How to Embrace Minimalism in 14 Days (Even When You’re a Maximalist at Heart)
Clutter belongs in the trash, not your beautiful mind.
Admit it. You love amassing stuff. And more of it!
However, you have reached a breaking point where you feel suffocated by the physical and mental clutter surrounding you.
You are tired of the never-ending cycle of accumulation and feel overwhelmed by the chaos that has taken over your space and mind. You yearn for clarity, simplicity, and the freedom that comes with it.
With a strong determination, you have finally mustered enough courage to take on a more intentional and fulfilling life. But, if only you knew how to.
Embracing minimalism can seem overwhelming, especially when you’re used to accumulating possessions. Hello, over-flowing shoe closet!
So, where do you start? Well, I’ve got you covered.
In this article, I’ll show you, step-by-step, how, in just 14 days, you can rid yourself of the excesses and adopt a simpler life.
Let’s begin.
The Step-by-Step Minimalist Plan
Day 1: Start With a Mindset Shift
Days 2–3: Evaluate Your Possessions
Days 4–5: Overhaul Your Shopping Habits
Days 6–8: Adopt a Minimalist Wardrobe
Days 9–10: Minimize Digital Clutter
Day 11: Clean Up Your Schedule
Days 12–14: Declutter Your Living Space
What Next: Maintain Your New Lifestyle
Start Small, Start Today
Day 1: Start With a Mindset Shift
Becoming a minimalist requires a mindset shift, which may be challenging for lifelong clutterbugs. First, let’s acknowledge your apprehensions about minimalism.
You may be thinking that adopting minimalism means settling with only the bare essentials and sacrificing comfort and style.
But it is about intentionally choosing the things that add value to your life and letting go of the ones that don’t. It is about being conscious of what one owns and does, rather than compulsively giving in to random desires.
When you’ve come to terms with this, start by writing down your reasons for craving simplicity. They can serve as reminders during challenging times when you feel tempted to revert to old habits. For example:
- I want to reduce stress.
- I want to have more time to play with my kids.
- I want to save more.
- I want to contribute to a sustainable environment.
By having a clear vision of the desired outcome, you will stay motivated and committed to the process.
Days 2–3: Evaluate Your Possessions
The next step is to take inventory of your possessions and identify the areas of excesses in your life. You could have too many material possessions, over-booked calendars, or be overindulgent in impulsive purchases.
Categorize items into what is essential and what is not.
- Essential items: Regularly used, practical.
- Non-essential items: Not used in the last six months, don’t bring joy.
Decluttering possessions may seem overwhelming, but starting small and working through categories can make the process more manageable.
Begin by getting rid of obviously non-essential items such as:
- Duplicate items: do you really need seven yoga mats?
- Broken objects: how is that dysfunctional toaster oven serving you?
- Useless things: why is that old iPhone 5 still parked in your desk drawer?
For items that are difficult to let go of, ask yourself:
Do they align with your values and goals?
For instance, a cupboard full of single-use plastic items when you wish for a cleaner environment.
Do they bring you true joy?
For example, the picture frame your 9th-grade girlfriend got you that you never hung.
Days 4–5: Overhaul Your Shopping Habits
In today’s world, consumerism is ubiquitous, and it’s easy to fall into the trap of buying unnecessary items.
By scrutinizing your purchasing habits, you can uncover the triggers and motivations behind your shopping tendencies. It will not only help you identify unnecessary purchases but also enable you to overcome your impulses.
Identify Triggers and Reasons
Common triggers include boredom, stress, and social pressure, while reasons for shopping include the desire for instant gratification, the belief that one needs more to be happy, and the desire to fit in.
Create a Shopping Ban
Impose a ban on purchasing non-essential items such as accessories, collectibles, etc., for a period, say 30 days. Unsubscribe from newsletters or marketing emails from stores to reduce the temptation to shop.
Set a Budget
Set a shopping budget for essential categories such as groceries, clothing, etc. To avoid overspending, consider using cash instead of cards, making a list and sticking to it, and comparing prices. Whatever works for you.
Evaluate Purchase Decisions
When buying things, ask yourself if the item is essential, aligns with your values, or serves a real purpose. Choose to spend on experiences like travel, concerts, or classes rather than accumulating more stuff.
Days 6–8: Adopt a Minimalist Wardrobe
Do you have too many clothes in your wardrobe, but still can’t fix an attire for an evening out? It’s a paradox that you can resolve by adopting a minimalist wardrobe.
A minimalist wardrobe has essential, versatile, and quality clothes that can be mixed and matched in various ways. With a minimal wardrobe, you can reduce clutter and simplify your daily routines.
Evaluate Your Wardrobe
The first step is to evaluate your wardrobe and identify your most worn items.
Keep Your Wardrobe Lean
- Keep clothing pieces you love, wear frequently, or serve a purpose.
