4 Easy Minimalist Habits For Peace Of Mind

I like to describe myself as a “minimalist at heart” because my life from the outside doesn’t look all that minimalistic, however, there are four minimalist habits that I live by for peace of mind.

If you were to walk into our home, you certainly would not be entering into a ‘tiny house’ or see me wearing all black clothes; in fact, you will probably see quite the opposite along with my son’s toys scattered across the floor and a kitchen full of cooking appliances. 

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved organizing and decluttering. My parents were never hoarders and so I was used to living in a clear space. As a kid, a great afternoon would be one that I spent organizing and rearranging my bedroom, or even my friend’s bedroom.

At 19 years old I went to work on ultra-sleek Super-yachts where cleaning and organizing literally became my job (along with serving food and drinks). I would return home for my holiday and organize my parent’s garage or cutlery drawers and experience such enjoyment after a satisfying ‘before & after’ transformation. 

When we purchased our home in Portugal, I knew right from the beginning that I did not want to furnish it with anything we didn’t love, just to fill the space. Annoying for most but we didn’t have things like a coffee table or enough chairs for over a year. Maintaining a clutter-free environment became trickier with kids in tow and so I have had to drop my high standards. It is no surprise for my family to hear me declare “A clean house is a clean mind!” – No one ever seems to respond, but nevertheless, I feel great after resetting the space. 

It is said that your environment is a reflection of your inner-world and I couldn’t agree more. Karen Kingston, the decluttering expert said “When you live surrounded by clutter, it is impossible to know what you are doing in your life.”

Below are the 4 minimalist habits I live by for peace of mind:

1. Every item has a purpose

This doesn’t mean you can’t have things like décor or art, it just means it should “spark joy” for you and not only be purchased to fill up an empty space. Before we buy anything, I make sure it is going to be something we use. For example, I will only purchase a piece of art if I love it and if I know exactly where it will be hung.

2. Be frugal when purchasing clothes

I only purchase new clothes if I need it and I regularly de-clutter and go through my wardrobe. I do appreciate dressing well and looking nice but I do not aspire to be fashionable because of how quickly trends change. Instead, I rather aim for something that has a classic cut and is good quality which can be worn for years. Recently, I have used a seamstress to tailor clothes that I already own, as the shape of my body has changed over the years. 

3. Regularly throw things out or donate them

Getting rid of things re-energizes me and it has become a habit for me to assess whether we are using certain items enough as I move around the house. I regularly use a bag to collect items throughout the month that I intend to donate (it usually contains clothing, broken toys and containers without lids). This keeps the house feeling fresh and manageable.

4. Digital minimalism is a thing

Deleting emails, messages and photos, creating photo albums in your phone and organizing your apps into folders is a great way to feel a little less overwhelmed when you pick up your phone or open your laptop. 

The last thing I want you to think is that our home is always clean and there is nothing out of place. This is most certainly not the case, especially with two young children and a super fluffy dog, but a home is meant to be lived in so I embrace the joy and the chaos that comes with it. What I can say is that when the house is a mess it feels manageable.

I believe that your home environment should support your goals and make you feel calm and able to focus. Minimalism can help you achieve this by reducing the decisions you need to make in the day which in turn, gives you more time to focus on what really matters.

I would love to hear of any minimalist habits that you swear by so please do share them in the comment section below.