Minimalism has gained its sheer popularity for all the right reasons. This concept proved to be life-changing for many people; it simplified their life and allowed them to focus on other integral issues much more effectively.
In a nutshell, it has turned out a blessing especially for moms. You might wonder how? Because being a mom and minimalism seems poles apart; you cannot really bring them together.
Well, you are mistaken. Minimalism and motherhood do go hand in hand. In fact, it makes motherhood quite easy. When you have fewer things at home, you have fewer things to clean, and a wider space to allow free movement. Consequently, you have more time to spend with your family, aka a lifesaver for many moms.
So, without further ado, allow us to bestow all the inspiring secrets of minimalist moms to make it seem all easy.
Inspiring secrets of minimalist moms
1. They know what they want and need
How often have you found yourself debating if you should buy this air-tight jar, or let it go? I bet it has happened plenty of times wherein you have battled with your own desires only to submit in the end because you could not differentiate between what you wanted and what you needed.
Or perhaps you knew the difference but your mind manipulated you into buying that object. It told you, “You cannot let this go. It can be used in the kitchen. It’s SOOOO pretty, you definitely need this (even when you have plenty of jars at home)”
We all have been there; we all have been fooled by our own minds. But as for minimalist moms, they do not let it happen. They know that simply knowing the difference between a want and need is not enough, but that letting or not letting this knowledge affect your purchasing decision is a part of the process.
Your mind will definitely manipulate you, it will submit to temptations, but you don’t have to give it the reins. You have to control your desires and your thought process. If your mind is trying to manipulate you, challenge yourself that you won’t let it succeed, you would not be so gullible after all to fall into the trap of your mind.
2. They have accepted that less is more
All our lives we have dwelled on the supremacy of more. We have focused more on quantity than quality. Not anymore! The times are changing and with it the doctrines. Now is the time when we start believing that less is more.
All because it makes our life easy, and we stress less. It is for these benefits that minimalist moms have upheld the very notion of less is more. They do not simply believe in it but practice it as well. They do not fill their wardrobes with tons and tons of clothes. And they keep a limited quantity and that sorts out most of the things for them.
3. They know it is a group activity
As a mom, if you want minimalism to work, then you cannot elude your family’s inclusion. In other words, minimalism is more likely to work when it is adopted and practiced by all the members of the family. This is the challenge here because it’s one thing to practice minimalism yourself, and another to persuade your family to do the same.
All the more, it’s not something that you can all of a sudden ask your family to practice. It takes a change of habits, and as a mother, it needs to be included in your child’s upbringing. You have to raise your kids in such a way that they become minimalists. It has to become their way of life, it should be something that they have seen all their lives, and collected their takeaways from that.
In simple words, they need to learn minimalism from the atmosphere at home. When they see you, they will try to imitate you and that’s how they will learn. It’s a group activity and meant to be practiced together. In addition to that, you can encourage them to follow some minimalist practice to manifest into their habits and daily routine.
4. For children, it starts with toys
Tell me if it does not take hours for you to assemble your kid’s toys because there are just so many of them. It’s like your house is made of toys, not bricks.
Okay, it was a little exaggeration but it is true, our kids have lots and lots of toys, defeating the purpose of minimalism.
Now that you realize it, you know what your goal and target will be. If you have to teach minimalism to your kids, you have to start with their toys. You have to encourage them to opt for fewer toys, declutter from time to time, or donate them to those in need.
You also do not have to submit to their whims and desires in the first place. Don’t buy them every toy they point their fingers at. If you do so, you would not only be filling your home with toys but will make your kids materialists and stubborn in the future,
5. Occasional decluttering
Minimalism and decluttering are mutually exclusive. Minimalist moms occasionally declutter their homes. They do not keep things that are of zero value to them – that includes broken objects, objects they haven’t used in years even when they look new and pretty. In short, they are firm when they declutter.
They do not let things stay, they know what will be of use to them; they do not engage in a constant debate with their brain, they just throw things out if they know they won’t use them.
6. Reuse and recycling
Just so you know, when being a minimalist, you are consciously or unconsciously practicing environmentalism. Going by the simple logic, when you own fewer things, you are not exploiting the earth of its materials and natural resources. At the same time, as a minimalist mom, your goal is to reduce wastage as well. You reuse, recycle rather than buying more things.
7. They go digital
Minimalist moms know that technology can be their best friend if they make optimal use of them. For starters, they use technology to reduce clutter around the homes.
