Both mindfulness and minimalism can make your life simpler. There’s a good chance that you’ve stumbled upon these terms before, however have no idea what they really represent and how they’re related.
So today, I’m going to cover everything you need to know about these two philosophies and how they’re interconnected with each other.
Minimalism and mindfulness – 4 ways they make an excellent pair
Let’s first start with MINDFULNESS
In simple terms being Mindful means, becoming fully aware of your surroundings and your actions. Practicing mindfulness allows you to take a break from thinking about the future and calmly focus on the present moments, while deeply indulging all your senses in the act that you’re performing right now.
Now, what’s MINIMALISM?
It’s a way of life where you intentionally choose to embrace only those things, emotions, philosophies, relations, possessions, and everything else that genuinely adds value to your life while getting rid of everything that doesn’t.
So how Minimalism and Mindfulness are connected?
They’re related to each other in so many ways. Minimalism and Mindfulness have a circular kind of relationship where both of them facilitate each other.
By being mindful we become more aware of what takes up our time and space. And by adopting minimalism we create time and space to become more mindful.
Sounds a bit complicated, isn’t it?
Let’s simplify it, shall we?
Four ways Minimalism and Mindfulness makes a perfect pair
Letting go
Minimalism requires us to declutter our space and keep only those things that we utilize regularly or love. This process teaches us the art of letting go of our attachments.
Minimalism essentially guides us to consciously think about what we own and why do we own it. This is where mindfulness comes in. We actually become mindful while assessing our belongings. And allowing only those that add value to our life.
Minimalism teaches us to become more mindful and intentional of our surroundings. And the stuff that we keep in our home.
Being present in the current moment
Staying completely present and focusing on cherishing the present moment is an important part of mindfulness, and in a way, minimalism teaches us the same thing.
When we determine to keep only those things that we use or love currently in our life, we consciously choose to live in the present moment.
Mindfulness allows us to return our focus to the present moment rather than obsessing about the past or worrying about the future. By adopting Minimalism, and allowing only those things in your life that you love right now, it becomes easier to remain in the present moment.
More intentional with our time and space
The less stuff we own the more intentional we become of how we utilize our time and space. We’re no longer required to spend a majority of our time managing the things that we own, instead, we allow ourselves to focus on our life beyond material possessions.
Once we embrace minimalism in our homes it inspires us to do the same in other areas of our life as well. For instance, our schedule, leaving out unnecessary commitments, and rushing from one task to another, we give more time and freedom to ourselves.
So, minimalism encourages us to intentionally make space and opportunities to become more intentional with our time and stay present at the moment. And that’s what Mindfulness is all about.
Cherishing the journey and not worry about the end results
Minimalism and Mindfulness both are about the journey, rather than the end goal. They both are a way of lifestyle that evolves as our life and priorities change.
It might happen that the version of Mindfulness and Minimalism that we practice right now won’t be the same next year. Maybe our focus has changed or we achieved our goals or whatever.
The key here is to stick with these philosophies. The daily intentional choices that we make to live minimally and mindfully become our habit and can bring out huge shifts in our life.
To conclude
Minimalism is a great way to practice mindfulness. It’s a way through which we clear out unnecessary clutter, create more time and space for ourselves, and choose to live in the present moment. On the other hand, mindfulness naturally guides us to embrace a minimalist lifestyle.
What are your thoughts on the same? Are you encouraged to incorporate Minimalism and Mindfulness into your life? Drop your views and answers in the comments below.
Hygge and Minimalism are the two popular concepts these days. Honestly, when I first heard of the Danish concept Hygge, I didn’t think that it would fit in with minimalism. That’s because I thought Hygge was all about creating cozy spaces with lots of candles, books, hot drinks, blankets, and pillows while minimalism was all about decluttering your space.
But, there’s a lot more common between these two philosophies than it looks like. After practicing them both for a long time, I realized that in the end, they promote similar values. For starters, they both require you to be mindful and intentional and guide you to live a meaningful life.
So, today I want to make work easy for you. I’ll dive deeper into the concepts of these two philosophies and explain how they complement each other in many ways.
How Hygge and minimalism go together
To understand that first, we have to understand the roots of Hygge and Minimalism and what they represent today.
What is Hygge?
Pronounced as HOOGA, it’s a popular Danish concept that originated in 1800. It’s quite difficult to explain Hygge because there is no direct English translation. But, it can be described as slowing down, being present in the moment, and finding contentment in everyday life.
