6 Minimalism Goals for The New Year

by admin

I know that around this time every year, a lot of people like to set minimalism goals for their homes and lives. (Fun factmy blog consistently gets the most visitors, year after year, on New Years Day!) Theres clearly something in the air that inspires people to simplify.

Of course, Im a firm believer that any day is a good day to make a changeyou dont need to wait for January 1st to embrace a minimalist lifestylebut if youre feeling motivated to act now then Im here to help!

Here are some ideas of specific minimalism goals you might want to add to your list, along with resources and tips that will help you achieve them.

6 Minimalism Goals To Inspire You

Ive chosen ideas for your minimalism goals that represent the full spectrum of minimalism and simple living. This means that yesthis list includes decluttering goalsbut its not just about your physical stuff.

Instead, I encourage you to take a broader approach to minimalism this year. Look at your schedule, your spending, your relationships, your thoughtsdoes the sum of your life choices reflect your values and priorities?

Ask yourself if anything feels out of alignment, and then consider what you need to let go of in order to correct it.

And finally please remember that minimalism is not about being someone youre not. Dont worry if your home doesnt look like what youve seen on Instagram or if simplifying your life is taking longer than youd like. Its not a race and you dont have to keep up with anyone else.

Instead, its all about curating your life so that you can have more of what matters and less of what doesnt. Its about letting go of the excess so that your true self can shine through.

Choose the minimalism goals that feel right for you, go at your own pace and enjoy the journey.

GOAL 1: CREATE + MAINTAIN A CLUTTER-FREE ZONE

One super simple (but powerful!) thing that you can do for yourself is to create and maintain a clutter-free zone. I actually did this for the first time in 2019 with my kitchen island.

Before I made this change, my kitchen island was a dumping ground for the little life things that we all deal withrandom papers, mail, phone chargers etc. It wasnt a ton of stuff but there was always something keeping it cluttered.

Then one day I took it all off to wipe down the surface and before I replaced everything, I paused. I took a moment to notice the smooth, white countertop and I felt a sense of calm settle over me.

I decided then and there that moving forward, my kitchen island would be a clutter-free zoneand since then, Ive been surprisingly good at maintaining it! Its amazing what you can do when you decide and commit to one small change.

Its a simple goal worth pursuing no matter where you are on your minimalist journey, but I think its especially useful if youre just getting started. Its a small change that can create a lot of decluttering momentum!

Here are a few decluttering resources that can help you keep going:

And most importantly, make sure you download a free copy of Mindful Decluttering, my step-by-step decluttering guide and workbook. Simply subscribe using the form below and as an added bonus, youll get regular newsletters with minimalism tips, stories and inspiration!


GOAL 2: FIND TIME TO DO NOTHING EVERY DAY

Decluttering is important but its only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to minimalism. Freeing up space in your home is great but Id argue that finding time in your schedule is even better.

Of course, the two go hand in hand for most people. I know that when I decluttered my home, it meant I had more free time because I spent less time cleaning. Its definitely one of the major benefits of owning less stuff!

But there are other ways we can create more timenamely by intentionally doing less. If youre new to minimalism, I highly recommend that you take a critical look at your schedule. Does it need a bit of decluttering as well?

Equally important is what you do with the free time you create. Dont get caught in the trap of decluttering your schedule only to end up wasting time on something else.

Your time is precious so be intentional with how you use itand honestly? I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is to make time every day to do nothing.

Even if its just for a few minutes, try sitting quietly without your phone or even a book to entertain you. Instead, drink a cup of tea, look out the window, and just rest. It will probably feel a bit uncomfortable at first but make it part of your daily routine and I think it will surprise you.

If you need some help being intentional with your time, here are a few blog posts that you might enjoy:

GOAL 3: DECLUTTER YOUR CLOSET

When I discovered minimalism, the first project I tackled was my closet. It was a massive challenge but in the end, it was one of the best things Ive ever done for myselfand Ive spoken to a lot of people who feel the same way.

I think its because your closet represents so much more than just clothes. Its like a micro-universe where all our fears and insecurities liveor at least this was my experience!

Every single decluttering challenge Ive ever faced existed to some extent in my closet. After I was finally able to tackle my wardrobe, simplifying the rest of my life felt easy(ish). Id already walked through the fire and come out the other side.