If you are looking forward to becoming a minimalist mom, you can do the same. You can limit your consumption of newspapers, and settle for digital newspapers. At the same time, you don’t increase clutter by investing in books, but you go for an e-reader, or kindle reader instead.
At the same time, they prefer keeping digital backups of their important documents. All the more when they go out, they request the shopkeepers to mail them bills instead of carrying a paper copy with them and create unnecessary clutter.
Well, that’s all there is. We have disclosed all the inspiring secrets of minimalist moms. I hope their secrets have inspired you to take up minimalism to make your lives better, simpler, and easy.
If you happen to know more secrets or have your opinions about the concept of minimalism, feel free to drop your views in the comments section. If you are still on the fence about how minimalism can help you, check out these blog posts on the topic:
As an individual, minimalism is not hard to follow. But as a minimalist mom, it’s nothing less than a hassle. The difficulty comes in when you are trying to be minimalist with other family stuff. Plus, your family members, especially kids can be stubborn and might not always agree with you. You would have to ask them a million times before you could persuade them to get rid of one toy. In the end, you would end up thinking that motherhood and minimalism might not go hand in hand.
But the fact is they do. You just have to be persuasive enough, take the matter into your own hands, and make use of these 5 secret tips that will simplify your life!
Minimalism and motherhood – 5 secrets to making room for what matters
1. Never throw away stuff, rather donate it
Kids can really be stubborn when you ask them to let go of some toys they don’t play with. They might not have touched the toys in a long time yet they would refuse to let them go. They might be broken or worn, or they might be in good shape and someone else can enjoy them.
But if you tell them that it’s for someone who needs it more than you, someone who is not as privileged, someone who is alone, they might give you a go-ahead, being as kind and innocent as they are.
Just so you know, you will be teaching your kids kindness and compassion this way. They will be more giving in the future, which we do need to emphasize, is necessary.
2. Head to laundry
More laundry = more workload = stress
That’s what the laundry equation is. This is why you have to be minimalist when you are handling laundry. The key to do that is to persuade your family to own fewer clothes. The first step to that is, you can ask them to get rid of worn-out and old clothes. There would be plenty and thereby would make space.
Secondly, ask them to be a little stricter. There’s no need to keep 50 pairs of socks. And 20 sweaters. You can ask them to cut down. If they are unwilling, then you need to step in and persuade them to declutter their closet.
3. Never buy more
Your home is bound to pile up with objects if you keep on buying more. So, control your shopping instincts here. Don’t be an impulsive shopper. Only buy what you need, not what you want. The same goes for your kids. Raise them in such a way that they are not stubborn about getting more toys. Don’t comply with their stubbornness and buy them what they point at and cry for. Be adamant here. Always submitting to their wishes, might make them materialists in nature. You do not have to do that.
I learned the best way to go about this is a Want vs Need lesson. I speak more about this in my blog post, Amazing Things Minimalism can do for Kids, where I helped my kids learn the difference in the two words. It helps tremendously in helping them really think about things.
4. Be a mindful grocery shopper
When you are incorporating minimalism in your life, you have to include it in your grocery shopping as well. This is where you need it the most. We are all in the habit of stocking up everything, even the sauces that we do not ever use. Consequently, it leads to a messy kitchen and a lot of waste.
Minimalism in grocery shopping just means the same, buying only what you need. You can do so by making a list, and then picking up only those items, nothing else. You can ask the kids to do the same, make their lists and buy only those items.
I struggle with this myself as well as my husband. When Steve takes the girls to the grocery, they play a game to see how fast they can fill the cart because he doesn’t like grocery shopping. So, they come home with food I would never buy but they eat it generally.
5. Create a minimalist environment
As a parent, it can be daunting to teach your kids minimalism. You cannot just ask them to follow minimalism one day. Instead, you have to make sure you build minimalist habits in them. Be creative, challenge them, create treasure hunts and other games, make minimalism fun for them, and they’ll certainly learn.
That’s it from us. As a minimalist mom, remember you have to be consistent with your kids regarding minimalism. It’s nothing too hard, just do your best and you are sorted.
Are you a minimalist mom? Feel free to share your experiences and stories with us in the comment section.
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:
Minimalism has been a life-changing concept not only because it limits our possessions, but there are other aspects about it that develop newer and sagacious perspectives amongst people. However, some people tend to only focus on the decluttering aspect of it and neglect the others, and that’s why they end up giving up because it becomes difficult for them to declutter.