Hygge is not about warm places, hot drinks, cozy blankets, and stuff like that, they’re just a part of it. You taking time to create a cozy space for yourself and later enjoying the quiet time mindfully is the real essence of Hygge.
How to get Cozy without the Clutter
What is Minimalism?
People often confuse a minimalist lifestyle with minimalistic designs. Plain white rooms, with a few pieces of essential furniture, is not the only thing that minimalism conveys.
Minimalism essentially means intentionally figuring out what actually matters to you the most or what adds value to your life, then removing everything that distracts you from focusing on those things.
It is not just about clutter around your house, it’s also about the clutter in your mind. Minimalism guides you to get rid of everything (a piece of furniture, a toxic relationship, a philosophy of life that’s not working for you, etc.) that buffers you from focusing on what’s important and helps you to live a mindful and simpler life.
Minimalism and Hygge – a combined concept
So, if Hygge is all about slowing down and cherishing simple moments, then it’s quite easy to spot how minimalism and Hygge go together.
Let’s discuss more, the word “hyggelig” represents a nice and clean home without clutter, but it must have a comfortable and warm atmosphere.
Clutter is actually considered an enemy of coziness when it comes to Hygge. That’s obvious because the more clutter you’ll have the more distracted you’ll be and that will totally buffer you from enjoying simple moments in life.
Moreover, Hygge and Minimalism both rest on one thing – Intentionality.
Let’s understand this by an example – Instead of stuffing their homes with the latest gadgets and high-quality couches, Hygge enthusiasts will intentionally focus on creating a homey atmosphere.
In the same manner, Minimalists will intentionally prioritize using simpler things to maintain their focus on what’s important.
Hygge and Minimalism, both are tools that you can utilize to live an intentional life full of contentment and gratitude.
So, that’s how both of these philosophies overlap. But, how can you combine them in your life?
Here are a few practical tips for the same –
Buy only those things that you love and use. Find a balance between functionality and joy.
Stick to a neutral color scheme for your home. This is important to create relaxing spaces.
Use dim lights and candles (be sure that they don’t emit strong fragrances) to create a warm radiance.
Prioritize different areas of your life. Find comfort in everything that you do. Invest only in the things that you truly value.
Don’t decorate your home to show-off. Decorate only if you love to do it.
To conclude
Hygge is about simplifying and surrounding yourself with the things that you love and value. It’s not about extravagance, but taking pleasure in the simplicity of your surroundings. This is exactly similar to what minimalism conveys.
While we love the cozy feeling of a cluttered home, it’s not always practical (or healthy). If you’re looking to simplify your life, start by decluttering your home and living room. Get rid of any furniture pieces that don’t serve a purpose or take up too much space. Utilize storage spaces to keep your living area tidy and organized. And finally, follow our great tip for taking just 20 minutes each day to live a clutter-free life. How are you going to take these steps to achieve a minimalist lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below!
From kindergarten to adulthood, we all have learned that plastic is our foe and a nemesis to our environment. However, we have made it our best friend. If you need proof, look around your house and count things made out of plastic. I bet there is plenty.
But you are not alone. The few reasons we have refused to let go of plastic is because it’s cheaper and convenient to use. But isn’t it hassling for our environment and our health? Not only does it takes millions of years to decompose, but it also produces harmful toxins when burnt – Believe it or not, we as a species are on death row if we don’t change our ways at the earliest.
Our environment has been nothing but kind to us. We owe it that much to protect it. We cannot be selfish anymore, especially if we want our children and our children’s children to enjoy Earth.
Therefore, if you seem to agree, consider switching to a zero-waste lifestyle. It will not only save the environment but will also improve your way of life.
10 things for a zero-waste lifestyle
1. Use everything reusable
Our environment will be blessed if you just start with the kitchen. It includes boycotting tissue papers and disposable plates. Not only are they hard to recycle but also increase wastage tremendously. You can do better than that.
Having said that, switch to cloth napkins and steel/ glass utensils; you might not be exactly pleased washing the dishes, but it would be worth it if it does wonders for the environment. And if you have kids, this is a great opportunity to teach them how to wash dishes! Add it to their chore list and you are free from having to do dishes!
2. Be minimalist
The fewer things you own, the fewer things you will throw away, which ultimately means less burden on the environment. Hence, don’t live by the materialistic approach; on the contrary, become a minimalist. If you buy something, don’t buy extra. Likewise, don’t buy anything you wouldn’t need.
If you need help getting started in Minimalism, I have a whole category on it! Click the Minimalism category on the right here and get started!
