Think you're not a minimalist mom? Think again! See how your family can embrace minimalism with these simple steps.
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I'm going to start with a confession: I never thought I could be a minimalist mom. Not in the way I imagined it meant: zero toys, only one plate per person in the cabinet, one pair of shoes each... you get the idea.
Then when I first became a mom to twins 6 years ago, my house was as far from minimalism as you could get. Baby gear everywhere! But as my kids have gotten a little older, I've discovered something amazing.
The more I get rid of "stuff" the happier our family becomes.
It's true. When we declutter the kids' toys, they play more and get along better because they are not overwhelmed. When I cleaned out my closet and kept only the things I loved, I discovered getting ready in the morning was so much easier. When I make a meal plan and only grocery shop for essentials, we eat healthier foods and avoid spending on take out.
And don't even get me started on how much more organized and clean our house is.
I discovered I might just be a minimalist mom after all.
Because being a minimalist mom or a minimalist family doesn't mean you need to get rid of all of your possessions. It doesn't mean that you have to be able to move with just a backpack and a box (yes, I read this somewhere).
It means that you are committed to not letting "stuff" overtake your home and your time.
It means that you are getting rid of the clutter and embracing simplicity.
It means that you are ready to value experiences over things.
How to Embrace Minimalism as a Family
So can you actually embrace minimalism as a family? Yes! Here are 10 simple things you can do right now to get started.
Declutter your home. Keep only the things that spark joy and discard the rest. I am a firm believer in Marie Kondo's Konmari system of decluttering. And yes, you can make it work for moms. Taking the time to clear the clutter from your home is the first step to bringing minimalism into your life.
Be mindful of what you bring into your home. Stop the clutter cycle by asking yourself these questions before bring more stuff into your home.
Do a morning and afternoon tidy every day. This is one of the 7 things Marie Kondo says to do every day and it is a game changer to keeping your home organized and clutter free.
Give experiences instead of toys for gifts. Last year, my boys asked for toys to donate to our local hospital instead of gifts at their birthday party, while our gift to them was a vacation the following week (yay for summer birthdays!). It was awesome all around - they got to enjoy the party with their friends and a fun week at the beach, then when we got home they got to learn about the joy of giving to others. It was a win all around.
Limit the amount of single use/disposable items in your home. Our homes may feel like they are bursting with stuff but our environment is literally dying from it. Limiting the use of single use items like paper plates, straws, and plastic bags will not only keep our homes less cluttered but our planet cleaner too. See some of my easiest swaps to use less plastic here.
Meal plan and stick to a grocery list. Do you ever feel like you're standing in front of a full pantry with nothing to eat? Being mindful in your grocery shopping and meal planning helps eliminate food waste and also encourages more healthy eating. Get help with meal planning here.
Spend time outdoors. There is nothing better than fresh air and time spent in nature to realize that "stuff" isn't as important as it might seem.
Encourage play with open ended toys, games, and art supplies. I'm definitely not telling you to get rid of all of your toys. But getting (or keeping) the right toys around can help your kids to embrace minimalism. Think open ended, creative toys like blocks, art supplies, and pretend play props. Here's a great list of 50+ open ended toys to check out.
Limit TVs & screens to one room in the home and set time limits. Set screen time limits and don't have TVs in every room of the house. Be purposeful when you're having TV time and make it family time so that you're not just using it as background. And when no one is watching, turn it off!
Designate one day a week as a free day. Our family lives have become as cluttered as our homes. Do you find yourself running from activity to activity after school and all weekend long? Stop. Designate one day a week as a free day. This means no obligations and nothing on the schedule. Allow your family to decompress, relax, and enjoy each other at least one day a week.
Are you ready to embrace minimalism and simplicity for your family? Grab my FREE Quickstart Guide to help you start your journey! It will give you all of these steps in a handy digital checklist so you can keep track of each step along the way. Click the button below to get yours.
Be mindful of what you bring into your home. Stop the clutter cycle by asking yourself these questions before bring more stuff into your home.
Do a morning and afternoon tidy every day. This is one of the 7 things Marie Kondo says to do every day and it is a game changer to keeping your home organized and clutter free.
Give experiences instead of toys for gifts. Last year, my boys asked for toys to donate to our local hospital instead of gifts at their birthday party, while our gift to them was a vacation the following week (yay for summer birthdays!). It was awesome all around - they got to enjoy the party with their friends and a fun week at the beach, then when we got home they got to learn about the joy of giving to others. It was a win all around.
Limit the amount of single use/disposable items in your home. Our homes may feel like they are bursting with stuff but our environment is literally dying from it. Limiting the use of single use items like paper plates, straws, and plastic bags will not only keep our homes less cluttered but our planet cleaner too. See some of my easiest swaps to use less plastic here.
Meal plan and stick to a grocery list. Do you ever feel like you're standing in front of a full pantry with nothing to eat? Being mindful in your grocery shopping and meal planning helps eliminate food waste and also encourages more healthy eating. Get help with meal planning here.
Spend time outdoors. There is nothing better than fresh air and time spent in nature to realize that "stuff" isn't as important as it might seem.
Encourage play with open ended toys, games, and art supplies. I'm definitely not telling you to get rid of all of your toys. But getting (or keeping) the right toys around can help your kids to embrace minimalism. Think open ended, creative toys like blocks, art supplies, and pretend play props. Here's a great list of 50+ open ended toys to check out.
Limit TVs & screens to one room in the home and set time limits. Set screen time limits and don't have TVs in every room of the house. Be purposeful when you're having TV time and make it family time so that you're not just using it as background. And when no one is watching, turn it off!
Designate one day a week as a free day. Our family lives have become as cluttered as our homes. Do you find yourself running from activity to activity after school and all weekend long? Stop. Designate one day a week as a free day. This means no obligations and nothing on the schedule. Allow your family to decompress, relax, and enjoy each other at least one day a week.
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