Minimalism: It Doesn’t Have to Be an All or Nothing Approach!
♥
Written by: Liz Pipitone
Hygge, Nordic-flavored home interiors are complete eye candy for an aspiring minimalist. The clean lines, neutral color palettes, and relaxing vibes are true bliss.
But there’s nothing about this picturesque scene that resembles my home!
Currently, I live in a small single family home with three young children, my hubby, and multiple pets. It’s tight quarters! This type of minimalist design is simply unattainable in my home.
However, my passion for a calm interior, as well as the need to minimize chaos due to my depression and anxiety has led me to strive to incorporate partial minimalism into my home.
That’s when I quickly discovered minimalism doesn’t have to be an all or nothing practice. You do not need to practice 100% minimalism in order to experience the benefits!
Minimalism is a Spectrum
Partial minimalism can help declutter your mind and your heart— making your home a more enjoyable environment for your entire family.
The primary goal of minimalism is to get rid of stress and focus on what is important to YOU. There is not a singular destination meant to fit everyone.
I want to encourage you to do the same so you can experience the calming effects of open spaces and less clutter— regardless of who lives within your home!
Here I share with you my family’s journey to PARTIAL minimalism.
TOO Much Stuff
After nearly 11 years of marriage in a small modest home with three kids, pets, working swing shifts, managing chronic illnesses, and raising twin boys with disabilities and a daughter through their early childhood– we acquired a LOT of stuff. Far TOO much stuff!
My scarcity mentality of saving everything because you never know if or when you might need it someday really had a hold on us.
Our children are the only children in the family, so guess who gets LOADS of gifts on every occasion from well-meaning, adoring relatives? Their rooms were crammed, the cellar walls had more than we needed, and the garage had even more.
It. Was. Out. Of. Control!
I am blessed (and cursed) with a supernatural talent for organization, so I was able to neatly store enough belongings to care for a family of five.
However, my depression and anxiety exploded every time I’d walk into a room and trip on kid games and crafts. If my hubby and I wanted a date night after the kids went to bed to play ping-pong, well, the table was stacked high with boxes, so that was out of the question.
Marketing everywhere tells us we NEED more stuff to keep us happy. We NEED to have abc and xyz on hand — just in case!
Who makes these rules? Certainly not exhausted parents in survival mode!
Enough is Enough!
When COVID-19 hit, we were cooped up in tight quarters and it was then when we realized, enough was enough.
So we turned to the internet to research minimalism— a term which, before that point, we had only learned from watching, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things.
We also came across Dawn, The Minimal Mom, with her near-empty, gorgeous house. It was so calm and peaceful looking.
We watched Dawn’s amazing videos. They were incredibly informative, yet I couldn’t help but feel our lifestyle would not support that level of minimalism.
I started wondering if perhaps minimalism could be practiced in smaller doses and still be able to benefit from the lifestyle.
So we watched more. Hungry for relief from our mountains of stuff, we took inspiration from what we learned and started our first purge. Slowly, room by room, at our own exhausted-parent pace –and before we knew it– we were standing in a house with 50% less belongings within a few short weeks.
Clearing the Living Spaces
I can not tell you how good it feels to walk into a room and see the baseboards almost all the way around— rather than just piles of organized stuff. Stuff I was storing for the just in case we need it scenarios.
We walked into the twin’s room and for once didn’t have to dive over toy mountains.
My husband and I fit all our clothes into our closet for the first time ever, and to our delight– we cleared out our basement so we could actually exercise there, finally!
We learned from the extreme minimalists out there and drooled over their tidy, airy spaces. However, we didn’t fret about not functioning at that level of minimalism.
Rather, we embraced our family’s situation and dug into a partially minimalistic lifestyle that fit us best. We didn’t give up when we observed extreme levels of minimalism. We embraced them as inspiration!
The Journey to Partial Minimalism
I am passionate about helping other infinitely stressed, exhausted parents find the peace that a partially minimalistic home can bring. I could shout it from the rooftops in hopes of making the lives of other stressed families easier.
Perhaps your home will only be 20% minimalistic– that’s okay! Just start with slow, gentle changes that feel right for you and your family.
I honestly never knew partial minimalism was possible until my husband and I did it for ourselves— our way.
Here is our three step process for how we scaled down our house:
Step 1: Get excited to scale down your home
Get into the mindset that you own your stuff. Your stuff does NOT own you.
We learned that you have to care for, store, and maintain every single item you own. So, I suggest that you make a mental process for deciding what is worthy of having in your home. Don’t waste your life and the precious space in your home on the things you don’t use, or are keeping out of guilt, habit, or fear.
Find tips and tricks from the experts that are a great fit for you. Remember, ONLY adopt the suggestions that fit you and your family; you do not need to commit to every minimalistic rule out there. For example, we chose to not slim down our cups and dishes very much because we’re too busy to do the dishes multiple times a day. That’s okay! We greatly slimmed down our inventory in other areas of the house, so no big deal!
