{Inside: Three things to do to make minimalism work in real life}
Minimalism isn’t meant to be exhausting. But try squeezing it into real life and suddenly ‘simple’ feels stressful.
This, of course, is opposite of the point.
The best way to make minimalism work in real life is to not look at it as another “thing” to learn or something else to “do”. That only makes it unappealing. In fact, its often-daunting nature makes it seem like a fairy tale way of living that is impossible to keep up with.
And that is the irony.
The fact that life feels busy, that you can’t seem to get on top of “things”, stop wheels from spinning, keep time from disappearing, get things done, is the exactly the reason you need minimalism.
Forget the fairy tale, especially if it leaves you in doubt. If you want to find what you need, when you need it, manage life with a little more sanity, and feel a sense of satisfaction that what you have in your life is enough you must make minimalism work in real life.
The beauty of minimalism is that it isn’t prescribed. It is self described.
It need not be something you must keep up with. There isn’t one script you must follow. Rather it is an intentional approach to life where you do your best to be present with the thoughts, things, and people that you choose to let in.
To make minimalism work in real life, in the mess and busyness of life you decide what works – what fits – in and for your life.
You are, after all, your life architect.
If you listen to the rhetoric that minimalism means letting go of everything, it can be pretty intimidating.
Don’t believe the hype that minimalism means ditching everything but a fork and a floor mat.
Ignore what you hear about what it must be and instead focus on how you want to feel.
Do the things you own match that feeling?
While the result of the work you do to make minimalism work in real life could be that you own less, the reality is minimalism is not about having nothing in your home or life.
Minimalism is about having everything that serves you, your life, your space.
Sometimes you slip. Stuff gets in—and it stays longer than planned. The good news? A minimalist mindset allows for that. It’s made for real life—when the wheels feel like they’re coming off and you’re barely holding it together.
Life is fluid. If it’s never messy, you might be working too hard to avoid what’s inevitable.
Why work so hard?
Invite minimalism in.
Minimalism doesn’t mean life won’t throw curve balls. It makes room for imperfection because it’s less about having things just right and more about having what truly matters—what you like, need, and use.
It’s about awareness. About noticing when things feel disjointed or out of sync.
At its core, minimalism is the intentional letting in of what makes life easier. When you live with that awareness, what doesn’t belong becomes obvious—and shows you exactly where change is needed.
Three ways to make minimalism work with real life.
1. Quiet the noise.
When life feels messy, everything gets loud. The to-dos, the doubts, the distractions—they all start shouting over each other. And in all that noise, the simple solution gets buried.
The antidote? Create stillness. Take a walk. Run a bath. Pause for three deep breaths. You won’t find clarity – or solutions – easily in the noise. You’ll find it in the quiet.
2. Question what comes in.
Minimalism isn’t just about what you remove. It’s about what you allow in.
Everything you own, commit to, think about, or make space for should earn its place.
Ask: Do I need this? Do I like this? Does this support the life I’m building?
When you pause to question instead of automatically accept, you create space with intention—not just by default.
3. Keep the quest constant
Minimalism isn’t a finish line—it’s a continual journey toward alignment.
When you treat your growth like a quest, every decision becomes part of the path.
It’s not about getting it “right”—it’s about staying curious, adjusting as you go, and moving with intention toward a life that feels like you.
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