“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.”

Habits are powerful! Although it’s not always simple to develop good habits, it’s worth it in the long run. That’s why today, I want to share minimalist habits that can transform your life. I know, because they changed my life and my family’s life for the better.

Picture this — you walk into your home after a long day at work, and instead of being greeted by piles of clothes, stacks of unread books, and an overwhelming amount of knick-knacks, you’re met with a serene, clutter-free space.

The absence of unnecessary belongings allows you to breathe freely and experience a sense of calm. Your mind isn’t consumed by the never-ending to-do lists and distractions that often accompany a cluttered environment. Instead, you have the mental space to focus on what truly matters to you — your loved ones, your passions, and your own well-being.

This example highlights the transformative power of minimalism. It’s not just about having a neat and tidy space, it’s about creating an environment that supports and enhances our well-being, both physically and mentally.

While it’s true that minimalists are unique in their values and experiences, most of them practice a healthy variety of these habits.

What is Minimalism actually?

A philosophy and lifestyle that seeks to simplify and declutter our lives, allowing us to focus on what truly matters.

At its core, Minimalism is about intentionally choosing to live with less, stripping away the excess and unnecessary to create space for what brings us joy, purpose, and fulfillment.

By embracing minimalism, we free ourselves from the burdens of materialism and the constant pursuit of more, allowing us to live a more intentional, balanced, and fulfilling life.

Simplifying Your Life for Greater Fulfillment

Ignore the Haters

No matter what you do in life, people will always criticize or try to bring you down. Don’t let them get to you! Keep your head up and keep doing what makes you happy.

You might have people call your home “boring” or “not cozy” or rag on you because you don’t swap your clothes each season to match the latest trends.

Those same people would probably be the first in line to diss you for having a cluttered home or telling you to “just relax” when your life stresses you out.

Haters are going to hate, but don’t feed the trolls; you don’t need that negativity in your life. Live your life, and you do what you want to.

“Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”

Set your Intentions

Have you ever decluttered your home, only to find that the clutter is creeping slowly back in?

Setting an intention for a room means thinking about your “why” and getting in touch with the purpose, feeling, and energy you want to create in that space.

In our closet-free 100-year-old home, the entryway space is limited. Therefore, we don’t want to fill it up with tons of furniture or own too many shoes or coats because we don’t have the space for them.

The intention here is to have enough room to store our shoes, outerwear, and outdoor play toys, and still have enough space to get in and out quickly and easily.

Everything we need is at our fingertips!

The One in One out Rule

The one-in, one-out rule is simple but effective. All it means is that you sell, donate, or give away an old item for each new item you bring into your home.

This simple habit helps you maintain the equilibrium in your home.

You can think of it more as a guideline than a hard and fast rule, and it’s pretty easy to modify to suit your lifestyle. Read this blog post to learn more about the one-in-one-out rule.

• You can exchange within the same category, or you can swap across categories.
• You can wait until you get rid of something before bringing in a new item.
• You can increase the ratio of things coming in versus things going out (i.e., one in, two out, or one in, four out).

Keep Surface Clear

One essential habit for creating a clutter-free minimalist home is to keep surfaces clear. When surfaces are tidy, it gives your eye a chance to rest and creates a feeling of calm. It also makes it much easier to clean!

This is also one of the most challenging habits to maintain, as flat surfaces seem to be absolutely magnets for clutter!

Make it a habit to try and put things away either right after you use them or at the end of the day when you’re doing one last tidy session before going to bed.

“A place for everything and everything in its place.”

Embrace Empty Space

People see empty space and have this instinct to fill it up.

In our culture, we’ve gotten used to filling every nook and cranny with stuff — knick-knacks, picture frames, excess furniture — but when you make minimalism a habit, you realize that less is truly more.

If you are in the middle of decluttering your home, don’t feel like you need to put stuff back into the spaces you just cleared out!

Take time to get used to the feeling and enjoy it, you might decide to keep it that way.

Create a Budget

One of the most important things you can do for your finances is to create a budget and then stick to it.

Minimalism and frugal living go together like spaghetti and meatballs, so adopting the habit of tracking your expenses and keeping a budget is a no-brainer.

A good place for newbies to start is tracking their expenses for 30 days and creating a budget that trims the fat.

Reduce Impulse Buying

Impulse buying can be harmful on so many levels. On the one hand, you’re wasting money buying stuff that you (more often than not) didn’t even want or need.

