When it comes to minimalism, it’s just not about freeing some space at home. It’s about living a disciplined and constructive life. It is for this reason, people are beginning to add minimalist practices in their day-to-day lives, and unsurprisingly, they are being benefited too.
In case you want to try your hands at it and witness the change yourself then, this article would help you do just that.
10 minimalist practices that are life-changing
1. Keep limited cash
Most of us dread going to malls, because we know that we would end up buying something or the other, and it will ruin our entire budget. I can understand how shopping addiction can be; it controls you, damaging not only your pockets but your principles as well.
Thus, instead of boycotting mall visits, you can keep limited cash with you, and no credit card. That would ensure that you would not buy unnecessary stuff.
2. Go-digital
Books and newspapers are our best friends until they take up all the space. So, why not limit your paper resources and save the environment in the process? You can do so by going digital. Instead of keeping too many books at home, consider investing in a kindle. As for newspapers, you can switch to e-newspapers and Television.
3. Get rid of just in case items
What stops you from throwing away stuff? Probably the excuse that you might, just in case, need them in the future. The truth is you don’t.
If you haven’t used an object for some time now, you would not use it in the future as well. So, don’t lie to yourself, and get rid of all the just-in-case items in your home.
4. Minimalist décor
If you are one of those people, whose homes are filled with décor items; you are probably not keeping up with the home décor trend lately. Gone are the days when people would stuff their houses with fancy items, now they decorate it as minimally as possible with a neutral color scheme to make it look classier.
5. Less shopping
It’s a given that when you shop less, you save more. That way, minimalism can definitely be a booster to your budget. When your principle would be to own less, you would not stretch your hand for that pretty black dress.
6. One in and one out
Minimalism does not mean you should abandon shopping altogether. You can; however, while doing so do not forget the principle of minimalism you swore by.
To do that, you can keep a one in and one out rule. That means, every time you bring something in, get something out. For instance, if you are to buy that black dress we talked about, you can do so by sacrificing another old dress from the closet.
7. The art of giving
Much to your surprise, minimalism can help you practice compassion and kindness. When you know you do not have to keep extra items in your home, instead of throwing them out in the bin, you can donate them to people who need them.
8. Keeping your bags light
It is not exactly life-changing, but it would make your life simpler. Just get rid of the items that you do not use daily in your purse, and you’ll be avoiding unnecessary load for your shoulders.
9. Recycle and reuse
What do you do with empty jam bottles and consumed jar candles? If you are not practicing minimalism, you probably throw them away.
But minimalists would never do that. Instead, they will reuse those bottles to store small items like nails and screws in the garage, or make planters out of them, or use it for something else.
10. Boycott plastic items
Our homes have plenty of plastic items. But what if instead of buying things and items containing plastic, you look out for options?
For instance, using metal water bottles, metal lunch boxes, metal coffee mugs, etc. instead of using their plastic counterparts. By doing so you would not only be reducing clutter but would do your part in saving the environment.
Lastly,
That’s all we had to say, now it’s time for you to do. Adopt these practices, stay consistent with them and see how life-changing they can be! Keep up the good work folks!
If you are looking for ways to get started in Minimalism, check out these posts to give you a head start:
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Here’s a few questions you might have before signing up with my link:
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Nutritious meal options
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Life can be pretty hectic at times, the stress of work and family can wear you out to the point of tremendous overwhelm. However, as long as you know how to deal with this stress, you will be able to bounce back in no time.
But, how do you recognize you’re overwhelmed in the first place?
Does it come to the point of breaking down and crying for you before you realize you are overwhelmed? What about freezing and not being able to do anything? For me, it’s a mix of all of that plus feeling like the world is all crashing down around me. I know, not fun at all! And then I can’t function and feel like anyone trying to help me is actually attacking me, making the situation much worse. Sometimes I need to take a sip of my own advice, so here we go with that and I hope you will also take a bit as well.
10 Signs You’re Overwhelmed and How to Fix it
1. Erratic Sleep Patterns
One of the primary signs that show you are overwhelmed is either when you have difficulty sleeping or when you start sleeping in excess. To fix such erratic sleeping patterns, try going to bed at a fixed time every day, a time that is not too late or too early.
2. You always feel exhausted
Another sign that you are overwhelmed is when you feel tired all the time, no matter how much sleep you get. The remedies suggested for problem 1 can also be applied here. Additionally, consuming healthy food and engaging in regular exercise also help.
3. Loss of Appetite
You are overwhelmed if you experience a loss in appetite or start overeating. This is huge for me. I already struggle with ensuring I eat enough and often enough, but overwhelm makes it so much worse! Remedy this by eating at fixed intervals during the day, and eating only healthy foods that provide nutrition to your body. I like to set a timer on my phone to go off every couple of hours so I actually take a break to eat and that helps with the overwhelm.
