Minimalist living:
10 tips for a simpler, greener lifestyle

What if minimalism isn’t about less, but more?

Minimalist living is the conscious choice to focus on what matters most by eliminating distractions, excess possessions and unnecessary commitments. Rather than leaving us empty, the idea is that simplifying our environment and routines can make space for what brings us joy, fulfillment and peace.  It’s about creating a lifestyle that prioritizes quality over quantity, experiences over material goods and intention over impulse.

But minimalist living doesn’t just benefit your mental and emotional well-being. It also has significant environmental advantages. By living with less, you reduce your consumption, waste and carbon footprint, contributing to a greener lifestyle.

When you focus on quality over quantity and choose durable, environmentally-friendly products, you help conserve resources and reduce pollution.

This ‘less is more’ approach, say proponents like Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus (aka The Minimalists), can result in a life that is rich in less tangible things like time and energy. “Healing our relationship with stuff doesn’t instantly make us happy or give us perpetual bliss,” says Millburn. “It makes room for us to start questioning what is important in our lives, like values, money and relationships, through understanding the impulses we have.”

If you break out in hives every time you look at your cluttered shelves, overflowing wardrobe and packed calendar, your lifestyle may be due some streamlining. Here are 10 minimalist living tips to help you get started.

Our top 10 minimalist living tips

1. Declutter your life

The first step in any list of minimalist living tips has to be decluttering. Think of it as literally putting your house in order. Start small by focusing on one room or even one drawer. Sort through items and ask yourself whether they serve a purpose or bring you joy. Donate, recycle or dispose of anything that no longer fits your lifestyle.

Decluttering can help make your home a peaceful retreat. You can do the same with your workplace environment too, to create a calm space that promotes relaxation and mental clarity.

There are overlaps here with the ideas of tidying guru Marie Kondo. While Kondo doesn’t call herself a minimalist, she does encourage mindful decluttering. She also underlines the mental and physical benefits of living only among items you truly cherish.

2. Rethink your wardrobe

Try adopting a ‘capsule wardrobe’ consisting of a limited number of versatile and high-quality clothing items. Aim for timeless pieces that can be mixed and matched. This reduces decision fatigue and helps you maintain a clutter-free closet.

The Hot or Cool Institute, a Berlin sustainability think tank, suggests that a wardrobe of 74 items is sufficient. To reduce the immense environmental impact of the fashion industry and stay within planetary boundaries, the institute also suggests that we should buy no more than five new items of clothing a year.

3. Choose quality over quantity

Minimalist living emphasizes the importance of buying fewer but better items. Instead of purchasing cheap, disposable products, invest in high-quality goods that will last longer and serve you better.

Don’t forget that what is new for you could be second-hand for someone else. Online marketplaces are great for finding quality second-hand and vintage items with years of use still in them.

4. Consider digital minimalism, too

You might not have expected minimalist living tips to cover your online life, but digital clutter can be just as overwhelming as physical clutter! Reducing it means organizing your devices by deleting unnecessary files, apps and emails. Limit screen time and consider unfollowing social media accounts that don’t add value to your life.

Digital minimalism can be especially helpful if you suffer from eco-anxiety. If this is you, eco psychologist Dr. Thomas Doherty recommends taking a news break.

“A lot of people are strung out on negative [climate] news and watch far too much,” he says. “So, one of my interventions is that I have people do a news break. And then I say, let’s switch your idea of what the news is. What if your life is the news? … Let’s start with your own personal sustainability. And start with changes that you can make in your own sphere of influence and the things you can control, like your own life habits.”

5. Simplify your daily routine

Minimalist living also means simplifying your daily habits. Maybe you can hop on a bike for groceries instead of taking the car? And do you really need that daily 20-minute hot shower? Showering every other day saves energy, time and is better for your skin too (saving you from having to buy extra skincare products to compensate for the loss of moisture).

6. Practice mindful consumption

Before buying anything, ask yourself if the item is a need or a want. Minimalism encourages mindful consumption, where every purchase is intentional and serves a purpose in your life.

Once you get used to living with less, you may be surprised at how few items you actually need or use regularly.

This is what blogger and coach Jessica Malone calls pressing stop on our “clutter cycles”. Inspired by The Minimalists, the Texas native shed her corporate job and a shopping habit. She now helps others to avoid burnout and live a more intentional life.

7. Discover the joy of sharing

Instead of buying something new, find out if there’s something you can borrow or rent that will do the job. Apps and social media are helping to build the ‘sharing economy’ and make minimalist living easier – see what opportunities there are in your area. You’d be surprised what people are willing to share for little or no money – including pets!

8. Prioritize experiences, not things

A core principle of minimalist living is prioritizing experiences over material goods. Whether it’s traveling (sustainably, of course), learning a new skill or spending time with loved ones, these moments are often more meaningful than acquiring new possessions.

The same applies to gift-giving. Mountains of unwanted gifts get tossed every year. Giving experiences rather than physical items can help to cut down on waste. Experiences are also more likely to be remembered, which may endear you to that hard-to-please relative or friend who already has everything.

9. Cut down on waste

Minimalism encourages reducing waste in your life. So when you’re done with something, think about what happens to it next. Can you reuse it? Recycle it? Or if it’s a single-use item, maybe there’s a way to avoid buying it next time. When it comes to reducing waste, the kitchen is a great place to start. Food waste makes up a whopping eight per cent of the pollution that drives climate change. Check out our three-part series with low-waste chef Max La Manna for easy ways to waste less in the kitchen.

10. Embrace the minimal mindset

This is perhaps the most important of all our minimalist living tips. Beyond the practical steps, going minimal involves a mindset shift. It’s about valuing time, relationships and personal well-being over accumulating more things. Whether it’s more time with family or focusing on self-care, decide what matters most to you and let go of the rest.

Minimalism also encourages a slower pace of life. Instead of rushing from one trend, task or place to another, allow yourself time to reflect, rest and enjoy the present moment!

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