Have fun exploring minimalist YouTube channels, blogs, etc. such as Becoming Minimalist to get yourself energized and find the suggestions that will benefit you. And make sure to ask yourself what you can comfortably commit to.
Remember, the pros are there to inspire you. They are not there to overwhelm, shame, or stress you out!
Step 2: Focus on one room first
Start in an easy room. When you have time — even if it’s 5 minutes per day — begin boxing things up for three different purposes: to donate, to sell, or to be thrown out. Try this! Every time you go into the room where your bye-bye boxes are stored, bring at least one item from the target room. Or, if you feel compelled, spend a power session going through the one room only.
Stop scaling down when you feel the room is comfortable and relaxing, or it’s getting too hard to find more items to get rid of. Remember, your level of minimalism is a personal decision, NOT a competition.
Step 3: Celebrate and keep making comfortable progress
Celebrate how amazing the first room was. Spend more time in the space and enjoy your accomplishment.
Next, move onto the next room. Don’t rush or stress. Remember to go at your own pace to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Take mental notes of how the first completed room looks and feels, and how low your stress-level is now being in that room.
Go slowly through the other rooms of your house, one at a time, and make them as minimalistic as you feel comfortable, using the exact same method. Keep watching minimalist pros for more amazing tips to employ.
The Cleared Road Ahead
Picture how you will feel when your home is more minimalistic. Really dig in and focus on all the “feels” of your vision so your progress will not be derailed on the busiest days.
After a couple weeks or months of these small steps, you will suddenly realize you have always possessed the power to sculpt your home into the beautifully spacious, functional, and calming refuge that you need it to be.
Before you know it, you will not believe the transformation and most importantly— how you and your family now feel living in it!
Attention Aspiring Minimalists!
Full-blown minimalism can seem daunting and unattainable, but approaching minimalism is completely doable — even for a family with young children. The mental balance, open spaces, and assuaging effects on depression and anxiety are still achieved.
Even if your children tornado through your home on a daily basis, consider this your hug of encouragement. Use these actionable tips to begin your crusade to a calm, partially-minimalistic home.
Make your home as clutter-free, stress-free, and maintenance-free as you feel is just right for you and your family.
Get started on your minimalist journey today, and experience the same freedom from stress that full-blown minimalists thrive in!
Minimalism: It Doesn’t Have to Be an All or Nothing Approach!
♥
Written by: Liz Pipitone
Hygge, Nordic-flavored home interiors are complete eye candy for an aspiring minimalist. The clean lines, neutral color palettes, and relaxing vibes are true bliss.
But there’s nothing about this picturesque scene that resembles my home!
Currently, I live in a small single family home with three young children, my hubby, and multiple pets. It’s tight quarters! This type of minimalist design is simply unattainable in my home.
However, my passion for a calm interior, as well as the need to minimize chaos due to my depression and anxiety has led me to strive to incorporate partial minimalism into my home.
That’s when I quickly discovered minimalism doesn’t have to be an all or nothing practice. You do not need to practice 100% minimalism in order to experience the benefits!
Minimalism is a Spectrum
Partial minimalism can help declutter your mind and your heart— making your home a more enjoyable environment for your entire family.
The primary goal of minimalism is to get rid of stress and focus on what is important to YOU. There is not a singular destination meant to fit everyone.
I want to encourage you to do the same so you can experience the calming effects of open spaces and less clutter— regardless of who lives within your home!
Here I share with you my family’s journey to PARTIAL minimalism.
TOO Much Stuff
After nearly 11 years of marriage in a small modest home with three kids, pets, working swing shifts, managing chronic illnesses, and raising twin boys with disabilities and a daughter through their early childhood– we acquired a LOT of stuff. Far TOO much stuff!
My scarcity mentality of saving everything because you never know if or when you might need it someday really had a hold on us.
Our children are the only children in the family, so guess who gets LOADS of gifts on every occasion from well-meaning, adoring relatives? Their rooms were crammed, the cellar walls had more than we needed, and the garage had even more.
It. Was. Out. Of. Control!
I am blessed (and cursed) with a supernatural talent for organization, so I was able to neatly store enough belongings to care for a family of five.
However, my depression and anxiety exploded every time I’d walk into a room and trip on kid games and crafts. If my hubby and I wanted a date night after the kids went to bed to play ping-pong, well, the table was stacked high with boxes, so that was out of the question.
Marketing everywhere tells us we NEED more stuff to keep us happy. We NEED to have abc and xyz on hand — just in case!
Who makes these rules? Certainly not exhausted parents in survival mode!
Enough is Enough!
When COVID-19 hit, we were cooped up in tight quarters and it was then when we realized, enough was enough.
So we turned to the internet to research minimalism— a term which, before that point, we had only learned from watching, Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things.
We also came across Dawn, The Minimal Mom, with her near-empty, gorgeous house. It was so calm and peaceful looking.
We watched Dawn’s amazing videos. They were incredibly informative, yet I couldn’t help but feel our lifestyle would not support that level of minimalism.
I started wondering if perhaps minimalism could be practiced in smaller doses and still be able to benefit from the lifestyle.
