Minimalism has become more than a simple trend – with a bigger emphasis than ever on cutting down on the amount of waste that we produce as the environment suffers, minimalist offers a simple and appealing answer.

But after decades of a consumerist lifestyle that’s become very much the norm in most parts of the world, it can be difficult to switch over to minimalism, especially when it comes to having the right mindset. Here we will break down some easy ways of becoming a minimalist over a period of time.

Understanding Minimalism

Adopting minimalism isn’t just about not buying that chocolate in the cashier aisle or switching over to a metal bottle instead of plastic; it’s about looking at different aspects of life and finding ways of reducing how much waste each aspect produces. Whether it’s buying as little plastic as possible or avoiding eating out as much as possible, minimalism not only offers a means of cutting down on material items and the excess waste, but also of decluttering the mind and having to worry less about the stuff we own.

Things That Are Needed

One of the biggest problems with consumerisms is that it focuses almost entirely on the things that we want rather than what we actually needed. Having two or three pairs of shoes is almost always enough for most people, but there’s a constant drive to sell as many shoes as possible, even if the majority of them won’t be worn. The easiest way to go about this is by looking at the items that we own, and if we haven’t used it within a set period of time, such as six months, then it might be worth donating that item to someone that might.

Remove Duplicates

It’s a common trend for people to own more than one of the same items, which they usually pick up as a bundle or combo item. A minimalist will want to go around their house and find all of the duplicate items that they won and then get rid of one, allowing them to free up space while simultaneously only holding onto the one that they actually need.

Reuse Almost Everything

Many of the foods that we buy today come in plastic or glass containers, all of which can be reused for countless uses; it’s essentially down to a question of creativity. Glass jars can be turned into bird feeders, lanterns, snow globes, spice jars, and so much more. Plastic containers can be used for holding leftovers, for sending out parcels, or as storage for around the house.

Preparing Food

Food preparation is a great way of cutting down on how much take-out food we buy. Many minimalists will prepare food on a Sunday for the rest of the week, which gives them the time to focus on other things, like their hobbies, checking out the latest popular gaming sites, and more, but it also allows them to have food as needed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s an excellent way of reducing food waste, as well as eating much more healthily.