Is Minimalism Right for You?

In a world filled with constant distractions, consumerism, and clutter, the philosophy of minimalism has gained significant popularity in recent years. Minimalism is more than just a design aesthetic; it’s a way of life that advocates for simplicity, intentionality, and the removal of excess from our lives. But is minimalism right for you? Let’s explore the principles of minimalism and help you determine if it aligns with your values and goals.

Welcome to my Year Long Thorough Declutter Series. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Each day we do a daily task based on the room we are working on. Today, our task is to start decluttering your clutter in your garage. If you prefer watching videos, check out my youtube channel here. Today, we’ll look at some tips for decluttering bikes and gear in your garage.

The best way to develop a new habit is by slowly and daily application. We will begin a new daily declutter habit starting with the 2nd bathroom. In the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series, we will declutter 30 minutes a day, five days a week on weekdays. Sign up to receive daily encouragement and motivation.

Plus, you’ll learn your specific daily task to work toward completing the goal of a Year Long Thorough Declutter where you will declutter every space and learn how to start to purge your house. Are you ready to finally get organized? If so, will you join us? Leave a comment below to subscribe.

If you are new to the blog, welcome! I blog about cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. You can find my free printables to help you get organized in the drop down menu under the Printables category.

Currently we are working on how to unclutter the Garage. The daily task for today, Oct 6, 2023, is to begin to declutter your bikes and gear in your garage. Remember, we are focusing on just the garage area, so don’t declutter your whole house. We will cover each room separately.

Is Minimalism Right for You?

What Is Minimalism?

At its core, minimalism is about living with less. It encourages you to declutter your physical surroundings, simplify your daily routines, and focus on what truly matters. Minimalism is not just about owning fewer possessions; it’s also about reducing mental clutter and finding contentment in the essentials of life.

The Benefits of Minimalism

Less Stress: One of the most significant advantages of minimalism is reduced stress. By owning and doing less, you can free up mental and physical space, leading to a calmer, more peaceful life.
Increased Focus: Minimalism helps you prioritize what’s truly important, allowing you to concentrate your time and energy on meaningful pursuits, such as personal growth, relationships, and hobbies.
Financial Freedom: Cutting unnecessary expenses and curbing consumerism can lead to improved financial stability and the ability to save for important goals.
Environmental Impact: Minimalism often involves reducing waste and living a more sustainable lifestyle, which can benefit the environment by producing less waste and consuming fewer resources.
Enhanced Creativity: With fewer distractions and less clutter, your creative juices can flow more freely, leading to increased innovation and problem-solving abilities.

Is Minimalism Right for You?

Now that you know the benefits of minimalism, how can you determine if it’s the right fit for you? Here are some questions to consider:

What are your values? Reflect on your core values and life goals. Does simplifying your life align with these values? If you value freedom, peace, and mindfulness, minimalism might be a good fit.
Are you overwhelmed by clutter? If your physical or mental space feels crowded and chaotic, minimalism can help you regain control and create a more organized, serene environment.
Do you crave more time and focus? If you find yourself constantly busy but not accomplishing what truly matters to you, minimalism can provide the clarity and space needed to refocus your efforts.
Are you ready to let go? Minimalism often requires letting go of possessions, habits, and commitments that no longer serve you. Are you willing to declutter your life, both physically and mentally?
Can you start small? You don’t need to become a minimalist overnight. You can gradually incorporate minimalist principles into your life, starting with small changes and building from there.

Minimalism is a lifestyle choice that can bring numerous benefits, but it may not be for everyone. Ultimately, the decision to embrace minimalism should align with your values, goals, and aspirations. If you’re seeking more peace, simplicity, and purpose in your life, minimalism may be a path worth exploring. Start by decluttering your physical space and gradually applying minimalist principles to other aspects of your life. Remember that minimalism is a journey, not a destination, and it can be adapted to suit your unique circumstances and preferences.

Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you and whether minimalism can help you achieve those goals. Regardless of your decision, the journey towards a more intentional and mindful life is a valuable one.

Steps to Take & How to Begin Tidying Up

1.Only spend time on your specific daily task.

2.Do not get side-tracked or distracted.

3.Work within a time of day that you have the most energy and stamina. This is one of the most useful declutter motivation tips. Listen to your body and work at decluttering when you feel the most alert and energized.

4.Avoid thinking too long about whether to keep or discard an item. This is one specific way for How to Be Ruthless When Decluttering.

5.Avoid cleaning during your declutter. The goal is to purge the dead weight. Getting rid of the clutter is your priority. Cleaning can be accomplished later. Read on for more declutter motivation tips and my room specific deep clean checklist, though, as you will begin cleaning after your declutter.

High Impact Decluttering Tips for How to Begin Tidying Up

Supplies Needed:

1. boxes -preferably ones you can donate (Avoid plastic storage bins because you may be tempted to just store the items and not part with them.)

2. sturdy trash bags

3. marker/pen to label boxes

Decluttering Tip: Avoid using storage bins to declutter. Storage bins tend to tell your brain to “store” the items for later. That is just delaying decisions. If you aren’t getting rid of items when you declutter, you are not truly decluttering. This is why I recommend a trash bag, also. A trash bag tells your brain to “trash” the item.

Obviously, recycle if you have that option. The boxes you use should be ones you are willing to part with, so I recommend sturdy cardboard boxes. As to donations, there are many charities that will come pick up your items for you at your home.

I use one in particular where you can book an appointment for pick-up online. This is so convenient, as it saves you the hassle of hauling stuff away yourself. Scheduling that pick-up also motivates you to declutter by a certain date.

How to Begin Tidying Up

1. Start by eliminating trash first- use a sturdy trash bag

2. Sort items by category if needed so you can see what you have

3.Get rid of items that don’t work or that work poorly, expired items, anything you don’t love, anything that you’ll never use again

4. Box up the donations and trash/recycle the rest

5.Select a charity to donate your items and schedule the pick-up if that is an option

How Do You Declutter Your Entire House (and get it deep clean?): Need to deep clean?

First, My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.

Second, My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.

Third, My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.

Fourth, My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.

Fifth, My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.

You can get your printable Daily Housekeeping Routine and Deep Cleaning Your House Schedule here. This 15 page printable kit is delivered digitally to your email for you to print and personalize. What Does a Deep Clean Include? It includes a daily schedule, calendar pages, and deep cleaning checklists for every room and area of your home. Check out the link above to see a sample page of what you’ll get in my printable set designed to help you create your personal Homemaking Checklist.

Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can find that here.

New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:

Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.

Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.

Step 3: How do you remove clutter? How Do You Declutter Your Home?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.

Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.

Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.