I can understand,decluttering is not for everyone. All the more, it’s easier to do it individually, but when you are living in a family that cannot declutter or limit their possessions, the decluttering aspect of minimalism can terribly fail.
But don’t you worry, as said before; there is more than what meets the eye. There is still a lot you can borrow from minimalism. In other words, you can embrace minimalism without being a minimalist.
You can embrace minimalism, introduce it to your lifestyle, borrow principles, and you’ll do just fine.
Wondering how? Just sit back and read along.
How to embrace minimalism without being a minimalist
1.Simplify life
Life is never easy, it’s complicated. However, most of the time it’s not, in fact, we make it more complicated by stressing about it unnecessarily. We worry about things before they even happen, and spend too much time thinking than doing anything about our problems.
One way in which minimalism can benefit everyone is that it can make our lives much simplified and easy. It starts from developing habits and routines that promote action and organize every complexity in our life.
For instance, if you happen to live a busy life, and have too many things to do, too many aspects to focus on, you can make it all easier for you by creating yourself a plan and schedule. You can go on living the day, do all that you have to do in an organized manner with the help of plans and schedules. And at the end of the day, it would be a sheer relief to know that you followed your schedule, went as planned, and reached your target. It is all worth it in the end.
On a contradictory note, some people would find planning and scheduling as something that complicates things further. However, it’s not so. Those who find it complicated are the ones who dread doing things they have to do. Planning and scheduling would not provide them a chance to procrastinate, and that’s what concerns them the most, and that’s why they find the approach, “too systematic”. Although if the concern is flexibility, then plans and schedules can be flexible, they must be followed, and targets should be met. You have to push yourself towards it.
2.Become a mindful spender
One of the most pragmatic benefits of minimalism is that it facilitates savings. As minimalism is about being satisfied with what you have, and not buying everything that you want to buy or like, it promotes mindful and sagacious purchasing instincts. Consequently, you spend less, save more, and diversify your investment portfolio by making better use of the saved money.
You can borrow the same approach. Every time you find yourself wanting something, think multiple times and enter into a debate with yourself. Ask yourself, what value does this product bring in your life? Can you do without this product? Do you want it or need it? How do you think it will affect your budget in the short and long run?
Ask all these questions, and then make a decision accordingly. Whatever you do, don’t become a spontaneous buyer. Ask yourself questions, and do your research before you swipe your card.
3.Live in the moment
Sadly, we are creatures who are never in the present, but somewhere in the past and future. We regret our decisions, and choices we made, wishing if we could have done things differently; at the same time, we worry about the future, as to what it will bring us if we are going to succeed or fail in life. In short, we never live in the moment, we never concentrate on the experience we are having as of now.
But with minimalism it’s possible. One of the principles of minimalism is to appreciate what we have, and the moment we are living in. Thus, what we can do from time to time is, stop for a while, look around our surroundings, and take a moment to be grateful for all that we presently have.
4.Stay more connected with people
Connection is not a problem for many, but it is for some who are so occupied with the goings of their day, their past and present. So, they fail to recognize the people they have currently in their life, the people who value them.
At the same time, many are so engrossed in the materials they own that they forget they have a few relationships that need to be cherished, and people with whom they need to stay in touch. Well, an ideal example is the people who spend all their time on their phones, oblivious that there is someone over coffee with them.
Now that you realize it, you can embrace minimalism by staying connected with the people who matter. Have a nice conversation with them, take them out for coffee, and breakfast dates, just cherish the bond you have.
5.Focus on your health and growth
While minimalism emphasizes the value of moments and experiences, it also values YOU. That being said, minimalism allows you time to focus on yourself. It includes your physical health, mental health, and personality development.
So even if you are not a minimalist, you can borrow this aspect of minimalism where you worship your body and mind. You treat it like a whole different person, a person who deserves better things, who deserves better care, attention, and love.
You can do all that by exercising, consuming healthy and nutritious meals, and last but not least by staying away from unnecessary stress, and toxicity of life. In nutshell, it involves doing things that are good for you and eventually makes you a better person in life.
6.Realize what’s important and what’s temporary
Sadly, we live in a world that finds happiness, not in people, but in things. I mean, ask yourself, how often has it happened that a brand-new jacket, or perhaps a new phone has made you happy? You were so adamant about buying those things that you ended up ruining your relationships, fought with people you cared about, or did not focus on your relationships because you were too busy swooning over things.
