My Minimalist Life

Living minimal isn't for everyone. Its not for people who like lots of stuff, have lots of stuff or feel the need to get more and more stuff. Its just for people who realize that having more "stuff" doesn't make you a better person, or a cooler person, it just makes you a person with more stuff than someone else. But having lots of stuff shouldn't define you and when I realized that, my minimalist life began. Here's a great guide from Relevant Magazine and author Careese Rials to help you begin your lifestyle.

Conquer the Clutter

Take an honest look at what you have and ask, “Is this really essential?” Look at your wardrobe. Do you really need eight pairs of blue jeans? If not, the next step is to purge. Go through closets, drawers and purses to determine the essentials. If it hasn’t been worn in a year toss it, donate it or sell it. Determine what’s worth keeping for sentimental value—old family heirlooms might be, but the dress you wore to your junior prom probably isn’t.

Since it can be overwhelming to purge everything at one time. Some find it helpful to do a mini-purge, where you focus on one area, such as a drawer or a closet. It takes longer, but slow progress is better than no progress.

Focus on Quality Not Quantity

More isn’t always better—and likewise, cheaper isn't necessarily better. Companies with inexpensive products make it easier to buy more, but their products are usually more cheaply made and won't last. It makes no sense to have more of an inferior product. One pair of good shoes is worth more than two pairs of bad shoes. Higher quality items sometimes cost a little more, which means that you may not be able to buy as much. That’s OK. A quality product will serve you well and will most likely outlast a cheaper alternative.

Challenge Yourself

Here’s a fun challenge: try to pare down your wardrobe to just 30 items and wear only those items for the next 30 days. This will force you to evaluate what is truly essential. At the end of your challenge you may find that you don’t need as many clothes as you once thought.

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