4. You are not in control of your emotions
If you are feeling excessively moody or emotional, it could be a sign of stress. However, it’s advisable not to take this lightly. Share what you are feeling with a close friend or a healthcare professional. Do not be ashamed to seek help when needed. As someone who has experienced loss because of a PTSD issue that wasn’t addressed or treated recently, I can’t express how okay it is to not be okay. And if you need any support and don’t feel you can talk to anyone, I’m always available to chat. Your feelings and emotions are valid no matter what others might be telling you.
5. Anxiety
If you are feeling anxious and stressed out, try to avoid or limit caffeine and alcohol in your diet. Exercise for your mental as well as physical well-being, and try to take small breaks throughout the day to help you relax your nerves. I have been exercising and meditating everyday for 2 years, sometimes as much as 90 minutes and others as little as 5 minutes. The important thing is being able to quiet the mind and for that amount of time, I can focus on not being anxious or the to do list or the not good enough thoughts that run on repeat when I’m stressed and overwhelmed.
6. You Lack Energy
When you are stressed out, it’s natural to feel depleted of energy. All of the tips mentioned above will work to solve this. Exercising regularly can also keep you fit physically and mentally, as exercise triggers the release of dopamine AKA “happy hormone.”
7. Lack of Motivation
When you are overwhelmed emotionally, you tend to lack the motivation to work or go about your day. To remedy this, you need to implement some self-care practices into your everyday routine.
Maintain lists and check items off the list when you finish the job. Break your large tasks into smaller ones so that you feel less overwhelmed. And take small breaks throughout the day to recharge your batteries. Taking a break to exercise or even walking away from the task can help get you the motivation you need to start and finish. Sometimes that’s all it takes.
8. You are Highly Stressed
When you are overwhelmed, stress levels run high. You overreact at the smallest of problems, and what once was a minor complaint, suddenly turns into something major.
To avoid this, try to bring about more balance in your life. Try to establish a balance between work and personal life, and as mentioned, break up your tasks into smaller ones so that you are not overwhelmed by work. If you can, leave your work at work. If you work from home, set boundaries with time and space to shut off work. And if you are an entrepreneur or a C Level Executive, sometimes this is difficult as I know as an AirBnB host who gets calls and questions all hours of the day. But it can help with giving a little balance if it can be left to the next day if after your set time.
9. You Keep To Yourself
You may have observed that you keep more to yourself these days. Because the act of socializing with others itself seems like a heavy chore that you are least interested in doing. You feel it is taking too much of your energy.
It’s okay to take time alone to recharge your batteries. Spend this time meaningfully by doing activities you actually enjoy like reading a book, etc.
10. Difficulty in Focusing
Too much stress can lead to experiencing difficulty in focusing and concentration. To remedy this, you need to lead a well-maintained and balanced life.
Apply the tips mentioned for #7, that is, break down chores into smaller tasks. And treat yourself to small breaks throughout the day. Implement the proper self-care activities to regain your focus and concentration.
To conclude,
When you recognize the signs of stress early on, you nip the problem in its bud and immediately work on restoring your physical and mental well-being. Leading a balanced life and investing adequate time in self-care are the key to living a stress-free life in today’s fast-paced world.
Exercising regularly and eating healthily also play a significant role in maintaining your physical, mental, and emotional health, and keep you stress-free.
I hope this article helped you in some way. How do you cope when you feel absolutely overwhelmed and burned out?
Sustaining a relationship is no piece of cake. It requires constant effort and hard work. And the key to maintaining a healthy relationship is by infusing it with positive habits.
Habits work like second nature to us. When we take the time to create a pattern of positive habits in a relationship, the impact is powerful. Falling in love is simply not enough; you have to stay in love. Staying in love depends on certain principles that both you and your partner believe in.
Growing up, I saw a relationship of my parents who are still married to this day, very strained and filled with dependance and not so much love. It was filled with anger, fighting, hatred, and yelling. I knew that was nothing like what I wanted when I found my forever partner. And I wanted something exactly the opposite actually.
I wanted love and appreciation and respect and open communication.
5 Habits of a Happy Couple who are Deeply in Love
Here are 5 habits of a happy couple who are deeply in love:
1. Expressing appreciation to your partner
Take the time to appreciate your partner in little ways daily. It can be as simple as bringing home a bunch of flowers or leaving behind a small love note.
Make it a habit to make your partner feel loved, noticed, and appreciated every single day. Take time out of the day to spend it with them, and strengthen your emotional bonds. There needs to be private time allocated for the two of you every day.
2. Communication is key
One of the most powerful habits you can form in a relationship, one that several couples struggle to maintain, is the art of communication.
Communication is the key to a healthy relationship. However, often, we feel scared to communicate our negative feelings in the fear of picking fights or end up communicating our feelings in the wrong way.
