Simple Living: How to Become More Minimalist This Year

Assess what you have

Have you ever purchased an article of clothing, only to realize that you already have something similar in the back of your closet? To get started living a more minimalist lifestyle, the first step is to acknowledge the abundance of things we already own.

Get used to the “shop at home first” mindset. Organize your kitchen perishables like they do at grocery stores, with the things in front/on top that will expire soonest. If you have a stockpile of food in your pantry, keep a quick inventory checklist so you don’t end up buying the same thing twice. Do the same with your wardrobe—shop your closet first before buying anything new.

“Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.” —Epictetus

Declutter your life

Take stock of your current inventory of clothing and other possessions. If there are items you’re not wearing, could they be of more use elsewhere? If so, try our For Days Take Back Bag to send clothes off responsibly to their next life. Ripped or torn, all textiles are fair grame—from socks and underwear to sheets and pillowcases.

Each bag saves around 16K gallons of water, 118 pounds of C02 emissions, and 15 pounds of clothing from landfill.

There are countless tips and tricks out there for consuming less.

Start knolling and compartmentalizing

Knolling is the method of arranging things in precise, perpendicular patterns. Largely used as an organizing system for artists or for flat lay photography, the system can also be applied to kitchen drawers, cosmetics, etc. With knolling, instead of having odds and ends thrown together in a drawer, you might have a perpendicular container sectioned off for each item—everything put away in its place.

Another way to keep organized is to never increase your storage space for things. For instance, you might limit yourself to one clear, organized box for all your holiday supplies. Once the box is full, don’t buy anymore. Or you might give yourself one box for old random photos and souvenirs—perhaps digitizing what you don’t have room for.

Turning to your bathroom sink or pantry, try to consolidate multiples of items into one and label everything clearly, in neat rows at right angles. For our full kitchen organization tips, check out our blog on how to build a sustainable pantry!

Reflect on your purchasing patterns

Now that you’ve cleared out some clutter, don’t let more in. Any time you get rid of something, it’s a good idea to make note of why it didn’t work out.

• Was the object cheaper in person than it looked online?
• Was it a whim purchase? Were you just feeling spendy?
• Was it too trendy?
• Was it more aspirational, and not something you actually use in daily life?
• Was it difficult to care for properly?

This information will help you establish patterns in your buying habits so that you don’t just keep repeating them.

Break the endless buying cycle

There are countless tips and tricks out there for consuming less. But though it may sound too simple, the best way to stop buying so much could be just to stop buying. If you need to, hit pause on purchasing anything at all except for necessary refills and replacements such as shower supplies, cleaning supplies, and groceries, of course.

Knolling is the method of arranging things in precise, perpendicular patterns

When you have the strong urge to buy something, jot it down in a list for that month. You’ll likely notice that the first 3 months are difficult but that your lists of items you’re coveting get smaller over time. And if something’s been on your list consecutively for several months, you’ll feel better about it as a purchase decision.

Structure spending around refills and replacements

Once you’ve broken the habit of overconsumption, adopt a 1 in, 1 out policy for your closet and belongings. Create a list of allowed purchases such as basic refills and replacements. For instance, if you run out of shampoo, that goes on the refills list. If your everyday running shoes finally start to fall apart, that goes on the replacements list.

Luckily, re_ grocery provides an in-person and online zero waste grocery store and refillery that makes it easy to responsibly refill basic items like groceries, body products, and home goods that you need on a regular basis.

Focus on quality, not quantity

When it comes time to replace certain household items, be sure to replace them with reusables. Not only will it save you money in the long run, this will also help you create a more mindful space with less household waste.

For instance, replace plastic handsoap bottles with reusable ones that are made to last forever. Replace single-use items like paper towels with machine washable and compostable Swedish dishcloths.

You can gradually revamp your home as you use things up, or revamp space by space, with one of our bundles for your kitchen, bathroom, and more.

Not sure where to start? We have a guide to our top reusable essentials here.

Identify shopping triggers

There may be certain stores (Target, famously), or occasions when you tend to overspend without planning on it. Make a list of times you’re prone to whim purchases. For instance, the list could include:

• When a site only has a few left of something
• Locations you tend to spend big
• Before a trip, holiday, or birthday
• Before a move
• When you get a targeted ad for something
• Mega-shopping dates like Cyber Monday
• ___-related marketing (ie. if you’re a parent, maybe it’s child-related marketing)

It’s good to have an idea of what these are so that you can avoid them completely.

Embrace the old

A good tip? If you need a reason to keep using older items (like a laptop or a worn leather shoe) instead of buying a newer version, use this mantra: “Because this is the one I have.”

Trends and tastes come back around. Yesterday’s retired clothing trends are tomorrow’s vintage, and who knew that twenty years later you might actually regret getting rid of your tape cassette collection?

Adopt a 1 in, 1 out policy for your closet and belongings

Planned obsolescence aside, if you have something that you love, don’t worry about it being outdated. Hold onto it, get it mended or repaired, and get your money’s worth.

Simplify your errands

Errands are one of those things you can’t get around—but you can make them simpler. Re_ makes your grocery trips easier by having everything you need—from dry goods to farmers market produce—all in one place. To make things even easier, we also offer delivery locally in Los Angeles or nationwide on hundreds of items.

When it comes time to replace certain household items, be sure to replace them with reusables.

To further simplify your errands, you may want to cluster them to a specific day, week, or even a specific time of the season. For instance, you might want to set aside an “appointments week” for your doctor, dentist, vision, and/or car appointments. Yes, it will suck, but it will help you keep track of when all your last visits were.

Or, you might want to have a “clothes day” every season where you unpack clothes for the season, sort through ones to give away, handwash ones that need washing, take ones to the dry cleaner, and do any ironing.

Unplug your life

Because we’re bombarded with information, news, ads, and background noise, it’s important to unplug regularly. Are there opportunities in your day to welcome in complete silence? Challenge yourself to do grocery runs, neighborhood walks, or your work commute without podcasts or music. If you never hear your own thoughts, they may not have a chance to settle.

Nowadays, “wise” phones, “dumb” phones, or landlines that discourage screen time are becoming more popular. Most importantly, try to avoid your screen first thing in the morning and last thing before bed. Screen time at night can significantly impact your circadian rhythm, so give yourself time to truly unwind.

Keep your calendar clear

Minimalist living doesn’t just have to do with your personal space, it also has to do with your headspace. Try to preserve the sanctity of your calendar so that it isn’t taken up with other people’s plans for you. At the beginning of each year, schedule things that you’re excited about so that they take precedence.

And as far as it’s possible, schedule in some times for rest, meditation, a family yoga session, or other ways of caring for your mental wellbeing.

Minimalism isn’t about depriving yourself. It’s about finding satisfaction in needing less. When you start to declutter your life and break the cycle of overconsumption, you find that not only do you create less waste in this world, you have more time, headspace, and savings for the things that actually matter to you.