3. Switch to glass bottles and glass jars
As I said before, it starts with the kitchen. Ditch the old plastic jars and plastic bottles today. Instead, go for more sustainable alternatives – the glass ones.
4. Make compost at home
Love to plant and maintain your own garden? Well, I’ve got good news for you. You can use your food waste to compost. Composting can help you convert food waste into fertilizers that will be a god-sent for your garden. (While you are at it, consider planting your own veggies. It’s healthy, easy on the pockets, and great for the environment)
Although I do understand that it might seem gross to you initially if you do it organically – but bear with it, focus on the result and benefits. However, you might spare yourself the trouble if you have composting communities or authorities near you.
5. Avoid leftovers, always make and consume as much as you can take
The goal is to reduce wastage, and let’s be honest for a moment – most of our wastage results from food. We waste too much food. So, stop that. Only eat what you can, and in the quantity, you can. The same goes for cooking – only cook that much which you can consume.
Additionally, if you have leftovers, make it a goal to finish them first, before cooking/buying something else.
The same goes for eating out or delivery — only order what you can eat and don’t bring the rest home. If you must, ask the restaurant if they have a plastic alternative you can use.
6. Don’t come back home with plastic bags
From grocery shopping to clothes shopping, we come back home with tons of plastic bags. No surprise as to why most of our homes are filled with it. It’s high time to boycott that.
If your local supermarket stores don’t understand that, be the bigger person. Take your own cloth bags or vegetable trolley, but whatever you do, don’t come back home with plastic bags. You can find some really cute ones on Etsy or from local makers, like some of the ones at Made with Love Market.
The same goes for plastic bottles, always keep a glass/copper one in your car. Refill it but don’t buy the packaged ones.
7. Always recycle
Recycling things might not be easy, but thanks to the growing environmental awareness, you can find various bodies that provide recycling services. From paper to tech accessories, you can recycle most of the products you buy that are not made of plastic.
Be sure to check with your local recycling company through the town or city as they may provide you with an extra bin for recycling free of charge.
8. Buy from local suppliers
Wondering how? Well, in a nutshell, you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint if you choose local suppliers over commercial ones. Look for your local farmers markets and buy from them. There have to be local beekeepers and local gardeners which you can purchase your products instead of going to the big box stores. It helps support the local economy as well as helps you reduce some of the local allergies you might have. If you don’t have a local farmers market, consider growing your own veggies and fruits like we are doing with our AeroGarden.
9. Go digital
Gadgets have made lives easier. Surprisingly, they have made things easier for the environment as well – at least when we are talking about reduced dependence on paper. Thus, take advantage of digitization to save the trees. Switch to E-newspapers, don’t go for paper bills, and invest in a kindle/iPad to read documents and books digitally. Doing so helps reduce the clutter in your home as well, which is a win for you and your family!
Well, that will do to get you started. Remember, the key is not perfection, but consistency. Don’t make changes for a while and be done with them – instead, make them a part of your lifestyle. Live with them. At the same time, don’t depend on others. If they are not smart enough to help the environment, that’s their loss – You do your job!
The bed, bowls, collars, and leashes have been purchased. That’s the fun part. Are you really ready to welcome a pup into your home? The dog breeder has left a message: “Your pup is ready!”
New Puppy Checklist
The Journey
All those weeks (and maybe months or years) of waiting for the perfect pup to land on the floor are now over. As the saying goes, “The joy is in the journey.” Perhaps the journey leading up to this moment has been filled with dreams about the things you and pup will do together. Chasing through the snow, taking long walks, sitting together by the fire, romping on the beach… all those wonderful reasons why people want a dog to share their lives.
Credit Card Melt-Down
New puppy owners’ dreams are often interspersed with crazed shopping sprees at pet supply stores. Buying the bed, bowls, collars, and leashes have rendered many credit cards smoking in the wake.
That’s the fun part, and every new owner is entitled to run amok in the thrill of the impending arrival.
The dog bed is in place (it has been for weeks), the tiny and perfect adjustable collar and leash are de-tagged and hanging in the closet. After much research, the correct food has been purchased and sits on the kitchen counter. It’s right there, next to those adorable food and water bowls. But what about the rest of the house?
Puppy-Proof the Home
Inspect your home from the viewpoint of a two-year-old human toddler. Decide which rooms will be accessible to the pup. Designate where you will give puppy loves and where you won’t i.e. furniture or not. And then consider how to close off all others. Baby gates can be used to prevent entry into off-limit rooms as well as the top of staircases.