It must be remembered that your partner is not a mind reader. They will not know what’s bothering you until you tell them. And the way to tell them that is not by yelling, it’s by having a calm, rational conversation where you air your grievances.
No matter what, maintain the habit of never going to bed angry with each other. If one of you is hot-headed, the other person has to strive to maintain their cool in crisis situations. Listen, communicate, solve. As easy as that!
3. Respect your partner
Respect your partner even when you disagree with them. Mutual respect is an integral part of a healthy relationship.
Respecting your partner means acceptance of your differences in values. Respect is when you accept your partner as they are, even though they might have a different opinion or a past. Treat your partner the way you would expect to be treated by them.
4. Consider yourself a team
Engrave this in your mind – you and your partner are not in competition with each other. You don’t belong to opposite teams.
When you realize that you are on the same side, you can work together to achieve your goals more efficiently. Small or big, you should see each goal as a chance for you and your partner to connect deeper and work for your mutual improvement.
A couple in a healthy relationship helps each other grow instead of being jealous of each other. You and your partner can work on your goals better when you give a concerted effort, always remember that.
5. Say positive things about your partner to others
Do you know what is the opposite of a happy couple? A couple who is always complaining about each other’s flaws to people.
Once again, as a couple, you work on building each other up, not tearing each other down. Accept your partner’s flaws, and focus on their positive attributes instead of focusing on their negative ones. When you express the positive attributes of your partner to other people, your bond strengthens and the love between you grows.
Lastly,
Remember, no one is perfect. Love is all about acceptance and seeing the perfect among all the imperfections.
A relationship is like a seed you sow; you need to nurture the seed into a sapling and then into a fully blooming plant with constant love and care. By implementing the above-mentioned positive habits in your relationship, you make a conscious effort to deepen your connection and maintain a healthy relationship.
No one expects you to get it right the first round. Practice makes a human perfect, and it is with daily practice that you will be able to inculcate these crucial habits into your relationship, resulting in an everlasting and affectionate bond between you and your partner.
If you are struggling to keep the love alive or wondering how to get to a place where you are madly in love with your partner, or even in a new relationship, I encourage you to check out this post about how to start building and keeping the spark alive in your relationship.
At the end of the day, all we want is a good, healthy, and fun relationship with our families. We want to hang out with our loved ones, laugh over lame jokes, talk about our favorite movie characters, and go on fun vacations with them, it’s what everyone desires.
Yet such a relationship is not easy to establish. It takes effort; it takes understanding, and last but not least communication. If you are a parent, I am sure you want that kind of relationship. You want your children to walk up to you with their problems, hang out with you like they do with their friends. In a nutshell, you want to establish an interesting, and enjoyable relationship with your children.
But the question remains HOW. But why worry when we are here to help. The secret to a healthy family relationship is bonding. The more you bond with them, the more enjoyable your relationship will become. In other words, bonding is a great exercise to bring people closer together. So, here are some family bonding ideas you can keep in your toolkit.
50 family bonding ideas
1. Have regular movie nights.
While you are at it, make sure you pick interesting movies. Perhaps you can also have your debate after watching the movie.
Whether it is a game of UNO or Monopoly, don’t forget to roast each other. Go as crazy as you can. You can even mix it up now with all the different versions of UNO or Monopoly and include your pets in the pet version!
3. Cook together.
A family that cooks together stays together. So cook lavish dinners or bake cakes together, it will allow you some time with each other. It can also teach kids how to prepare food later, or even can be a bonding experience and memory with an elderly member of the family. I remember growing up making homemade noodles with my grandma and shaking out the dough to this day.
4. Solve crosswords together.
Most of us share a love for crosswords. If you all happen to be puzzle addicts, solving puzzles together is yet another great way to bond. You can challenge each other to make it more enjoyable.
5. Work on a scrapbook together.
If you happen to have little kids, then creating scrapbooks can be one of the most enjoyable activities for them. You can prepare a family scrapbook with all your family pictures, and decorate it with stars and mirrors to make the activity even more fun.
6. Go out for a drive.
When the air is fresh, and the atmosphere around screams out calling your name, why would you not go? Drives are the perfect opportunities to go on and enjoy the weather together.
7. Have a dance party.
Don’t let your age stop you. You are never too old to dance, even with your kids. Be your crazy self, show them your weird moves and let them show theirs. Dance like no one’s watching. We sometimes also do singalongs in the car because it’s fun and the kids know the song, and it’s different.
8. Challenge them with a book reading.
If you happen to have a family full of avid readers, books are a great medium to bond. Read a book together, and when you are done, engage in book-related conversations.
9. Write a funny poem together, make weird rhymes while you are at it, and laugh together.
10. Declutter together.
11. Have a family album time.
Just lie down, and reminisce about the old days. This could be flipping through your phone or a digital album now that most things are online.
