A lot of people who think a minimalist lifestyle might be right for them start with the huge job of throwing out the majority of their crap. And I totally understand, I want to throw out your crap too.

But before we go hog wild, take a second to remember your reasons for wanting to journey down the path of minimalism.

Why Minimalism?

There are so many respectable reasons to minimize your life. Some people want to because they just have too much stuff, they feel cramped in a space they should feel free, or they just spend too much money on useless stuff that doesn’t get used. Some people are just slowly becoming tinfoil anti-consumerists (crinkle if you’re with me).

The one thing most people have in common is the desire to make a good change. You don’t go minimalist without a good reason and honest intentions, because – let’s face it – you’ve spent a lot of time and thought in attaining all of the stuff that’s now become a burden, a synergistic un-climbable mountain of crap.

Either way, I’m not here to tell you why your reasoning is wrong or right, but I am here to tell you why you’re probably doing it wrong.

The Many Faces of Minimalism

We’ve all seen the documentary The Minimalists. Whether or not you find the idea terrifying or glorious, two men have found the version of minimalism that works for them, and luckily for them, learned how to make a pile of money off of it. Unfortunately for 99% of the rest of us, that version of minimalism will never work (and honestly, who wants it to?)

Some people think minimalism is a life without knickknacks, and some people think minimalism means having enough closets to hide them. Most people who venture down the path of minimalism for the first time have a desire to start haphazardly chucking every little thing they trip over on the way to the bathroom.

That method is certainly not wrong, but I do think it’s exceptionally ineffective.

My minimalism certainly lends itself to tinfoil anti-consumerism, and I do think most versions of minimalism encompass a similar ideology, whether or not you’ll wave to me with your wooden spoon.

Minimalism really has nothing to do with “just throw it the F out.” That’s spring cleaning, and has nothing to do with the fundamentals of minimalism. As much as we might want it to, throwing everything out that you can get your hands on is really not “minimalism,” but I’m also not going to rain on your parade if that has to be your first step.

Above all, we all do minimalism differently.

The Minimalist Mindset

So if we’re not going to start throwing shit out, how do we even start minimalism?

My theory is that minimalism, like every serious life choice, begins with a change in attitude.

I’ve always been good at saving money and living within my means (thanks dad), but I decided to take it a step further. My reasons for kicking it minimalist style didn’t come from wanting to save, though that was a very large factor in starting to explore the lifestyle.

What really got me interested was the need for change, to focus on something more than what I could or couldn’t buy or do. I had been searching for something that would make life a little simpler, and change my perspective from what I had to what I am.

I had seen the word minimalism plenty of times, but one afternoon I saw it again and something clicked. I realized I wanted to minimize. I wanted to have what I need and spend my time bettering myself. I wanted to care less about what I wore and what people thought of me.

Becoming Minimalist

I started questioning every decision I made. Not in a my-life-is-in-shambles-help sort of way, but in the way that I wanted to understand my own decisions better. Sure, I threw out all sorts of shit in my own time, but my very first actual minimalist decision was super small.

I decided that my “I Don’t Throw Out Clothes” philosophy was a stupid one. That had always been my thing. Don’t ask me to throw out clothes, because one day I’ll want to wear it, or one day it’ll fit me, or one day my friend might need to borrow XYZ. Over time I realized that if it doesn’t look right today, it’s still not going to look right in two months. And if my friend really wants to borrow that shirt, she can have it or forfeit all rights to borrow because it’s going to be in a thrift store $3 bin.

The reason why this philosophy was so stupid was the decisions it let me make. I considered my closet to be unlimited in terms of space, so I just kept stuffing it fuller. When I went out shopping, any article of clothing could add to the diverse arrangements of outfits in my closet.

Yes, I wanted to buy my fourth black v-neck sweater, and it was crucial to change up my wardrobe because this one had a slightly wider V and was very different from all of the others.

Snowball Decisions

That was stupid reasoning, and once I started rotating out things I never wore, I started to look more critically at my purchasing decisions. Will I actually wear this or will it be included in my next thrift store trip?

I came to terms with my own plain style. I don’t wear bright clothes, or short dresses, so why was I buying them? I stopped altogether.

I started using the one-in-one-out rule, and that was effective. Anytime I picked up an article of clothing, debating a purchase, I mentally flipped through my clothing for what I would have to give up. Whether or not I found something to throw out, I was also forced to consider whether this new piece of clothing would make my can’t-live-without list. Would I want to wear it every week? Would I be dying to wear it out? Would it replace my current favorite sweater?

I started taking stock of what really excited me, and realized that most of what I needed was already in my possession.

Charity Begins at Home

So… why shouldn’t I start throwing shit immediately?

Beginning minimalism by throwing everything out is catering to the symptoms without curing the cold. Having too much stuff is just the effect of buying too much in the first place. If you start your minimalism journey without taking into account why you need to in the first place, you neglect all the important factors that led you to where you are today.

So I challenge you to go shopping, and before you buy something, pull a Marie Kondo, and ask yourself if this thing you’re buying will truly bring you joy. Ask yourself what hole in your life it’s filling. See if you can live a week without it, and if you keep thinking about it, go back and get it. Figure out what mindset allows you to live a sustainable minimalist life.

If you find yourself living in a cycle of buying and throwing, buying and throwing, start again at the beginning, with your mindset.