- Create a capsule wardrobe of items that can combine to create different outfits. The key is to choose versatile pieces that can be dressed up or down. Sticking to a neutral color palette helps as it can easily be mixed and matched. You’ll save time, money, and space and get dressed quicker.
Reduce Waste and Help Others
Donate or sell any items you haven’t worn in the last six months or no longer fit you or your style. This way, you can reduce waste and help others. Not to mention, bring some cash in!
Days 9–10: Minimize Digital Clutter
Digital clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical clutter. It’s easy to accumulate files, apps, and emails that you don’t need or use. That can make it difficult to find what you need when you need it.
So, start minimizing digital clutter by taking the following steps:
- Unsubscribe from newsletters and marketing emails you no longer read or need.
- Use a service like unroll.me to unsubscribe from unwanted emails.
- Delete any apps or files that you no longer use or need.
- Deactivate any unnecessary social media profiles.
Now that you’ve ridden yourself of digital clutter, it’s time to organize what remains. Organizing can make it easier to find what you need when you need it. Here’s what you need to do:
- Use a clear and consistent naming convention for files, and organize them into logical folders and subfolders.
- Back up important files to the cloud (Google Drive, iCloud, etc.) or an external hard drive.
Day 11: Clean Up Your Schedule
Our schedules can be overwhelming, with too many commitments and hardly any time for self-care and relaxation. Follow these steps to bring sanity to your routine:
- Identify time-wasting activities, such as mindless scrolling through social media and watching endless TV. Limit your time on these activities by setting specific time slots for them.
- Fill the spare time with more meaningful activities, such as reading a book, taking a stroll, or learning a new skill.
- Declutter your calendar by saying “no” to unnecessary commitments.
- Block time for self-care and non-negotiables such as family and work events.
- Avoid double-booking your calendar.
A simple schedule will help you reduce the number of decisions to make each day. It will also promote mindfulness, as you become more intentional with your time.
Days 12–14: Declutter Your Living Space
Minimalist home decor has a lot of benefits beyond just being aesthetically pleasing. Not only will a clutter-free space look good and reduce anxiety, but it will also minimize distractions. Here’s what you need to do:
Assess Your Space
Start by walking around your home and taking note of the areas that need decluttering. That could be a crowded entryway or a broom closet where it takes 10 minutes to get the mop out.
Decide Your Style
Determine what kind of minimalist decor you want to embrace. You can look for inspiration in home decor magazines or online platforms like Pinterest or Instagram.
Choose a Focus Area
Select a specific area or room to declutter first. That will prevent you from getting overwhelmed and help you focus on one task at a time.
I recommend starting with the bedroom since a minimal sleeping space promotes better sleep by eliminating distractions and creating a peaceful environment.
Categorize and Declutter
Separate your belongings into categories such as keep, donate, or sell. Begin with the non-essential items that you rarely use. Move on to the more challenging items, such as sentimental or valuable things. Be utmost honest with yourself in this step.
Reorganize Your Space
Once you have decluttered, it’s time to reorganize your space. Use storage solutions to help you keep your items organized and easily accessible.
Make It a Habit
Incorporate decluttering into your routine to prevent buildup from reaching overwhelming levels.
Enjoy Your Space
Take time to appreciate the newly created space and enjoy the peaceful and calming atmosphere.
Bonus tip: Buying fewer but high-quality items can help you save money in the long run. And look posh instantly!
What Next: Maintain Your New Lifestyle
Congratulations! You have officially joined the minimalist club. But your party doesn’t end here. To maintain your new-found sanity, you need to:
- Create a plan and schedule regular decluttering sessions.
- Make a checklist of things that you need and love.
- Practice mindful consumption and intentional living.
- Set times for self-care and pursuing your passions.
Remember that minimalism is not a one-time event but an ongoing process.
Start Small, Start Today
In the words of Friedrich Nietzsche,
“He who has a strong enough why can bear almost any how.”
It’s understandable to feel apprehensive about letting go. Change can be daunting, particularly when it comes to our possessions. However, it’s crucial to remind yourself why you wanted to let go in the first place.
Go back to Day 1 above and acknowledge your ‘why.’
A cluttered life is a garden overrun with weeds. You can keep planting flowers to cover up the mess or take a step back and start pulling the weeds out.
It may take some work and time, but eventually, you’ll have a beautiful garden you will be proud of.
Are you ready to take the weeds out?
Deepshikha Arora is a certified content writer, seasoned SEO pro, and lifelong learner. With an extensive background in digital marketing and SaaS, she is adept at crafting content that captures readers’ hearts and catches Google’s attention — read clicks :) She has a track record of driving traffic and audience engagement, and brings a wealth of experience to every word she writes. Get in touch to supercharge your content strategy — https://deepshikha.carrd.co/
