Stress at work, overcrowded streets and digital abundance through social networks - finding peace is often harder than you think. That's why it's all the more important to create an environment at home in which you can feel completely at ease.
Living concepts like minimalism make it easier for you to switch off after a stressful day. Minimalism has a decelerating effect and helps you, more calm and mindful to go through your life.
Less is more - minimalist living, stress free living
Consumption in abundance on the one hand, poor working conditions and exploitation on the other hand -. Minimalism is opposed to living in abundance. He limits himself to the essentials. Sustainable and mindful towards ourselves and our environment.
The quintessence is called reduction. According to the principle "less is more", we let go of everything we don't need to live, unnecessary ballast that Stress favored.
Whether it's visual art, architecture, furnishings, fashion or lifestyle - minimalism can be found everywhere and always works according to the same principle. The strategy Reduce things to the essentialsis the best way to counteract stress, which is caused by abundance.
Changes not overnight
Minimalists implement the principle in the following three components: Furnishings, Fashion and Lifestyle. However, change doesn't happen overnight. That's why it's enough for now if you focus on one of the three components. After all, change should be fun and Reduce stress sustainably.
The path to minimalism takes time and involves constant learning. Starting with small steps is, as with so many things, the best way. So before you decide to cut out the superfluous and the burdensome from your life in the future, it's worth taking stock - of your home, your closet and your environment.
What is important to you, what seems superfluous on reflection? Write down everything that comes to your mind spontaneously and cross out the things you want to let go of first.
Step by step to the minimalist home
To let go of ballast, you start within your own four walls. Even after the first clean-out, you will be rewarded with a neat and tidy home. But before you really get started, create a pleasant working atmosphere for yourself, for instance with your Favourite music or a good audio book.
Of course, you don't have to turn your household upside down from one day to the next. Better: Spread the work over several days. If you find it difficult to part with things at first, it will become easier and easier over time.
1. tidy up and get rid of superfluous things
The first step to a minimalist home involves work, but it's more than worth it. Now becomes neat and tidy. In this case, that means more than doing the dishes and putting clothes in the closet. Rather, it means thinking carefully about what you urgently need to live and what you can part with immediately.
Of course, you don't have to throw away furniture, decorations and appliances that you no longer need. Make yourself a nice day at the flea market and use the money, for example, for a vacation, a spa day or for a Yoga course.
Or maybe you're giving something away to your loved ones. The following overview is one way you can help with the Sorting out and rearranging but once you've started, you're bound to come up with more - I promise!
Decoration
In every household there are decorations that cause a ruckus on shelves and dressers. Of course, you don't have to part with your favorite candlestick and that big vase you like so much. Think carefully about what you want to keep and what you want to keep. Limit yourself to about five items per room or mementos that are especially close to your heart.
The advantage: If you reduce the number of decorative items, what you keep will stand out all the better.
Krims stuff drawer
They are everywhere - those infamous corners, boxes, drawers and shelves with things that we don't really know where they belong, but that we might need again someday. Take a close look at everything - you'll notice that you can throw a lot of it away or tidy it up somewhere else.
Paperwork
There is a lot of paperwork in every household. This ranges from magazines that have been read to letters and advertising brochures. Everything that is not important and belongs to personal documents goes into the waste paper. Documents or bills that you need to keep, you scan or file them in a folder.
Over time, greeting cards and birthday cards often accumulate. If you look at cards regularly, they also go into a separate folder or box. Otherwise, keep only a few cards from people who really mean something to you and separate from the rest.
Old electronics
A new cell phone every two years, a new notebook every five years. You probably still have one or two old devices at home. If it is in working order, you can sell it.
Important: Before selling, make sure that there is no personal data on the smartphone or notebook. It is best to reset the device to factory settings before selling it. If the smartphone and notebook no longer function properly, have your personal data backed up by a professional.
2. minimalistic dressing by means of capsule wardrobe
Those who live a minimalist lifestyle also change their Dress style. Minimalists are practical and their pared-down wardrobe saves them Time, money and nerves. The stress of having to follow every trend will then be a thing of the past. Also the feeling that you never anything suitable to wear even though you have a closet full of clothes, will diminish.
With a Capsule Wardrobe is about reducing your wardrobe to the bare essentials. So your closet contains only so many pieces and exactly the parts you need in everyday life. The challenge: each piece of clothing should Can be combined with as many parts as possible be. Bloggers like Caroline from Unfancy, advise for the start of a Capsule Wardrobe to about 37-40 garments and accessories per season.
Getting by with just a few clothes is not your thing and really boring? Not really. Because a wardrobe of fewer parts promotes creativity when it comes to dressing you always new. In addition, you sharpen so quite incidentally your Awareness of good style. The basic rules are not difficult and are easy to implement:
Sort out - Recycle and sell
Inspect your closet and first sort out everything that no longer fits you properly. Then follow all the clothes that you have not worn last season. Things with clear blemishes go into the Used clothing collection.
Fashion chains like H&M also offer a Recycling service an. Clothes and shoes no matter what brand, you give at the checkout, in return there is a discount voucher. Everything in good condition is sold.
Wardrobe for winter and summer season
From the remaining clothes you put together a winter and summer wardrobe. It often helps to take pictures of your outfits. If you find it difficult to put together your wardrobe, social networks such as Pinterest, as well as blogs that specialize in Capsule Wardrobe, offer numerous inspirations. Et voilá - the first step to your own Capsule Wardrobe is done.
Sustainable and conscious purchasing
To make your capsule closet last and to prevent mis-buys from creeping into your closet over time, it's important, shop more consciously. Try to buy only the things you really need. Instead of ordering the tenth sweater made of polyacrylic, invest better in High quality materials like cashmere, mohair or virgin wool. In the long run, you save money with this method and enjoy your clothes longer.
3. minimalist furnishing: Quiet living
After you've cleaned out drawers, dressers and your closet, there's bound to be a box or two or even a dresser that you no longer need. Have you cleaned out your Budget reduced to the essentials, you can start thinking about your furniture.
If you are confronted with a lot of images, impressions and information every day in your professional life, a minimalist furnished home as a haven of peace. Your eyes and thoughts come to rest faster in a clearly structured environment. If you have sorted out before properly, it is not difficult to also your facility to a minimum.
Create space
The essence of minimalist interior is empty space. Thus, pieces of furniture are better accentuated. The minimalist furnished room relieves the sensesbecause it does not overload you with a variety of items. Therefore, think about what pieces of furniture you can do without after cleaning.
Geometry and clear shapes
The interior is functional and unfussy, cubic shapes in Bauhaus style are typical of minimalist design.
Coloring
Reduced colors dominate in the minimalist home. Thus, one color nuance runs through the entire room. Natural tones like beige and off-white have a calming effect. If you like it a little more eccentric, opt for black and white combinations.
Create corners to feel good
A room decorated in a minimalist style quickly looks cool and uncomfortable. With pillows and blankets in solid colors as well as large-leaved houseplants, you can avoid this and create a cozy feel-good corner. Here you can relax wonderfully after a stressful day at school or work. Indirect light sources provide a cozy ambience.
Mindset
Do you have around you a minimalist environment it will be easier for you to clear your head. Now it's time for the next step: Change your mindset and stop making your happiness dependent on material things. This way you will have more time in the future for what really means something to you.
In addition to minimalism, you will find other living concepts against stress on our site: Here we show you how to live with Feng Shui or the Lifestyle trend Hygge more relaxed.
Text: Natalie Grolig
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