On the other hand, you’re also filling up your home with all that extra stuff, which in turn takes up space and drains you of your time and energy trying to maintain it all!

We all impulse buy, but it’s time to deal with it when it becomes a constant habit or coping mechanism for stress.

The 30-Day Rule

The 30-Day Rule is simple: if you see something you want, don’t buy it immediately. Instead, wait 30 days.

If after those 30 days, you still want the item, go ahead and make the purchase. This rule gives you time to think about whether or not you need or even want an item and is one of the best frugal minimalist habits to shop mindfully.

Say No to Free Stuff

We live in a society that loves freebies.

Companies will give away all kinds of stuff, from t-shirts to pens to keychains, hoping that you’ll remember them when it comes time to make a purchase. Not to mention all the free stuff left out on trash day or in Buy Nothing groups! Friends who are decluttering their own homes might ask you if you want first dibs.

However, if all that free stuff at your fingertips isn’t something you want or need, all you are doing is cluttering up your home with a lot of extra junk!

Make it a habit to say no to freebies if they don’t align with your needs.

Turn off Notifications

Notifications are one of the biggest distractions when you are trying to be productive or just relax.

Whenever your phone dings or you hear that little notification sound, your brain is conditioned to think it’s something important that needs your attention.

You can put your phone on silent or turn off notifications for specific social media apps when you need to focus.

“No one deserves 24/7 access to your peace of mind.”

Unfollow

Social media can be a great way to connect with friends and family, but it can also be a significant time suck and source of anxiety.

If you find yourself constantly scrolling through your feed only to feel angry, jealous, or depressed because start comparing your life to an influencer’s, it’s time to do some unfollowing.

Keep the accounts that inspire and motivate you, and say goodbye to the rest.

Take Care of Your Stuff

Another excellent simple life habit is to know how to maintain your stuff.

When you treat the things you own with care and affection, they will last longer, and you won’t have to replace items as often. That saves you more money, energy, and time in the long run!

Share the Responsibility

When the entire burden of home care rests on the shoulders of a single person, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

If you live with others, share the load!

Divide up chores so that everyone contributes. You can even make it fun by turning on some music and making a game out of who can clean the most in a certain amount of time.

This isn’t something that will happen overnight but teach and encourage kids and spouses/partners to do their share and take responsibility. The ability to tidy up after oneself is an important life skill and builds character for a happy and successful life!

Be Sustainable

Making sustainability a part of your minimalist lifestyle isn’t only good for you but it’s also good for the environment!

As you declutter, when you find you no longer want something, don’t just trash it! Instead, you can resell, donate, give away, or recycle.

There are plenty of people who would love to give your unwanted items a new home. Trashing should be the final option when all others are exhausted.

Drive Less

Do you need to drive everywhere?
Can you walk, cycle, or take public transportation instead?

This is not only better for the environment, but it can also be better for your health! Walking and cycling are great forms of exercise.

Driving less or efficiently will save you money on gas which is always a bonus.

Let Go

Letting go isn’t just about removing physical clutter but also downsizing mental and emotional clutter that drains your time, space, money, and energy.

It’s okay to make to-do lists, but it’s also essential to question your to-do lists and realize that not everything is given the same amount of attention or effort — or even done at all!

Whether it’s fear, toxic relationships, bad money habits, or even guilt about letting go, it’s time to release them all and start living your best life.

Final Thoughts

Now, it’s time for you to embark on your own minimalist journey. Start small by decluttering one area of your home or simplifying one aspect of your daily routine.

Notice the positive impact it has on your physical and mental well-being. Embrace the freedom that comes with letting go of excess and focus on what truly brings you joy and fulfillment.

Remember, minimalism is not about perfection, it’s about progress and finding what works best for you.

Additionally, to help you cultivate positive habits and maintain a consistent routine, check out Justly, an innovative app that focuses on supporting users in reaching their goals.

The habit of minimalism is a lifelong journey. Embrace the process, experiment with different approaches, and discover what truly resonates with you.

Simplify, declutter, and create space for Greater Fulfillment in your life. Let the habit of minimalism be your guide to a more intentional and joyful existence.

Justly: Habits, Goals, Journal

How Minimalism Can Simplify Your Life For Greater Fulfillment? was originally published in Justly Blog on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.