How to live more simply - minimalism and freeing yourself

  'Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life's excess in favour of focusing on what's important - so you can find happiness, fulfillment and freedom' 'The Minimalists 

Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus 

We live in a society that has got us always wanting more; the latest gadgets, trends, clothes and shoes. All around us is advertising and social media shows us what others have. This in itself can be stressful and children growing up can always feel like they are playing catch up to the latest trends. This in turn has lead us to lived cluttered lives, full of stress. The more we have, the more we want. 

You might think of minimalism as living in an nearly empty house but this is not the case. It is about being mindful of what you have and what you buy. I am sure I could spend just 20 minutes in my house and find many items that are not used or have not been thought about for years! Freeing yourself of excess and being mindful can be liberating in so many ways. 

Now I am not saying go and throw everything away as we don't want to be wasteful. There are many options when sorting through your things. 

Re-purpose items- get creative and find ways to re-purpose unwanted items.

Donate - There are many charities and organisations that take items (clothes and homeware). You unwanted items can be used and needed by others. 

Give it away for free- give your things away. There are many sites that do this and local pages where you can advertise. Giving your items a new home where they will be used!

Sell it - There are many selling sites where you can make money from selling your unwanted items.

Create a group for sharing - create a swap group with friends/ family to swap items no longer needed. I have been thinking of doing this for home educating items (books/resources). Not all books, curricula work for everyone; so by lending/ sharing we can create less waste and stop pointless buying. 

Recycle - Try to find recycling for your items rather than sending them to landfill.

With children and especially home educating, it is easy to accumulate items - toys, books, clothes and gadgets. Often we see posts by others recommending something and jump to get it (I am guilty of this). There then becomes a time when you feel like you are drowning in 'stuff' and have the feeling that your house is getting smaller. 

I defiantly want to live a more de-cluttered life and want to teach my children good habits so they won't be sucked into consumerism and wastage. I want them to be mindful about things they need and have, grateful and aware of sustainability. 

Ideas to create a more simple life:

• Clear out your things - room by room, cupboard by cupboard. Things that you don't use/ need/ have attachment to - get rid of using the methods above.
• Be mindful when buying things - ask yourself some questions before you purchase:

1. Do I really need the item?
2. Can I borrow it off of a friend, relative or from a library?
3. Can I get it second hand?

Small changes can have a big impact on your life and well-being. By teaching your children these values you will be creating happier, more content individuals that are not always chasing something.