If you want to create a big and bold change this year, I think this is a great goal to focus onand here are a few resources that will help you follow through:

GOAL 4: DO A NO SPEND CHALLENGE

Most people start their minimalism journey by focusing on decluttering but I actually think its more effective to look at what youre bringing into your life first.

Think of it this wayif you had a leaking pipe, the very first thing youd do is turn off the water supply, right?

The same applies to your stuff. If youre trying to reduce the clutter in your home, you need to stop bringing new stuff in! This is so important because if you dont learn to reduce your overall consumption then all your decluttering efforts will be wasted in the long run.

One way to kickstart a change to your shopping habits is by doing a no spend challenge. You can decide how long feels right for youa weekend, a week, a monthchoose a time frame that will challenge you but not completely overwhelm you. Then try not to shop for anything but the essentials during this period. (Decide ahead of time what essential means to you!)

Ive never written specifically about doing a no spend challenge but as a reformed shopaholic, I do have some tips on how to shop less:

Side note: I dont believe that minimalism and frugality always go hand in hand. You dont have to stop spending to be a minimalist. In fact, no one who knows me would call me frugal and Im definitely not afraid to spend money on things that add value to my life!

Having said that, if you struggle to be intentional with your spending (meaning the way you spend doesnt reflect what you value) then doing a no spend challenge is a way to press the reset button. Taking a break can help you see things in a whole new light.
A woman sitting on a sofa drinking tea and reading a book.

GOAL 5: BE INTENTIONAL WITH YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

One of the biggest lessons Ive learned in recent years is how important it is to be intentional with your relationships. This is because whether you realise it or not, the people you choose to spend time with influence your thoughts and beliefs.

Now Im not saying you should just declutter peopleobviously, this is different from cleaning out your sock drawer! But you should definitely put some intentional thought into the energy and time you invest in your relationships.

Think about what matters most to youyour goals, your dreams, your values and your personal vision. Then think about the people you surround yourself with.

Do these relationships energise and inspire you? Do you feel supported and encouraged? If so, make a conscious choice to spend more time with these people.

When you surround yourself with people who genuinely believe in you, you cant help but believe in yourselfand a strong sense of self-belief is essential for minimalist living. (The more you know who you are and what you believe in, the less youll need stuff to define you.)

Conversely, be mindful of the time you spend with people who drain your energy. This doesnt mean you have to cut them out of your life but be aware of the impact they have on you.

If youre not sure how to put this concept into practice, here are some practical ideas to try:

  • Commit to spending 30 minutes every week catching up with someone who inspires you
  • Find a mentor or hire a coach
  • Create firm boundaries around your relationships
  • Give yourself permission to walk away or not engage in conversations that dont serve you

Audit your social media accounts and unfollow/unfriend as required

GOAL 6: CREATE A REGULAR JOURNALING PRACTICE

I know this might sound like a strange minimalism goal but stick with me for a minute!

Odds are, if you have a problem with clutter, its because youve got some type of mindset issue that needs addressing:

  • Your schedule is too busy because youre not clear on your priorities.
  • You hang onto old towels just in case because you have a scarcity mindset.
  • You cant let go of dresses that no longer fit you because you cant let go of who you used to be.
  • You keep expensive items you never use because you feel guilty about wasting money.
  • You shop all the time to distract yourself from a painful reality.

Decluttering might address the symptoms of a cluttered life but it wont cure it. If you truly want to simplify your life, you need to get to the heart of why your life is cluttered firstand journaling is a powerful tool that can help you.

Why? Because journaling encourages self-awareness. It teaches you to reflect on your feelings, to question old stories, and to imagine a different way of living. All of these skills are essential for minimalist living.

If youre new to journaling, then this post about how to start a journaling habit will help you get started. Alternatively, if youve already done some journaling in the past, here are some resources that will help you dive deeper into minimalist living:

What Are Your Minimalism Goals?

If nothing on this list resonates, then I encourage you to step back and think about what matters most to you. How do you want to live your life? What feels good to you?

Choose one small thing you want to focus on and take the very first step in a new direction. Keep putting one foot in front of the otherand remember, minimalism is a journey, not a destination. It doesnt matter how fast you go as long as youre on your way.

What are your minimalism goals for this year? Let us know in the comments! x

The post 6 Minimalism Goals for The New Year appeared first on Simply + Fiercely.

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