How to Be a Minimalist
Minimalists seek to reduce the amount of clutter in their lives by eliminating unnecessary possessions. If that sounds like your cup of tea, here's what you need to do.
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You Will Need
- Unused objects
- Garage sale
- Organization skills
- Resolution
Steps
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Step 1
Look for unused objects
Ask yourself how often you have used an object over the past few months when deciding whether to discard it. This is a better measure of whether you need it than the potential value of the object.
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If you haven't used it in the past year, or can't remember the last time you used it, you don't need it.
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Step 2
Look at your closets
Look through your closets. Keep only those clothes that are versatile. Get rid of anything that doesn't fit or that you don't wear.
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For all practical purposes, you probably only need 2 or 3 pairs of shoes.
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Step 3
Clean out your garage and basement
Clean out your garage and basement. Donate any unused objects to charity or have a garage sale.
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Step 4
Continue through your house
Make your way through the rest of your house. Be ruthless in your decisions about what to discard.
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Step 5
Take care of your remaining possessions
Organize and take care of your remaining possessions once you have finished minimalizing. If you've done it right, you've ended up with only the essentials, versatile objects that serve a variety of purposes.
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Step 6
Be resolute
Remember not to fall back on old acquisitive habits. Then enjoy your newfound freedom from clutter.
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In 1992, noted minimalist artist Frank Stella created a 10,000-foot mural for the Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto, Canada.