But just so you know, happiness does not lie in things but in people and memories. If you think it does, that’s just temporary happiness. You can buy a home, but when you don’t have people to share it with, it would stop making you happy. In short, you might get bored with things, but you don’t get bored with people you love. Instead, staying with them makes you happier, and that happiness lasts, my friend.
Minimalism does just that. It makes you value people, not things.
Well, that’s it. You can still embrace minimalism without being minimalist. Now that you know how not to miss yielding benefits., It changes lives, and you have to see it for yourself.
What are your thoughts on the same? Feel free to share your ideas and experiences with us in the comment section.
Minimalism has been the talk of the town lately. Precisely because many people have embraced the principle and now it’s as if their life has completely revolutionized. So, if you are someone who feels that they need to transform their lives, minimalism might be the right pick for you.
However, if you are a beginner who does not know how and where to start, we are here to help. Read on!
First Steps for the Beginner Minimalist
10 first steps for beginner minimalist
1. Be more kind, donate what you don’t want
When you would know that you are donating things that others need more than you, you will become much more compassionate. You can start with old blankets and clothes that you don’t use anymore. They take more space, and homeless people need them the most.
2. Go discursive – take one room at a time, let broken items provide you a start
We are in the habit of keeping broken things, thinking we would get them repaired. But that does not happen. If you haven’t used those things in a long time, then it’s clear you don’t need them enough. Therefore, pick any room and start looking for broken things to get rid of.
3. Head for cosmetics
We all have those products that we do not use, and those that have been way past expiry dates. Look at all the products in your bathroom, old shampoo bottles, and serums that have gone unused or expired, throw them away.
4. Look for duplicates
You don’t need two things that look the same or have the same purpose. So, look all around the house, and get rid of them.
5. Head to the closet
Disclaimer, this part is the most time-consuming, and exhausting.
Start with torn, old, and worn-out clothes. It is clear you are not going to get them repaired, nor they can look new, so the best thing to do is throw them away, or better, repurpose them.
Secondly, be honest with yourself and get rid of clothes that you have not worn in years. Your life won’t come to a halt if you throw them away.
Just ensure that you don’t keep more than 10 pairs of clothes. Once you are done with it, head for accessories.
6. Separate those that you can sell
Generally, furniture and old gadgets are some of the stuff that can be sold for a good price. So, instead of throwing them away, separate them and ensure that you sell them for cash ASAP.
For the record, furniture takes a lot of space, and too much of it can make your house look compact and suffocating. Hence, when you are practicing minimalism, make sure you don’t keep too many storage spaces. Sell the extra ones.
7. Fight your urge to shop
Minimalism is not limited to decluttering, but it also involves limiting future expenditure on material things. Therefore, uninstall all shopping apps and don’t go to the mall regularly to buy things.
8. Borrow clothes
If you are supposed to go to a party, then instead of buying new clothes, consider borrowing them from a friend. You can even consider renting clothes.
9. Go digital
First Steps for the Beginner Minimalist
If you happen to have a lot of books in the house, consider lending them to those in need. In addition to that, if you wish to read more books, then think about investing in a kindle. You can store thousands of books in it, and it would never burden your house with storage.
10. Cut your bills
Minimalism doesn’t limit itself to physical possessions but bills and resources as well. So, in case you have a cable connection, and you don’t use it, consider going for OTT platforms. (You have to be minimalist there too. Don’t get the subscription of all the platforms)
Likewise, try to reduce your energy consumption to cut out unnecessary bills.
Lastly,
Minimalism demands what other life-changing principles demand – consistency and determination. If you are consistent and determined with this approach, there’s no way your life would not change! So try it ASAP and give it your best shot. Once you get into the groove of it, it’s fairly easy to maintain, and you may even notice such a change to your bank account it will deter you from going away!
Hey there. If you have something to say, we are all ears. Drop your views and suggestions in the comments below.
Everyone is developing a minimalist approach in life. It has been life-changing for many people. If you are reading this article, I take, you too must have yielded the benefits. And now you would want your kids to experience the same.
But before you start, here are few things that you should know.
5 things you should know about minimalism with kids
1. You cannot command minimalism
Kids are not easy to tackle. You cannot give them an order and expect them to follow it in one go. It does not work like that. You have to be gentle with them. You must make them realize the benefits of minimalism right from the start, only then you can expect them to incorporate the principle in their life.
