Getting started with minimalism isn’t easy for everyone. With so many different ways to begin decluttering your home and re-organizing your life, it’s no wonder that people find it difficult, and in some cases, this can even stop you from getting started.
One way that you can embark on your minimalist journey is by starting a challenge and taking things one step at a time. Doing this can ensure that you don’t give up or feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount changes you may have to make. So, if you’re looking to live an intentional life, here’s how to get started.
The 30-day Minimalism Challenge
Here’s a 30-day minimalist challenge for people new to minimalism and decluttering their home:
Day 1: Establish your minimalism goals.
The first thing you’ll want to do is write down what you’re trying to achieve with this challenge. A clearer living room? A clearer mind? Write them down to stay focused and motivated.
Day 2: Declutter your workspace.
The workspace is one of the most important spaces in your home, especially if you need to work from there. Remove any unnecessary items from your desk and office.
Day 3: Clean out one drawer.
Pick any drawer in your home and discard items you no longer need. This can be a junk drawer, or something from your bedroom if needs be.
Day 4: Minimalize your digital space.
Though your physical items may be more important, it’s also a good idea to try and declutter our mind too if we want more space to think. Delete unused apps, clear your desktop, and unsubscribe from unnecessary emails.
Day 5: Donate five items.
A benefit of minimalism is that the things you no longer need may be useful for others. These can be clothes, books, or other items you no longer need – your local charity will thank you for your donations.
Day 6: Declutter your kitchen.
Remove unused kitchen utensils, expired food, and rarely used gadgets. Your kitchen cabinets are often filled with random stuff, so make sure to get rid of them (and don’t find a new home for them on your kitchen counters!).
Day 7: Go paperless.
Sign up for online bills and notifications to reduce paper clutter. This slowly builds up over time and it can lead to you feeling encumbered, without the ability to throw away this paper as you may worry about losing important things.
Day 8: Clear out your wardrobe.
If you haven’t worn it in a year, it’s time to let it go. You can either donate items to charity or offer them up to a friend or family member if you think that they may find it useful.
Day 9: Simplify your morning routine.
Remove unnecessary steps to make your mornings smoother. If you have a ton of products on your bathroom counter to choose between, eliminating these is a great first step.
Day 10: Limit your shopping.
Today, don’t buy anything non-essential. Although this may not seem like a big deal, if you note down all of your impulses to buy, you may notice how much of an impact this can have.
Day 11: Declutter your bathroom.
Discard expired products and those you don’t use from your bathroom so that you can start your day in the right way.
Day 12: Digitize photos and important papers.
Depending on how many photos you have, this may take a whole lot of time. However, this will help clear some physical space in your home.
Day 13: Spend a day without social media.
Digital clutter is still clutter, and our social media accounts can affect the way that we think and feel. Taking a break for a day shouldn’t be difficult, and it can help you to feel relaxed and reduce the mental load.
Day 14: Clean out your car.
Your decluttering challenge doesn’t have to remain within the home, as your car is often one of the messiest places in your life. Remove unnecessary items to make your car feel new again.
Day 15: Donate five more items.
If you’ve been continually decluttering, you’ve probably found new items to donate by now. You don’t need to get rid of any sentimental items, but you can clear out the kid’s toys and other things you won’t use again.
Day 16: Unfollow and unsubscribe.
After taking a break from socials, it’s now time to remove people and companies that don’t bring value to your life from your social feeds.
Day 17: Clear off flat surfaces.
Tables, nightstands, and counters should be as clutter-free as possible. This doesn’t include your dining room table, though it’s probably a good idea to keep things fairly simple.
Day 18: Reduce decorative items.
All of us have picked up random items over the years that add little value to our lives. Keep only the ones that mean the most to you.
Day 19: Declutter your phone contacts.
It’s time to clean up your contact list. Keep your friends and family members, but make sure to delete any of those contacts you won’t message any time in the near future.
Day 20: Simplify your meal planning.
Reducing the time you spend shopping can help you to free up some time, and meal planning in advance is a great way to do that. Try a meal prep plan or stick to simple recipes.
Day 21: Declutter your shoe collection.
One of the most difficult things to do for us women, it’s important to narrow down your shoe collection if you want more space in your home. Donate the pairs you no longer wear.
Day 22: Organize your digital files.
Many of us spend time on our laptop every day, and it can easily become disorganized. Make sure every file has a home and delete those you no longer need.
Day 23: Spend a day without TV.
The television can bring comfort at times, but many of us spend too much time cosied up in front of our favorite shows watching TV. Focus on activities that add more value to your life.
Day 24: Get rid of old electronics.
Old electronics will continue to accrue over time unless you make an effort to get rid of them. Recycle or donate them responsibly.
Day 25: Clean out your fridge.
Unless you clean it on a weekly basis, it’s likely that you’ve got some things in your fridge that you no longer need. Dispose of expired items and clean all the shelves.
Day 26: Limit your beauty products.
If you’re like me, your bathroom cabinets are filled with make-up that you purchased that you never end up using. Keep only what you regularly use.
Day 27: Declutter your garage or storage area.
You can continue your decluttering tasks by making sure that your garage is clear. Get rid of items you’re storing “just in case.”
Day 28: Simplify your bedtime routine.
When it comes to the end of our day, too many of us forget that we should try to unwind in peace. This means no TV, and certainly no playing on your phone before bed. Focus on rest, not activities.
Day 29: Clean out your email inbox.
We’ve already unsubscribed from all the irrelevant emails you likely receive, but it’s a good idea to go through your inbox and delete all of the old ones that you no longer need too. Respond, file, delete. Clear out that inbox.
Day 30: Reflect and plan.
Look back on your progress, enjoy your decluttered space, and make a plan for maintaining your minimalist lifestyle. After doing this 30 day challenge, you can then consider continuing to do things daily in the same vein, or instead become a full blown minimalist.
Conclusion
Minimalism challenges can be difficult, so it’s important that you make a to do list and take things one step as a time. Doing this can not only help you restructure your life in a more simple way, but also help to improve your mental health, and even save money along the way too.
Remember, the goal of minimalism isn’t to get rid of things you love or need, but rather to make space for the things that truly matter in your life. Good luck on your minimalist journey!
