The Maintenance of Minimalism

15 practices to keep me on track

Maintaining a minimalist lifestyle is an ongoing commitment that goes beyond the initial purge. After a year of actively embracing minimalism, I’ve found that the satisfaction of decluttering is *chef’s kiss*, but sustaining that simplicity requires regular effort. It's shockingly easy for extra items to slowly accumulate, so periodic reevaluation of your belongings is crucial.

Over the past year, I've implemented various strategies to stay on top of my minimalist goals. It’s surprising how quickly things can sneak in, whether it's holding onto items I'm unsure about, or realizing that some clothes are no longer my style. I've learned to let go of things that no longer serve me, which also helps curb the urge to accumulate unnecessary items.

With the changing season and my return to full-time work after summer vacation, now feels like the ideal time for a comprehensive minimalist reset. If you or your kids are heading back to school, maybe your life can be a little easier too if you implement some of these strategies. Here’s my plan:

Reinforcing Routines:

• Daily Tasks: Unpack my backpack and put away clothes as soon as I get home to keep laundry and clutter under control.

• Consistent Meals: Stick to a couple of go-to breakfast options and daily snacks (overnight oatmeal, granola, fruits, and nuts).

• Pre-Planning: Pack my lunch and choose my outfit the night before to streamline my mornings (I have been doing this since I was 6 years old and I honestly don’t remember being taught this strategy. I think I was born this way)

• Kitchen Clean-Up: Tidy up the kitchen every night before bed.

• Phone-Free Sleep: Keep my phone in a different room while I sleep.

  

  Left: my kitchen being super simple and ready to bake bread or make granola. Right: A lil blackberry fruit roll up I made with my blackberry surplus the other day.

Lifestyle Adjustments:

• Alcohol-Free: Committing to abstaining from alcohol for better overall well-being.

• Social Media Detox: This is a big one and such a good one for me! I Deleted Instagram and had my husband change the password to avoid the temptation to log in. I did the same for him and we are both enjoying life outstagram.

• Reading List: Adding a few new books to my reading list. I’m currently reading Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and it is such a sweet book. I’m patiently waiting for Making Things by Erin Boyle and Rose Pearlman to come into my library. I am also adding the Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer to re-read. If you haven’t read it, you are missing out.

• Clothing Consciousness: Carefully consider which clothes to part with, with the possibility of repurposing them into a quilt or another project. I have a plan to “sell back” a couple of items to Patagonia that no longer serve me and purchase a new long-sleeved shirt which I badly need.

• Gift Planning: Strategically plan for upcoming gift-giving occasions and also be mindful of not buying stuff just for the sake of the gift-giving tradition.

Organizing and Purchases/ Anti-Purchases:

• Basement Organization: Go through things I did not purge last year and see if there is anything else that can go.

• Mindful Shopping: Avoid trendy or unnecessary clothing purchases. I’m already thinking about some shoes that will inevitably be replaced and what I will replace them with. When the time comes I’ll be ready!

• DIY Soaps: I’m preparing DIY soap recipes to minimize future purchases. I’ll use Dr. Bronner’s recipes for hand soap, dish soap, body wash, and possibly shampoo, though I’m cautious about switching conditioners. Eliminating the separate purchases of dish soap, body wash, and hand soap is so satisfying to me.

• Seasonal Decor: No new seasonal decorations will be bought. I might buy a candle that leans towards a fall scent. I’m celebrating fall with seasonal produce and reuniting with my sweater collection. I’m also trading my special treat coffee shop order from an iced latte to a hot latte.

• Craft Supplies: I’m using scrap materials to make stuffed animals. The amount of things I was able to make when I thought I didn’t have good supplies is amazing. So so so satisfying.

  

  A quilt I made earlier this summer with scraps and old sheets.

By incorporating these practices, I hope to further streamline my life and maintain the simplicity I value. I’ll have more time to notice the leaves changing :)

As always,

Thanks for reading!

If you have ideas of topics you would like to see my write more about, let me know in the comments. Also, very curious if you have any other routines are simpleton things that are super satisfying to you that maybe I can try!

Love ya,
Elaina