But the question is how would you do that? I suggest starting small. For instance, if they are packing their pencil box for school, do not encourage them to keep heavy bunches of pencils. Ask them politely to keep two, and note how easier it gets for them to manage their pencil box.
2. You have to be a role model
Believe it or not, your children learn more from you than they learn from outside. They imitate your every movement. Meaning, they consciously or unconsciously take note of your habits and behavior.
Thus, when they see you practice minimalism, they might want to try it as well. You can start by creating a minimalist atmosphere, like keeping fewer things in the house. While you are at it, include everyone in the house.
In addition to that, you have to keep your habits in check. For instance, you cannot be an impulsive shopper in front of them because it’s antithetical to the principle of minimalism.
3. You have to be ready for stubbornness
Even after trying all the tricks in the world to convince your kids to incorporate this principle, they would still be stubborn. But you have to counter their stubbornness with yours. Meaning, you would have to be equally stubborn. The last thing you want to do is give up.
I know it will get tough, you would be annoyed, you would be infuriated, but you have to be patient and try your best. You cannot just try for a week or two, and expect them to comply with you. You have to do it from the very beginning when they are in their foundational years.
Perceive it as a challenge. You have to keep up to it even if it involves going to the very end.
4. You have to play smart
Your kids are innocent and immature, but they are smarter than you. So, you have to be one step ahead of them. But the question is how?
Well, for starters, you have to look for ways that can make minimalism fun for them. For instance, you can use negative motivation by challenging them. Tell them, “I bet you cannot clean your desk.” Or “You know your sister is better at cleaning her desk than you.”
If the trick works, you will find them decluttering. Perhaps then you can say, “If you would have been minimalistic, you could have done the cleaning sooner.”
Or even better, you can plan a treasure hunt, and include the de-cluttering tasks to reach the final reward.
5. It will take time
Just as I said before, you cannot expect your kids to learn minimalism in just a few weeks. It takes time, maybe weeks, months, or even years. That’s because it takes a change of habits, and most importantly a change of perceptions.
Moreover, minimalism is better to be taught from the very start. Keep a minimalist environment from the beginning, and chances are high that your kids would adopt this lifestyle naturally.
Lastly,
I know that doing things by yourself is one thing, and convincing others to do it is another. It is exhausting and demanding, especially when you have to teach it to your kids. But it is not impossible, you just have to be determined and consistent, and you are good to go.
What are your thoughts on the same? Was this article helpful? Drop your views and suggestions in the comments below. I’d love to read them.
of times wherein you have battled with your own desires only to submit in the end because you could not differentiate between what you wanted and what you needed.
The times are changing and with it the doctrines. Now is the time when we start believing that less is more. 
your house is made of toys, not bricks.
by the simple logic, when you own fewer things, you are not exploiting the earth of its materials and natural resources. At the same time, as a minimalist mom, your goal is to reduce wastage as well. You reuse, recycle rather than buying more things. 
play with. They might not have touched the toys in a long time yet they would refuse to let them go. They might be broken or worn, or they might be in good shape and someone else can enjoy them. 
you are handling laundry. The key to do that is to persuade your family to own fewer clothes. The first step to that is, you can ask them to get rid of worn-out and old clothes. There would be plenty and thereby would make space.
grocery shopping as well. This is where you need it the most. We are all in the habit of stocking up everything, even the sauces that we do not ever use. Consequently, it leads to a messy kitchen and a lot of waste.
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. 
stressing about it unnecessarily. We worry about things before they even happen, and spend too much time thinking than doing anything about our problems. 
satisfied with what you 
decisions, and choices we made, wishing if we could have done things differently; at the same time, we worry about the future, as to what it will bring us if we are going to succeed or fail in life. In short, we never live in the moment, we never concentrate on the experience we are having as of now. 
past and present. So, they fail to recognize the people they have currently in their life, the people who value them.
minimalism allows you time to focus on yourself. It includes your physical health, mental health, and personality development. 
compassionate. You can start with old blankets and clothes that you don’t use anymore. They take more space, and homeless people need them the most.
them. 
them away, separate them and ensure that you sell them for cash ASAP. 
work like that. You have to be gentle with them. You must make them realize the benefits of minimalism right from the start, only then you can expect them to incorporate the principle in their life.
stubborn. But you have to counter their stubbornness with yours. Meaning, you would have to be equally stubborn. The last thing you want to do is give up. 
But the question is how?
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