In areas where the pup will be allowed to enter, remove all breakable objects, houseplants, and anything that spells “puppy trouble”. Cover electrical outlets and secure cupboard and closet doors. Outlet covers and an array of child-proof door devices can be purchased at hardware stores and other retailers. Decide how and where you will do house training and if dog crates will be included in that training. Another important area is to have your puppy supplies in a specific spot including chew toys, dog food, puppy food, and puppy shampoo for accidents.
Book a Veterinary Appointment
Book the pup’s first vet visit to coincide with his trip home from the breeder. This is the best time for the pup to meet the vet and clinic staff, and will most likely be his first foray with you into that all-important socializing process. The vet will give the pup a quick health check, set up a vaccination schedule, and discuss diet, parasite control, pet insurance, microchipping, neutering, and all those other puppy issues.
Be sure to show the veterinarian any paperwork supplied by the breeder. So he or she can take note of previous veterinary visits and any vaccinations pup may have already received.
Find a Knowledgeable and Experienced Dog Trainer
Locate a fabulous trainer before the pup comes home. Many people don’t research the availability of local trainers until behavioral problems arise. Nipping, barking, housetraining, crating… all those puppy-things can be addressed on a one-to-one basis. Afterward, that same trainer can recommend the most suitable puppy training class for you and the pup to join.
If you are close or local to Arizona, we love Partners Dog Training & Daycare. Louie, our new French Bulldog, will be our second dog we take for training there.
Find a Groomer or Plan to Groom at Home
Locate a professional groomer or self-serve grooming facility. If the pup will require regular professional grooming, introduce him to the idea as soon as possible. He’ll be given his first bath, light brushing, and trim, and then the groomer will provide tips on how to keep his skin and coat healthy between visits.
If you plan to bathe him at home or use a self-serve facility, introduce the pup to the tub and brush within the first few days. Many dogs, if not initiated into the bath ‘n’ brush routine at an early age, can be downright ornery or fidgety about it as they grow older. Some canine body parts, such as feet, toes, tail, and tummies, can be particularly off-limits for some dogs. But if those areas are touched and groomed early in the game, the procedure can be much nicer for everyone, especially the dog. For example, we have an adult dog, who’s a 6 year old Pug, who will not let the nail clippers come near him. He runs to his crate as soon as you bring them out!
Enlist the Services of Substitute Caregivers
Identify people who can take over when you’re not available. Professional dog walkers, responsible friends and neighbors. And perhaps a doggie daycare center will be needed at some point in your dog’s life. During pup’s first few months, if you can’t return home mid-day, a substitute caregiver will be required to let the pup out to relieve himself as well as provide him with exercise and companionship. Make sure you have these phone numbers handy if you are running late and need to place a call especially if the pup isn’t yet crate trained and needs to be in a dog crate to avoid damage inside.
Bonus: holidays, social occasions, or whenever you can’t get home on time will always require the services of someone who knows you, your dog, and your home. Enlisting these people early means you’ll never have to worry about those times when your schedule prevents you from providing your dog with his daily needs.
Last, but not least…
The most important entry on your check-list: plan to provide a lifetime of love, compassion, and patience. You’ll always be the most important person in the world to your dog. Being a pet parent is unlike any other. Give him a reason to trust that he’s in good hands. He’ll repay you ten-fold.
There are many more items to be included in a check-list for new puppy owners. But don’t despair! The list can be expedited by asking for suggestions from a veterinarian, dog trainer, groomer, dog walker, and any dog-owning friends and neighbors.
The biggest sale of the year is here and I wanted to share some of my favorite affordable and luxurious finds for beauty, home, and kids from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.
If you’ve been around for a bit, you know I love a good find, especially if it’s on sale! I have shopped the N Sale for the past few years and love that they offer more items than just women’s and men’s clothing and shoes. It’s my favorite time to not only stock up on those items, which you can see a few of my picks on this post – but also to stock up on items for Christmas, for homes, and for the girls for the year.
Because my girls aren’t in massive growth mode, I usually buy one size up. And they can wear them for the entire year, and some beyond.
I’m always shopping for our short term rental properties. So some of the items are pure luxury and so soft that I have them in our own home. And give them as gifts too! What better way to welcome others into your home, but not really your personal home, than some of your favorite things!