So we watched more. Hungry for relief from our mountains of stuff, we took inspiration from what we learned and started our first purge. Slowly, room by room, at our own exhausted-parent pace –and before we knew it– we were standing in a house with 50% less belongings within a few short weeks.
Clearing the Living Spaces
I can not tell you how good it feels to walk into a room and see the baseboards almost all the way around— rather than just piles of organized stuff. Stuff I was storing for the just in case we need it scenarios.
We walked into the twin’s room and for once didn’t have to dive over toy mountains.
My husband and I fit all our clothes into our closet for the first time ever, and to our delight– we cleared out our basement so we could actually exercise there, finally!
We learned from the extreme minimalists out there and drooled over their tidy, airy spaces. However, we didn’t fret about not functioning at that level of minimalism.
Rather, we embraced our family’s situation and dug into a partially minimalistic lifestyle that fit us best. We didn’t give up when we observed extreme levels of minimalism. We embraced them as inspiration!
The Journey to Partial Minimalism
I am passionate about helping other infinitely stressed, exhausted parents find the peace that a partially minimalistic home can bring. I could shout it from the rooftops in hopes of making the lives of other stressed families easier.
Perhaps your home will only be 20% minimalistic– that’s okay! Just start with slow, gentle changes that feel right for you and your family.
I honestly never knew partial minimalism was possible until my husband and I did it for ourselves— our way.
Here is our three step process for how we scaled down our house:
Step 1: Get excited to scale down your home
Get into the mindset that you own your stuff. Your stuff does NOT own you.
We learned that you have to care for, store, and maintain every single item you own. So, I suggest that you make a mental process for deciding what is worthy of having in your home. Don’t waste your life and the precious space in your home on the things you don’t use, or are keeping out of guilt, habit, or fear.
Find tips and tricks from the experts that are a great fit for you. Remember, ONLY adopt the suggestions that fit you and your family; you do not need to commit to every minimalistic rule out there. For example, we chose to not slim down our cups and dishes very much because we’re too busy to do the dishes multiple times a day. That’s okay! We greatly slimmed down our inventory in other areas of the house, so no big deal!
Have fun exploring minimalist YouTube channels, blogs, etc. such as Becoming Minimalist to get yourself energized and find the suggestions that will benefit you. And make sure to ask yourself what you can comfortably commit to.
Remember, the pros are there to inspire you. They are not there to overwhelm, shame, or stress you out!
Step 2: Focus on one room first
Start in an easy room. When you have time — even if it’s 5 minutes per day — begin boxing things up for three different purposes: to donate, to sell, or to be thrown out. Try this! Every time you go into the room where your bye-bye boxes are stored, bring at least one item from the target room. Or, if you feel compelled, spend a power session going through the one room only.
Stop scaling down when you feel the room is comfortable and relaxing, or it’s getting too hard to find more items to get rid of. Remember, your level of minimalism is a personal decision, NOT a competition.
Step 3: Celebrate and keep making comfortable progress
Celebrate how amazing the first room was. Spend more time in the space and enjoy your accomplishment.
Next, move onto the next room. Don’t rush or stress. Remember to go at your own pace to prevent feeling overwhelmed. Take mental notes of how the first completed room looks and feels, and how low your stress-level is now being in that room.
Go slowly through the other rooms of your house, one at a time, and make them as minimalistic as you feel comfortable, using the exact same method. Keep watching minimalist pros for more amazing tips to employ.
The Cleared Road Ahead
Picture how you will feel when your home is more minimalistic. Really dig in and focus on all the “feels” of your vision so your progress will not be derailed on the busiest days.
After a couple weeks or months of these small steps, you will suddenly realize you have always possessed the power to sculpt your home into the beautifully spacious, functional, and calming refuge that you need it to be.
Before you know it, you will not believe the transformation and most importantly— how you and your family now feel living in it!
Attention Aspiring Minimalists!
Full-blown minimalism can seem daunting and unattainable, but approaching minimalism is completely doable — even for a family with young children. The mental balance, open spaces, and assuaging effects on depression and anxiety are still achieved.
Even if your children tornado through your home on a daily basis, consider this your hug of encouragement. Use these actionable tips to begin your crusade to a calm, partially-minimalistic home.
Make your home as clutter-free, stress-free, and maintenance-free as you feel is just right for you and your family.
Get started on your minimalist journey today, and experience the same freedom from stress that full-blown minimalists thrive in!
About author: Liz Pipitone
Liz is a wife, mother, and freelancer specialized offering content repurposing services via her online business, Navigation Virtual Solutions, LLC.
She is passionate about her family, her rural lifestyle, wine, coffee, and planning for future travels.
Connect with Liz on Instagram: @navigationvs
About author: Liz Pipitone
Liz is a wife, mother, and freelancer specialized offering content repurposing services via her online business, Navigation Virtual Solutions, LLC.
She is passionate about her family, her rural lifestyle, wine, coffee, and planning for future travels.
Connect with Liz on Instagram: @navigationvs
