Moving with Minimalism

There is perhaps no better time to try minimalism than when you move. Moving gives you the opportunity to imagine a new life in a home without clutter. If you’re moving soon, I’d offer the following tips.

Expect stress

Moving is stressful. When we get stressed, we sometimes shop our way out of it. We purchase quickly to solve problems. We try to predict our needs for a lifestyle we may or may not adopt once we change our address. Yet the only thing you can feel confident in predicting is that moving will be stressful. Remember that. Resist the temptation to bring clutter into your new home to solve stress.

Start packing now

The Minimalists recommend a packing party to kickstart minimalism. It involves packing up all your belongings in boxes, like you’re moving, and only unpacking the items you need. After a few months, you may realize that most of your belongings never left those brown boxes, and you can feel comfortable donating/selling them.

Seems a bit extreme I think, but if you’re moving, why not seize the opportunity? Pack sooner than you need to realize what you don’t have to keep. Use this as an excuse to declutter before you are actually schlepping those boxes.

Live with less

Once you finally move, you may feel temped to fill your home with new things. You may buy new furniture, décor, or kitchenware. I would consider refraining. Live with less, even if it feels odd at first. Curate your home slowly, and bring in only what you need when you need it. This is not only more affordable, it prevents the accumulation of clutter and the stress of decluttering.

In conclusion

If you plan on moving, take a deep breath. This stressful time can be an opportunity to reset and reprioritize. However, I hope you don’t wait! You can take advantage of these strategies anytime, even if you stay put.