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How To Find Simplicity in Life (20 Minimalist Living Tips)

Are you looking for more simplicity in life? Here are 20 of my favourite minimalist living tips that will help you get started.

These days, it feels like more people than ever are interested in slowing down, simplifying, and pursuing a minimalist lifestyle. They’re busy and stressed, juggling work, family, home and more—with seemingly no end in sight. Is it any wonder that they’re craving simplicity? 

I know the feeling because I’ve been there. A decade ago I was a workaholic and shopaholic, drowning in a sea of too many responsibilities. I knew there had to be a better way to live but I didn’t know how or where to begin. 

If this sounds familiar, then I hope you’ll enjoy this post. Here are 20 things that have helped me on my quest for a simpler life.

"20 Minimalist Living Tips That Will Help You Simplify" in a white box with a sofa and coffee table in a minimalist living room in the background.

How To Create Simplicity In Life With Minimalism

Minimalism is the key to creating simplicity in everyday life—but it’s not just about owning less stuff.

Instead, it’s about being intentional with what you allow in your life. It’s a way of living that answers the question, “How can we have more of what matters and less of everything else?”

Sure, it involves decluttering your home but that’s just one piece of the puzzle. As you read these minimalist living tips, I encourage you to go deeper: look at your schedule, your relationships, your spending habits and even your thoughts. 

You may be surprised by the many that you can embrace simplicity in your life.

Related Post: What Is Minimalism + Why Is Everyone Talking About It

BE CLEAR ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE

What are you trying to achieve by simplifying your life? 

I know you want a decluttered home but take it a step further. What does clutter-free living represent? And what is your motivation for decluttering and simplifying? 

Be as specific as possible. The more clarity you have about why simplicity is important, the easier it will be to stay focused and motivated.

Struggling to find your “why”? Check out these real-life minimalist stories for inspiration.

SET A SIMPLE MINIMALISM GOAL

If you feel stuck, choose one aspect of minimalist living that’s important to you. Then set a simple but meaningful goal to work towards. 

For example, if you want to spend more time with your loved ones, what’s a simple way to achieve this? Could you leave work 10 minutes earlier? Or get pizza one night a week?  

If you need more ideas, here are six minimalism goals worth pursuing. 

PRACTICE BEING HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU HAVE

Minimalist living is about slowing the pursuit of more and finding peace with enough

Part of this process is learning to be happy with what you have. The more you appreciate what you already own, the less you’ll need new things to satisfy you. Creating a regular gratitude practice is a great way to get started.

"Minimalist living is about slowing the pursuit of more and finding peace with enough." Quote against a black background.

DOWNLOAD MY FREE DECLUTTERING GUIDE

Mindful Decluttering is my free decluttering guide. It includes step-by-step instructions, personal stories (you’ll learn from my mistakes!), a troubleshooting guide and a helpful workbook. 

To get your copy simply subscribe using the below form. As an added bonus, you’ll also get my newsletter with more tips and inspiration (but don’t worry, you can unsubscribe anytime).

EXPERIMENT WITH MINIMALISM IN THE KITCHEN

Did you know that you can apply minimalism to cooking and meals? Learn more about my simple eating philosophy or how to create a minimalist pantry.

CULTIVATE A MINIMALIST MINDSET

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that crafting a life of simplicity is a two-part process. 

On the one hand, there’s the practical work like decluttering your home—but you can’t stop there. You also have to do the inner work of cultivating a minimalist mindset. This is the key to creating sustainable, long-term change. 

Here are some helpful resources if you want to explore this further:  

"Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough." - Charles Dudley Warner

KNOW WHERE IT GOES … BEFORE YOU BUY

A quick tip that will stop clutter from entering your home: Before you buy anything new, decide exactly where it will live. If you can’t picture where it will go, then don’t buy it!

LET GO OF “PERFECT”

When I first started exploring minimalism, I thought that finding simplicity meant creating a “perfect” minimalist life.

This vision was fueled by what I saw online … perfect capsule wardrobes on Pinterest, perfect Scandi styled homes on Instagram, and perfect relaxing afternoons as featured on every minimalist blog (or at least, that’s what I choose to see).

I wanted a perfect “simple” life so badly but the irony is that minimalism couldn’t be further from perfect. Instead, it’s often about settling for good enough. 

  • Why shop for the perfect pair of jeans when I have two decent pairs already?
  • Why spend hours creating a perfect home when I could be spending time with family?
  • Why continue colouring my hair a perfect shade when nature gifted me with grey highlights? 

Minimalist living is not compatible with perfection but that’s OK because perfect isn’t real. Let go of stressful expectations and embrace wholehearted joy instead.

Related Post: How to Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

"Simplicity is not style, it is a state of harmony." - Naoto Fukasawa

CREATE SIMPLE DAILY ROUTINES

Make minimalism part of your daily life by creating simple routines. 

These routines should reflect what matters most to you. It’s an easy way to make sure the important things are always taken care of and not left on the backburner. 

