HOW TO START MINIMALISM » Inspiration to get started (MINIMALISM tips for beginners)

Here's 10 steps for HOW TO START MINIMALISM. Lots of inspiration to get started + succeed. So if you're looking for minimalism tips for beginners, look no further. :)

Let's talk minimalism for beginners. BUT also for anyone who's looking to get inspired and learn more. For this video, I took some time and identified 10 steps I would recommend anyone interested in minimalist living and in how to be a minimalist. No matter where you are in your journey of minimalism and simple living.

After about 7/8 years of living a minimalist lifestyle, it has become like a second nature to me. But that really wasn't always the case. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed at times, and I didn't know if I should do it like Marie Kondo, or do a minimalism challenge, or how to go about decluttering the excess. But then I learned that 'how to be a minimalist' wasn't the correct question. Because my making the choice to start living simply and with intention, and to clear the noise, I was already taking my first steps as a new minimalist.

You don't have to have it all figured out before you start. However, there are definitely some tips, as well as minimalism decluttering tips that I can give you, that have the power to make things easier and more pleasant for you. So let's talk about it :)

Lots of love,
🌼 Vera

FEATURED VIDEO LINKS:

NEW VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY | Love minimalism • Get inspired • Be yourself • Take care

FIRST TIME HERE? Welcome. I make weekly videos about minimalism, simple living, happiness and self development. With Simple Happy Zen I hope to create a place for everyone to take a little break, to get inspired and take care. We deserve to. Thank you for joining the channel and subscribing, feel free to say hi if you’d like!

LET’S HANG OUT!

DECLUTTERING YOUR HOME? Start here! ⭐
» Simple Happy Zen's Ultimate Decluttering Guide
» A 90-page ebook where I teach you how to tackle all categories of clutter in your home and create the space of your dreams.

WANT TO SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE? Start here! ⭐
» In Love With Your Life, the online course
» Learn to simplify your life, clear the chaos and create more of what you love in 20 weeks.

FREE RESOURCES
» Capsule wardrobe guide:

RELATED VIDEOS TO WATCH NEXT

HOW I MAKE MY VIDEOS:

ENGLISH NOT YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE? Select Closed Captions in the video settings to help you follow along. You can also adjust the speed in the settings menu to 0,75.

COMMENT POLICY: Let’s keep the comments section friendly. Constructive criticism is welcome and appreciated. However, hurtful or disrespectful comments that don’t have anything to do with the topic of the video will be deleted.

All images, videos and audio used on my channel and website are either my own, or obtained from completely royaltyfree sources approved for all sorts of usage.

The links that are mentioned above with an asterisk are affiliate links. When you use them, they help to support me and my channel through a small commission, at no extra costs to you of course. :)

[SimpleHappyZen]

What other video topics do you want to see coming up? Let me know below 🤗👇

[nedra]

I felt bad letting go of things I bought but never used. My daughter really was my greatest help. She told me how wonderful it would feel to be able to bless someone else. So giving my things away became easier and easier because now I was blessing someone else.

[reginavitale]

My parents experienced serious deprivation during the Great Depression in the US and lived the rest of their lives paralyzed by a fear that it would happen again (it never did). They had a "make-do, go cheap, keep everything just in case, and don't use your best things on a regular basis, because if something happens to them you won't be able to replace them" mentality which they deeply instilled in me. So, my biggest challenge has been to break free of that mindset. It's taken time and a lot of effort, and I'm not 100% there yet, but I've made great strides and keep moving forward.

[debraarbuthnott]

My hardest thing was decluttering books and craft stuff. I was a hoarder - it was my protection especially living with depression. I have realised that I don't need that stuff to protect me, its been a big job so far and there is still a long way to go - but I see it as a journey not a destination.

[americaninparis]

Newbie to your channel, just starting my journey. My grandmother, born in 1907, use to make me wear ALL my clothes- and IF something did not fit anymore, or was torn beyond repair, OUT it went - either to charity, Or to the rags bin ..but never to stay in the closet. Also, this made us aware of how many outfits I needed for school. (10 was the magic number - just in case the washer broke, it gave them 2 wks to get it fixed) play clothes were always old school clothes that faded etc ..I think, I am going back to this plan - but will jack up the work outfits to 20.

[corinnestauffiger]

Hardest part for me: decision fatigue. Sometimes I am just not in the mood to make so many decisions in a short time, so I just leave it. So I am taking baby steps and sometimes I think this will take forever. Me and my husband are on this journey together so we try to motivate each other but we also tend so work a little here and a little there...but at least we work ☺️

[patdennis]

Work on decluttering by using a timer. When you don’t want to work, set the timer for the smallest amount of time you would be willing to work to declutter. When the timer goes off, go get something to drink. Set the timer for 15 minutes. Relax. Look at how much you’ve accomplished. Enjoy your drink. When the timer goes off after the 15 minutes of relaxing, decide if you can put more time towards decluttering. If you say yes, set the timer for that amount of time. Repeat the 15 minutes of relaxation when the timer goes off. Repeat until at any point after the timer goes off, you can then choose to be done decluttering until another time. Making a daily decluttering appointment with yourself by blocking off time in your diary. The timer also lets others know how much time you have left to finish before you can see to them.