12. Go go-karting.
13. Play video games together.
Need for speed, counter strike? Make your pick; video games are the best creations of humans.
14. Take weird pictures of each other.
Don’t forget to blackmail your family into putting it online.
15. Go for a long walk.
16. If you cannot keep the adrenaline in control, go hiking with your family.
17. Unleash the tickle monster inside you.
Start the battle, and make them gasp for breath.
18. Do random acts of kindness together, go to an old age center or orphanage, talk to people there.
Doing so will encourage your kids to be kind.
19. Exercise together.
Research shows that when you have an exercise partner, you are more motivated to get on track with your fitness.
20. Bake some muffins and cupcakes together.
21. Talk about business and financial markets with your family.
This is for the family with grown-ups. Turns out, the financial market is a great topic to have a conversation about.
22. Learn a skill together.
23. I bet this will be your favorite! Karaoke nights!
Just sing aloud at the top of your voice and have the time of your lives.
24. Go for a vacation.
After all, we all deserve a little break from our hectic, mundane lives.
25. Practice gratitude together.
Start a conversation about the three things you all are grateful for.
26. Go shopping together.
This has to be one of your favorites on the list.
27. Organize treasure hunts for the whole family.
28. Help each other in their work.
29. Create a budget together.
30. Create a family bucket list!
You must have done it with your friends, try your family for a change.
31. Have a bonfire night.
32. Become each others’ stylists for a day.
33. Enjoy a sport together.
Basketball, Football, or baseball? Playing YOUR FAVORITE sport with your family is a great opportunity to bond, and burn some extra calories together.
34. Paint rooms together. Does your room require much-needed paint?
Perfect, you all can paint rooms together, and while you are at it, perhaps paint each other as well.
35. Have a pillow fight.
Pillow fights are just FUN! So let the battle begin.
36. Have all the meals together.
Forget having dinners in your separate rooms. Have a rule that mealtime is bonding time.
37. Clean together.
You must dread this chore, yet when you do it together you might be able to enjoy it, and bond with your family in the process.
38. Have a musical weekend.
Sitting together with a drink in your hand, and listening to songs together as a family? How does that sound? Well, one word, peaceful.
39. Plan surprise birthday parties.
Birthdays are special days; use this opportunity to make your family members feel loved.
40. Indulge in teaching sessions with your kids.
Bond over mathematics, or science; be your kid’s teacher at home.
41. Go for car test drives.
Most family members share a love for cars. If yours does too, go for occasional test drives, or car museums for the matter.
42. Talk about feelings.
Your relationship with kids would be the strongest if you all talk about feelings with zero hesitation.
43. Tell them your stories.
Remember how I met your Mother? Kids love to hear stories from back to the days when you were young.
44. Leave notes.
It’s a great idea to take some time out to pamper your family members with cute notes.
45. Decorate the house together.
46. Go out on adventures.
Whether it is a simple boat ride, or paragliding itself, going out for adventures is the most thrilling.
47. Cuddle them with hugs, and make them feel loved.
48. Play the imitation game.
As the name suggests, imitate each other, and laugh together.
49. Do crafts together.
50. Mention each other’s qualities and annoying habits.
I will say, many of these items on this list are regulars in our house. Especially dance parties, selfie time, looking at digital albums, cuddling, crafting, and working out together. We also enjoy putting in sweat equity together which helps us all feel invested into the project and allows Steve and I to share things we learned growing up with Leila and Finlee. Every moment is a teachable moment as well as a memory and chance to bond. Don’t think because it’s not on this list, it doesn’t count! You may have your own way of bonding as a family completely different from mine!
can understand how shopping addiction can be; it controls you, damaging not only your pockets but your principles as well.
Gone are the days when people would stuff their houses with fancy items, now they decorate it as minimally as possible with a neutral color scheme to make it look classier. 
your home, instead of throwing them out in the bin, you can donate them to people who need them. 
include oatmeal cereal or quinoa porridge. Lunch meal ideas consist of cinnamon crusted chicken with brown rice or spaghetti squash bolognese . For dinner meal kits, you can choose meals like beef stroganoff with vegetables or pan roasted salmon with pesto zoodles. With pizza night, pasta night, taco night, and many others to choose from, there’s something for everyone at Splendid Spoon!
reset or 3 day reset, depending on your selection.
sleeping in excess. To fix such erratic sleeping patterns, try going to bed at a fixed time every day, a time that is not too late or too early.
lightly. Share what you are feeling with a close friend or a healthcare professional. Do not be ashamed to seek help when needed. As someone who has experienced loss because of a PTSD issue that wasn’t addressed or treated recently, I can’t express how okay it is to not be okay. And if you need any support and don’t feel you can talk to anyone, I’m always available to chat. Your feelings and emotions are valid no matter what others might be telling you. 
you need to implement some 
you not go? Drives are the perfect opportunities to go on and enjoy the weather together. 
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