Before we get too much further, I have to let you know I’ve included affiliate links. Which means if you shop through my link, I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, and it makes me smile a little more 🙂
$1,000 Gift Card Giveaway
And I also have a fun giveaway for someone to win a $1,000 gift card to shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which will basically run the whole month of August! Enter below.
I have teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to give YOU a chance to win:
a $1,000 Nordstrom Gift Cards to shop the Anniversary sale!
Simply enter below by completing the rafflecopter. You’ll receive one entry per completion. This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada only and runs until 8/17. Winner will be announced here. Good Luck!
Void where prohibited. By entering the giveaway you acknowledge that you are agreeing to complete each task, which involves following, liking and subscribing to newsletter’s.
Ok, so now onto my favorites for finding luxurious items for home, beauty, and kids. If you click on the photo, it will take you directly to my liketoknow.it where you can shop my picks and add them to your wish list for when you are able to shop.
Happy shopping and wish list building! Only a few more days until the sale opens 🙂
For anyone that knows me well, knows that I like good food, but most days, I’m a simple cook.
If I don’t order it, it may come in a box, a cup, a bowl, or something similar. If none of these, then it’s fresh, raw fruit or veggie.
That being said, for me to make an elaborate, multi-step meal with multiple courses isn’t realistic.
I’ve tried and partnered with nearly every meal prep and delivery service out there. And still, meal time is a struggle for me nightly. And if I’m being honest, like I always am, the idea of making meals and dinner stresses me out more than most things in my life. I know that if I had a personal chef that would make the things I need to eat (like fruits and veggies) it wouldn’t be a problem.
If this person would also cook for my husband and children, I know it would take a lot of stress off my life.
The book that teaches you how to cook like your Grandma did
So, when I was offered to test out this new book, “The Anti-Cook Book” by Shelley Onderdonk and Rebecca Bloom, I was intrigued by the title. Easy, Thrifty Recipes for Food-Smart Living it goes on to say…
As I dug deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that any and everyone could use this book successfully. Because we all have little time and we all have to eat. These two moms, wives, and career women teach the readers that no matter your status, age, budget, background, makeup, anything else socioeconomic status wise –
You can do this!
Even for those of us who pretend to know what they are doing with our nutrition and in the kitchen (ME too).
The book is sprinkled with personal stories and easy, simple recipes with minimal instructions needed. And a bit of spunk and quirk along the way keeps you (it did me anyway) interested in the story and reasoning for the choices made in the book. Another sprinkling throughout the book that usually goes with a story:: Real text message conversations from the authors’ lives.
It supports the story and also that they know what they are doing.
Most of the cook books I’ve ever owned or seen have a full page, or very near full page, dedicated to a single recipe. This book combines story, ideas for using the recipe, proof it’s a great one, and then the recipe in short form. All on the same page. Incredible work and less intimidating for those of us (ME too) who don’t even want to open a recipe book because they are already checked out of the process.
Throughout the book are useful tips like planning meals for the whole week, without spending hours on end in the kitchen making them. Or when is appropriate to use Google because I know y’all pull out your phone or ask Siri whether you want to admit it or not!
It’s the perfect time of the year to gift this book to a Grad or a Dad in your life, or heck, an overwhelmed, underblessed Martha Stewart Mamma (also Me) who just wants to make their life a bit easier.
Grab the link here and get yourself and those who need this the most a copy. (It’s the cheapest cookbook I’ve ever seen!)
And leave me a comment letting me know your cooking/Martha Stewart style too. I’d love to know where you stand on this and if this book is on target or way off the mark for you!
Mindfulness have a circular kind of relationship where both of them facilitate each other.
moment is an important part of mindfulness, and in a way, minimalism teaches us the same thing.
end goal. They both are a way of lifestyle that evolves as our life and priorities change.
because there is no direct English translation. But, it can be described as slowing down, being present in the moment, and finding contentment in everyday life.
get rid of everything (a piece of furniture, a toxic relationship, a philosophy of life that’s not working for you, etc.) that buffers you from focusing on what’s important and helps you to live a mindful and simpler life.
gratitude.
disposable plates. Not only are they hard to recycle but also increase wastage tremendously. You can do better than that.
on the right here and get started!
garden. (While you are at it, consider planting your own veggies. It’s healthy, easy on the pockets, and great for the environment)
packaged ones.
As I dug deeper and deeper into the book, I realized that any and everyone could use this book successfully. Because we all have little time and we all have to eat. These two moms, wives, and career women teach the readers that no matter your status, age, budget, background, makeup, anything else socioeconomic status wise –
Recent Comments