[cherylkane]

An issue for me with minimalism is the lack of support among friends and family. They don't get that everything they buy is made from a piece of a finite planet. When I talk about not shopping and having no desire for more things they look bored. One said, "I don't agree with the minimalist philosophy." What? Thanks for YOUR support, Vera!

[Beldam]

My biggest challenge is collecting. I’m autistic so I love to look at a bunch of pretty things, & line them all up, & move them around. Even if I never use things just seeing them or knowing I own them brings me joy...but that makes clutter & clutter stresses me out & cause shutdowns & meltdowns. So it’s tricky 🤣🤦‍♀️ I find using the container method helps. “You can have xyz collection but only what fits in the display case & bookshelf” then if I want to bring a new item in for my collection & there is no room left something has to go. Like you said “1 in 1 out.” Thank you for all the great advice & encouragement

[larajohnson]

This video is still helpful even after I’ve been decluttering for almost two years. This video causes a shift in mindset that renews and refreshes my commitment to minimalism. Thank you, Vera; you are a gift.

[lindamaglione]

I am just getting started; have done a lot of decluttering and donating so far with some still to go. I love to organize, but only recently realized the stress still having all the "stuff" was causing! I would just reorganize everything and not move anything out!! Thanks for all your suggestions, and "permission" to take it slow.

[veroniquejulienne]

What I find difficult is to stop buying on impulse on the web. I like your tip of a replacement activity : I think I will listen to podcasts instead of surfing without reason and getting stuck by myself when I see something I would like to have. Also the tip of sleeping a few nights on the ideas of buying, great advice !! Thank you very much Vera. I have been following you with pleasure for years, taking some tips now and then, but this summer, I feel ready to change our way of living, for various reasons, and your vidéos are going to be very helpful 😊🌸

[lynby]

After watching a previous video of yours, I cleared half my belongings to a charity shop. I feel so much better without the clutter, thank you Vera :) My advice good people starting is don’t worry about the items value too much. Just because it was expensive doesn’t mean you need or want it.

[sanghamitrag]

The way you speak about minimalism is quite refreshing. Thank you for sharing with us a non-judgmental and practical version of minimalism. :)

[shiobahnbrindley]

Your advice is always wise and intuitive but when I get stuck or lazy I binge watch hoarders in the background, it's great motivation to not end up like that, gets my backside into gear quick smart 😂

[RP-fyjx]

Thank you for the video Vera! I have accumulated things over the years and I completely agree with you, you don’t become a minimalist overnight! I don’t allow anything new in, I ‘shop’ or reuse things I already have. Slowly, over the years I am getting rid of the things that don’t have a purpose, this way is a lot easier than an overnight transformation 😊

[erinmaekinghorn]

I really admire my Mum. She's had to downsize and then downsize again and she said... well, I don't need to keep this, and, this can go I don't really need it. She now lives is a 31 m2 flat. I look around my home and see items that I could sell or give away and I feel inspired by my Mum. So if she could do it, then I can too. If it's not used, why keep it? The only two areas I don't declutter much are books (because of my kids but I have a kindle) and knitting things (because I love it). :)
Thanks again for a great video. I think I'll watch it a few more times. It helps to keep on track :)

[kimifur]

Great tips to get started! I used to buy things thinking it would make me happy, but it really just cluttered up my life and created more to worry about. Now I choose the things I bring into my home and life so much more carefully. I dicovered your videos recently and have been inspired to have more ongoing decluttering and mindfulness rather than just "binge and purge" as I notice I've been doing. Keep making these inspiring videos — they're really helpful!

[themurleka]

My minimalism journey is extremely slow. Most of my things that women are usually given my their parents as dowry before marriage are still unused after 10 years of marriage. I can't get rid of anything, because there is always the hope that we will have our own home very soon. And replacing all those items would require getting a loan from the bank, which I have promised myself to never do. The interest fees in my country are brutal. So I am always in a limbo phase, always feeling that my journey is incomplete, and somewhat stuck. But I am still gradually working on it. I have cut my own personal items, stopped impulse buying, stopped buying so many toys for the kids. But most importantly, I am trying to re-home every single item instead of just throwing it all away. There are not many places to donate here, so I have to be quite creative. Seeing how much time and effort it requires also stops me from bringing new things into my life

[ablueslenz]

I’m first! Woohoo! I’m so proud to say that I stopped mindless shopping. I was a retail addict when it came to home decor, but I’m no longer as interested in decor. Part of it has to do with just growing older and not seeing the value in all of that stuff, and the other was I got tired of moving it when it was time to move. I’ve noticed that I don’t stay in one place too long, so I now live like I’m itinerant. I have to learn to do that when it comes to food because I tend to buy a lot of interesting foods that I’ve never eaten before, but I end up not liking them once I try them. My goal is to make my food taste better without all of the bad stuff, but it is so hard to eat the same food profile all the time. Nonetheless, I will be minimalizing my cupboards pretty soon because I have way too much stuff in there that I’m just not going to eat. I was experimenting a lot when we were in lockdown, but I think I have arrived at some go-tos that will allow me to not get bored with my food. Wonderful video as always.