Getting Rid of Everything: Living Minimally

I was recently inspired by a string of videos and Pinterest boards that have been floating around on my feeds for a while. I have heard of the concept of minimalism before, but I never really thought much of it or looked into it. I finally decided to watch a few videos on the subject, and I got a lot more than I bargained for.more

How it All Began

I think after like 3 or 4 or maybe 8 hours of minimalist videos, I had seen enough to get the idea. Here's a video I recommend starting with: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7rewjFNiys

Basically, people who live with the minimalist mentality really take a look at all of the things they value and try to keep things out of their homes that don't bring joy and peace to their lives. When I really started thinking about it, I loved that concept. Why does my life have to be filled with all these useless things? I'll admit that I've fallen into the trap of buying something because it was on sale or just because I thought I needed it. I've also kept gifts that I've received, that I may not necessarily like or need, just because they were gifts. * Fam, if you're reading, I love all your gifts!! :) * Minimalists evaluate each item that enters their home and really decides on whether or not it gives them joy and is necessary. By living this way, minimalists not only live with a clean and simple home, but they live with a clear and focused mind. Let's get one thing clear right up front: Minimalists are not against owning things! You can own items, but you should only keep things that add value to your life! I instantly thought: "I have enough stress in my life and should probably clear out all the shit that is unnecessary."

There are a few big principles that I want to share that kind of opened my eyes to some bad habits I may have. These ideas and principles all come from a minimalism documentary that I watched. There are deeper reasons as to why I have collected all the crap in my home:

1. Most people spend money faster than they earn it

2. The illusion of what is perfect alters how we spend and consume

3. Human identity should be defined by what one does and not what one owns

4. We think we need things because we've been told we need them by society. (I work in marketing...and this is beyond the truth!!)

5. Before we purchase something we should ask, is this adding value to my life?

6. Minimalism isn't about living with less, but about eliminating the unnecessary and surrounding yourself with things that are important and meaningful.

I began looking around my apartment and noticed that there were quite a few things that I was hording...for pretty much no reason. Why did I have 8 bottles of perfume? Why is there a coupon book from 2015 in my drawer? Why do I have shirts with stains and holes cluttering my closet? My apartment was a mess, but it was mostly a mess because I had so much useless crap! I immediately began throwing stuff out!

The Closet Cleanse

I'll admit, it was easy at first. I piled up all the papers and empty product containers and threw them in the trash. I was feeling better already! That is...until I got to closet. I swore up and down that I was going to wear these clothes at some point. All of them had a purpose...right? WRONG! I literally haven't touched that neon blue mini skirt in 4 years...Oh and that polka dot top with a hole in the side, which I swear I can hide while wearing, is not a good representation of myself. I needed to have an honest look at my closet and I needed to purge it immediately!

Now a lot of minimalists say to avoid starting with the closet when you begin your minimalist journey, but for me, I felt like I wanted to tackle something big first thing! My closet was overflowing with shit I didn't wear and would probably never touch. Some of it I was keeping for sentimental value, some of the items were gifts, and some things I was keeping because frankly, I spent a decent amount of money on it. But absolutely none of those are good reasons for keeping things. I knew I needed to get pretty brutal about what I was going to keep. I ended up coming up with 5 criteria for keeping items in my closet:

1. I LOVED the item. Not just liked it, but loved it!

2. It made me feel good when wearing it

3. It was in good condition. No holes, stains, rips or tears

4. I wore or would wear it more than twice

5. I feel comfortable with the material and fit of the item

If you really want to clear out your closet, make a list just like this! And the clothing item needed to meet ALL of these! What are criteria that you want your dream wardrobe to meet? This will help you really narrow down what you actually value and what needs to go. This list also saved me so much time! I could almost tell immediately whether a piece of clothing would meet all the items on my list. I cleared out my closet in about an hour and a half. And let me tell you, it felt amazing!

My Life Is So Much Simpler

Just looking at all the shit I had just purged from my closet made me feel so amazing. It was like a weight that was instantly lifted off my shoulders! Getting dressed in the morning was sometimes such a chore. I love style and fashion, but pushing through the mountain of clothes I had, turned my closet into a giant mess and stressed me out to the max. Looking at my closet now I can confidently say that everything in my closet is something that I value and makes me feel good when I wear it. Getting dressed in the morning seems so much easier and starts me off on the right foot for the day.

All of this may sound hippy dippy and cheesy, but I can promise you that it really works! If you feel stressed or overwhelmed, try adopting some minimalist principles! I will say that I probably won't be an extreme minimalist, but I definitely want to continue this journey! I think I may try a 30-day challenge to keep on track! Be sure to stay tuned here and on Instagram for more of that!

So what do you guys think of minimalism? Have you tried it? What did you think? I'd love to know your thoughts!