If you need inspiration, check out my minimalist daily routines, these morning routine ideas, or my top daily routine tips

MAKE SIMPLIFYING FUN

Don’t get caught thinking “I’ll enjoy life once I’m done simplifying” because it doesn’t work that way. 

You’ll never be done because you’re human and life is messy. The world around you is always changing and what matters to you will probably change too. 

This means minimalism is a journey, not a destination—so make it fun and enjoy the ride. 

  • Play decluttering games or participate in challenges (there are some fun ideas here).
  • Use the time you “declutter” to enjoy the simple things in life
  • Slow down long enough to enjoy your new clutter-free spaces before rushing to your next project
  • Relax and don’t compare your version of minimalism with anyone else

Related Post: Don’t Wait to Enjoy the Simple Life

DECLUTTER YOUR MIND

A decluttered mind is arguably more important than a decluttered home. Here are some tips on how to get started.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO CUT YOUR LOSSES

Do you keep things you don’t use because you feel bad about the wasted money

If so, keep in mind the ongoing costs. Why are you continuing to spend time, energy, and even more money caring, storing, and cleaning your things? 

Plus there’s the emotional cost of hanging on. How do you feel when you look around your home and see clutter? Is it really worth it? 

Money spent is money spent. Cut your losses and move on—you’ll never find simplicity in life if you keep punishing yourself for past mistakes.

A sofa with throw pillows, a coffee and lamp table in a minimalist living room.
Simplicity in life comes from slowing down and paying attention to the little things, like the afternoon sun.

DO WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU

When I first attempted to declutter my closet, I tried a popular method that you’ve probably heard about before. It involves taking everything out, going through each item one at a time, and sorting into piles (keep, mend, or toss). 

I know this works for a lot of people but it completely overwhelmed me. Every attempt ended in tears … until I gave myself permission to take a different approach to closet decluttering

I learned that there’s no “one best way” when it comes to minimalist living. There’s a lot of advice out there so be flexible, try new things and do what works best for YOU.

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at my minimalist wardrobe for real-life closet inspiration.

PRACTICE SELF-KINDNESS + FORGIVENESS

Achieving simplicity requires coming face to face with many of our past mistakes. This can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment. 

When this happens (and it will happen), practice self-kindness and forgive yourself. It’s the only way to move forward.

"I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures." - Lao-Tzu quote against black background

QUESTION YOUR “HAVE TO’S”

There are so many things in life we think we “have to” do … but do we really? 

  • Do you have to own a car?
  • Do you have to reply to that email? 
  • Do you have to attend that meeting? 
  • Do you have to vacuum today? 

Sometimes there are things we genuinely need to do but probably not as often as you think. Creating a simple lifestyle means challenging long-held thoughts and beliefs.

Are you being honest with yourself? Or are you responding out of habit? 

If you’re not sure, experiment with letting go and see what happens. You might find you’re creating a lot of self-imposed deadlines and stress where it’s not required.

SAY “NO” TO IMPULSE SHOPPING

Impulsive, emotional purchases almost always lead to more clutter in our homes. 

You can say “no” to impulse shopping by planning to shop (at designated times with a written list) and by identifying your shopping triggers (what drives your desire to shop and how else can you respond?). 

For more advice on how to stop shopping, check out:

CONSIDER THE “OPPORTUNITY TEST”

Imagine that tomorrow, you were offered a dream opportunity—a trip of a lifetime or a new job in another state. Could you take it? Or would you feel too burdened by your stuff and commitments?

SET PERSONAL BOUNDARIES

An easy way to create simplicity is by setting boundaries—in your home, schedule, relationships and more. Using your values as your guide, write your own rules. 

  • How much time are you willing (and able) to spend on unpaid work? 
  • How much space will you devote to storing seasonal holiday decorations? 
  • How much can you afford to spend on eating take-away meals? 
  • How many pairs of shoes do you really need? 

There are no right or wrong answers but putting intentional thought into these types of questions will make your life easier. Boundaries reduce decision fatigue and empower you to act in your own best interest.

DO ONE THING AT AT TIME

If you want to find more simplicity in life then you must say goodbye to multi-tasking. 

Doing one thing at a time is the simplest way to create balance in life and the best part is, you can get started today. It does require practice but keep going and it will get easier with time.

Related Post: Doing Less + A Lesson in Self-Worth

GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE

Clutter can be suffocating … but it’s also comfortable. Whether we realise it or not, the things we own buffer our fears and anxieties. 

A designer handbag validates your success. A full bookshelf demonstrates your education. A 12 piece dining set implies an active social life.  

Our stuff tells a story and without it, we feel vulnerable. We’re forced to face the world as our true selves and it’s uncomfortable at first—especially if you’re not expecting it. 

But don’t turn away from the discomfort. Instead, embrace it and you’ll discover the most surprising way decluttering improves your life. I promise, it’s worth it. 

What are your favourite minimalist living tips? Is there anything you wish you could tell your younger self? Let us know in the comments!

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