“Where are my keys?! Did you take my keys?!”
(Runs upstairs, looks in diaper bag, runs downstairs, looks in diaper bag again, looks in pantry, looks on the kitchen counter, looks on the couch, retraces steps in her mind…)
”Have you seen my keys?!” <sigh of frustration>
After 5 minutes, she remembers and sheepishly looks at her keys dangling from the key hook by her desk! Really?! Why didn’t you think to look there in the first place?! <eye roll>
I’m ashamed to admit that the scenario above is about me…but in my defense, my new key hook system wasn’t installed until one month prior. I guess my subconscious thinks this life with less thing we’ve got going on is a dream. Why would I ever put keys on a key hook?!
Minimalist families behave a certain way. They have systems in place that they’ve done so many times that they do them on autopilot. They don’t have to waste their valuable time looking for misplaced keys! They’d prefer to spend their time on things that are enjoyable and on things that matter…
15 Things a Minimalist Family Doesn’t Do:
1. They never have to search for something because everything that they own has a place!
Each item, no matter how small, has a space in the house. When it’s finished being used, it goes right back to where it came from. This is a skill that many minimalists might have a hard time mastering if it’s not something they are used to doing. Breaking old habits is difficult! Sometimes putting an item in it’s place is thwarted by toddlers throwing and hiding things around the house…At that point, they’ll have a free pass to frantically search for an item. ;-)
2. They don’t let the house get out of control and then frantically binge clean when company is about to come over.
They are in a constant state of maintaining their spaces by making daily resets a part of life. With children, those resets need to be done multiple times a day to maintain everything. Thankfully, with less clutter in their home, resets are relatively quick and painless!
3. They don’t make a purchase without evaluating whether or not it will add value to their life.
They are very intentional about what they bring into their home. Each item they bring in takes up more time to maintain. Little bits of time here and there adds up! They value their time so much that don’t want to risk it with meaningless stuff!
4. They don’t focus on organizing a space without decluttering it first.
Decluttering is a part of their life. When beginning to reorganize a room, they first make decisions as to what must leave the home. Once they’ve gotten rid of their items, then they feel the freedom to organize.
5. They don’t shop clearance sales without having a particular item in mind.
They know that just because something is on clearance doesn’t mean they should make the purchase! They are very intentional about each item they bring home.
6. They don’t believe in quantity over quality.
They’d prefer to spend a little more money on less clothes that don’t fall apart and wash well rather than a lot of cheaper items. They enjoy shopping at consignment and thrift stores where they can often snag great quality brands without breaking their budget.
7. They don’t overdo it with gifts during the holidays.
They believe strongly in giving their family the gift of experiences over things.
8. They never have a “I can’t take this mess anymore!” meltdown.
Their “messes” are trivial to most. They maintain a fairly clean home by doing daily resets of their spaces.
9. They don’t care about being made fun of.
They are generally much happier than their overwhelmed peers. They’re not stressed out about meaningless “stuff.” They’re content with the life they’ve been blessed with even when it gets hard. They have the mental space to handle adversity when it inevitably comes. They’re not pouring from an empty cup.
10. They don’t focus solely on their own family.
Maintaining their home doesn’t take over a massive chunk of their time! Because of this, they have the time to pour into others. Whether it be taking a meal to a friend who’s had a new baby, donating items to a local charity, or sending a sympathy card to a loved one, minimalism gives them more freedom to focus on loving others well.
11. They have the ability to practice self care.
Their freedom from stuff allows them to be more in tune to their own needs. They recognize when they need a break for the wellbeing of their family and plan time for REST.
12. They don’t have to clean around massive piles of clutter.
The clutter doesn’t exist. When it’s time to clean, they clean! The clutter that might be seen around their home is quickly tidied up and shows that the home is lived in, not completely overrun with clutter.
13. They understand that minimalism is not about white walls.
They do love the peacefulness of bright and airy neutral colors but the real draw towards minimalism is the “less is more concept.”
14. They don’t let anxiety win!
Minimalist families understand the drastic impact that clutter has on their mental health. They make decluttering a part of their life. As children grow and change, they continue to declutter according to their needs at that time.
15. They don’t have a ton of items in storage.
They generally use most of the items that they keep on a day to day basis. They know exactly what items are in each closet and they actually use their garage for…a car!