The 5 Phases of Minimalism

Today I want to talk about the five phases of minimalism and focus on their key differences, so you can zoom out, recognize where you are on your journey and take the appropriate action toward the next phase.

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The Clutterbug Podcast with Ronald L Banks (episode # 183)

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The Curse Of The Minimalist Aesthetic

Why Most People Quit Minimalism

5 Decluttering Lies That Are Keeping You Stuck

New To Minimalism? Start Here (Playlist)

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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:55 Phase 1
1:32 Phase 2
4:29 Phase 3
6:38 Phase 4
8:02 Phase 5

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#ronaldlbanks #minimalism #intentionalliving

[Still-Learning]

Minimalism...The practice of "fasting" from the habit of over consumption.

[DavidDavisDH]

The thing with minimalism that people get wrong it's not just tossing everything out, it's keeping what's important and keeping balance.

[Summer_and_Rain]

I am in that phase after depression, where you are trying to figure out what the heck you like to do in practice and not just in theory. I actually went on a walk today. I decided to just follow my impulses and ended up on a really long walk, but I loved every moment of it. Now I am home, listening to youtube and practicing knitting. Today is a good day.

[amyhoover]

Consider this comment for some extra notes and other highlights. I hope this is helpful!
Phase 1: Curiosity.
Phase 2: Decluttering
2a. Clarity comes after you've decluttered! You'll start to better understand your habits as time goes on and how you can work around them.
2b: Ignore the aesthetics! Learn to work with what you already have and expand upon that.
Phase 3: Building Systems - I'm currently trying to build upon this by removing what hasn't worked for me and implementing better systems to help me keep my focus. Considering my own needs, I realize that consistency is a muscle that I'm still trying to build up. Wellness is important to me, so when I'm consistent in putting my own needs first, this makes everything else fall into place easier.
Phase 4: Work Focused - This is where I am currently in my journey, but I'm only in the brainstorming stage. Having ADHD makes navigating this difficult at times, but I'm doing my best to keep myself focused on what I can control within my current situation.
Phase 5: Generational Wealth
*4 Types - Time, Experience, Monetary, Knowledge

[shannons]

I think Phase 1 is frustration or angst. Things are just "too much". I think that drives people to search for this.

[emmanuelle]

"I want my job to support my life. Not be my life". Exactly what I am trying to focus on 🤞

[maddetox]

I've been living this lifestyle for about 3 years. Best decision I've ever made.

[PrinceZirconium]

I had a hard time focusing on what was said in this video because the background was so damn clean.

[lindahoffa]

Another great u-tuber! Ever notice how the Minimalist’s all have calm and quiet voices. That should speak volumes (pun intended) to you about what this lifestyle does for you. I’ve been decluttering since Covid started! It’s a long process for us who are in late 60’s. Love to see people realize at a younger age what a scam consumerism is. The best thing about this lifestyle is you won’t believe how liberating it is!

[TGYtco]

I am in phase 3, but I actually think I have bounced around in the first 3 phases for year. I first heard about minimalism in 2006 and did my first big declutter. I only had one child at the time. After we had our 2nd child, we moved to a bigger house, and I lost sight of the joy of less. More toys, more clothes, more hobbies, more activities took over my life for the next decade. I felt like my life was really overwhelming, but I didn’t connect it to all the stuff until Marie Kondo's first book came out. It reignited my interest in simplifying, and then I found Joshua Becker, and all eventually you and others. I find that I need constant reminders from all of you to keep me focused, though. I spent years buying more, decluttering, buying more, decluttering, etc. It took me until the last year or two to realize that I kept buying more because of my childhood scarcity mindset. I am still trying to change my habits, and when I do, I will move to phase 4. Woo hoo! Thank you for helping me along the way. I appreciate these 5 steps- it helps me see myself more clearly and I will be able to move through it more methodically.

[dljohns]

I have never commented on a youtube channel before today. I love your content, your calm manner, your direct communication, and the overall message you consistently share. Thank you for having a quality channel.

[jaetok]

Very informative. Through the whole video he’s ultimately telling you to take it slow. It’s really the only way this lifestyle can find its purpose in your life. It’s the difference between feeling empty after decluttering and feeling refreshed, feeling clarity, and feeling whole still by the end of it. Either way you will feel something. Having less can open doors to more. Ironically Minimalism can be adjacent to abundance. Moving clutter out can open up more space for more of the things you love and are important to you. Less is more. Thats ultimate what minimalism is to me.

[johncasey]

I got into minimalism at the start of the pandemic. I really didn't follow any methodology, I had my goals and set out to achieve them. I simply wanted to declutter my living space without going through the stress of selling or tossing my shit... per se. I separated my stuff into two groups, stuff I use at least weekly and stuff I used less often than weekly. The stuff I used at least weekly I placed in appropriate spots in my living space and everything else went into the basement well organized onto shelves. At my leisure, I would go through the stuff in the basement, no pressure, stress free and purge. I am very happy with the results, I no longer have to hunt for things I need, everything has it's place and is easily accessible. Now I am in the maintenance phase. Over time some of the crap from the basement makes it upstairs or I get new stuff, so every 6 months or so I go through all my upstairs stuff, reassess each item for frequency of use and bring less used items into the basement.

[gabrielledavis]

Gave me a ton to think about. Very clear and too the point, no wordy fillers and rambling. Thank you for doing this video.

[billmartin]

Dang, You’re a natural in front of the camera. Well spoken, smooth delivery… Good stuff, man!

[katasticone]

Your voice and energy are so zen. I just love anything you put out there.

[theregularfish]

You're the best channel when it comes to minimalism! I love your videos!

[redheadedgypsy]

Congrats on the 200k mark Ron, overdue! I love your channel, so much info, with a calm voice. I always gain something from your videos - I'm retired so I'm on phase 6, ha, ha

[dhvddsf]

Accidentally bumped into your video. So glad to hear this. Thank you for your tips and guidance. It's been reassuring, especially in understanding who I am and what I want.

[BeverlyK-ygxr]

I am new to the minimalism family, currently working through phase 1 and diving into phase 2. Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us. 😊🙏🏼