When Do You Have Enough With Minimalism?

There's a whole spectrum of lifestyles between drowning in clutter and living out of a backpack.

For the majority of us, neither of those extremes will sound appealing. So, how do you find a good balance? When do you have enough minimalism?

By the way, if you prefer to listen, I have a podcast about this topic. You can check it out here!

There is no one-size-fits-all.

Let's start by making something super clear: there is absolutely no one-size-fits-all to living a minimalist or clutter-free life.

There isn't a clear-cut answer on how much is enough with minimalism. Yes, many "thought leaders" out there will try to sell you on their approach.

Just remember to take it all with a grain of salt - use what you can and discard the rest.

To be more specific, there is no ideal color palette, item count, wardrobe style, or home decor that will make you any more of a clutter-free person.

You can see my meaning in this quick read on authentic, expressive, colorful minimalism.

How do you know when you're there?

So, given that there is no "right way," I can see how it might feel uncertain or even overwhelming to find your balance with minimalist living.

Here are just a few key indicators:

• You know where all your belongings are located
• Every single possession has a "home."
• You have solid boundaries throughout your home that aren't regularly breached (see more about spatial constraints for your stuff)
• Your items are either regularly used or regularly appreciated (see more about becoming a curator instead of a collector)
• You could take downtime for days, and your home wouldn't fall apart (see more about taking downtime without losing your progress)

Experiment enough with minimalism

Don’t underestimate the value of experimentation. Throughout history, people have accomplished amazing things by experimenting.

When it comes to getting rid of possessions, you can adapt to living with less much quicker than you think. This requires trying a variety of new things and determining which ones work. Living in a cycle is the opposite of experimenting.

This looks like when you're operating in keep-up mode and decluttering the same things repeatedly.

"What got you here won't get you there." - Marshall Goldsmith.

Instead of "keeping up" with the dishes that seem to be forever spilling out of the sink, experiment. Take away half your dishes or give yourself an item number to parse. I only keep enough dinnerware to fit into one load in the dishwasher.

Experimenting is required for growth!

That means being uncomfortable while trying things out to find your personal balance with minimalist living.

Focus internally instead of externally

Spending too much time watching what other people are doing instead of taking action is part of why you have so much clutter.

In simple terms, keep your eyes on your work. Comparison truly is a trap. When you compare, you're focusing on someone else’s goals. It becomes impossible to use gauge your intuition.

It also opens you up to guilt and negativity when you feel like you aren't as far along as someone else. Even if you want what they have, watching them take action won't get there.

This isn't to say that you can't gain inspiration and ideas from others - I always do this! But after you've gathered what you need, focus on yourself.

Get a feel for what will work and thrive in your home environment.

Remove the temptation

While you work through finding a perfect balance with your belongings, don't forget to keep an eye on your 6 - make sure more stuff doesn't follow you back in.

Here are just a few tips. (If you want more, check out how to curb your shopping urges).

• Shop online to avoid buying extra things you might see in the store.
• Cancel mail advertisements. (https://dmachoice.thedma.org/ helps with this)
• Unsubscribe- because out of sight means out of mind.
• Get an ad block. This is part of being a smart computer owner nowadays!

Stretch yourself

Of course, change and growth aren't possible without stretching. This is true for our physical body and any area of growth. In particular, when working toward finding enough with minimalism, I have two tricks you should try.

• When decluttering a category of items, discard one more once you're done.
• When shopping and ready to check out, put two things back.

I've practiced this same thing even with my grocery shopping. Those things always get tossed in "just because," and they add up.

As we roll up to the checkout counter, I scan for two things that can be put back. There are almost always items that I immediately nod and think, "yeah, I don't need this."

The takeaway on having enough with minimalism

Once you’ve found your sweet spot, you will not regret this lifestyle choice. When you’re living with ‘enough,’ you're in harmony with your own needs without the excess. It’s worth the effort.