you can stick to, to avoid overspending and debt.
Why It Works: Simplifying your finances helps you manage your money more effectively, maybe even reducing financial stress which is a huge source of tension for many of us as the cost of living rises. It also helps ensure that you’re living within your means and saving what you can, if you can, for the future.
How to Get Started: Look at your monthly outgoings and set these up to be paid automatically. Track your expenses to identify spending patterns using a simple spreadsheet or just a notepad and pen. Create a budget and review it regularly to stay on track.
GETTING STARTED WITH MINIMALISM
If you enjoyed these tips on minimalist habits and routines, here are some ideas to help you get started with minimalism today.
1. Assess Your Space: Begin your minimalist journey by assessing your living space as home is where the heart is and where we come back to and leave from each day. Identify areas that feel cluttered or overwhelming and make a plan to tackle them one by one. Start with a small area, like a drawer or a shelf, and gradually build momentum as your confidence and decluttering skills grow.
2. Take It Slow: Minimalism is a journey, not a race so take your time and make gradual changes. Small, consistent steps are more sustainable and less overwhelming than drastic overhauls. Celebrate your progress along the way, no matter how small and lean into what makes home and life important and meaningful to you.
3. Focus on Quality Over Quantity: When you need to make purchases, choose high-quality items that will last wherever possible. Investing in durable, versatile pieces can help reduce the need for frequent replacements and helps you appreciate what you have.
4. Seek Inspiration: Follow minimalist blogs, read books on minimalism, or join online communities and groups to find inspiration and support. Learning from others who embrace minimalism can provide information and encouragement. You’ll find plenty of minimalist tips on my website but we all have different starting points and end goals. So, for a different perspective and fresh advice, I’d always encourage you to research further afield too!
COMMON CHALLENGES AND HOW TO OVERCOME THEM
Decluttering and simplifying life as a minimalist isn’t always easy. So, here are some quick tips to help you deal with some of the most common obstacles I hear from readers, alongside putting in place your own minimalist habits and routines.
1. Emotional Attachment to Items
It’s normal to feel attached to your belongings, especially if they hold sentimental value. This is perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of clearing our stuff but it does get easier with time, practice and reflection. Remember, the memories associated with an item are often more important than the item itself.
Solution: Take photos of sentimental items before letting them go. This way, you can keep the memory without keeping the physical item. Focus on the positive aspects of decluttering and the benefits it brings to counteract any difficult feelings. Also, remember, that you don’t have to keep everything and sometimes just keeping some things is enough.
2. Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
The fear of missing out can make it hard to part with things, say no to new opportunities or even just step away from our phones. Remind yourself that minimalism is about making space for what truly matters to you, not about depriving yourself or getting rid of everything just for the sake of it. Trust that letting go of the excess will create room for more meaningful experiences but it’s up to you to find and make them happen.
Solution: Shift your focus to what you gain by letting go of excess – more space, more time, and more peace. Remember that less is often more. What you keep should add value to your life or else it might just be adding to your stress and mental load.
3. Resistance from Others
If others in your home aren’t on board with minimalism, try telling them about the reasons why you want to explore this lifestyle and the benefits you’re hoping to find. Lead by example and declutter your stuff and show them what a difference it makes to your health and daily life. Although I love the minimalist life, I would always respect other people’s choices to take a different route as we all have different priorities and needs.
Solution: Why not share your experiences and the positive changes you’ve noticed? Encourage small, baby changes and try to be non-judgemental and gentle in your approach and language. For example, if I suggest to my hoarder husband that we ‘organise’ his stuff, he’s much more likely to find a few bits to declutter at the same time. Conversely, suggesting to him that we ‘declutter’ is likely to scare him and cause tension!
CONCLUSION
Adopting minimalist habits and routines can totally transform your life – it did mine! In this article we’ve looked at some ideas you could start trying in your own home and life. Start small, stay consistent, and enjoy the journey towards a simpler, more intentional life. Minimalism is not about perfection but about finding balance and joy in simplicity.
I’d love to hear what minimalist habits and routines you’ve put in place! Please leave a comment below. Let me know which you’ve found to be the most helpful and if any were particularly hard to establish. Do you have any tips or ideas to share that might help others?
Antonia Colins is the creator of Balance Through Simplicity – a website and blog helping busy people declutter, organise and simplify their home and life. She has over 20 years of experience in juggling work and family life and supporting individuals through home adaptations and enjoying their home more. In her spare time, you can find Antonia walking, gardening or planning her next travel adventure! She lives in the UK with her husband and teenage kids. Read more about Antonia.