Minimalism is super trendy right now. There was the Minimalism documentary on Netflix, and Marie Kondo’s “spark joy” philosophy is something everyone is talking about.
When you think of minimalism, do you think of people with blank, white walls, a potted plant, and a capsule wardrobe?
Well, minimalists are actually just people who are interested in keeping things very simple. They live with less.
There is definitely something to be said for decluttering and making space for only what you really love and need. But, what if you applied minimalism to other areas of your life.
8 Areas You Can Apply Minimalism to Your Whole Life
Schedules
Let’s face it, most of us are overcommitted and too busy. What can you take out of your schedule that you, or your hubby or your kids don’t really enjoy? Identify those things and check out this post on how to back out of a commitment gracefully. The less crowded your schedule is, the less chaotic your days will be.
Health & Fitness
Whoever said you have to spend an hour at the gym every day to be healthy must have been a gym owner. The simpler you make it, the more motivated you will be to do it. Do a 20-30 minute workout. Exercise at home. Take a walk.
Food
Anyone else feel like they own a diner? People around here never stop wanting to eat. Make things easier on yourself by preparing simple meals. Use shortcuts like grilling, cooking meat ahead of time, using your pressure cooker or crockpot, and making a double portion of something to freeze, and you’ll spend less time in the kitchen. My favorite tip is to make a list of 30 meals you and your family love and then meal planning becomes fast and easy.
Holidays
It seems like birthday parties, Christmas and other holidays just keep getting bigger and bigger. There is nothing wrong with taking a step back and keeping things simple. Make holidays less chaotic by just doing a few things, and try to give experience gifts more than physical gifts.
Business
If you have a business, you have probably heard the 80/20 rule. Twenty percent of your customers bring in 80% of the profits, and 20% of your activities generate 80% of your revenue. Identify what clients, tactics or products bring in the most money and focus on those things.
Faith
When it comes to reading your Bible, don’t worry about how much you read. Focus on going deep. Research what was going on in the world when a particular book was written. Look at maps so you can understand the layout of events. Imagine yourself in the stories. What would you do? Which character would you be?
Finances
Sometimes I really struggle with impulse buying, usually when I see a good deal. That’s how they get us, right? We know the cheaper price is for a limited time or the item may not be available if you wait. If I stopped impulse buying, we would probably be millionaires by now. Here’s my advice to us both: try sleeping on a purchase overnight unless it’s something you already planned to buy. When I do “sleep on it,” I often wake deciding I really don’t want the item.
Technology
I LOVE technology. Probably a little too much. It would probably do us all some good to limit the amount of time we spend on our phones, and even what we have on our phones. For example, do you really need email on your phone or could you just read them on a computer? Have you ever considered deleting your social media apps on the weekends to have a break? Or, turn your phone on airplane mode so you are limited to things you have downloaded. Get creative and think of ways to ensure you aren’t mastered by your devices.
This is just a start. We can look at so many areas of our lives and apply this principle. Just ask yourself, “Is there a way I can make this simpler?”
I’m coming to realize that less is best in most cases.
What about you? What’s something you have simplified that’s made a big difference in your life. Message me on Instagram or send me an email.
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